Anyone Use A Decoy?

[realtree]

i've only used a decoy a hand full of times, but when i have used one and have seen deer it has really brought them in. i really only use it when it can be seen from a distance. anyone else have much luck using a decoy?

[tcoop]

realtree,

That is a good question. I am anxious to hear everyone elses response. I have never used one. I have seen a few used on videos and always say I'm going to, but have never got it done.

tcoop

[DickPal]

I got one last year and tried it 6 or 7 times. I had only 3 responses to it 2 bad where the does took off and 1 nice buck looked at it from about 50 yards like it was a piece of drift wood or something. I had the antlers on it and I grunted as he walked away and he still just ingnored it. That one pissed me off! [cont] I did read an article in my X favorite magazine though D&DH and that said they are most effective around the peak of the rut and this was not. Mine is a bear to set up and take down as far as the noise it makes. Sounds like a plastic drum! I started to put it together in the afternoon then lay it down so I could just stand it up in the evening or morning rather than tell all the deer in the section what I was doing. I also tried it with the legs off like a bedded doe and with and without antlers. I will try it some more this year though.

[Mossyhorns]

I have had pretty good luck with the decoy during pre-rut through the rut.With a little added rattling and some grunting.And it's pulled deer right in to me.

I learned the hard way to place the decoy facing away from you.Bucks like to come in from behind the decoy,which will give the quartering away shot.Instead of waiting till he gives you the shot opp.

[DickPal]

I can't hunt much this week (company :o )but I got to thinking ( something rarely done)! So I set up my decoy (bald) in a food plot Friday evening with the game camera on it. There was no action but that was a plot where I have been messing around planting trees by so I moved it to a new plot this morning. I am going to try several spots like this and then try them all again with scent. Just for fun! :D

[tcoop]

Hi DickPal,

Interesting experiment, please keep us posted with the results.

tcoop

[DickPal]

Well Saturaday to Sunday morning in a second plot and still no triggers. [cont] So I can't tell if deer were in attendance for their class on decoys or not big This after noon I am going to set it up just off a runway to a bait where it can be seen from the bait so there will be no chance of it being un noticed.

[DickPal]

I got 24 stills and 20 video clips last night with deer around the decoy. The deer were all bald and in the stills some apeared to be paying attention to the decoy. However in the video clips they did not seem to. Like in this pic they all may be looking at the decoy but it was the deer approaching that the 3 on the bait were looking at. One in a later clip ran her off. I think I am going to pull her out of the game untill the pre rut stuff gets going and bring her back as a buck, and continue the experiment. I also had fresh bear droppings from last night within 50 yards of the bait and did not get a picture of it so the decoy may have kept it away. But who knows.

[tcoop]

Cool DickPal,

Thanks for the great pix.

tcoop

[realtree]

thanks for the pic. i have had the best luck using a decoy pre rut and during the rut. i use it as a doe with some doe in heat on it. i think this way other does feel comfortable when they see it and with the sent bucks will approach. trying to kill two birds with one stone. if it brings in does the bucks will be coming to.