I can't believe it when I see this done on hunting shows. One guy deer hunting (bow), does some rattling, here comes a big buck. He takes out one of those cardboard doe decoys and hides behind it! The buck came in, knew something was up and bolted.
I really can't believe it when they do it for antelope on open plains.
Antelope!! Some knucklehead could be shooting from 400 yards away!
Am I nuts, or is this a good way to take a bullet in the head??

I have thought the same about the antelope hunts. Maybe the gun season is closed during these archery hunts when this goes on and they are on private ground. Of course there is no such thing as poachers and trespassers.

that does sound real stupid






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I've often wondered the same thing. Most of the time I see it on TV it's with a doe decoy. But I did see once (not sure which show), where they had a bull elk decoy and they were right behind it.

Maybe since a lot of them are in high fences they don't need to worry about other hunters 400 yards off.

Well ... I don't know ...you might as well wear a red , white and blue when your out turkey hunting

I don't live behind fears. In archery season there should not be any deer shot with guns, sure the possibility exists but possibilities don't keep me on the couch, keep me from climbing into a treestand, keep me from hiding a motorcycle or driving my truck. There's always a possibility for an accident but yet we procede with much more dangerous tasks than using dekes in this manner.

Especially for Pronghorn, it is a very effect means to an end and one I wouldn't mind trying. I am headed to Wyo. with many members here in 09 for Pronghorn and stalking with a deke seems like a great alternative to sitting all day in a blind. Proactive hunting.

What about hanging a turkey deke out in front of you, not much different but set up accordingly. Again, there are much more dangerous things you could do.

Really? I don't see using a turkey decoy being nearly as dangerous.
Would you throw a hide over your back and put antlers on your head? Seems like a much better comparison IMO.
Good luck, you better hope the other hunter or poacher is a bad shot.

Decoying antelope in archery season is a great way to hunt them. Some folks will tell you they get several bucks a day charging in on them, while others, like myself, seem to chase them off with a deke. I haven't mastered that project yet, but I do know that using an antelope call in conjunction with the decoy works well. I think thethree most critical aspects are:

1. Setting up so as not to alert them scent/sight.
2. Make sure you are hitting the rut in the peak (mid to late August here)
3. Hunt an area that is archery only, or gets limited pressure during rifle.

No, not quite as dangerous and no, I wouldn't put a hid and antlers on my body, that's just silly but there is a far cry from that and a deke. Of course I'm not talking public land either. I'm refering to one, private land and B and even more so, dekes for Pronghorn. While elk hunting we threw up a Feather Flex 2d deke as well. I'm simply not living my life in fear of others. If I did that, I'd stay home now wouldn't I?

Everything goes with common sense when it comes to using any decoy. A person knows where he is safe, where it is a little risky, and where it is way too risky. Use your best judgement. When antelope hunting with archery equipment you basically have two ways to be successful. Blind hear a waterhole or travel route, or a decoy and hiding behind it.