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Thanks for the order...I don't know anyone that has shot a mule deer from a treestand with my decoy. I would say that it's 100% at eye level. Tons of success out on the plains of Kansas and eastern Colorado. Give it a good run and you'll have some action.

Thanks again and good luck

GR, Heads Up Decoy

GRoe.. can you please PM me with pricing on the mule deer doe decoy? Thanks!

My best luck with the decoy has been with lone bucks that are cruising in search of does during the rut. Try to get in their path even if that means moving. When they see the decoy get ready. The buck I killed with my brother basically ignored us as we went at him in a crouched walk. We were within range when he acknowledged us and then he turned and came right to us. Shot him at 15 yards in a stubble field.

I have used the decoy with a buddy holding it, in the bow mount, and with a clamp.

The key to these decoys is to try things you typically wouldn't expect to work. Be aggressive. If you have other questions I will try to help.

Matt

Wow...

I use the Heads Up, the infamous deer hat, the Elk Mountain Slip system muley doe, and also static decoying with a pair of Montana decoys, sometimes all at the same time with the Heads Up to give some live motion. Have decoyed I many bucks with decoys, especially combined with calling.

I love decoying!

I would probably say to focus on rut and you will have much better odds.

I had a feature in Bowhunter last fall about this very topic.

I consulted with Lou on the design, and the Image was provided to me graciously by...yes, you guessed it...BB (Bill Allard).

It's our newest and most photo realistic decoy to date.

Best of Luck, Jeff

Ishi had his own version of a deer hat, similar to tadpole's with a real doe cape, and also had the first "Heads Up" decoy with a stuffed doe head on a stick. He taught Saxton Pope about the importance of the Heads Up to give life to the illusion and bring deer in. That gave me and my wife the idea to make our own deer and elk hats about 15 years ago.

Matt is correct, cursing bucks looking for a doe are when you get the really close encounters.

The buck I shot in the milo field in 2009 would not come in because his doe would cut him off. I ended up walking at him and shot him at 30 yards.

1. Are you saying I should NOT use the decoy outside of the rut? Will I expect deer to run away during the non-rut? 2. Thanks for tip on walking in a zip-zag meandering fashion when approaching deer in open, any other insightful tips???

I've never decoyed except within a couple weeks either side of the rut. One thing to watch when actively decoying is that sometimes the does run in first, which can pin you down and screw you up.

Ned, pm me with your email addy and I'll send instructions on how to make one simply and easily with craft foam, hot glue, an old ballcap and some paint. There is a company that sells them but they're hard plastic. Mine is soft foam, customizable to your head size when wearing a balaclava or stocking cap under it, and indestructible.

I wear a gray fleece balaclava for deer, brown head mask under the (brown) elk hat.

You can use a decoy anytime, but it has worked best for me when hunting lone cruising bucks.

A few years ago towards the end of October we watched a couple bucks bed down in a grass draw. We were closing when the bucks repositioned where the draw met the crop field. We were pretty exposed at 150 yards so we decided to show the decoy. The smaller buck could see us and just stared at us for probably 15 minutes. We didn't have much to lose so I held the decoy and we started crawling down the edge of the grass in plain sight of the smaller buck. He stayed bedded the entire way. I think he had accepted we were another deer, but they weren't rutting yet so he stayed put. We got to 40 yards when the buck we were after stood and saw us. In hindsight I think he would have come closer to us, but when he cleared the weeds my buddy took the shot. It was a clean miss, and I think we underestimated the size of the buck:(

Point is, we didn't have a play but decided to get aggressive and it nearly paid off. I have heard of a guy using decoys in the high country while the deer are in velvet with success so they can work anytime. With that said, I think the rut is when they will work the best.

Good luck!!

Matt

An hour later he watched as I deked three 150+ bucks into recurve range from 250 yards away.

The next weekend he had one too. Ridiculously effective, on elk too (the elk hat).

Wouldn't a bow be easier?

Yeah, but where is the sport in that?

But after killing a 218" NT muley with a longbow at 12 yards on the prairie, I'm lucky there wasn't a big wet spot there in that other photo you're referencing... !

In my last live hunt on here, I made a rookie mistake and let the does see me peeking up over a dry ditch. They ran over and I was pinned down under an undercut bank for most of a morning. Took a nap, woke up, and they were still close by looking for me.

You can get their attention with movement, but I also sometimes use a little bite call. The important thing if you are doing any sort of solo active, dynamic decoying, is to have a plan so you can get downwind and off to the side whenever the buck or does start to come. Because they will. Sometimes very fast. Sometimes from behind when you're watching a buck in front, and you'll hear a foot stomp or a buck "buzz", turn around, and have one standing a few yards behind you.

While have to wait until Monday to discuss some questions with them.....If anyone that owns a Heads up decoy has some free time this weekend, I would appreciate a PM.....then I can give you my phone number, as I would like to talk.