Has anyone tried using one of the deer decoys? How did it go? Any hints, tips, or suggestions?

I have one that I put in a pasture. Nothing showed up either time so…..

Any type of bird or animal decoy only works as good as the sounds you create to go with them, albeit ducks, turkeys, coyotes, or deer. Deer decoys are no different that duck decoys where hunters use the sounds of ducks to call other ducks within shooting range. Use a bleat call with a doe decoy and grunts or snort wheezes with a buck decoy. As the case with ducks, the idea is to create an attraction to fool the animal to believe what it sees is the source of what it heard.

Good luck.

Not exactly a ringing endorsement from the THF brain trust…

put a mannequin in your blind when not there ...

Decoys just aren't a hot topic in a world where food is the main attraction.

That is a very midwest type question.

I was thinking about this as a confidence type of situation, not to draw them in but to make everything seem "cool" on pressured areas for sure

That's definitely at least part of the approach in using duck decoys with the sounds of duck calls being added for greater realism.

I have a lot of deer here and they have their own social structure. Adding a decoy just wigs them out and does more harm than good.

I had one back in the 80s in mexico we had a lot of fun with it, you have to make sure of no human sent, we would spray it with buck lure and put it on the edge of a sendero close to the tripod and bucks would come closer to ck it out, never did kill a deer because of it though, every now and then a buck would nose it and his next step would be 20 feet

If hunting from the ground without a blind, these can help.

https://ultimatepredatorgear.com/ultimate-predator-stalker-decoys/

I was bowhunting and when I moved to draw, the deer started to bolt. I grunted as I sidestepped the bush in my way and the doe stopped to look at me. She was nice and healthy. Sorry, I'd have to dig around for a pic.

spot and stalk or stationary?

for spot and stalk- Ive used heads up and ultimate predator, prefer ultimate predator by a large margin

I have the pronghorn, whitetail and mule deer

I've used them with great success here in Texas. And it's always fun to see deer interact with the decoys whether it's a shooter or not. A few tips:

1) Portability: full bodied decoys are great but not great for carrying long distance or through heavy woods. If you need portable and lightweight, the Montana Decoys (silhouette style) do work very well and super light and easy to carry

2) Scent control especially important so use gloves when touching, spray deke with scent control spray, hang appropriate attractant nearby

3) Bucks tend to approach doe decoys from behind and buck decoys from the front, so position accordingly

4) Keep your deke well inside of your range for bow; so if you're comfortable with 30 yard shot, keep deke within 15 yards, since deer may circle deke on opposite side from you

5) Good time to use calls and rattling antlers, since the sounds will match seeing the decoy

6) If using silhouette, the 2 sides will be viewable while other 2 directions not (since it's flat), so position decoy for best visibility through the deers' expected sight lines

7) Don't use decoys if hunting does - they are just as likely to spook the does as attract them. Decoys best used for Bucks. Exception is using a fawn decoy to attract does which can definitely work.

8) Cut a small brown plastic bag (like from grocery store) into shape of a tail and attach it to butt of decoy. Works with flat or full bodied. The tail will move in the slightest breeze and give some nice motion to the decoy

9) Generally, use buck decoys early in season, doe or buck with doe during rut, and lone doe during 2nd rut

10) Another benefit to decoys is that they take attention away from you, giving you more time and more ability to move without being noticed since the buck is often locked in on the decoy. I've had bucks within 15 yards of me staring at a buck decoy and pawing the ground like a bull about to charge.

Give it a try! I think you'll really like it

One of the most useful posts I've seen here in a very long time.

I used on in Hamilton a few times. Very limited success. Cows on the other hand would knock them over and rough em up pretty good jusyt being playful. Was'nt worth the trouble.