Lure vs. Decoy — What's the Difference?

A decoy used in falconry to recall a hawk.

A person who entices or lures another person into a trap.

An object used to attract fish or animals, usually part of hunting or fishing gear.

An artificial bird used in hunting to attract other birds.

A bait or attractant used in traps.

A fake or mimicked object used to attract animals away from themselves.

A feature or quality that attracts.

Something used to divert attention from the real intention or place.

Something that tempts or is used to tempt a person or animal to do something.

A device used to mislead enemies in military tactics.

Something that tempts or attracts with the promise of pleasure or reward

A decoy (derived from the Dutch de kooi, literally "the cage" or possibly ende kooi, "duck cage") is usually a person, device, or event which resembles what an individual or a group might be looking for, but it is only meant to lure them. Decoys have been used for centuries most notably in game hunting, but also in wartime and in the committing or resolving of crimes.

An attraction or appeal

A living or artificial bird or other animal used to entice game into a trap or within shooting range.

A decoy used in catching animals, especially an artificial bait used in catching fish.

An artificial bird or other animal used to repel or frighten away unwanted animals.

A bunch of feathers attached to a long cord, used in falconry to recall the hawk.

A means used to mislead or lead someone into danger.

To attract or entice, especially by wiles or temptation

A replica or imitation of something, especially when intended to deceive by obscuring the number or location of the actual objects being imitated

To recall (a falcon) with a lure.

An enclosed place, such as a pond, into which wildfowl are lured for capture.

Something that tempts or attracts, especially one with a promise of reward or pleasure.

To lure (an animal) into a trap or position to be hunted.

(fishing) An artificial bait attached to a fishing line to attract fish.

To entice or mislead by deception or into danger.

(falconry) A bunch of feathers attached to a line, used in falconry to recall the hawk.

A person or object meant to lure somebody into danger.

A velvet smoothing brush.

A real or fake animal used by hunters to lure game.

(musical instrument) lur

Deceptive military device used to draw enemy attention or fire away from a more important target.

(intransitive) To attract by temptation, appeal, or guile.

An assembly of hooped or netted corridors into which wild ducks may be enticed (originally by tame ducks) and trapped.

(transitive) To attract fish with a lure.

(transitive) To lead into danger by artifice; to lure into a net or snare; to entrap.

To recall a hawk with a lure.

(intransitive) To act as, or use, a decoy. en

A contrivance somewhat resembling a bird, and often baited with raw meat; - used by falconers in recalling hawks.

To lead into danger by artifice; to lure into a net or snare; to entrap; to insnare; to allure; to entice; as, to decoy troops into an ambush; to decoy ducks into a net.

Any enticement; that which invites by the prospect of advantage or pleasure; a decoy.

Anything intended to lead into a snare; a lure that deceives and misleads into danger, or into the power of an enemy; a bait.

A velvet smoothing brush.

A fowl, or the likeness of one, used by sportsmen to entice other fowl into a net or within shot.

To draw to the lure; hence, to allure or invite by means of anything that promises pleasure or advantage; to entice; to attract.

A place into which wild fowl, esp. ducks, are enticed in order to take or shoot them.

To recall a hawk or other animal.

A person employed by officers of justice, or parties exposed to injury, to induce a suspected person to commit an offense under circumstances that will lead to his detection.

Qualities that attract by seeming to promise some kind of reward

A beguiler who leads someone into danger (usually as part of a plot)

Anything that serves as an enticement

Something used to lure victims into danger

Something used to lure victims into danger

Lure or entrap with or as if with a decoy

Provoke someone to do something through (often false or exaggerated) promises or persuasion;

Yes, decoys are also used in military tactics and security measures to mislead or distract enemies.

While typically physical, lures can also include intangible elements like sounds or scents.

Decoys can help manage wildlife populations by aiding in the control of predators or managing overpopulated species.

Yes, lures in marketing might include special offers or visually appealing advertisements to draw in customers.

A lure is often reusable and mimics prey visually or through movement, while bait is usually a food item used once.

Advances in materials and electronics have made decoys more realistic and effective at fooling targets.

Selection depends on the animal's characteristics, habits, and the environment in which you are hunting.

Fishing lures are often made from plastic, metal, or rubber.

It must convincingly mimic the characteristics (visual, scent, or sound) of what the target finds appealing.

Yes, decoys can be used in sports like soccer or basketball to mislead opponents about play directions.

Generally, lures are less expensive than decoys, which may involve more complex designs and materials.

Cultural knowledge can dictate the forms and methods of lures and decoys, as different populations respond to different stimuli.

Hunters should ensure they are visible to other hunters and not mistakenly targeted.

Lures are used in scientific research to attract and study animal behaviors and patterns.

Conditions like weather, light, and seasonality can influence the effectiveness of both lures and decoys in attracting or misleading their targets.