Think of a deer decoy for late archery success

Posted on: November 7, 2017 | Bob Frye | Comments

Arcehrs might want more than arrows; a deer decoy may make sense.

Archery hunters may want to consider adding a deer decoy to their arsenal.
Photo: Pixabay

The archery season is down to its final few days. If you’ve yet to fill your tag, it might be time to break out a deer decoy.

Seriously.

Waterfowl hunters have long used decoys. They’ve become increasingly popular with turkey hunters, too. Dove hunters use them as well.

But for deer?

Decoys aren’t something a lot of whitetail hunters use, at least in the Northeast. But maybe they should.

Some believe they’re at least another tool to consider using, for sure.

“Decoys can be a ton of fun in November. They can greatly enhance your calling efforts in open woods,” said Kip Adams, outreach and education coordinator for the Quality Deer Management Association in a recent Instagram post.

“If you’ve never tried one I encourage you to add one to your hunting arsenal. You’ll be glad you did.”

That’s not to say they’re a cure-all, though.

A deer decoy can work. or it can’t.

There’s rarely any middle ground, says Mike Stroff, host of Savage Outdoors TV and operator of Southern Outdoor Experience Hunts, a Texas-based guiding service.

“I’ve killed some great deer over decoys and I’ve spooked some great deer over decoys,” he said.

If you’re going to use a deer decoy, the key is to keep it close.

When bowhunting, he positions his within 15 yards of his tree stand. The reason is that bucks – even when they do respond to a decoy – aren’t fooled completely or for long.

“Most of the time, as they get closer, they will figure out that something’s not right,” Stroff said.

If your deer decoy is too far out, and whitetails get nervous as they approach, they may turn and be gone before ever getting into range, he said.

“You want to keep them tight,” Stroff added.

He uses a small buck decoy in the early archery season, before the rut kicks in. He rattles over it to draw attention from bucks who think perhaps a competitor has found the first doe ready to breed.

“You’re trying to give him a reason to come check you out. When he hears me rattle if he turns and looks and sees another buck, than OK, that’s where it’s at,” Stroff said.

He’ll use doe decoys in a variety of situations and for a variety of reasons, as a confidence decoy, during the rut or in conjunction with a small buck.

In all cases, watch for older, mature does, Stroff said. They’re typically the first to respond negatively to a deer decoy.

For that reason, he doesn’t use them all the time, just when he’s aggressively calling deer.

If not a deer decoy, how about a turkey?

If you hunt deer in farm country, pay attention to crop fields and turkeys.

Tom Richardson, a Michigan hunting guide and deer caller, said whitetails naturally feel safe if they notice turkeys – with their legendary eyesight – in a field feeding. He tries to take advantage of that.

In fall, if a farmer cuts down a standing crop, Richardson tries to move in as quickly as possible. He’ll set up in a tree stand on the field edge and put three turkey decoys underneath it, often two feeding hens and one sentry-style.

He’ll then do a turkey assembly call.

“That purr is a very content turkey. And those deer know this,” Richardson said.

The result is they often walk right in, he said.

“Virtually every time, they’ll walk right into the decoys and feed with your dekes, because it’s safe,” he said.

Be aware of safety, though.

Hunting behind turkey decoys in fall – especially if you’re on the ground – may not be wise when turkey seasons are in. It’s legal to take the birds with rifles, so other hunters may take a shot from some distance, not aware that you’re there.

But early in archery season, before turkey season opens, or even now, in those wildlife management units where turkey season is closed, decoys can be effective.

Bob Frye is the everybodyadventures.com editor. Reach him at 412-838-5148 or bfrye@535mediallc.com. See other stories, blogs, videos and more at everybodyadventures.com.

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