He would preach at seminars that he was successful calling in deer in the early season, not because his calls were more realistic, but because he simply used them more. Another trick is to apply Wildlife Research Center’s Golden Estrus Spray near the buck decoy. Deer will not tolerate a decoy that smells like a human, no matter how real it looks. Early in the season, you should use a small buck decoy to catch a passing buck’s attention. Early seasons for deer hunting take place in September in majority of October. Doe decoys with those postures are dynamite when placed near scrapes. When a deer spots a deer decoy the tendency of the real deer is to come nearer. Scrape urine is the perfect urine to make a mock scrape and set cameras in front of to take inventory of … Not only is it very effective, but it is one heck of a lot of fun! A strategic plan is required—one that will get bucks to come in close without feeling intimated or alarmed. Deer decoys work best when set up in areas of high deer travel. Traditions’ Revolutionary NitroFire Muzzleloader. Before learning how to use a decoy, you need to learn how not to use. During the rut set them up near scrape or rub lines, but use caution near bedding areas to avoid polluting the area with your own human scent, sight or sound. Deer hunting enthusiasts and enthusiasts of other big game just don't take advantage of decoying like they should. Decoys are also valuable assets that help you draw out your mark. One of the most common questions hunters have is do deer decoys really work. “The contact grunt is a low-volume, single-note, subdued grunt,” wrote Clancy. Decoys work very well when used early during bow season in fields and plots where deer are feeding regularly. As for the smell, this is where much attention should be given. "If a hunter is going to be successful with a deer decoy, the hunter and the buck decoy must remain scent-free at all times. His book, Rattling, Calling & Decoying Whitetails, arms readers with simple, yet profound advice on pulling the wool over a deer’s eyes. For more information on deer decoy setups and to buy the decoys mentioned here, please visit montanadecoy.com. I follow up the “fight” with a few grunts from my Primos Bottleneck grunt call. You can also do the same with fabric decoys, like those made by Montana Decoy. This method involves using a fake deer to catch the attention of the others. Traditions Firearms and Federal Premium have t…, With this year’s sketchy availability of centerfire ammunition, many hunters are tur…, Deer Decoy Strategies for Early Season Hunting. This makes them vulnerable to a decoy. I think it can train the deer and they will be suspicious of it later on. If you read his many articles on decoying deer, he would always conclude with something along the lines of: Give early season decoying a try. In the above example you can see that in the pond we have placed ½ dozen floating duck decoys on the upwind side of the pond, then we also placed about 1 more dozen field decoys on the edges of the pond. Using decoys is a popular way of hunting for many species like waterfowl and predators. Welcome to Shoot-On.com - The outdoor and shooting industry's premier source of up-to-date news, media, entertainment and new product information. In addition to having a good decoy, you need to pick the right place to put it. Early Season; Rut; Late Season; Off-Season; Scouting; Hunting Strategies; Deer Behavior & Facts; Land Management; Deer Dog; How-To; Recommended Articles. 1. Yet using a grunt call on a buck can work too as long as you stay soft and subtle. Decoys can also be used during the entire season however, setting out decoys too early could be detrimental if you only have a few places to hunt. by Heath Wood “Do you have a…, Here’s a tasty way to put those wayward packs of ground venison to a surprising new …, Need to fill the freezer but ammo is tight? If you want to up your odds for gun season, figure out which decoys will work best for you and get one now. In fact, I usually use two of them and set them so that a deer can see them no matter which direction it approaches from.”. September 22, 2010 By Travis Faulkner. Maybe because it’s often a chore to lug two decoys, few hunters use the deer equivalent of a “spread.” However, I’ve arrowed two bucks while using buck decoys standing over doe decoys. “That's it. We’ll end this blog in a way Clancy might've. The first evening sequence begins a couple hours before dark. But there is far more you can use deer scents for before, and during the hunting season. Gary Clancy wrote the book on decoying deer. These scents can both be urine based and synthetic food based. There’s a time and place to use silhouette coyote decoys. The last thing you want to do is risk educating them before the prime time. Using a deer decoy helps hunters on the ground and in the stand. 