Thread: Deer decoys

Does anyone have any advice on using a deer decoy in the woods as opposed to fields

I dont mean here in seark but in IL the 5th-14th

A few things I would suggest....

Spray the decoy down with scent killer after you handle it...most deer will circle downwind of the decoy to try and smell it before they will get anywhere close to it...

Situate the decoy so that when the deer do circle downwind..it will give you a clear shot without being busted yourself....

The decoy has to be very visable...which sometimes is very difficult in the woods...

I think deer have a hard time seeing something in the woods that is statue- like unmoving (like you standing very still while in view of a deer..the deer may not even notice you)...

I tie a large white feather on dental floss from the rear end of the decoy...the slightest breeze makes the feather move which gives the deer something to pick up on....

I have used the feather thingy as well, and it gives a good visual with the slightest breeze.

If you are using a doe decoy, position her so that her head is facing/quartering away from you. This puts her hind-end facing you and most bucks, after they scent the deal, will approach her from behind or quartering into her. You'll get busted less cause he will be looking past you at her.

For a buck, just the opposite. Have him looking directly at you. Most bucks, mature bucks, will approach a lesser buck head on, looking to make eye contact before the a--whoopin starts. Get your shot off before he attacks the decoy, cause after he figures out that his intruder is plastic, he's gone. It can come REALLLLLL quick, too.

A little "doe in heat", not much, but a little, will help keep his attention after he scents your decoy down wind.

Careful which doe in heat product you use. A good many of them are using doe pee extrcted from Texas deer ranches. Believe it or not, there IS a difference in the scents of a MO/IL deer from a Texas deer. This is a fact. Use this little tid bit to your advantage. If you can find someone locally collecting doe pee, by all means use it. But don't buy it if it is in a plastic bottle. Plastic is an oil based container and will 'leak' the oil base into your doe pee, thus contaminating a good product. I always use glass bottles that I get from my local pharmacy. Call the manufacturer and see where they collect from. Most will be upfront with you.

If, and only IF, you're a good enough salesman, get a tampon (fresher the better) and hang it off the back of your doe decoy. Get ready, cause it's "game on" if everything else is good (wind, temp., not getting busted).

Your deer may circle the decoy a time or two, to get the 'feel' for the situation, so don't make the mistake of putting it tooooo close (probably no closer than 20 yards).

Good luck, and knock his talleywacker in the dirt.

thanks 4 the help!