Has anybody hunted with a decoy

[triggerhappy]

I hunt in east texas on 500 acres. We generally see a fair amount of deer but they are very hard to pattern. I am hunting on a pipeline that is about 100 yards wide and I have some feeders set up but with all the hogs it is very hard to keep corn on the ground. In the past I have hunted in the woods on scrape lines and trails but with the damage from IKE I can not get back in there. I am considering setting up my 3D target as a decoy with alittle scent on it, but I have never done this before and not sure if it will work. Also it has removable antlers so do I use it as a doe or buck decoy. I am hopeing to draw a buck in now that the rut has kicked off. I have only been bowhunting for a couple years and have been fortunate enough to kill a couple does, but no bucks. I am hunting really hard this year, so if there are any other tricks that you vets use throw them out there. Thanks

[Sully]

I have used a doe decoy before. Hard to say if it brought more deer in but I do have trail cam pictures of bucks coming up to it and smelling it. And I never tried to use any scent with it. My perception of it was that it may have helped bring deer in more quickly, as they see a deer already at the feeder. I don't have that much experience with it but I am sure there are some here that can give better advice.

[Texpppr]

I have thought about it.. some are pretty life like. Seem to run about $100 give or take.

[texaskinner]

How has Ike kept you from getting in the woods? You can't drive in there?
There's gotta be some place on 500 acres you can get to on foot where they are traveling in the woods. For bowhunting bucks, I'd take woods over clearings any time.
I realize this has nothing to do with your original question, but it seems you are trying something with a smaller success rate.

[triggerhappy]

There is no way to drive in. I can get my 4 wheeler on to the pipeline but that is it. It seems like every other tree in the woods is down and the under brush is so thick its almost impassable. I am not saying that there are no open spots but I have not found one. All of our trails have huge trees across them and it just seems like there is no option of hunting in the woods. Just to clarify I am hunting in south east texas, just north of Oak Island, and Smith point which were destroyed by IKE. I am just trying to be creative this year and thought if the does come out on the pipeline maybe the bucks would follow and the decoy might get some attention. I dont know.

[kaizen]

The best decoy is a few live does. We started gun hunting this week and trying to keep corn out so the does stay visiable. 150 lbs scattered thin will last about one night. I would suggest looking around the edges of your pipeline. This time of year you will probably find a scrape.

[Codie]

If you are going to rattle, use a buck decoy. Don't use any decoy around the feeders. There are enough deer around feeder areas that eventually one of them (usually a doe) will catch on and ruin the whole gig for ya. I have used rattle bag and a buck decoy with plenty of success. As far as if you should put it in an open area or in the woods I can't give a suggestion there, It's ALL open where I hunt so puting it in woods is not an option.

[OPC Patrick]

I believe there are a couple of reasons to use decoys.

1. To draw deer within shooting range...
2. To comfort them thinking all is safe in the open.

I could have used a decoy this weekend. I had a couple of nice bucks feeding in the pasture with no real reason for picking any particular spot. finally Some does showed up and they came in my direction, by the time they made it to my tree it was too dark to see my pins. I feel like if I had a doe decoy they might have come over sooner. I have also heard to place the decoy upwind as the bucks will approach from the down wind side.

If you have turkeys on your lease, I have heard turkey decoys make awesome "comfort decoys" as the deer know when turkey are present all is safe.

[bowhuntermac]

I have used them on elk and pronghorn with good results (Montana Brand Decoys)

I would be interested to see how they fare on whitetail

[TENRMORE]

We hunt on some public land during the rut in Arkansas and the decoy's work excellent, When that buck locks in on that decoy, you can do anything up in the stand...There deer population is not as much as ours though. I have never tried it before in West or East Texas. I'm hunting the edge of a select cut this year though in East Texas and I'm going to put it out there and see what happens..when the rut starts

[Rudyl]

I'm going to try it this year along with scents.

[texag93]

I have one and I can say that other does don't like it. Haven't had a buck inspect it yet. Will be trying it out in a few weeks. Will report back.

[Dalton]

yes i have and always do during the rut. i also hunt in east texas. i have shot several deer with it. i called up a ten point 200 yards out of the woods to a doe decoe with only one ear and 3 legs.... my roomates didnt believe me till last year when we rattled up several bucks and even a small 6 eating right next to the decoe. this weekend i plan on breaking her out with this cold front

[Indianhunter]

I have done the exact same thing and had mixed results. From a far distance i think it is good as a deer which is curious will normally investigate. Once they get closer they will see it isnt real and spook. if you can set it somewhere they can see it but you can shoot before they get too close that would be your best bet

[extremehunter]

I had a big 9 come in to my doe decoy last year.He got close but I feel sure he smelled where I neeled down to spray it down and layed my pack on the ground.Be careful of that.He spooked but didn't go far.Had several other chances but no big bucks.