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Deer decoy's

moosehunter

moosehunter

PMA Member
I asked a few guys at the rendevous if they use decoy's and most said yes. I've never hunted over a decoy so I have some questions. What kind of decoy's are good (brand). What is more effective during rut, buck or doe? Do you grunt or rattle with them? Any other info I left out!!! I had at least 2 encounters last year I'm thinking that a decoy would have brought a shooter in range.
 
i've never used a decoy but the most popular one to me is the carry-lite decoy. it's really light and easy to carry around and set up. from what i've heard a doe decoy works best before the rut, position her facing away and upwind as a buck will come in and wind her and then sniff her behind giving you a good shot. during the rut position a buck decoy upwind of you and facing towards you cuz a buck will come in and face off with him if he's feeling frisky and give you a shot. i've heard of people grunting and rattling mostly using a decoy, sometimes a person could get lucky and have a deer come in blind but not likely.
 
 
I have had good and bad experiences with decoys. During the rut I put on a large set of plastic rattling antlers. This is alot of fun when they come in. I have had as many as 4 bucks come in 1 session. The good has far outweighed the bad. Setting on a field edge and watching a buck that would never have come your way run 400 yards as hard as he can and face off with your decoy will hook you for life. CI
 
I have used one since 1997 and have had hits and misses with them. I have learned a lot in the last several years about the dos and don'ts associated with their use. The Carry lite is my favorite buck decoy and is the most lifelike. I have wired the antlers on permenantly because I have had several bucks smack the @#$% out of it the last several seasons. Got tired of rounding up ears and antlers. I use mine the most in the prerut as a buck then grab the redidoe during the rut. I use grunt calls maily with them in fields but will rattle over them in dense cover. They are not a miracle tool but when they do work, it makes the hunt all that more enjoying. (I have killed 2 mature bucks with the aid of a decoy)
 
has anyone seen the mojo moving decoy that is being sold thru cabelas internet site. Is it legal in iowa
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i was just cruisin' the net and reading a little about adding motion to a decoy and or getting one with movement and wondered the same thing. If it's legal in Iowa to have one that has motion. I saw on one site that the guy used a white plasic bag cut into 4 by 1 inch strip and attached them to the ears and tail to create motion and it worked well I guess. Does setting them up along an edge of woods work best? Or close to a travel route?
 
The guide series mojo target even has remote controled head movements...which makes me wonder about its legality? Blind sow out there anywhere to answer????
 
I recomend getting a book from Tom Storm called "Decoying Whitetails". Its
got some great in depth information and is well worth the read. He also has a video
out that has great footage but the book has more information. If your interested and cant
find them your more than welcome to borrow them.

Carrylite makes a great deer decoy. Theres also a aftermarket tail that works on a couple
batteries and the foam tail "flips" every so often.
 
My story is contained within one of the threads that Ruddbow listed. I use a Carrylite.

I already know where I am going to set up the ol' deke this year. I would emphasize that you want it visible. I was on a field edge and I have heard other guys tell about using one in the thick cover and the deer spooking when they suddenly see it at close range.
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Daver is exactly right about them spooking in thick cover when they are surised by the decoy. The only time I have not had this happen is rattling in heavy cover when the big ol boy is expecting to find a buck, then it only adds to the excitement
 
One of my cow-orkers had a laying down doe as a decoy. He had it lying in thick brush. A shooter was walking down the trail, turned the corner spotted the lying down doe and bolted. He says the buck wasn't sniffing the wind or acting spooky before he saw it. He just saw it and was in the next county in 30 sec. I think it was pre rut with out any ratteling or grunting.

The 'Bonker
 
Moosehunter,
I've used 4"x 1" strips of a white garbage bag taped to the ears & tail of my Carry-Lite, it really does add a touch of 'realism'. I've had several bucks come in after seeing the "white hair" blow in the wind.

I only use my deke (always setup as a buck) a few days during the prerut/rut each year. One thing noone has mentioned is it is a real pain in the rear to carry to and from your stand site and can be a bit noisy when carrying through thick areas. But, once I've got it set up and I'm in my stand it can be very exciting.

Good advice on not setting your deke up inside the woods. I can tell you from experience most deer will likely spook. I always try and set my buck up so it can be seen by approaching deer from at least 90-100 yards away. Field edges, especially inside corners, have worked well for me.

Though I've had some good experiences with using the deke, I've also had some bad ones. I'm still not sure if it's worth all the trouble. Maybe the fact that I've never had a mature buck come in to the decoy in several years of using it
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Good Luck
TB
 
i use the carry-lite and i have had good reactions with it i have had better luck using the doe what i do is tape lite cloth under the tail and spray that down with some of you favorite doe juice and point the does rear in the direction that i think the buck would be coming from now if iam using the buck decoy i face him head first in the direction that i think the buck is coming the only problem that i had with the buck decoy is it scared off the littler bucks if you call that a problem carry lite has been the best decoy that i have used also i wipe my decoy down with no-sent before i apply my other sents. good luck
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i've used the carry lite and the flambeau ready doe, and for some reason the flambeau out performs the carry lite, by many times, i dont know why this is, but it just works so much better, i would have twice as many bucks come into it than the carry lite, i dont know if it is because it isnt as big as the carry lite and is in a little different position or what, but i would go with the flambeau ready doe for sure. good luck
 
I would highly recommend using the carry-lite decoy as a doe about 90% of the time. You will be amazed at how many exited boys you will find during the pre-rut and rut. They get really goofy acting, and whatever you do, don't forget the video camera.
 
I'll be trying a carry-lite this year. I'm anxious to try it on a field corner while set up in my ground blind. Instead of hauling the deke out, I was thinking of laying it down inside the blind after shooting hours. Anyone see any problems with that?
 
Spinefxr,
That shouldn't be a problem, just make
sure if you're gonna use some type of scent...do not put it directly on the decoy.
 
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