decoys

[samr]

When using a deer doe decoy what are some of the options on the set-up.  I've  used one a little(8-10times) and the deer are scared to death(other does) or they ignore it.  I do not have any confidence, but seems it should work.

[MI_Bowhunter]

I have one that someone gave me a while back and have been reluctant to use it.  While I've heard a lot of success stories, I've also heard of a lot of failures.

I'm guessing time of season and location has a lot to do with their success or failure.

[E. Texas HillBilly]

I have never used one, however, I have read that they work well when used with the appropriate scents. Like doe estrus or somthing to that effect. Sorry I could not be of more help.
                                      -Hillbilly

[blueline]

Put small head gear on it!!!

[T Folts]

I converted my decoy to a long spike using a old broom handle. I just cut it to lenght and rounded it down and made it fit the slots in the head. They are bright and show up well however I only hunted it once and didnt see anything.
On my first outing this year I used the six point rack it came with and had a doe and two fawns close 15-20 yards. They kept a eye on both my popup blind and the decoy most of the time.

[Greg in Delton MI]

Does do not trust transient does, they have a home range and live in small units of matriarch and daughters, seeing another doe in there home range puts them on instant defense, add a pair of clothes pins or a pair of tan forks between the ears of a Montana decoy, making it a "Fork Buck" this helps relax the does.

This time of year bucks are transient and does see many different bucks wander through their range as bucks cover several times more ground than does do.

I also poke a hole at the tail of the decoy and add a strip of white plastic bag to flutter from the wind. I have killed several does and a couple bucks over this set up. I'm hunting with a full body decoy this season, no action yet.

[Rangeball]

I've had great luck with decoys.  Last season especially.  Had numerous bucks and does in using it as a doe during the rut, including a 170 class 10 pt that didn't give me a shot opportunity cause he caught me moving a bit and never picked me off but was on full alert.  Still didn't keep him from checking out the decoy, and being on the ground at 8-15 yards from him for 15 minutes about was awesome.

The times I've had bad reactions was when the deer couldn't see the decoy from a distance, and just came up on it.  Spooked them almost every time.  Now I always use it in the open where deer can see it while approaching.

Last year I had 4 does feed around the decoy for 45 minutes, looking at it like why won't you move, but totally at ease.  They were a yard from my blind for a bit.

Passed on 4 bucks including one huge body 8pt with a smallish rack.  They all came in and spent 10-15 minutes trying to get her to move.

This year I was going to buy the primos scarface due to the head movement, but instead I bought this-

 http://www.easydoe.com/

Got it out and played with it last week, works perfectly.  Really looking forward to hitting it hard next week and seeing how she works.

[b.glass]

Had an eight point staring intently at my "doe" target the other day. Made me want to try decoying.

[Bonebuster]

Last season, me and my then twelve yr old son, were perched about thirty yards apart, on November 6th. I saw a deer through the open woods, and thought I got a glimpse of antler.
I dug through my pockets, and retrieved my "can" estrus bleat.(Primos)

The deer heard the call, and came to us at a trot.
(One of the biggest bucks I have EVER seen alive.)
He stopped just short of being in range of my son.
He could see through the open woods and did not see the doe he heard calling. He turned and trotted away after becoming suspicious.

If we had a decoy, I`m sure he would have come the last few yards.

I am seriously considering buying one. I`m sure, at the right time, it WOULD work. But it is one more thing to carry.

[samr]

I can see where does would not like an unknown doe in their area-  this may explain does blowing at my decoy.  The spike buck instead of a doe sounds interesting.  I quess a deer would have to get close to tell if it was a spike or doe.  

I have an elk decoy with no head- how would that work.  Just a deer body but no head?

Next week s/b good.  I'll shoot a doe anytime, so I don't want to run them off.

Any more help will be appreciated.

[wihill]

I tried the Montana doe decoy with clothespins this last weekend and had 3 does come up to it out of curiousity.  The little ones seemed more uneasy for some reason, but an older doe came right up to it.

Just make sure to put it in a place of high visibility.