Decoy Display Ideas
Hunting with decoys is not just as simple as setting out a deer or duck decoy in an open area and waiting for the animals to come. There is a certain precision associated with the craft of hunting with decoys, which involves particular placements to make the arrangement more natural. Understanding a few of these techniques will assist hunters of all skill levels in making calculated decisions when using decoys.
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Duck Hunting
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There are two factors to consider when setting up duck decoys. Both wind direction and the type of duck you're hunting are extremely important. Each species of duck has its own type of formation and tendencies when it comes to the weather. You should first scout the marshes you intend to hunt as you observe the local ducks and how they react to others. If they're loners, it won't make much sense to lay out an elaborate decoy flock. You'll want to create a landing zone, so set up your decoys so that the ducks will land near your blind. Blinds are structures that vary in size and are meant to shield the hunter from the elements while providing a camouflaged cover. Since ducks prefer to land into the wind, set your blind up so that the ducks are coming in to you instead of away. Ducks are social animals, so group your decoys by species and in larger numbers.
Turkeys
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For turkeys, you will want to set up 3 or 4 types of decoys. Use a few hens and one jake (a year-old male). When setting up the decoys, put the jake in a position that looks like he may be ready to mate with a hen. This will draw in an angry gobbler. Try decoys that move in the wind to draw more attention. Place your decoys about 100 yards from the roost. The best way to find the roost is to go out looking the night before and use a gobble call or locator call to scout for turkeys.
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Deer
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Before you even concern yourself with setting up a deer decoy, make sure it is scent-free. If the decoy smells like you, it will be completely useless. You can use a scent cover if needed. Hunt the wind, and make sure your decoy looks authentic. White-tailed deer are much more intelligent than a duck or turkey. If the decoy doesn't look like a deer, they'll know; and if they get scent of you, they'll spook. If you are going to rattle deer, a decoy will make the method more successful. The deer will hear the rattle and come to see what's going on; if a decoy's there, it will cause the deer to freeze. Deer are naturally curious, so they will stop and watch to see what's happening. Many bowhunters have great success using a decoy: Positioning the decoy within your target range and facing you will put the deer in the best position for a kill.
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References
- Photo Credit carved duck image by jimcox40 from Fotolia.com
