Decoys

Any one use deer decoys? I've heard that they work and sometimes they will keep deer from coming in. Looking at making a bow hunt in pike county IL around last week in oct. Or 2nd week in nov. And thought of bringing decoys. I heard that the best set up for rutting bucks is a scrub buck decoy standing near a bedded doe decoy. Can anyone help with this?


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tried a decoy this year in GA a retied GlenDel 3d target no luck but gonna try again next year..

 

I've only used a decoy a handful of times and have only had one buck even see the thing. For some reason every time I break out the decoy all I see are does! Most of them don't like it and will blow at it before running away, although I've had a few who didn't seem to mind. The one buck that did see the decoy played his part perfectly - came in posturing the whole time and walked a few circles around it before leaving. Too bad he was only about 50 inches.

I believe the decoy is hit or miss thing. Some bucks in the right mood will love it. Others will spook. Use at your own risk, that's for sure.

 

yeah I have heard doe's generally don't like decoys.. I think they know it's a stranger in the area..

 

Hard to beat feeding does, like others said for every good reaction the risk of a bad reaction is pretty high.

 

Agreed. That's my feeling on deer decoys... even turkey decoys. My guess is the deer I hunt would be fairly leery of a decoy. For every taker there'd be three that would steer clear of it. That and I just don't care to pack a decoy in and out.

 

I have had one for years, we try it once a season, with mixed luck. It normally comes out for pranks on a hunter in the group. It has been shot at a few times but never gets hit. lol

Beefie

 

I use old 3d targets too.

Scotty

 

One of the more recent episodes of Growing Deer TV (check them out on YouTube) covered this very topic. It was interesting because this guy would put the decoy out and it definitely helped attract deer, but once they were about 50 yards away from the fake animal, they'd all spook and sprint in the opposite direction.

The general thinking is that the decoy works well on unpressured deer. However, if the deer are in a heavily-hunted area, they are too skittish for it to work.

 

I have 2 Montana decoys and have deer come in and literally come out of there hide. Then other deer come in pay no attention to them. Have used the Tinks doe and buck decoy they tend to be kinda touchy on weather changes when the temperature drops dramaticly they tend to lose air pressure. The Montana's are the go to for hunting open areas but when hunting in the timber the Tinks are the way to go.


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