My father and I used a painted up McKenzie target for a decoy a few times. We both killed bucks of of it too.

Spray it down with a scent killer after you set it up. I had a buck come running up to it one time and started sniffing it. Just at the same time I released my arrow, he jumped back away from the decoy. He smelled something on it. He stood there looking back at the decoy, then at me, back at the decoy then at me. I was hunting off of the ground at 20 yds away. I managed to get another arrow from my quiver but missed the second shot. That was exciting. I learned to descent the decoy. We do put a little doe-in-heat scent on it though. The buck woudn't run because the decoy wouldn't run. He acted as if he was waiting for a reaction from the decoy. He kept looking back and forth.

It seems that does are wary of a decoy. They snort and stomp their feet at it. At least that's been my experience.


When using a doe decoy, bucks will approach from the rear. They will approach a buck decoy, head on. So set up accordingly for that broadside or quartering away shot.

I set up in a field where I observed 2 bucks chasing does the day before. I laid a doe-in-heat scent trail across the field to the decoy. That buck came running across the field to it.

The buck I got just came strutting up to it. Ears back and all bristled up. He acted like he wanted to fight. I'm not sure why he reacted like that towards the doe decoy. Anyway, he didn't get away.