deer decoy

If a guy was to use a deer decoy this weekend for muzzy hunting what would you use…a doe or buck….or no decoy at all. I have 2 tags left one doe and one buck, but I am only shooting a good buck, nothing under 2.5 year old. The doe will need to be mature also, no fawns. Any opinions would be great. thanks

If it were me and I was hunting a field edge on an active food source, I’d leave the decoy at home.

If it were me and I was hunting a field edge on an active food source, I’d leave the decoy at home.

USING A DECOY DURING ANY FIREARMS SEASON SOUNDS SCARY TO ME.

USING A DECOY DURING ANY FIREARMS SEASON SOUNDS SCARY TO ME.

With this weather I would be hunting a corn field or a active food plot. There is a lot of attraction in food then a decoy this time of year.

With this weather I would be hunting a corn field or a active food plot. There is a lot of attraction in food then a decoy this time of year.

but fellas….a deer decoy, wether it be a buck or doe will put other deer at ease and maybe coax them into the field. To me it’s a no lose situation as long as your decoy is sprayed down so no foreign odors are on it.

but fellas….a deer decoy, wether it be a buck or doe will put other deer at ease and maybe coax them into the field. To me it’s a no lose situation as long as your decoy is sprayed down so no foreign odors are on it.

I disagree muskyman. The experience I’ve had with decoy’s, most adult doe’s do not like doe decoys and they will blow and stomp there feet at them forever. Doe’s have dominance “issues” just like bucks do. Mix that with a decoy that doesn’t move and you get the above result. I just think if you’re hunting a field that the deer are already hitting, why take a chance of ruining it, let them do their normal thing.

I disagree muskyman. The experience I’ve had with decoy’s, most adult doe’s do not like doe decoys and they will blow and stomp there feet at them forever. Doe’s have dominance “issues” just like bucks do. Mix that with a decoy that doesn’t move and you get the above result. I just think if you’re hunting a field that the deer are already hitting, why take a chance of ruining it, let them do their normal thing.

I agree 100%. I used to think they would put deer at ease. I know a lot of guys that won’t use them other then just before the does are coming into heat. Bucks seem to respond pretty well to them at that time, and at least will check them out. In my experience, does do not like them very often. Yes, there are occasions, but I certainly wouldn’t put it by my stand. I may set it up in the field, but I wouldn’t hunt by it this time of year.

I agree 100%. I used to think they would put deer at ease. I know a lot of guys that won’t use them other then just before the does are coming into heat. Bucks seem to respond pretty well to them at that time, and at least will check them out. In my experience, does do not like them very often. Yes, there are occasions, but I certainly wouldn’t put it by my stand. I may set it up in the field, but I wouldn’t hunt by it this time of year.

I agree with Scott and Ben. Does do not like decoys. If I were to use one it would be during the pre rut / chase phase. I would also use a buck decoy at that point. Hutning a field edge at this time of year on a active food source, I would NOT use a decoy. I have had whole fields cleared before cause of my decoy. Those skiddish mature does, do not like it and will come to investigate somewhat, but when they see it not moving, etc. They will bust out of there taking all the deer in the field with her. If you are muzzle loading, I would definitley use the real deer in the field as your decoys. If you have real does and bucks out there, the big boy will step out in the field before dark, if he is around. Just my $.02

I agree with Scott and Ben. Does do not like decoys. If I were to use one it would be during the pre rut / chase phase. I would also use a buck decoy at that point. Hutning a field edge at this time of year on a active food source, I would NOT use a decoy. I have had whole fields cleared before cause of my decoy. Those skiddish mature does, do not like it and will come to investigate somewhat, but when they see it not moving, etc. They will bust out of there taking all the deer in the field with her. If you are muzzle loading, I would definitley use the real deer in the field as your decoys. If you have real does and bucks out there, the big boy will step out in the field before dark, if he is around. Just my $.02

Sounds like everyone is on the same page. I will leave it in the box in the pole barn. Thanks for the info and good luck all.

