Decoys this time of year

[IowaDave]

This is my first year using a decoy and come to think of it, this is the first time I've hunted this late into the year/rut.

Are decoys still effective at this stage of the game? Are the bucks still agressive (will come into rattling, etc) or are they just out looking for the next hot doe and not interested in fighting.

I've been laid up, but am good enough to hunt now, but I've only got about 4 days left that I can go out, so I want to make them as effective as possible.
I know if I can 'find the does' the bucks will be around, but I'm hunting a 200 acre piece of switchgrass and from what I've seen so far if I stand on the edge of it and wave my arm in the direction of the grass and said "out there", that's where the does are bedding and have been. I just haven't been able to figure out any specific place they bed or any specific routes they travel....they just seem to go where they feel like going and I just need to hope one wanders by (or that I can call one up, hence the orginal question).
THANKS!!

 

[THA4]

Had a deke out last night. I was doe hunting out of a ground blind and it really keeps the does attention as they approach, rather than on the blind. Just at last light, i had a 2 yo come in and work the decoy pretty hard. didn't punish it like I had hoped, but he was very aggressive and I had him broadside at 7 yards for a minute.... tons of fun!

 

[DannyBoy]

Dave, I'm glad you brought this up as I've been wondering the same thing. This is my first year of hunting over a deke and still have a lot to learn!

What about using the decoy as a doe instead of a buck?

 

[THA4]

I know some will have different opinioins on the doe thing.... but IMO, never use it as a doe.

two reasons-

First, Does are social and seek the company of other does, however they are VERY skeptical and will deeply investigate a decoy. If it is set as a doe, they will look even harder as they usually ignore bucks. This just presents a higher opportunity for them to blow your set up.

Second, bucks are MORE likely to display aggression towards a deke rather than love. Not to mention, with the aggressive attitude they take, they are very predictable as to how they will react. With a doe decoy, they might come in behind her, they might face her, they might even mistake her for a buck and try to ram her....

YES you might have a positive reaction out of a doe decoy, but your chances are MUCH lower. I will use a buck every time out.

just some thoughts

 

[Nontypcl1]

I agree with TH4 on this one. I have only had bad experiences with a doe decoy. It always seems like an old alpha doe will come out and bust my set every time. It's like they seem to think it's another doe in their area and they don't like it. I've always had does keep their attention on the deke and then approach it after awhile and decide something is up and almost turn inside out.

Anytime I have it set as a buck the does kind of ignore it and give it space, thus they don't bust me.

I had a decoy out set up as a buck this past Tuesday and it did draw the bucks in from a ways out. Even a 3yr old that was really dogging a doe saw the decoy and decided to show him whats up. He approached it from the side and side stepped in, posturing the whole time. He even snort wheezed at it. It made for some great video but I didn't entice with any grunts after he saw so he lost interest and went back to the doe.

I'd say get the decoy out if you can because with as many bucks being locked down as I saw earlier this week, it may be the only way to get one to break off of a hot doe and head your way.