Whitetail deer hunting… decoy tips and techniques

Many hunters feel that deer feel at ease around turkeys. Wild turkey tend to inhabit many of the same areas as whitetails so the two are familiar with each other. Turkeys are extremely hard to get close to so it is thought that deer feel fairly comfortable around them. Some hunters use turkey decoys in a field to help deer feel at ease and to steer them toward the stand. Deer and turkey have been seen sharing a field at the same time many times, but for some reason deer tend to go to the other side of the feeding area from turkey. It may be because turkeys tends to be aggressive over the chosen feeding area. In any case, placing turkey decoys on one end of a field may force deer to graze on the other end.

Probably the most common decoy is the deer decoy. Buck or doe decoys are available. A big buck decoy will probably send younger bucks running especially in the late precut, but it may bring a large buck out to investigate. Doe decoys used during the rut, especially with scents and calls produce fair results. It depends on placement and the scents used. Nothing is certain with deer hunting but this scenario has brought in some big bucks. Also, some feel that using more than one deer decoy in one field helps deer feel more comfortable. For example, several does feeding in a field usually will not upset a buck in the least. In fact bucks tend to walk right on out if several deer are already in the field.

Using decoys takes some experience in knowing when to use them and where. Some decoys may be pricey but are worth it if it turns out to be a great deer attractant. Hunters have been experimenting for years with decoys and have had varying results. Most experiment for themselves to see which decoys work best in individual hunting areas. Take the time to buy a decoy and experiment with it in different situations.

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