Decoys, do they work for you?

[bill9068]

I went this morning and put up my hunting target in my food plot, a doe decoy. I had 4 does come in and one didn't mind and fed then left. Later a doe with her young came and were wary but feed keeping a eye on the decoy. They left. Then a single doe came in and did not like the devoy at all, her tail stayed up flagging and she blew at it a few times. She did not feed but circled it wide a few times before leaving. I'm done with decoys for now, want the does coming in and staying awhile. Anyone else use them? Tried it a couple of years ago and had young bucks running in to see it, some even knocking it over to try to mate it.

[M4Madness]

I've always had the impression that they do more harm than good. The majority of deer seem to be wary of them. Yes, you see a positive response once in a while, but I believe the negatives far outweigh the positives.

[raymar]

I have two targets that have heads knocked off that were in the yard. Now know to remove antlers but never really seen much success using as decoy.

[steiny]

I've not had much luck with decoys in Indiana, but have had some really cool experiences with them in southern, IL. I think it is because my IN area is fairly high hunting pressure, vs IL area that is more rural and low hunting pressure.

If you have an area where the deer are relatively undisturbed, you can have lots of fun with a decoy. Next 7 days or so is prime time to use one.

[Genesis 27:3]

I've had success with them. Last year I set one up on November 14 and let off a buck bomb. I fully believe that buck bomb brought the buck out if the woods and my decoy held him in the field until legal shooting light. I've had several bucks approach my decoys and hadn't had one flee from it yet. I put a hook on it's tail and every year I take a tail off a road kill deer. I skin it and dry it out with borax. I hang the tail and it's amazing how much realism is added when the wind blows it around.

[henson59]

I have used a doe decoy a few times and never had any mature deer like it. They say if you are using a doe decoy by itself it has to be that perfect time of year with the rut. Most people have better success with a buck decoy or a combo of the buck and doe.

[76chevy]

had some luck with them. All about timing and location. Need to be during the rut and highly visible so you don't spook deer with them.

I will be using a buck decoy in the morning. I only use them during the pre rut and rut time and only a buck decoy.