Lets see your deer decoys "in action"

[Dave Bulla]

Just curious how many of you use decoys for deer and what kind you use.

I recently picked up a two pack of the Montana decoys.  One is a doe and one a buck.  I wasn't sure how well they would work (and I'm still not) but due to public hunting lands and the difficulty of packing 3 dimensional decoys back into my hunting areas I figured I'd give them a try.  I've only used them once and never saw a deer so I haven't been able to witness a reaction to the decoys yet.  

I'm setting up my 2D decoys pretty close to edgeways to my stand figuring a deer will usually approach another from broadside.  Not sure if this holds true for the doe, but in the videos it seems most time a buck will half circle a decoy and come in to it's side pretty often going for a shot at the decoys ribs or flank.

Anyway, when I set up my Montanas, I walked off a bit and looked back to see how they looked and I have to say I was impressed.  Other than no legs below the knee, they looked pretty darned good to me.

Lets see if I can get my picture up that I took...

 

Here's from the other side.  I wonder about the wrinkles if they are a problem...?

 

[Dave Bulla]

I'm betting if they were set up in some low weeds or brush about knee high you would be hard pressed to tell it wasn't a real deer.

[Mike Bolin]

Dave, they look good to me! I have toyed with the idea of getting a 3-d decoy....the carrylite. I hunt private ground, but there is the occasional poacher sneaking in. Keep us informed as to any reaction you get! Good luck-Mike

[bentpole]

Dave those buggers look good enough to eat!

[K.S.TRAPPER]

Dave, Guru brought one down with him this year to try on are hunt. He used it one time and had a small buck come in. The decoy was bigger than the buck so he was real nervous.

I tried it in a clearing and had a doe with p&y buck come right to it about ten days ago. The problem was the buck came strait in and only gave me a strait on shot and then he got spooked and took off.

He was about five yards from the decoy when he blew and the doe stood around for a little while and then followed him.I have some pictures of both times, I will see if Guru can post them for me. I have already shot a nice buck and my son is still hunting hard so maybe we can get some more action for ya.

Tracy

[Gene Wensel]

I used a 2D Montana decoy quite a bit this season and again had excellent results. I filmed eight or nine close encounters. I had trouble last year with lone doe deer spooking until I added wooden clothes pins for small antlers. That seemed to do the trick. From then on it didn't spook does and every buck that sees it thinks he can whip a spikehorn. I had a 3 1/2 year old 4x4 approach the decoy last week. He sniffed it all over while posturing, then kicked it six or eight times with his front hoof. Then false charged and aborted the last split second. Then finally rammed it full bore, causing the "antlers" to go flying and knocking it over. Got the entire thing on video. Good stuff. Earlier I tried a 3D high dollar decoy with poor results. I used only one antler from a 100" class buck and cocked one ear aggressively but all but one or two young bucks didn't buy it. I think it was the texture or shine of the coat that spooked them. The 2D style are a lot easier to carry/use and work great, at least through late November.

[elkbow]

hey dave,i agree with gene,the 2d is the way to go for lightness and easy to handle.the doe decoys i havent had much luck with but the buck decoys are a magnet for either sex.just remember that a buck will come in facing the buck decoy,so set it accordingly for a shot.

[Matt S]

Anyway you could go about posting that video for us to see Gene? That would be really cool to see.

[tomh]

Pete Wards page has some home made decoys he used. Maybe he will chime in.

[Dave Bulla]

K.S. Trapper and Gene, How do you set up your 2D's?  Trapper, you said your buck came straight it and I assume you mean towards you but was your decoy broadside to you or edgways?  Gene, what's your experience?

My main concerns are which direction to set the things up, should I set it against a brush background so it can only be approached from broadside?  If not, do deer spook when they get around to an edgways view of a 2D?

Sure wish I'd had the things back in the first week or two of November...

[Shawn Leonard]

Dave, I have used the Montana and it is great but once in a while ya get a deer who approaches it and starts to circle, when they lose view of it, it can get comical. I have seen them walk back 50 yards to a spot they coul dsee it broadside. I had a small buck do that 3 times before he got spooked. I like Gene find ya need the horns on it, a stationary doe seems to freak out other doe's. I only use my two as a buck decoys and made a little plastic set of antlers for my doe Montana decoy that I put on with paper clips. I try to set them up slightly quartering at me, as bucks most always approach the decoy slightly from the side head on. I have shot one buck over a decoy in about 3 seasons of use. I have had more encounters but no shots, or shots I passed. Shawn

[DeerSpotter]

Dave,

I use double bull blinds, I have the T 5 and T 2 I just recently purchased the T 2 and I enjoy it a lot more since I hunt by myself.

I purchased the Montana decoys, the first caution you want to have is they looks so real you Do Not, Do Not want to use them during gun season.  Rather it's on private land or public land.  I have heard a couple of stories of guys having them shot at.

But the way you want to use your decoys, is placed them about 25 yd. away from your blind set up.  And you want them facing you, the reason for that is, the deer will come in and more times than not, they will want to make eye contact with the decoy, set them 25 or 30 yd. out, the deer will come in between you and your decoy to make eye contact, if it is during the rut, sometimes you'll see an aggressive buck rip your decoy out of the ground, best be taking your shot long before that.  The main reason for the decoy when you have a blind set up, is to take the attention off of your blind.  Another thing is do not spray scent directly on the decoy, I have taken fishing line and attached it to a small piece of lambs wool, my lambs wool is to different colors white on the bottom, and brown on the top.  I cut it just like the size of the deer tail, I attached to the decoy, and I will pull it to make it look like that deer decoy is waging its tail.

It's best to use a buck and a doe or if you only have one, a buck, a single doe will not bring in bucks.  The doe's will stand off at a distance if you just have a doe decoy, now there are the exceptions.  But most of time they'll stand off at a distance, stomping their foot, trying to get its attention, they will do that for as long as 45 minutes, and then they will bolt off.  The reason for that, they get awful suspicious when it doesn't move.  So the tail thing with the fishing line will give them some movement to look at.  If you have two your chances are better that you will attract both buck and doe.

I have talk to someone that uses decoys more than I do, she has been doing it for over 30 years, she now uses real-life size lightweight decoys.  And her system is, to hide the decoys head in the bushes like it is eating, she says if they can not see the eyes there are more apt to come in.  I don't have the experience it's just her information.  It's a lady that owns a professional bow shop, her husband and her son have had archery business for 30 years, she us to shot with a 40 recurve, and now she hunts with wheels but they are 45 lbs. that is all she's ever hunted with.  And she says she has the best of luck with buck decoys.  She averages three deer a year

Make notes about everything that happens with your decoys, and you'll learn from experience. The decoy is also qualify for the 50/100 rule.  You don't want to have your decoys in a secluded area where they surprise the deer when they come into that area, you want them to be able to be seen from a good distance.

Good luck with your decoys they are definitely a lot of fun and you have started with the best ones there are.  I do hunt public land, still be cautious.  There are certain public lands in my area I wouldn't use the decoy ever.  Even if it's only bow season, we have some people here that have no conscience, and no respect.  Poachers.


Good luck to you

Carl

[Earl E. Nov...mber]

When using the two deer set up, does a buck approach the buck first? I am guessing he does. However I have seen a lot of lesser bucks steal the doe too. I'd like to hear your observations.