What are the best deer decoys and why?

We are getting close to the best action packed part of the season Pre-Rut & Rut. This can be the time of the year to use a Buck Decoy standing over a Bedded Doe on a edge of a clearing or food source.

Remember when setting up – the big bucks will normally circle around downwind for that stiff legged ruffed up dominant killer approach towards the Buck decoy

What’s your favorite setup and some tips to go with it!

Here’s my killer tip for the day

On the standing decoy a small short stick in the tail area with a white hanky zip tied to it, — a buck magnet if there ever was one because any slight breeze or air movement and the tail is flickering around just like a live one – a real attention getter!

Good luck this Fall folks

Jeff

Great tip Jeff!

Quote:

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for that stiff legged ruffed up dominant killer approach towards the Buck decoy

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My absolute most favorite thing to see/watch in the whole wide world.

The only thing you forgot was the: dominant killer “I’m looking this way but diagonally walking that way” approach!

I like and have used your tip about the “fake tail”.

I have went through quite a few decoys through the years. The buck one I use currently has a head and tail that moves in the slightest breeze with counter weights inside of it. The added realism of motion has two distinct advantages to it. It can be a deal sealer for an older mature buck that hangs up at 60 yards, but I think more importantly it seems to have a calming sense to those weary does that often foil your plans. Believe me, as I have had a 170″ buck sitting off the field edge checking out the situation just about to come in and check my decoy out until a I had a doe start stomping and snorting at motionless decoy.

I had a Delta decoy years back and I know anything a guy can do to make it look real does help alot. Maybe also put some tarsal gland scent on the buck and doe pee on the doe. If a guys only got a buck decoy position the buck like hes looking for does and where they would be, if they usually come out at a certain place have him looking twards that area. Maybe have the rear portion of his body partially hidden and the front half exposed, anything to make it look more real.

If a guys rubbing an antler against a tree put the decoy faceing a small tree that he might be rubbing or hes watching the buck whos doing the rubbing. One thing I found out is a deer can put two and two together if its simple but if its more complex it takes awhile or they can’t at all, try to be careful not to spook them, trial and error eventually works.

One of the things I have learned is to spray your decoy with scent neutralizers and to put your deer scents on a stick or rag under your deer so you don’t contaminate the decoy. This is a safe way of using a decoy for either doe or buck! you don’t get old scents that stay on you or your decoy from carrying. Also when placing your decoy make sure it is visible, you don’t want to startle your quarry with a suprise deer. good luck

I’ve never used one, but after seeing some videos, and hearing the stories, this is the year, any brand better than another? Is it best to have buck & doe, or will just the buck decoy work well?

I had great luck with the boss buck last year. I used a homemade tail wagger too that seemed to really increase it’s ability to draw bucks in to that critical distance. I just use a short section of toilet paper folded to make about a 6″ long by 2″ wide “tail edge” a light breeze won’t make it do much but a small gust will make it flick without it fluttering constantly. Just pin it on with a thumb tak.
Wear latex gloves when handling the deke and make sure to stake it down well. I only use two stakes but managed to lose one on the way to the stand last year and my decoy kept “bedding” down….makes for a frustrating hunt.
They are a blast when they work that is for sure.

I’ve used a buck decoy a couple times and had it work once. A nice (120) 8pt came in and at 20 yards proceeded to scrape like a bull but had no shot. He then went over to the decoy and I slipped an arrow through him . He went 10 yards and stood there like he had no idea what just happened- then tipped over .
I’m concerned about scent placed on the decoy too. I haven’t tried it yet, but if you have a solid body decoy- core out enough to slide a film canister into it with scent in it and you’ll keep it off the decoy itself. Definitely latex gloves and descent the deke before and after setup. Will sometimes leave it in the field layed flat and covered up so I don’t have to carry it back out.

I use the delta, Its a tiny basket rack 8 pointer. I paid about 100.00 for it. I think for my area its perfect. There are alot of 2,3 and occacional 4 year olds. In my opionion the big boss buck is to big for my area just my opionion. I think big bucks see mine and want to put the hurt on the little guy.Just my thoughts on how I think my decoy does in my area.

heres the “mean walk” for you Rob

Ive gone as far as using a real tail a fishing reel and some fishing line with a rubberband so I could “wag the tail”

Cool picture sequence gutone

The ones that work. But seriously great pointers by everyone.

Yes it’s getting close to primetime!

With all this cold weather and rain and snow things are really going to start getting tore up

Good Luck Folks