Decoying for deer

[rbcorbitt]

Ok, you experienced deer decoy users.  This is the year that I am FINALLY gonna try out this technique.  Any pointer or advice that you can offer would be greatly appreciated!  Best time of season, set ups, "secret" tips     , etc!  

More interested in use of buck decoy to draw in bucks.  Will be hunting on public land.

Thanks for the responses!

[B2]

The current issue of Traditional Bowhunter has a great article by Stan Rauch on decoying.

[23feetupandhappy]

Its like other techniques for whitetails.....
They don't work all the time but when they do, Man Look Out!!!!

You need an open area to use one,
place it quartering to you up wind at a comfortable shooting distance as the buck will always approach to the downwind side if possible as well as head on ( if you have it set up as a buck, they approach from the rear if you have it set up as a doe) which will put it in your lap looking towards the decoy.

Make sure its scent free ( if they smell anything out of the ordinary they are gone ) and then I spray buck urine on the ground around the back end.

Tying white small plastic bag stripes around the ears gives the decoy a little movement which when given a large distance to observe while coming in the buck will get cautious if there is zero movement.

If not spooked and their fully engaged you'll have plenty of opportunities to shoot as they just cant figure it out.


They work on field edges well but like turkeys if given to much room to observe they can hang up.

I think that about a half an acre opening is ideal!  big enough to not startle them but small enough to get them engaged quickly.

Those are most the basics but im sure iv missed something.

Have Fun, it wont work if you don't use it!!!!!

Ben

[rbcorbitt]

Thanks B2 and 23feetup.  Had this deer decoy for a couple years now, and keep meaning to give it a try.

Meant to say that I was hunting on private land only.  Brain fart   !

Any other experienced deer decoyers out there?

[Fritz]

I setup just the way Ben suggested. I've never tried the ear strips, but I'm sure that would help. One thing I've learned is that all bucks don't read the script and will approach from the rear of the decoy as well. Just make sure to not put the decoy to far out as sometimes your shot could be behind the decoy. Pretty exciting when it works right. Had to re-weld the stand on my Primos decoy last year after a nice young 8 beat the crap out of my decoy and broke it. I will be using mine alot during my Kansas trip coming up.

[Huntingnut]

I agree with all the posts, but I have had good luck with a doe decoy. Or I should say more consistent luck. Like someone else said, when it works look out. I swear you can do jumping jacks and the deer won't care.

[calgarychef]

I always place the doe decoy so the bucks approach from the rear...which they seem to do all the time, after all they aren't interested in kissing   .  I use real whitetail, tails on my decoys.  Bucks approach bucks from the front, maybe they do want to kiss?  Or maybe they like fighting.  Never set up a decoy to look where you are sitting, other deer will look where the decoy is looking.  Decoys work best during the rut.  If you get a doe decoy and a buck decoy (with small antlers) no mature buck without a doe at the time can resist coming in to chase off the other....your cue to release an arrow.