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I want a full 3D decoy. I'm looking at the Primos and the Flambeau right now. I will only need to carry it about 1/2 mile max across mainly open fields so ease of use/realism is more important then weight.

Any thoughts on which one of these is the better choice? Is there a different brand I should be looking at? Thanks!

I strongly suggest getting a decoy. I only use mine during the rut. It also makes deer stick around longer, and usually will give you a better shot opportunity. Last year I had this heavy bodied 8pt all bristled up and posturing for almost 10 minutes. Got great video of it. Decoys are a game changer

Do you use any scent on the decoy or just scent killer?

Yeah, the DSD looks great but way more than I want to spend!

I will relate what I did, where I think I went wrong but still would like to know why it works for you. I was using a Flambeau mature doe decoy in the head down feeding stance. I was hunting very good private land in a area known to produce large numbers of mature bucks that got taken every year. I am 100% confident based on the deer actions that in no way did scent play a roll in their negative reactions. I was set up in a classic funnel that was a rectangular strip of woods that ran nearly dead north/south about 300-400 yards long by 50-75 yards wide that connected on each end to huge blocks of mature timber. I was hunting in a intersection where a hedgerow met the strip of woods that just so happened to be the narrowest part of the funnel. In short a fantastic set up. I chose to give a decoy a try because the previous year, my first year on the land I had the vast majority of mature bucks pass by my stand sight out of bow range and felt a decoy was the answer to my problem as there were no trees available to relocate to. During spring turkey season I built a small pile of brush in relation to my tree stand sight so that when I placed my decoy facing my stand any buck that wished to check out my decoy would have to walk around the small brush pile and hopefully offer a broad side shot. I was careful to make sure the brush pile didn't obscure an approaching deer's ability to see my decoy. The first time I hunted over the decoy it was November 7th and a during the years first cold front that resulted in the most significant temperature drop (65*-27*) of the fall to that date. Less than an hour after sun up I saw a buck coming my way from the north. He was without doubt going to come within bow range unless his travel path changed. He got about 50 yards away and spotted my doe decoy and slammed on the brakes and stared intensely at me decoy for several minuets, then slowly reversed course and walked away stopping several times to look back at my decoy. This happened two more time with different bucks that same day. A group of 4 does came through and also had about the same reaction, although they didn't blow or leave in a panic they did stop and give the decoy a wide berth as the traveled around it, constantly looking at it. Needless to say I stop using the decoy. I had read a book on decoying bucks by a guy who's full name escapes me but his last name was Storm who I think founded or was affiliated with Montana Decoy. I set my decoy up as he recommended, although he used a buck decoy and at the time I couldn't buy a buck decoy and didn't want to modify my doe to wear horns. I think I made these mistakes that resulted in my failures. #1-I used a doe decoy when I should've used a buck #2-Although I set up my decoy as the book I read recommended in the woods, I would've been much better off setting up in the adjacent open field, but again that was a no-go as such a set up didn't work with wind direction and the most likely direction the deer came from and traveled to. #3-Becuase the decoy was in a area that the live deer couldn't see it till well under 100 yards they were surprised when the did, and it's total lack of movement likely resulted in the deer regarding it as unnatural. I seriously doubt any deer that encountered my decoy had ever been decoyed previously as the area was then experiencing very low hunting pressure and no one I talked to had even heard of let alone considered decoying white tails.

So I'm guessing most of you who enjoy success decoying mature bucks do at a minimum these things: #1-Use a buck decoy or a buck and doe decoys but not a doe only decoy #2-set up where the deer can see the decoy from at least 100 yards away #3-Do something to give their decoy at least a little movement. I've often consider trying a decoy again, but I either my hunting land or hunting situation simply made decoying impractical or impossible.

I have also just hung some toilet paper out in the wind, to get their attention

Buck only, with some kind of movement. The Tailwagger gets lots of great reviews, I haven't tried one yet since the tail on mine moves with the breeze.

And make sure they can see it from a distance, 100 yds is fine. I have set mine in the open along a timber edge with no problems from bucks coming from the timber. Inside the timber, where they don't notice it until they are right there, they don't like.

As everyone has suggested, go with the buck decoy. Interesting twist on the only using 1 antler--I may have to try that. I too stash my decoy in the field in a camo burlap bag under some cedars. Use the ScentKiller and you are good to go.

SitO, thanks for the link to that thread!

I've used Jack more and had pretty good success even as a doe, I've had bucks come up and gore her.