Any actual experience ?
I want to know everything.
What kind, how to deploy.
Calling too ?
Scents ?
Timing use ?
Good results / bad results
anything else
Thanks
ChuckC
I've used a Montana doe pretty successfully. Lately I've been folding her legs under to pose her laying down. They don't work too well in the wind, but I've had good results when I can keep it from flapping in the breeze.
I haven't used the buck much. I put it out Saturday morning but didn't see any deer. It did make me do more than one double take. Looks highly realistic tucked under a holly.
I also use the Montana decoy. The only response I ever had was from a little buck he came into the buck decoy. When he walked around the decoy and the decoy disappeared on him, because of how thin it is, the buck spooked off. I could have taken a 10 yard shot at him but decided not to. I enjoyed watching his response to the decoy.
I used a 3D buck decoy for the first time this year. Burlap ground blind, home made. On the 6th time out hunting, I had a buck come into decoy. I spooked him getting into position to shoot. One hr. later 3 does came in. 12 yrd. shot on doe. Complete pass-thru. Set-up decoy about 12-15 yrds from blind. Decoy needs to been seen by deer, in the open. Face decoy 1/4 to you. Spray decoy with scent killer, use clean rubber gloves when handling decoy. Good Luck.
britt... mulies or white tail ?
thanks
chuckc
I've used the Montana Decoy doe. Never had any response to it. I'm not sure deer even see it in the woods. It doesn't smell like a deer, it doesn't move like a deer. I even pinned a strip of white trash bag on like a tail so it would move a little with the breeze. No luck.
Use it in open woods or fields. You want the deer to see it from a distance and come to investigate. Deer don't like to be surprised with another deer in it's face in thick woods.
I use grunt tube and/or rattling with it. First get their attention, then they see the deke to confirm what they saw. Or vise versa.
Take the shot when you have it, if you want to shoot that deer. Or just watch and see what happens. Some deer are spooked. Some are aggressive. Some don't care at all. I've had very alert does, aggressive bucks, and fawns that eat grass underneath it. I use a full body plastic deke. Looks real good, but somewhat noisy to put together, and too large to be carrying around. If you plan on using it more than once in same area, lay it down and cover it with leaves, etc. to hide it. Don't put scent directly on it, because you don't want deer investigating while it's laying under the leaves.
Some guys use cloths pins to simulate a spike buck, instead of the antlers that come with it. I'm sure you could do the same with the Montana Doe.
Face decoy quartering to you for a buck to approach head to head. Face quartering away if you have it as a doe, so buck will come downwind to butt end. 15-20 yards, should give you a 10-15 yard shot.
When it works, it's exciting. Depending on the deer, it will make or break your hunt. But, you will remember it.
I have a "shooter" buck target from Glendale. It is very light. I took one horn off and took some pruners to the other making it a busted half rack. I spray it down with scent killer before and after it goes into a large duffle. It breaks down into 4 pieces.
I take a plane white handkerchief and put it on the tail. I put tarsal scent on it and when it comes off the deer in goes in a ziplock. I ALWAYS wear rubber gloves when touching the deke.
I face the deke towards my stand at 30 yards...my personal maximum effective range is 25. Most deer want to square off head on and will be broadside to you when they go inside your effective range (or mine). When I have a deke it is in an open field with a barrier behind me...a creek, a pond a road. I want to dictate the deer to come to me as most will circle down wind. The barrier prevents that for the most part.
I mostly use it right now when they are breeding. I have killed a whopper off a deke before, had multiple smaller bucks (one yesterday) come in and posture the deke. I have never had a buck attack the deke (yet). I had a disaster 4 years ago though...I had a doe totally freak out when she saw it and took a 200 incher away. It was killed the next day by a gun hunter 3/4 from where I got hosed.
Good luck. It is a blast when it works!
I use a 3-d version that assembles on-site from a large mesh bag. I've never had a buck come after it in a rage, but every deer that saw it circles downwind to check it out. Position yourself on the downwind side of it about 30-35 yards and you'll very likely have a shot opportunity
I have a 3D decoy, just haven't yet used it. Maybe later this year.
Anybody ever use one in the late season up north (December) ?
ChuckC
I have a Tinks inflatable doe decoy Miss November. Tonight was the first time a buck came to it. I was just about to draw when the buck started spinning to get out of there. I made a ROOKIE mistake. I DID NOT DE-SCENT the decoy. UUUUG. :knothead: