Montana Doe-decoy??

[3Feathers]

Anybody have any luck using the Montana doe-decoy??

[Kamm1004]

I used one last season to no prevail. Got more shot ops without it. Most deer spooked at it when they got within 40-50 yards. Like most things you hunt using decoys whether its ducks, deer or turkeys, the money for more realistic decoys will pay off in the end. That's my opinion anyways.

[dhaverstick]

My dad and I both have one and we have both had the same experiences; does DO NOT LIKE IT! Two times I had a group of does approach the decoy and go completely berserk. Dad has gotten the same reaction with his.

I saw a post on here somewhere where a guy put clothespins on the decoy to make it look like a spike buck. He said the deer found that less threatening. I tried that but never had anything come near it.

Darren

[Stinger]

I used mine for the first time last year and liked it.  First time out I had two fawns that had been kicked out by Mom (during the chase phase of rut) that came over and laid down right next to it for an hour.  Several times I had does come up to it very slowly and circle it 10 yards out.  They never spooked.  I tried it just the way it came and with the clothes pins and had the same results.  On one occasion I had it set up without the pins as a doe in the heart of the chase phase. All of a sudden I hear a bunch of racket and see tails flying through the woods toward me.  3 does go streaking by.  I figure a buck is chasing them and see one doe stop about 40 yards out eyeballing the decoy.  About the same time I hear something loud behind me.  A nice 150+ buck had slammed on the brakes not 25 yards from the decoy.  Now I didn't see him run in with all the commotion but I presume he was running the other does and stopped as soon as he saw the decoy.  Of course, like an idiot, I had just grunted on the grunt tube to try and stop the other deer and he knew something was up.  He kept looking back between where I was in the tree and the decoy.  I finally couldn't stand it any more and decided to take the 20 yard shot when the top limb of the bow hit the tree as I was drawing.  As I tried to reverse cant the bow he finally saw me and and trotted off.  That was the only buck that saw the decoy, but every doe that saw it came in close enough to offer me a shot.  I'm sold on using it and will do so this year.

[ArrowAtomik]

I tried it long ago.  I had one experience with a doe spooking at 10 yards from it as it was coming into my shooting lane and one with a young buck slamming on the breaks and stomping at it, then taking a detour away from it (and me).  Both deer happened upon it suddenly and didn't seem to have been aware of it farther out.  

I've wondered about using it out in the open when hunting the edge of a field entrance in the evening to give the impression the coast is clear... otherwise, I think by the time they are in bow range in my experience, they are on pretty high alert with these decoys.

[Weasel]

I killed my biggest blacktail to date with one. However, I modified by adding a couple of small, forked horn foam antlers. When I used it as a doe, it spooked does, I suspect because they seem to know the does in the area. But when used as a buck during the rut, it didn't. It actually aroused curiosity. Since bucks roam during the rut, the sight of an unknown buck didn't seem out of place so it didn't spook them. After a rattling sequence the buck I killed came to it on a string once he spotted it. Shot him at about 10 yards, his attention focused on the decoy. He never saw me draw.

[xtrema312]

I had a doe get spooky on one last year, but could have shot her as far as range goes, but she was way too jumpy.  She spotted it a long way off in an open area and did come over to check it out.  She came in from an angle off the back of the decoy that would have made it not look like a full size deer.  That could have been a factor making it look odd to her.  I only used it once last year, but the year before I put it out twice and had deer close to it and alaxed.  One time it was some young does and the other time a buck eased up to it and tried to catch its sent. Both those times the deer were within in about 20’ of it at one point.

[calgarychef]

I've shot quite a few deer while using the decoy.  Learn to use it and it will serve you very well.

[Lost Arra]

I've got one unused in the closet.
I may try it in my vegetable garden.
Hope it terrifies the tomato plant-eating wenches.

[Butchie]

Mixed results as a doe decoy.  Button bucks LOVE it no matter what.  Better to use it as a small buck decoy during the pre-rut/rut.  Try a couple of old wooden clothes pins as spike "horns", seems to make a big difference.  Good humting!

[Stickbow98]

Another good tip is to add some movement with strips of white plastic (I cut mine from kitchen trash bags) pinned to the tail on both sides of the decoy. The fluttering of the plastic imitates the flicking of the tail on a relaxed deer, and seems to not only add an attraction but a calming factor as well.
I also agree that you'll get a better response overall by making your doe decoy into a small buck. Does are wary of unknown does, but small bucks intimidate no one....does or other bucks, and are commonly found wandering into new areas during the rut having been displaced by their mothers.

[Butchie]

Yes, great point on creating movement at the tail.  I have used a thin strip of cloth with white marabou feathers attached.  These move even in the slightest breeze.  I like the white plastic...weather proof and would still move easily!    

[calgarychef]

I use actual whitetail tails on mine for realism.  I also make it into a buck once the rut rolls around, I have some small coreplast antlers that I attach with a couple of bulldog clips.  Larger bucks can't stand to see a smaller buck in the area.  Also when the rut is truly raging I'll use two decoys, one buck and one doe.  Ever want to see an angry whitetail buck that's a sure way to do it....and deadly.