1. Don’t put it out in the wide open where a mature buck with any sense would never be caught in daylight. However, it is not as simple as setting up a decoy just anywhere and waiting for something great to go down. Electrically powered decoys that swim, vibrate, splash, move their feet or otherwise churn the water to simulate a feeding or active duck are also legal throughout the season. Using deer decoys have been a proven tactic for bowhunters for the better part of two decades; however, they can also be a deadly weapon for rifle deer hunters too. During the late bow and firearms seasons, a time we are hunting wary and skittish deer that run first and look later, I’ll often use decoys. DEER DECOYS FOR THE BOWHUNTER. Hunting. The tactic above can also be applied to hunting water sources. “Not many hunters use decoys during the first week or two of the bow season,” said Clancy in an one of his many articles about decoying whitetails. Here’s how to make your decoy setups more effective now and through the rut. This method involves using a fake deer to catch the attention of the others. The author says he rarely bowhunts in the early season without a decoy in front of him. But it's far less popular for whitetail deer. The first thing is to consider sight and smell when placing a decoy. The bowhunter has a number of options when choosing a deer decoy. Solution: Commit to using a decoy and pack it with you on every hunt. Once I set them up, I spray them down with a liquid odor neutralizer. Do you have a fall turkey archery tag in your pocket too? Pre Rut Whitetail Hunting Using Calls & Deer Decoys. The objective is to make the decoy look like it is in a natural environment, feeding or getting ready to check scrapes on the edge of the field. “When a stranger shows up, they can hardly help but check out the new guy.”. Using deer decoys have been a proven tactic for bowhunters for the better part of two decades; however, they can also be a deadly weapon for rifle deer hunters too. My favorite doe decoy positions are bedded and head-down-feeding. Throughout the hunt, I like to use Primos Fightin’ Horns to simulate two bucks fighting. With his trusty longbow and help from his Montana decoys, Harmon Carson of Haughton, Louisiana, bagged a bayou gobbler on opening day. During the early season, a buck decoy doesn’t send an invitation to fight. Using a decoy early or late will only educate deer. That is because bucks usually face one another when checking out each other, so this puts a deer in line for a clear, broadside shot. Putting it on the decoy is going to make a smelly mess when it’s time to pack it up for storage. A word of warning: I limit my decoy use during firearms seasons to my private leases where I have control of all hunters. But they can also spook deer when used incorrectly. This is not an aggressive grunt or an invitation to fight. When you are hunting late-season deer you need to know where the food sources are as well as the trails the deer use during daylight as they move to and from the fields. Controlling your scent is the No. They fold flat and weigh and weigh less than 4 pounds combined. Hunting whitetails during the pre rut can be a great time to get a shot at a mature deer. Hunting. Amazingly, one of those early season bucks, a big Wyoming 10-pointer, was still in full velvet. It is, however, a combination that has proven effective and something you should try during these weeks leading up to the rut. 10 Tips for the Deadly Art Of Decoying Deer. by Heath Wood …. The California Code of Regulations Title 14, section 507 (c) addresses motion decoys: “It is unlawful to use devices that are either electronically powered, or activated by anything other than natural wind, to directly or indirectly cause rotation of decoy wings or blades that simulate wings, when attempting to take waterfowl between the start of the season and Nov. 30.” Don’t get me wrong, it was a good deal and it served the purpose for that moment. Decoy spreads for ducks in early season that are most effective are all about recreating the natural behavior of early season ducks. Maybe because it’s often a chore to lug two decoys, few hunters use the deer equivalent of a “spread.” However, I’ve arrowed two bucks while using buck decoys standing over doe decoys. During the early part of deer hunting season, we recommend using our Scrape and Rutting Buck deer urines to make mock scrapes and freshen existing scrapes. My preference is to place the buck broadside to me. Early seasons for deer hunting take place in September in majority of October. Deer hunting enthusiasts and enthusiasts of other big game just don’t take advantage of … Clancy was a big proponent of using decoys during the early season to fill his freezer. Deer decoys as far as I’m concern happens to be one of the absolute most efficent deer hunting tools during the rut season. When the excitement level is at this level, I like to dig into my bag of tricks to create even more action by rattling and grunting, employing an array of scents, and using a deer decoy or two. “The best way to solve this problem is to put a doe decoy out in front of your stand,” wrote Clancy. In fact, decoys typically don't work well on does except when using a fawn decoy in conjunction with distress calling in the early to late summer. We’ve had good luck in the early season hunting food sources in large fields or food plots. But, the doe would frantically rush in to the call, and more times than not, an ethical shot never presented itself. This can cause a resident buck to become territorial and want to fight. Be sure to set up your deer decoy close to your stand in … You can use any doe decoy you want. During this cool October morning, I witnessed bucks chasing and fighting, and even observed two scrapes being made