| While Rattling for Whitetails has been around for | | | | able to get a shot off before he spooks. |
| years, using decoys to dupe a wary deer is | | | | 6. Bucks approach decoys differently depending on if |
| somewhat a new trend. There are many different | | | | it's a buck or a doe decoy. If it's a doe decoy, they |
| decoys on the market today and many different | | | | will mostly likely approach from the rump side of the |
| opinions on whether to use a buck or a doe. Here is | | | | decoy, so setup the decoy in such a way that you |
| a quick list of tips and tricks that may help you, | | | | have a good shooting lane directly behind the doe |
| should you decide to give a decoy a try this fall... | | | | and most of the time you will want to face the doe |
| 1. Putting a fake deer in the woods anywhere near | | | | away from your stand location, so the buck will circle |
| you is almost asking for trouble from other hunters. | | | | in closer to you. |
| Using blaze orange while carrying your decoy to the | | | | 7. When approaching a buck decoy, most of the time |
| setup is a necessity for anyone on any property. I | | | | the buck will approach from the front prepared for |
| would also recommend using some blaze orange on | | | | battle. Make sure your setup allows for the buck to |
| or very near the decoy, you don't want to dupe | | | | walk into a shooting lane before he gets to the head |
| other hunters into your setup. Hunting from a tree | | | | of the decoy. Also keep in mind, sometimes the buck |
| stand is a good idea as well. | | | | will charge from a few yards away. If the shot |
| 2. Keeping your decoy scent free is vital to the | | | | presents itself, take it! |
| success of fooling a big buck. Just as you would | | | | 8. Buck and doe scents are a great addition to decoy |
| keep your clothes and other hunting equipment scent | | | | setups. Use attracting scents that work during the |
| free, the decoy should be treated in the same | | | | time of year you are using the decoy. If your hunting |
| manner. Once the decoy is setup, spay it down with | | | | the rut, then use doe in heat or dominate buck urine |
| a good cover scent to kill any human odors that may | | | | to make your setup seem even more realistic. |
| have gotten on it. | | | | 9. Using a buck and a doe in your setup is a great |
| 3. Using your decoy in a high traffic area is a key to | | | | way to fool a big whitetail. Having a sub-dominate |
| success. Keep in mind this is a visual attractant, if you | | | | buck tending a doe is a surefire way to set a big |
| take your decoy into the thickest pine thicket, the | | | | whitetail into fight mode. Having the doe bedded |
| chances of a deer seeing your setup are greatly | | | | about 6-8 yards from your buck decoy is a great |
| decreased. Use the decoy in an open funnel area, or | | | | way to set the scene and very realistic. Keep the |
| feeding area where lots of deer are apt to travel. | | | | other tips in mind when setting this up to make sure |
| 4. Be sure to use the wind when deciding on a decoy | | | | the buck doesn't approach in such a way you can't |
| setup. Big bucks often like to approach from the | | | | get a shot at him. In this situation the buck will most |
| downwind side, so make sure the wind is in your | | | | likely approach the buck decoy, so keep that in mind. |
| favor incase a buck decides to circle before | | | | Decoying whitetail deer is a great way to harvest |
| committing. | | | | Giant Bucks. It's a lot of setup and preparation work |
| 5. Keep the decoy close to your stand or ground | | | | to get everything right, but during the right time of |
| location. Bucks will sometimes get within 10 or 15 | | | | year with the right setup you can fool a huge buck |
| yards of the decoy and figure out something isn't | | | | into bow range that may not have otherwise |
| right. By keeping the decoy close, you may still be | | | | committed to calling or rattling. |