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School me on deer decoys

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Ditchdiver

Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2020
Messages
60
Looking at buying a Montana deer decoy, but not sure which one to get. I am in Michigan and hunt everything from farm fields to deep woods to open grass/brush fields. Montana's website says "Trixie" is the one to get if only using one.....what do you guys think? Any insight is appreciated.
 
Depends how you are using it. They sell a double feeding buck and doe but the horns come off the buck to make two doe. I picked those up for my dad just to draw deer onto his property, calm them down so they would come closer but not really right up to the decoy. It does work to draw them in, having two is nice because you can put them at different angles so they can see them from any angle. I can say they work, he pulls deer in feeding from over 100 yards away and has had small bucks nock both over.
 
I have both the Montana and a full body. The Montana works great if you can keep it from flapping in a breeze and/or deer from seeing it "disappear". Killed a few with it.
The full body has been $ . Over 75% kill ratio with it. Would darn near be 100% if we shot everything that came to it. That being said, we use it sparingly.
 
I love my Montana Miss November. She’s a trip. Deer never react the same way twice. I use sparingly but lately I’ve been using it to get deer in front of my daughter. It’s not foolproof, but that’s what makes it fun. If you’re just looking to get deer to stop for a few extra seconds in range, it can really be an awesome addition. It can also send them into a frenzy, which is a gamble you take with any hunting tactic. Most of the time, Miss November is pretty low impact. I put her 10-15 yds upwind so she’s visible from as many high traffic lanes as possible, and I’ve gotten everything from bucks walking right up to her and sniffing her pencil thin booty, to does stomping just out of spite that THIS ***** just be standing right in the way of their usual routine, and she won’t get out the way no how!
Also you can keep 2 or 3 different ones in your pack and lose almost no real estate. When I hunted public land from the ground a lot, my doe never left my kit. She was strapped to my backpack for like 4 seasons straight unless she was being used.
4BDD46BA-8DD8-4F9F-80CC-4A5F1CE22211.jpeg6302C0D0-5205-4EBA-9EAF-CA13C519FF1A.jpeg
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My experience is using a decoy is a lot of fun, except for transporting it to your stand. I've found that using a doe decoy will get the attention of most deer, however any doe that sees it just won't let it be. They'll just keep bobbing their heads and stomping their feet trying to get it to move. Just when you think they're finally leaving they'll come back and keep it up and it can get very unnerving.

A buck decoy on the other hand has worked much better for me. When a doe sees it, she's not real interested in a buck as the rut gets closer and will leave it alone and wonder off, usually without incident. However a buck will come in with his ears laid back, hair all puffed up walking sideways towards it while trying to avoid eye contact with it. I've never shot a buck over one but it's real entertaining watching a basket racked 8pt. put on a show.
 
I would love a full body decoy but don't want to pack it. That is why I'm considering the Montana. I'm running very minimal with a Predator pack and one molle pouch attached.
I figure that if it will bring in and maybe hold even a doe, that would be live "bait" for the bucks to feel comfortable and come In.
 
I bought the Flambeau grazing doe this year to use in late season. Anyone have one? I hunt some giant hay fields that they pound in late season and hope it helps convince deer to come out sooner in the evening, and come closer. I'm looking forward to trying it. Will report back
 
Ditchdiver said:
I would love a full body decoy but don't want to pack it. That is why I'm considering the Montana. I'm running very minimal with a Predator pack and one molle pouch attached.
I figure that if it will bring in and maybe hold even a doe, that would be live "bait" for the bucks to feel comfortable and come In.
Click to expand...
Be careful what you wish for (see my earlier post #5).
 
Either one. Is the second one a two-pack? Get the two. If it’s one buck or the other only, get the Freshman. He looks coy enough to make a big boy wanna kick his butt.
 
DelaWhere_Arrow said:
I love my Montana Miss November. She’s a trip. Deer never react the same way twice. I use sparingly but lately I’ve been using it to get deer in front of my daughter. It’s not foolproof, but that’s what makes it fun. If you’re just looking to get deer to stop for a few extra seconds in range, it can really be an awesome addition. It can also send them into a frenzy, which is a gamble you take with any hunting tactic. Most of the time, Miss November is pretty low impact. I put her 10-15 yds upwind so she’s visible from as many high traffic lanes as possible, and I’ve gotten everything from bucks walking right up to her and sniffing her pencil thin booty, to does stomping just out of spite that THIS ***** just be standing right in the way of their usual routine, and she won’t get out the way no how!
Also you can keep 2 or 3 different ones in your pack and lose almost no real estate. When I hunted public land from the ground a lot, my doe never left my kit. She was strapped to my backpack for like 4 seasons straight unless she was being used.
View attachment 94537View attachment 94538
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Miss November with the pencil thin booty...you've got me rolling. They were smart to name it like a Playboy Bunny.
 
Which one? I went to Montana Decoy's website and took a look. For the money, the Dream Team is hard to beat. If I could choose any two for the same money, it would be the Freshman Buck and Estrus Betty. That's another thing a buck can't pass up, sniffing where a doe peed.

Estrus-doe-decoy-hero__11963.1664402650.png
 
ricky racer said:
My experience is using a decoy is a lot of fun, except for transporting it to your stand. I've found that using a doe decoy will get the attention of most deer, however any doe that sees it just won't let it be. They'll just keep bobbing their heads and stomping their feet trying to get it to move. Just when you think they're finally leaving they'll come back and keep it up and it can get very unnerving.

A buck decoy on the other hand has worked much better for me. When a doe sees it, she's not real interested in a buck as the rut gets closer and will leave it alone and wonder off, usually without incident. However a buck will come in with his ears laid back, hair all puffed up walking sideways towards it while trying to avoid eye contact with it. I've never shot a buck over one but it's real entertaining watching a basket racked 8pt. put on a show.
Click to expand...

I only setup in pretty dense cover where visibility is a max of 50 yards.


Would you still use a decoy in that situation? I do want to see a buck do that.
 
raisins said:
I only setup in pretty dense cover where visibility is a max of 50 yards.


Would you still use a decoy in that situation? I do want to see a buck do that.
Click to expand...
I would say this is a great time to decoy, if it were me. They’re already close, might make them get that much closer.
 
ricky racer said:
Which one? I went to Montana Decoy's website and took a look. For the money, the Dream Team is hard to beat. If I could choose any two for the same money, it would be the Freshman Buck and Estrus Betty. That's another thing a buck can't pass up, sniffing where a doe peed.

Estrus-doe-decoy-hero__11963.1664402650.png
Click to expand...
“Estrus Betty” is another classic name. Almost worth the price tag on its own.
 
Yes, the "Dream Team" is a two pack.
I like the value of two for $130.00 compared to one for $100.00, but, I really like the aggressive look of "The Freshman". I don't believe you can pick your pair.
 
I've had both good and bad luck with my flambeau decoy. I have had does come in and stomp their feet and blow at the decoy trying to get it to move. Bucks usually come in to check it out. Definitely works great for them.

I bought a tail Wagger for it that is battery operated but haven't used it. I think this would help to create movement and help the does settle down more. I've also thought of taping tissue paper to the ears to create movement but have done it.

Ultimately, I don't use it much because it is a PITA to carry into the woods. I've found the best method to carry it was with a military style duffel pack.

My favorite way to set it up was bedded down. Seemed to work best that way. Shot at and missed a nice buck that way. Still haunted by that hunt.



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