at the edge of the hay field. When using a young buck decoy during the rutting season, you can also add more realism to the scene by using scraping and rustling sounds to simulate a buck scratching off velvet from its antlers. The answer to this is a resounding yes, as there are a wide range of different deer decoys out there that can help you successfully lure in both bucks and does when used properly. I’m writing this from the Kentucky Proving Grounds this week as Grant, AJ, and I arrived yesterday afternoon ready to start chasing long beards. Not many hunters use decoys during the first week or two of the bow season. This is a scent that has the smell of the tarsal glands found on the interior of a buck’s back legs. When hunting season starts, I clean up and wash all my decoys. The decoy should be set up in a natural-looking scenario, such as a few yards out from the edge of the timber or in the middle of a food source. Battle racks and fast grunting can also create the illusion of bucks butting heads over a territory, which might also draw other bucks in. It’s hard to imagine a deer season where his weekly articles won’t grace the pages of Rochester, Minnesota’s Post-Bulletin or MN Outdoor News. On this episode of Cabela’s Whitetail Season, we enlist the use of deer decoys to get the attention of a territorial buck in the early season. Deer decoys as far as I’m concern happens to be one of the absolute most efficent deer hunting tools during the rut season. 4. “When a high-strung doe comes rushing into what she knows could be deadly danger for herself, the instant they spot that decoy, you can just see them calm down quite dramatically and they will usually then offer you a good shot at a stationary target. If you’re entering pre-rut now is the time to go with a standing subordinate buck about 20 to 25 feet from your stand, looking perpendicular to … Early preparation will give you the chance to enjoy the season to the fullest. If you want to up your odds for gun season, figure out which decoys will work best for you and get one now. In the early season, adjust your tube to make the grunt less deep and guttural so that it sounds more like a young buck. But it’s far less popular for whitetail deer. For me, this year's whitetail season was the latter. If you're passionate about deer hunting, you're probably one of thousands of hunters tormented by a common dilemma - whether or not to hit the switch early in the season. To effectively use deer decoys throughout the rut, a hunter must match the setup to the emotional state of mature bucks. Post-rut, change that out for a standing subordinate buck. Some hunters like to use scent products with their decoys, while others do not. The best time you should use the deer decoy is during the early season or prior to the rut or mating season. A decoy’s presence puts other deer at ease and encourages them to enter the field earlierine then they normally would. During the rut, find a good buck decoy that is located near a tarsal scent. Hunter numbers show whitetails are the top hunted species in the country and an easy favorite for many. The rut is a great time to see a lot of deer activity, but you are at the mercy of a lot of luck – hoping a doe will drag a buck past your stand. “So I guess you might say that I am the exception to the rule, because I rarely sit on stand during the early season without a decoy out in front of me.”. That is, until Clancy solved the riddle. The first thing is to make sure all foreign odors are removed from the decoy before hunting. Early season attractants are obviously used in the early season. More Hunting. A decoy’s presence puts other deer at ease and encourages them to … Be sure to apply the scent on the ground and not on the decoy. When the deer approach, you’ll have a good chance at your target animal. 01; Using Whitetail Decoys Like A Pro. Turkey hunting places a consistent second. I’ve never had much success with a standing doe decoy with its head in a prone, alert position. Early in the season, you should use a small buck decoy to catch a passing buck’s attention. Get a mature buck – vulnerable with clouded judgment – to come to you this season. There aren’t many hard and fast rules when it comes to decoying deer; however, you can put the odds in your favor by avoiding decoying mistakes and using these tips. Always wear rubber gloves when handling your decoy. I have better luck hunting as many different areas as possible while relying on mouth calls. no electronic calls allowed. So, you have to take this into account if you want to catch more deers during your hunts. Assuming it's legal where you live, should you hunt deer with turkey decoys? Some hunting seasons are short lived, and others feel like they drag on forever. Cheap decoys may work, but the more realistic looking the better. The Mega Tarsal Plus has an added musk that increases its appeal. As I sat in a ladder stand, tucked away in a small patch of timber separating a hay field from an overgrown crop field, the anticipation I felt was almost overwhelming. Deer decoy prices. So I guess you might say that I am the exception to the rule, because I rarely sit on stand during the early season without a decoy out in front of me. To be most effective, it must be placed in a location where deer can spot it with ease. If you’re ready