Ever used a decoy?

sumner4991 · Post by **sumner4991** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 2:13 pm

I need to check into the make and model of this decoy . . . .

shurite44 · Post by **shurite44** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 3:03 pm

And that is exactly why I quit wearing my deer outfit at Halloween.

kendo kid · Post by **kendo kid** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 4:53 pm

Man, I think they should add an orfice to the decoy. The frustration of having nothing there would drive me crazy if I was that buck. Especially since he would not live long if it were in season. At least he would die with a smile on his face.

TYE · Post by **TYE** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 5:47 pm

Seen that a hundred times, and I still think OUCH

everytime I see it.

jay73 · Post by **jay73** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 5:48 pm

Nice pics!!

If you want a good decoy, check out the Montana decoys - if you can afford it.

They are very realistic looking.

Jay

Grizzly Adam · Post by **Grizzly Adam** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 7:27 pm

Baabby! Baaaabbbyyy! Sha-ba-ba-dooba-baby ... baabby!

crazyfarmer · Post by **crazyfarmer** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 7:59 pm

maybe he has a thing for doe with 1 ear and a bullseye on their chest

sumner4991 · Post by **sumner4991** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 10:45 pm

hey kendo kid . . .put in a orfice and you would have a line, lubricate it and you have hunters lining up too . . .gets lonely at deer camp . . . .

I think I might have just broken a rule . . .

xeon · Post by **xeon** » Thu Feb 01, 2007 10:59 pm

crazyfarmer wrote:maybe he has a thing for doe with 1 ear and a bullseye on their chest

Thats funny

I have always had a thing for deer with crosshairs on thier chest... does that count

crazyfarmer · Post by **crazyfarmer** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 7:38 am

xeon wrote:
crazyfarmer wrote:maybe he has a thing for doe with 1 ear and a bullseye on their chest
Thats funny

I have always had a thing for deer with crosshairs on thier chest... does that count

I have that addiction also so it must be fairly common

Grizzly Adam · Post by **Grizzly Adam** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 8:14 am

Hey, Bob ...

I've never used one. I wonder why your adult bucks avoided it? Were you using it during the rut, with a doe-in-heat scent?

I really think something about competition between mature bucks has a lot to do with how they react to decoys. I like to watch hunting videos, and on those highly managed areas where the doe-to-buck ratio is limited, big bucks often respond to decoys with rage ... they come in posturing, with ears laid back ... and even charge them lots of times.

Maybe when there are a lot of does around, bucks don't need to be so competitive. What do you think?

In any case, I think the above picture demonstrates that there isn't anything "smart" about a big buck ... it's all instinct, man!

raydaughety · Post by **raydaughety** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 9:25 am

I Don't have a decoy but did set out my McKenzie 3-D target on a powerline right of way a couple of years ago and watched it get trashed by a small (150lb) black bear.

kendo kid · Post by **kendo kid** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 4:06 pm

I did not use decoys for most of my life. I have used them for a few years and now no longer use them.

Two facts:
The majority (as high as 85 %) of the young bucks (up to and including 1.5 years of age) are dispersed from their home territory. Most of this occurs at the 1.5 year mark pre rut and rut stages.

Big boys move outside their core area and travel many miles in search of hot does or hot does where their is less competition.

Results:
Those bucks staying on the home range know the does (neighbors).
Those bucks traveling due to the need for genetic dispersal as well as lower competiton (they need to get a little a_s also) don't know any does. These traveling bucks are the new kids on the block.
It is in this travelling buck category that I think gets the greatest success for using decoys works.

That my call from experience for what ever that is worth.

DuckHunt · Post by **DuckHunt** » Fri Feb 02, 2007 9:35 pm

The second deer I killed with a vertical bow was with the aid of a 3-D target. I set it up about 20 steps in front of my stand. I was up about 20 feet and could just see the feet of a couple deer crossing through the woods about 100 yards away. It was fairly quiet in the woods so I grunted a couple times on a grunt call. Immediately the two deer turned and started feeding my direction.

It was two doe. A small one and a huge one. Both deer walked directly across from my right to left straight toward the target. When the big doe got about 10 steps from it (in range) I think she figured out something wasn't right. She turned to walk out past the target presenting a quartering away shot. I buried a 31" Easton 2413 in her lengthwise. It entered just in front of the left hind leg and stopped behind the right front shoulder. She went about 200 yards leaving little blood (High entrace, no exit) and plowed up.

I haven't used the decoy since, but my one time out with it was memorable. I'm more concerned about other hunters in the area when your hunting with a target. I'm not a big fan of turkey hunting for the same reason. Nothing like getting good and camo'd up and going to the woods to act like a target.

The once-a-year hunters scare me a bit to much to try it on public land. My one test was in a controlled environment.

DuckHunt