Deer Decoys-Do you use them?

[HD]

Since bow season is coming up, I thought it would be a good time to discuss the use of deer decoys.

Do you use decoys during your bow season?

Where do you usually place them?

What situations are best suited for decoys?

What brand if any, do you prefer?

Do you place scents on your decoy or just around the area?

Most of all...........do you have any good decoy stories? Interaction with real deer?


I'm just trying to hype you guy's up! Get ready for the season!


I'll start........
I use a full body doe decoy, mainly placed just off of a well used trail.
The best time I have used one, is during or just before rut.
I don't have any particular brand, the one I use is an old bow target.
I put a couple wicks in the trees right by the decoy but not on.
I use my decoy mainly for sizing up the deer that come in. The reason for this is, we have new hunters that come out and are not sure of deer size. This gives them something to compare them to.
I really don't have a good story, other than my decoy has been mounted by some smaller bucks during the rut, and is kinda funny to watch.

So, lets hear um!

Hunter

[Don Stenseth]

Great topic! I have never used a decoy but I am a firm believer in scents. I am interested in hearing from our members who use decoys.

[22lex]

I use a doe only decoy that seems to bring in bucks during rut, and curious doe's anytime before gun season. I don't see any reason to use a buck decoy, or a buck/doe decoy as there really isn't any comparative land that I would hunt like we would see on Drury's outdoors, or Realtree videos.

I have had a couple dummy young bucks make an attempt to mount it, and I once had a family of three cross-country skiers walk towards it until the dad figured out what was going on.

I guess as far as scents I keep my decoy as scent free as possible, and use estrus at the right times of the year down the back legs of the decoy.

I kind of look at it this way: if a buck can hear a doe bleat, he probably wants to see something or he will more than likely come in downwind of the sound. I like to think that when I use this decoy it also gives the deer something to focus on while I'm pulling the string back.

[Bobby Bass]

Full size decoy? I don't know.. We tried it once with out much success. We were set up in a high traffic area and we were using the local hot scent. Me and my partner had been scouting the area for years with out much luck so we thought the decoy might make a difference. Everyone else seems to score at the Mall and we thought with a mannequin at our table we would draw in the ladies... O wait, my mistake this was a deer hunting question. Sorry.... 

[deadeye]

I only used a decoy for bow hunting a couple times last fall so my experience is limited.  I put a full body bow target doe decoy in a field about 10 yards from my stand.  The first deer (a fawn) worked it's way slowly towards the decoy.  When it got about 8 yards from the decoy I flung an arrow but only managed to stick it in the ground about 2 feet in front of the deer.  (I realized then that you should actually look throught the peep site not just at the pin).  The deer hopped off but came back later and this time I lined up correctly and got it.   I used the decoy several other times with mixed results.  I'd say it's a 50/50 chance that a deer will come to it or run from it.  This year I plan to try the decoy as a buck looking to take over anothers area.    

[RavenDog]

I use a doe Decoy.  Not sure of the brand, but I use it on the edge of our corn field and works great.  I drilled two holes in the top and I use some old sheds I found and stick those in there when I wanna use it for a buck.  Also, something that works really good.  Take about a half paper towel "spelling" (white)  spray your favorite scent on the towel and use a pin tack and pin it to the ass of the decoy.  When the wind comes it flags and scents.  I would advise not to use a decoy if you are in a ground blind.  My father was using a ground blind with a decoy on the edge of the field.  And a truck drove by saw the decoy, went home and came back with another person.  Turned out they had a gun and were gonna shot the deer.  While my dads blind has right behind them.  good thing he was watching the whole time and jumped out of the blind and started waving his arms.  I would suggest giving a decoy a chance, when they work is kinda fun to watch!

[The General]

I use a Buck Decoy until the rut or post rut.  Unless I want to take a doe (if the wife doesn't get one gun hunting) doe decoys bring in other Does.  Then the smart Doe busts you when she realises this thing is fake.  This might just be me.  But almost every professional article I have read says to use a Buck decoy.  they will keep the Doe away.

[HD]

My father was using a ground blind with a decoy on the edge of the field.  And a truck drove by saw the decoy, went home and came back with another person.  Turned out they had a gun and were gonna shot the deer.  While my dads blind has right behind them.  good thing he was watching the whole time and jumped out of the blind and started waving his arms. 

That would be kinda scary!
Good thing he didn't get shot!

Hunter

[deadeye]

We use a lightweight blaze orange plastic bag for a "tail" on the decoy.   You never know when some yahoo thinks it's a real deer.

[22lex]

I second that. Even though we hunt where no-one else gun-hunts I always stick the old blaze orange hat somewhere on the deer.

[HD]

That's a GREAT tip!
I never even thought of it....I hunt on my own land, but for a pre-caution, I'm gonna add one on mine.