I have successfully ratted and called deer but have never used a decoy. This year I want to try a decoy and could use some advice.

I hunt from the ground and walk in distances range from a few hundred yards to 1/2 mile.

1. What brand and model. There are quite a number of decoys on the market. 3-D, folding, partial disassembly ...

2. Buck or doe or both

3. Decoy placement relative to blind, e.g. facing blind, facing away from blind.

4. Scent or no scent on decoy

5. What is the one thing you think is most important about using decoys?

Thanks.

broad side, upwind. Doe. Scent. I like to tape TP at the tail so it will flutter in the wind. Commandoe is portable, use to have a Flambeau (neoprene) that was very light and easy to pack.

I've personally had more deer run from decoys than come to them.

Your mileage may vary.

+1 for JusPassin-lol. ...but if your heart is set on doing it I have found (this is not written in stone) bucks will almost always approach the decoy from behind. Brand dont' matter. No scent other than natural-leave it out in the woods for a week or so before using. Then you can put a calming type scent but nothing aggressive early. Most important is do not touch it with your bare hands or get it around coffee or anything minty. You can pin a white rag on the tail to put scent on and tie some fishing line (4 wt.) to the end and toss over a limb and run it into your blind to tug on, sounds crazy but it can get a wary buck to come in. Yur going to get a ton of answers and none will match btw-lol. The fun is in doing your own thing and trial and error is a great teacher!

Got one I've never used.

Montana buck - probably big enough to scare the snot out of 99% of the bucks I see.

I was thinking to use it as a blocker - position it parallel to the trails through a funnel area so it would be invisible until they get broadside to it, and locate it where passing deer would come my way to skirt around it.

I have used decoys and love it. I've killed a doe and a small buck using them and have Missed a few too. What I have found is movement in your decoy is key. I use a tail wager, check your game laws if it's legal, and when the tail twitches it holds the deer. If you can't use a battery operate tail use TP or some cheese cloth, whatever will move in the wind. I have 3d and 2d Montana and with it I'll use the front stake and leave the back one out. Take a couple of stick and put them on each side of the ass end and the sticks act as a stop when the wind blows. Makes it look like the deer is turn back and forth. I use ever calm on the decoy and other scents I put on the ground or a stick in the ground at the back end. I use a doe during the rut and after the rut and a buck in pre rut. Also a buck and doe concept during the rut.

Now, you want the buck decoy facing you or quartering towards you and make sure to set it up far enough away from you so the deer will get in between you and the decoy. A doe you want her arse end facing you or broadside. Does will spook on decoys more times than not, but for you place it right and scent it up they should stick around long enough to get a shot off. I also have a feeding decoy which is awesome, for some reason the deer don't get spooked as fast or as bad, I think that it's because they can't look into the eyes of the decoy. Best advice is get out and use it and learn as you go, they are fun to use and just remember, when you wake from a little nap and see a deer in front of you, check twice before you shoot it may just be your decoy lol. Good luck!

I've had good luck rattling in bucks, but not decoying. But it may be where I hunt and the attitude of the bucks. Can't use a line to move decoys in Michigan, has to be wind motion. Certainly a great way to learn about the bucks in your area and how they respond to different tactics.

P.S. Make sure you place your decoy in the open so that deer can see it from a distance. If you use it in the woods are sure it's open as possible, if they come around a corner and see it right in front of them they spook.

Is 3-D vs. 2-D an important consideration?

I've had luck with them on field edges.

They're pretty noisy to put up though so I don't do it often.

I you are going to hide it and not carry it in and out every day, I wouldn't put scent directly on it.

Shawn has it correct, never broadside. Think about the buck/doe approach. Bucks should be facing SE or SW and does NE or NW TO YOU not the compass.

I always have the tail at half mast. BUT I don't have a wagger and that sounds like a good idea.

Plus I take a small 6 oz spray bottle and fill it with local water with about one tablespoon of doe scent. With a decoy I spray it on and all around and my trail in and out. I also use it for any treesand 'in' trail and about every 15 minutes while sitting.

Bowmania

Bucks from the front or rear! ? Seems we have a wide view of what's best as we have opinions both ways and then broadside. Looks like you are on your own as there are too many wide ranging opinions-including one that suggest you leave it at home! Good luck

Another tip which I forgot to mention earlier, never put a decoy on a deer trail. Always set it off to the side, leave it on the trail and you cause a deer jam.

I have a Commandoe. I set it angling towards me, up wind but out so scent from decoy parallels my stand. I taped a thing pieCE of white plastic bag at the tail so it moves in the wind

If you have already registered, please

sign in now

For new registrations

Click Here