One of each is what I've used in the past with moderate success. It pretty much depends on the buck and also the type of decoy one uses I believe, but it is fun to learn from trying different setups. Hope you have a great season.

I have had zero success at decoying mature deer. I have had excellent success spooking all deer with decoys. I sold my Boss Buck decoy for a case of PBR bottles and feel I totally ripped the guy off and I'm sure he felt similarly after getting a nice decoy.

I've decoyed deer with both full body and silhouette decoys, some set up as bucks some as does. I usually start with buck decoys and change to doe the closer I get to peak rut. I've seen deer absolutely freak out because of the decoy and I have had other's come trucking right in. Every deer and situation are different. I will say that I have yet to watch a mature deer react to a decoy as seeing a mature deer in my area during daylight hours is rare. I hope to get that experience someday. I will share that a buddy had a mature buck come in before legal shooting light and attack his decoy. Absolutely destroyed it. He was bummed that he only got to hear, rather than see the show. I got to see the aftermath. Big, deep hoof impressions in the ground and pieces of decoy scattered within about a 10-12 yard radius.

I've tried both and believe a smallish buck as decoy is best. When using doe decoys, it seems other doe deer react negatively by alerting and snorting.

If you are hunting an area frequented by deer, decoys are probably not needed and could be a waste of time and energy for you.

If you only have one decoy, I would use buck pre-rut, and doe during the rut.

Haven't tried decoys much, but have read that a doe laying down with a buck works during the rut. One time I tried a smallish buck decoy, it spooked an old doe that came out on the field edge and wandered down for a better look.

I have killed a couple deer using decoys. I have yet to bring in a full rutting buck but,keep trying, and to answer your question during the rut use a doe. Buck pre rut and doe from rut on to the end of the season. Movement is key to using a decoy, I use a tail wager which is huge for calming down the does. Once pulled two does out of a group of does from opposite side of acorn field. Scent should be use but don't over do it and never put it on the decoy, I use a stick at the back end and put the scent on it. It's fun to use them and yes you can spook a deer but it's fun to use them.

There is no easy, or written in stone answer for this.

Some areas both together will work.

Some areas one will work better than the other.

Then again, some areas neither will work.

Some areas deer are much more aggressive than others, and some areas the deer are so timid, that even the mature fully rutting bucks will shy from a fawn bleat.

You just have to figure out what the deer in your area are attracted to, and will tolerate.

I've had luck using decoys, calls, and scent attractants, but it has almost always taken a fair amount of time to figure out what worked in the area I was hunting.

I've always had my BEST luck when I studied the deer patterns & travel routes, did my best to not disturb the natural occurrences, and remain as concealed as possible.

Rick

I've had good luck with my doe decoy during the peak chase BUT often its small bucks trying to pester everything they see.

Had does spook and run taking buck with them. Cheap decoys never worked to good for me always wanted to get a real good one to see if different results. Some guys swear by them and some swear at them? Schools still out for me.

I have decoyed hundreds of bucks of all sizes - average 35 per season. I will not bowhunt without a decoy. Sometimes 6-7 per day. All with a buck decoy. Doe decoys spook does. There is some art to decoying anything. Some days great, other days nothing.

What you do is take Tinks #9 or any good doe in heat scent (apply to a cotton ball using rubber gloves) tie fishing string aroung each ball for about 12 balls. tie thecotton balls about 3 feet off the ground hanging from a branch. Run the past your tree stand. Decoy buck 15 yards from your stand. Also have a grunt call and use sparingly if at all. Use it if you see a buck and seems to be hung up on coming up the trail. Using this method in WVA, MD and here in Washing during rut has worked very well for me. Also always wear rubber boots as they will smell your leatherboots and will be gone.

What I described above allowed me to take this Washington blacktail.

What muddy says

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