Scents with buck decoy during rut
Whitetail Deer
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My wife bought me a DSD buck decoy for my 50th birthday. It looks absolutely amazing. I can hardly wait to check it out during the rut in Kansas.
But what about scents?
How should I deodorize the decoy. I washed the decoy with scent free soap. It still smells a bit like plastic. I assume that smell will keep fading.
Should I use any scents near the decoy when hunting?
Been pissing on the ground around my decoy. Store bought scents will not increase the effectiveness of the set up at all. The decoy is a visual stimulus to a buck. As far as scent free goes just hide in the bush's for a day or two and then just wear gloves when handling. Then sit back and watch that high dollar decoy get destroyed in Kansas. Let this guy walk back in 2012 and still can't figure out what I was thinking.
WOW Scrappy. That is one heck of buck to let walk. You must have some monsters on your ground if you let hime walk!!!!
I use just doe pee but place it on the ground at the base of the decoy, so when/if the buck goes down wind, he can smell a deer.
Yes, washing it down until the smell goes away and then spray it down after you set it up in the field. As was suggested wear rubber gloves when handeling. Also I spray down my boots and lower legs when setting up the decoy.
ANd then shoot the buck before he destroys the decoy.
My best, Paul
"How should I deodorize the decoy. I washed the decoy with scent free soap. It still smells a bit like plastic."
Leave it outside - in the sunlight, UV rays will kill the bacteria (smell) and it will be neutral scent wise.
Then leave in the shade outside to remain scent free.
Listen to Paul, he be the master. I have had to yell at little bucks to keep them from hitting my decoy. I love it when you set your decoy up in the dark and when it starts to get lite you think you put the decoy to close to your tree until it starts moving. Bring on the rut
I have found that it is critical to keep your decoy away from where resident does go to feed. Each and every doe knows each and every other deer and a decoy just wires them up. I rarely use a decoy since it's hard to avoid the does but if I do it's in an area where it's likely only bucks will travel!
Snorting does has always been a problem when using the decoy near an evening food plot field. Good luck!
sitO's Link
Two words...Tarsal gland.
Here's a Bowsite link/thread with some good info on decoys.
I'm using wall hanger thrombosis James valley scent co. With my decoy. I wash mine with soap leave it outside and then spray it down with scent killer once it set up in the field. Never put scent directly on the decoy, put a stick at the back end and put your scent on it.
Charlie, that is why I only use a buck decoy as the local does do not seem to pay any attention to it, as I believe, they think it is just a wandering buck.
As for a doe decoy, yes, the local does know a stranger in their area, and seem to go on alert and stomp and snort at times.
Personally, no need for sprays. I do wear rubber gloves if possible, but I simply spread mud or dirt all over it when I set it up. Never had issues with them scenting anything. Had bucks licking the decoy.
They are young buck magnets, but in wide open areas they are very effective. Having it set directly upwind from you is more important. My experience is big bucks have made wide circles to get down wind of it. Quartering winds are no good, directly upwind.
I agree with does snorting at decoys, however, I put a tail wagger in and it seems to calm the does down. I drew two does 150 yards down a corn field to inspect the decoy and killed one doe at 5 yards while she was looking. Try a tail wagger with your decoy guys, it makes a world of difference.
2X LBshooter, I was going to say the same thing but you beat me to it. Have been using the tailwagger for many years and before I started using it the Doe's would blow up around the decoy when they saw it. Now they come in and hang out and feed with it. Have even had them walk off 150+ yards then come back to see why the decoy is not following them.