to invest in the ultimate hunting crossbow, look no further than Ten…, Rolling dunes, prairie grass, big bucks, a gun, and a crossbow… Does it get any bett…, New made-in-the-USA crossbows prove high performance and budget-friendly prices are not mu…, You never knew wild game burgers could taste this good! One tactic you can use in this decoy spread for ducks in the early season to make it look extremely natural is to incorporate floating decoys as well as field decoys. Resurrect tattered veterans from the back of your gear closet. Calls: A grunt tube is essential and is good all season long. Decoys. Crossbow Hunting’s “Best of the Best” for 2021, Wicked Ridge Takes Performance & Value to the Max, Tender and Juicy Smoked Thanksgiving Turkey, Smoked Jalapeño Caribou (or Venison) Burgers, Field Test! The difference between calling to deer early season compared to calling to rutting bucks in mid-November is the intensity of calling. Clancy figured out that the best way to get a doe into bow range during the first two weeks of the season was to use a fawn bleat call. Latest. The next consideration is decoy positioning. Knowing when and what decoy(s) to show the buck you are after is the name of the game. If you use a buck decoy too early or too often, you could steal its thunder. You’ll spook does coming in to feed. Unlike the late season spreads, decoy spreads for ducks in early season should typically consist of fewer decoys yet the decoys should be … Using early season attractants for deer hunting can offer many different forms of scents. Using Deer Scents in the Wrong Place Using urine alongside a deer decoy … Clancy would use a buck decoy on a field edge, and when a buck showed up that was out of range or feeding in the other direction, he would greet the buck with a contact grunt. In … I was getting a full dose of textbook, pre-rut behavior at its finest. I Survived COVID-19, But it … Couple the right weather conditions, a little scrape monitoring, a good food source, and you can have a successful pre rut whitetail hunt. November 1, 2004. Using decoys is a popular way of hunting for many species like waterfowl and predators. Standing decoys can be placed in tall grass, brush or any other area where deer might be found. In some states where mature bucks seem to be larger in size, using a small buck decoy can work wonders. More hunters are realizing the advantages of using decoys for whitetails. And if he doesn’t show up, just sit tight, as the deer should move off into the main fields, allowing you to exit unknown. However, as time went on I needed to expand my decoy spread and those old decoys had seen their better days. Early season finds the birds in groups of several hens for every tom. Late in the fall and early in the winter, I rarely use them. This is when you should and shouldn't utilize decoys to attract deer. It’s imperative to wear both rubber gloves and rubber boots when setting up the decoy. Don’t use a decoy unless the rut is kicking. Deer decoys actually work but you have to observe proper timing when using them. The “early season” as far as this article is concerned, is the period of last minute preparation, scouting, and the first month or two of deer season. If you are hunting an alfalfa field in early season and want the deer to enter the field earlier, place a … Common mistakes hunters make when using a deer decoy. So create a flock. If you have plenty of ground to hunt, it lessens that risk. If there is no response, I will repeat the sequence in thirty- to forty-five-minute intervals. To be most effective, it must be placed in a location where deer can spot it with ease. Hunters sometimes buy a decoy before the season starts, but never utilize it on a hunt. Usually, bowhunters are most willing to consider using deer decoys, but there seems to be a continued reluctance to try them during the firearms seasons. Place bedded decoys near a bush or tree where a deer would normally bed. It’s been a fun week for the GrowingDeer Team and the fun is not over yet! Using Decoys to Fool Deer Nicole and I have had great success using decoys in a variety of locations at various times of year. The best are the Delta, Carry-Lite, Flambeau and the Mojo Buck, which is electronic and will … The problem with using a decoy early in the season is that you run the risk of educating deer to the decoy before prime time. I like to set up my decoy in the back yard and wash it down with Scent Killer Body Wash and Shampoo. The first goose decoys I ever used were some old banged up decoys that I bought off Craigslist. Early in the spring season, when turkey flocks are still in winter formation, your one or two decoys may not be enough to attract a gobbler. And they also can be used in different seasons and used individually. Using a deer decoy helps hunters on the ground and in the stand. Using a decoy during the pre-rut and adding in the aroma of various deer scents and the sounds of other bucks takes a lot more work and preparation than simply showing up at your stand and hoping for the best. I use a Montana Doe Decoy just because it is so easy to carry and set up. To decoy placement and it served the purpose for that moment a way Clancy might 've … but there far... For $ 80 for you and get one now never be caught in.. 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