Deer Hunting Decoys

Successful Use Of Deer Decoys

Deer hunting decoys have been around now for a few years. Using the right decoy, at the right time, in the right place, with the right deer scent can be a very effective and successful deer hunting technique, especially when archery hunting.

Placement

For a deer hunting decoy to work effectively it must be placed in a hunting area that a whitetail deer would expect to see another deer in. I like to use a deer hunting decoy that simulates a feeding whitetail deer. It is a very neutral posture presentation. I like to place it near the edge of a field or food plot, 15 to 20 yards from my stand site when archery hunting, a little further if hunting with a rifle. Imagine the deer hunting decoy in a natural feeding situation. Then place it like that, and get ready for some fun.

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Deer Reaction

When a whitetail deer notices the decoy, it's first reaction is usually cautious curiosity. The whitetail may stomp its hoof, trying to flush the hunting decoy into moving. It's like it's saying to itself; "who's the new kid? Do I know you? Where did you come from?" Then the whitetail may circle to get the deer decoy's scent, or cautiously walk towards it. Now if there is more than one deer, they all may seem to be in bewilderment as to who this deer is, and why is it feeding in their territory. If the deer do spook the first time they see your grazing decoy, they won't the next time. It may be that afternoon or the next day; but now it's like they have met this new deer before and except it, even though it is rather stiff and not very sociable.

Your Lucky Day

You now have an opportunity for a easy shot when archery hunting with bow. The deer will be focusing on the deer decoy. They won't be looking up for danger, or nervously feeding with their heads going up and down endlessly; where their ears and eyes are searching the air like radar. Watch them for a while, learn and study how deer respond to this phenomenon. It won't be long and the deer will be grazing right along side the hunting decoy, excepting the decoy's presence.

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Hunting Tips

Keep you deer hunting decoy scent free. Use one of the fine deer scent elimination spray products on it. Wash it with scent elimination soap. Store it in an odor free environment as much as possible and use a large plastic bag to store it in. Try more than one decoy, or use a life-size archery deer target with it. Some of the new large, dominate trophy buck decoys have become very popular. Many deer hunters have had good success using them. During the rut, I tack a small clean white or brown cloth on a doe decoy to simulate it's tail and put a little doe-in-estrus/doe-in-heat on it for an attractant deer scent. When using a buck archery target, or a buck decoy, try some rattling and use your grunt call; both doe and buck calls. I also like to use a fawn bleating call; this will add more realism to the whole calling/rattling sequence.

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