Sounds like everyone is on the same page. I will leave it in the box in the pole barn. Thanks for the info and good luck all.

I took all of the advise here and didn’t use a decoy. Good thing, I didn’t need it. I had all the decoys one would want. Like Lip Ripper and others said, they were all looking to get some eats. 40-50 deer came to the bean feild on Saturday night. They were in groups of 4-10. Mostly does and fawns except two single small bucks. What a great night. I had my muzzy and my two sons had their bows and we were within 50 yards of each other. I wanted to watch them harvest a deer and I was going to shoot back up From 3:30pm until dark we had deer all around us, even though I shot twice with my bent barrel muzzy and the boys had several shots with their bows . Unfortunately we did not harvest a deer which was very embarrasing considering the opertunities we had, but the boys could not stop talking about all the action for 2 days. I am sure with all the deer they were so excited it was tough to concenrate, but I have no excuse . I’ll be back at the feild edge Saturday morning to try and redeem myself…after some serious time at the range this week.

I took all of the advise here and didn’t use a decoy. Good thing, I didn’t need it. I had all the decoys one would want. Like Lip Ripper and others said, they were all looking to get some eats. 40-50 deer came to the bean feild on Saturday night. They were in groups of 4-10. Mostly does and fawns except two single small bucks. What a great night. I had my muzzy and my two sons had their bows and we were within 50 yards of each other. I wanted to watch them harvest a deer and I was going to shoot back up From 3:30pm until dark we had deer all around us, even though I shot twice with my bent barrel muzzy and the boys had several shots with their bows . Unfortunately we did not harvest a deer which was very embarrasing considering the opertunities we had, but the boys could not stop talking about all the action for 2 days. I am sure with all the deer they were so excited it was tough to concenrate, but I have no excuse . I’ll be back at the feild edge Saturday morning to try and redeem myself…after some serious time at the range this week.

That there is what it is all about man

That there is what it is all about man

I know a guy that swears by using turkey decoys as confidence decoys while deer hunting. I’m not so sure it works. What do you guys think.

I know a guy that swears by using turkey decoys as confidence decoys while deer hunting. I’m not so sure it works. What do you guys think.

Hey Gator i just seen this post and i couldn’t agree more. Tell him to get a diaphram call to use too. I use a diaphram mouth call and its completely set the deer at ease when i have spooked them. Its a fact that the turkeys eyes are alot better than the eyes of a deer and i call them the eyes of the woods, just like the birds are. Ever notice the birds start squaking and making all kinds of noise when somethings moving especially a cat. I know forsure the deer rely on the turkey and thier signals to tell them when troubles around, seen it too much to not believe it. With the turkey decoys out there i’d bet a 100 bucks it helps tell the deer that everythings ok. Match that up with a turkey call and a darned good grunt call and what else could a guy want. Im going to use my two jake decoys when i go out besides my diaphram call. I might even attach a string to the jakes to make them move like its alive. Use a deer doe decoy plus a couple of jakes, even a tom and a turkey and grunt call, put a tail on the doe attached to a string. Any buck on the make would come to this and feel confident. Glad you posted this, im going to use them.

Hey Gator i just seen this post and i couldn’t agree more. Tell him to get a diaphram call to use too. I use a diaphram mouth call and its completely set the deer at ease when i have spooked them. Its a fact that the turkeys eyes are alot better than the eyes of a deer and i call them the eyes of the woods, just like the birds are. Ever notice the birds start squaking and making all kinds of noise when somethings moving especially a cat. I know forsure the deer rely on the turkey and thier signals to tell them when troubles around, seen it too much to not believe it. With the turkey decoys out there i’d bet a 100 bucks it helps tell the deer that everythings ok. Match that up with a turkey call and a darned good grunt call and what else could a guy want. Im going to use my two jake decoys when i go out besides my diaphram call. I might even attach a string to the jakes to make them move like its alive. Use a deer doe decoy plus a couple of jakes, even a tom and a turkey and grunt call, put a tail on the doe attached to a string. Any buck on the make would come to this and feel confident. Glad you posted this, im going to use them.