RE: Doe or buck for early deke?
I started using decoys 2 years ago. I generally prefer the buck decoy. Its a small 4 point and I take one antler off and position it where the antlerless side is where i want the deer to approach from. Any bucks investigating it usually will come around to the side w/o the antler. The most luck I have had is usually pre-rut using the grunt and buck urine.
I bought a "feeding doe" decoy and dislike it. The deer usually will start feeding towards it, but usually get wary and stop way short. I figure there noticing something isnt right b/c the decoy dosent have its head raised or moving. May work in combination with others, but I stickwith the more "alert" decoys as its normal for deer to raise its head and watch a new-commer come into the field.