Anyone have experience decoying whitetails?

[Sean B]

I'm just wondering who has had success decoying whitetails. I have a set of collapsible Montana decoys that I won as a door prize at a game dinner s few years ago. I've never used them. I got into thinking about one of my hot spots. It's a large piece of open hard woods where you can see forever. I was thinking of setting them up in this long draw that has a steep hill that over looks it. I have both a buck and a doe. Any advise, stories or pics, good or bad are greatly appreciated.

[Sam McMichael]

Not intentionally. I left my target out in the back yard once during the rut. When I looked out the next morning, the pieces of the target were scattered all over the place.

[old_goat2]

They work great for young bucks, think it's hit and miss for mature bucks, but once they see them you can get away with murder as far as standing up to shoot etc. The does will absolutely stay far away from them though!!!!  I use a grunt call in conjunction with. Not worth the effort if it's not rut time.

[J. Holden]

I don't have experience either but hunt with a fellow who does use them.  He'll set a doe or two or three out in a corn field just in front of his stand in the hedge row.  He has some tail flicking thing too.  Once a doe sees the decoys they slowly make their way over to them.  He thinks it's a security in numbers, coast is clear thing.  We hunt public land too.  It doesn't hurt.  You got 'em for free, try 'em out!  Let us know what worked and what didn't.

-Jeremy  

[old_goat2]

That's interesting to hear the multiple does will attract other does because singular doe decoys sure doesn't. Might need to give that a try next time I draw a whitetail tag

[huckbuck]

I just bought a Montana Decoy small buck that was in Cabela's bargain cave.  I've been wanting to try decoying Whitetails for a long time.  We'll see how it goes this November. Any tips would be appreciated.

[K.S.TRAPPER]

I've played around with one for several years and have killed one buck and passed on several small ones. One doe and passed on some of them too but have spooked quite a few of them.

Here's a pick of the decoy from the stand, decoy is only 15yds looks farther. Five scrapes under the tree we were siting in and the deer had been coming into this corner of the clearing from behind us on 3 different trails.

     

I have videos and picks on another computer let me look for them tonight. I will say that I have killed several turkeys with the deer decoy, seems to act like a confidence decoy I think.

We are going to try several size racks on the decoy this year I have plenty and use a couple AvianX turkey hens with the set up to see if they act any different. It's not that it's not working but it seems like the only bucks that come in are of equal size or smaller, the big guys always hang up just out of range. Many times!

Tracy

[kbetts]

I have used the Montana's.  I've killed a couple does over the doe decoy as well.  Make sure whatever set your using, to position it or them so you can shoot the down wind side.  They always circle.

My brother came up with the idea to position the doe laying down one year when he forgot the leg stakes.  He had an eight pointer run right in but missed the opportunity as he tried to take a cell phone pic.  We learned from that.  During the rut, when in the woods, put her laying with her back up against a brush pile or tree top where she can be seen at "deer level" for a distance and keep your bow ready.  Any buck that sees her is coming in to check her out.

[MnFn]

I tried it in a small field a few years ago.  The deer was in the upright position and thst seemed to put the deer thst came into the field on alert.

I have thought a head down/feeding decoy might work better.

[Sean B]

Interesting. Thanks for the input guys.  I'm going to play around with it a little during the season.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Sean, Hopefully Littlebigman will chime in. If you followed his 5 pines farm hunt thread last year, he did a bit of decoying.  

It seemed to me the deer were spooked once they realized the flat decoys were flat.  If thats the kind you have, try to position it in a place where you will get a shot before the deer can see the flat angle.

It sounds like he was able to decoy in the smaller bucks and does became cautious or left quickly.

[mnbwhtr]

I've never shot a buck over one(montana) but have passed on some pretty easy shots on small bucks. Most does will spook from them so you must not use them in thick areas. I like the edge of a cornfield. The other thing I did was to make a small pair of antlers out a milk jug and paper clip them on my doe decoy. It stopped does from spooking. They will be confused when they get in line with it and it disappears but as soon as they see it again they come in. It's fun but I haven't had any big bucks come in so I can't say how they'll react.

[Mint]

I heard to put some clothes pins on the decoy so it looks like a spike and that will lure in the bucks and keep the does from spooking.

Maybe the does know all the other does in their area but since spikes get kicked out of their area they are used to seeing new spikes all the time?

[Sean B]

I'm sure that there's s time and location for both a Buck and doe decoy. I thinking of setting the buck up just as bucks are cruising for does and starting to chase.

[little_feather]

I used a decoy while hunting a lease in Illinois a while back when, I hate to admit this, I hunted with the compound. I was able to shoot my biggest buck to date when he came cruising down the crp field edge and spotted the one horned buck staring at him. He laid his ears back and came right in. I would suggest only using half a rack, as some smaller bucks could be intimidated by a larger looking buck. Also, placement is key. Bucks will come in nose to nose when squaring off, so place the decoy in a way that will present the best shot opportunity for you. I arrow ed my buck at 13 yards broadside. It was quite the experience! Good luck!

[Sean B]

These Montana Buck decoys have small antlers, I may cut them down smaller. We'll see what happens.

[LITTLEBIGMAN]

check this out

 https://www.flickr.com/photos/51550276@N08/15057524174/in/dateposted-public/

had I wanted to kill this buck he circled the decoy 3.5 times and gave me numerous 8 and 10 yards shots.

I decoy hard each year and look at this time as the most exciting part of my bow season.

I have the Montana decoys too but they have lots of issues a 3 d one doesn't.

[Izzy]

Shoot quick when they come in. Ive been successful with a foam silhouette of a deers head set in brush and once with a home made monstrosity. In my experience they come in fast and leave just as fast.

[Jake Scott]

Tracy,
Have you used the decoys in conjunction with calls, such as rattling sequences and grunting?  I would think that having a decoy(s) may give a mature deer something to focus on after hearing such calls, rather than you the hunter.  This interests me because I have had success both rattling and making verbal calls like a grunt or a wheeze.  However, when bucks do come in they come in a full alert.  A situation we can all agree is not ideal.

Jake

[Sean B]

Cool video Jim. I'm using the Montana cause the price was right, I may breakdown and buy a 3d. I've always wanted to give it a go but I could just never deviate from my routine.  I did see one of the Wensel/Mitten videos that they had a Montana decoy with clothes pins.