Never use 3d targets as decoys

[Pope94/IA]

I tried it just to see what happends and I was never expecting a big buck to come in. I had the 3D target facing to the corn with its head chewing on a cob. Its one of the broadhead bucks. And it hasn't been shot up all that much yet.

Well anyway, this doe popped out of the corn behind me and kept looking at the target like what the heck is wrong with that deer. She never came close, just kept her distance. Then I see a set of big horns pop up right in front of the doe. And that buck keep an eye on the decoy. It starts wheezing and it runs up the field a ways then looks back and keeps bobbing his head up and down trying to feed and watch the decoy at the same time and then he decided to take off into the corn.

I was ticked off at the target. I know now to never use it.
I really never expected to have a big buck come in but oh well things happend and I learned my lesson.

[Hoytail Hunter]

Here's something to consider:

Targets are foam. Foam holds sweat and oils from your hands if you touch the foam. Foam sucks in and retains odors in the environment. I thought about getting a foam target and using it as a decoy but this thought process stopped me.

[Pope94/IA]

wow, I never knew that. Well goodbye foam target!

Would a real decoy like the Boss buck be made out of plastic mabye?

[huntingson]

I have had good luck using my 3d target as a decoy. I have also had bad luck using an actual decoy b/c the deer seem to be concerned by the lack of movement. At least, that is all I could figure. It all comes down to the time and place of use.

[sandilands]

Works.around.here[:-]

[Dr Andy]

I killed a 9-point 126" deer came to my target that was used as a decoy.(see deer in my avatar)I always spray it down with some kind on scent eliminating spray and then add some estrous scent to it if it's a doe and buck scent if it's a buck decoy. Your larger/older bucks will probably not fall for a target as decoy. But remember if a deer sees a decoy and circles downwind to check it it should smell like a deer. If you put estrous scent on it it may actually repel a doe.

[cooter144]

I killed an 8 pointer using a 3d target as a decoya few years ago.

I use a carry lite decoy know though.

Some deer react differenty to decoys than others. I have found that doe's are often freaked out by them.

[WV Hunter]

On a hunt last year, one of my partners used an OLD mckenzie buck target as a decoy (it was shot to heck also, which was funny). Every night the bucks were cruising the corn 100-300yds out from his patch of woods, scent checking. First night he set it up....he killed a 120's 9pt....came in like a string as soon as he saw it. We were all shocked really, that thing was a beater of a target. LOL

I could see alot of scent being an issue with any target/decoy, but I doubt it is the actual target/decoy being the problem. Heck, people have killed bucks with those 2 dimensional paper fold outs.

[8pt~Bowhunter]

.