ELK Decoys: Heads Up or Montana Decoy?

Joined
Mar 14, 2012
Messages
538
Location
Somers Montana
I've had a lot of fun with my Montana Decoy miss September. The poles are kind of heavy but they can be helpful. I sewed a little loop on the top so I can hang it also. It's big enough I can hide behind it. I got into a group of 5 cows last year and hid behind it and walked right in on them maybe 40 yards. Eventually the swirling wind got me and they bunched up and started barking at me, it seemed like they didn't want to leave without me. The group finally moved up the mountain and after about ten minutes later one came back down within 20 yards barking at me, super fun.
 

groe

FNG
Joined
Mar 11, 2012
Messages
58
Location
Kansas
Squeekie,

Thanks for your interest in Heads Up Decoy. I think you will be please with the functionality and effectiveness of Heads Up Decoy. Whatever you decide...good luck.

GR
Heads Up Decoy
www.headsupdecoy.com
 

Rocky

WKR
Joined
Sep 29, 2012
Messages
365
Location
SW Washington
Last year I had an elk walk closes enough to camp (the foot steps woke me up around 2 am) to check out miss September. Then he spooked and ran off only to come back from a different direction only to spook again. The decoy was set up about 5 yards away from our tents.
 

groe

FNG
Joined
Mar 11, 2012
Messages
58
Location
Kansas
Rocky...that's a cools story.

As far as Heads Up Decoy is concerned. Our entire decoy weighs less than a pound. It has semi rigid tubing so it responds well to your movement and maintains it's shape with just the handle in it. We encourage customers to assemble the decoy during hunting hours and clip it to your pack in an accessible location so it's ready in an instant. I usually carry mine by my side.

Without the support rods, I imagine the Montana decoy has very little weight, so it would be comparible in weight WITHOUT the stakes with our decoy. However, you will have the bulk and the fact that you will loose some of the shape on the decoy design.

Thanks for your consideration,
Garrett
Heads Up Decoy
www.headsupdecoy.com
 

NWHunter

FNG
Joined
May 18, 2012
Messages
62
Location
Oregon
I use the Montana decoy. Do yourself a favor and go the hardware store and buy a small squeeze clamp. Then you just clamp it to a limb or brush. Plus you can eliminate the legs that are a pain to deal with.
 

wapitibob

WKR
Joined
Feb 24, 2012
Messages
5,365
Location
Bend Oregon
I use the Montana decoy. Do yourself a favor and go the hardware store and buy a small squeeze clamp. Then you just clamp it to a limb or brush. Plus you can eliminate the legs that are a pain to deal with.

+1

also, get both. You won't be walking behind the Heads Up but its ability to head fake when an Elk hangs up is nice. I use the Montana in a fixed calling position behind a Fir tree, the Heads Up as a "flasher".
 
Last edited:
OP
S
Joined
Jul 19, 2012
Messages
1,240
Location
Great Falls, MT
Just to revisit this subject.... I am still trying to pull the trigger and just wanted to say thank you to Groe. On a few other threads or other sites I have seen this type of question answered by a member that has ties or owns the company that makes the product in question. It is often times hard to handle the fanboy like barrage of posts that take over a thread by said poster. This often makes it awkward to have a conversation in which you can speak openly about other products.

Groe did not take this thread over or come on like a teenager at an after prom party, in fact in some ways he supported the Montana decoy. Class act.

I think I decided what decoy I am ordering :)

Joe
 

ElkNut1

WKR
Joined
Feb 25, 2012
Messages
2,395
Location
Idaho
Between the two mentioned & yes I've played with both styles I'd choose the Heads up in a heartbeat! I've had some amazing experiences with it, I'd give it the nod!

ElkNut1
 

groe

FNG
Joined
Mar 11, 2012
Messages
58
Location
Kansas
Thanks for the kind words Joe and to all that are using or are consider the H.U.D's.

Good luck this September!
GR
Heads Up Decoy
 

KMD

Banned
Joined
Mar 20, 2013
Messages
542
For those with the Heads Up decoy, how are you employing it?
In a solo hunt, are you using the optional bow mount, or flashing the deek by hand & setting it down when a shot opportunity is developing?

How bout two man, shooter/caller setups? Is it adviseable for the shooter to flash the deek, or bow-mount it when sounds are coming from his partner? Or is it preferable to keep the bull's focus solely on the caller and have him flash the Heads Up decoy?
Thanks in advance for your advice!
 
OP
S
Joined
Jul 19, 2012
Messages
1,240
Location
Great Falls, MT
personally, I will likely never use the bow mount. I am sure it would work in some situations, but the last thing I want to do if a wary bull is coming in is draw his attention directly to me. If you are holding it and you get his attention, my guess is that next time he looks away it is going to the ground and I will have my bow in hand. I am mostly planning to hang it in a tree behind me though.

Joe
 

les welch

Super Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Feb 25, 2012
Messages
2,454
Location
Central WI
Sorry I missed this, just been busy. HUD is the only decoy I use now, whether I am hunting muley's, whitetails, turkey, antelope, or elk. Hands down (or should I say free...lol), this is the quickest, lightest, most functional realistic option available. The last two years have 100% sold me on HUD. Multiple turkeys at less then 5 yards...in the open. Even more amazing to me is a pair of archery killed, heavily hunted public land WI bucks that total over 350"....Heads Up Decoy is specifically responsible for upping my %'s.
 

ktowncamo

WKR
Joined
May 14, 2012
Messages
460
Location
Kamas, Utah
Haven't used the Heads Up yet (will be doing so this year) but I have really enjoyed the Montana Decoys and use them on set ups generally around water. Last years bull was taken with the miss september and the rump decoys in the background.

Good ideas on this thread from the clamp or sewing a loop. Thx to those that posted.

Not to hijack the thread but I'm going to be trying the Be The Decoy elk head just to see what happens.
 

lintond

WKR
Joined
Mar 17, 2013
Messages
1,424
Location
Oregon
For those with the Heads Up decoy, how are you employing it?
In a solo hunt, are you using the optional bow mount, or flashing the deek by hand & setting it down when a shot opportunity is developing?

How bout two man, shooter/caller setups? Is it adviseable for the shooter to flash the deek, or bow-mount it when sounds are coming from his partner? Or is it preferable to keep the bull's focus solely on the caller and have him flash the Heads Up decoy?
Thanks in advance for your advice!

Bringing this back to the top. I'm considering getting the HUP decoy to help with my solo hunts. I'm planning to hang it off a tree/bush behind me to help draw the bull past my location. How do you guys use it??
 

Above Timber

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Apr 16, 2012
Messages
175
Location
Colorado Springs
I applied for a hard to get CO tag for this season with enough points to play and am very interested in how you all use the decoys. I see myself spending the majority of the hunt solo. I have never used an elk decoy before.
 

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