How to Decoy a Buck During the Rut
The buck, the why, and the gear
The Setup
How to Decoy a Buck During the Rut
Right now bucks are cruising for does and looking for a fight. A decoy gives them something to come to. Set it up right, and it pulls them into bow range and holds their attention while you draw.
This week’s gear notes come from Montana Decoy, whose decoys are built from photos of real deer and fold down small enough to fit in a pack. Let’s get into it.
Buck Decoy
Pick a Fight
Once bucks start seeking and chasing, a young, aggressive-looking buck decoy can bring a mature buck in to run it off. Go small. A decoy that looks too big can scare off the bucks you actually want.
Set it 15 to 20 yards from your stand, upwind of you, and face it toward you at a slight angle. Bucks usually walk up to a buck decoy head-on, which puts him in front of it and close to you.
Gear note
Montana Decoy Freshman Buck
A young buck with its ears pinned back, built to challenge bigger bucks without scaring them off. Folds flat.
$114.99 Check price
Doe Decoy
Give Him a Reason to Stop
A doe decoy works almost all season, and during the rut a cruising buck has a hard time passing one up. Put it upwind and out in the open, where a buck can see it from a distance.
Bucks tend to come in from behind a doe, so face her away from your stand. That way he circles toward you on his way in.
Gear note
Montana Decoy Trixie Whitetail Doe
A calm pose that fools both bucks and does, with Teaser Tails included for a little motion.
$114.99 Check price
Out West
Mule Deer Fall for It Too
Mule deer rut a little later than whitetails, and decoys work out West too, especially for spot-and-stalk bowhunters. On open ground, a decoy gives you cover while you close the distance.
Keep it between you and the buck and move slowly. If other hunters might be around, carry it folded and wear orange on the walk in.
Gear note
Montana Decoy Muley Buck
Built from a photo of a real mule deer buck. Folds to 20 by 18 inches and weighs about 2.5 pounds with leg poles.
$129.99 Check price
Dale’s Take
“A decoy won’t fix a bad spot. Put it where bucks already travel, give it room to be seen, and let it do the work.”
Have you ever had a buck come in to a decoy? Hit reply and tell me how it went.
Set it right. Then stay still.
Dale Richey
Big Buck Journal
Some links in this newsletter are affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, Big Buck Journal may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices were accurate at time of writing and may change.
Member discussion