New theory about deer decoys

Swampghost · October 11, 2009, 08:46 PM

Let's assume that deer and other animals 'read' their environment. How do they do it? They notice everything around them. What creates the most alarm? Squirrels and songbirds.

I'm thinking about placing some of these decoys near the stand to make the deer 'comfy' and far enough away JIC there may be a squirrel hunter around. The big question is where to find the decoys.

oneounceload · October 11, 2009, 09:06 PM

http://www.cabelas.com/big-game-decoys.shtml

snipecatcher · October 11, 2009, 09:18 PM

I believe he was referring to putting up fake squirrels and songbirds. These are referred to as confidence decoys, and are used by waterfowlers in the form of blue herons. The way I see it, if the deer sees a motionless squirrel a few feet away from you, the deer will also see you. Squirrels and songbirds only seem to get noticed by deer when they start chattering and making a commotion.

Swampghost · October 11, 2009, 09:56 PM

I would never place a squirrel decoy within a few feet of my stand. Some people use shotguns and not all are good shots. I was thinking that one on a branch 30 ft. away would work with some songbirds maybe a little closer.

snipe, I know that deer will get spooky when other animals do. It's kind of like a woods alarm system. They'll also get wary when things aren't where they usually are like squirrels and birds.

oneounceload · October 11, 2009, 10:13 PM

Gotcha!....I'm used to hunting out West - we didn't have trees to sit in, let alone squirrels, in the mountains of NV......

We just worried about not spooking them with our movement from one mountainside to the other

shortwave · October 12, 2009, 03:31 AM

May work! I`ve had my turkey decoys out and deer have come within feet of them. Don`t know if decoys helped but they didn`t hurt. In early bow season I have used a squirrel/turkey call after getting into deer stand in the afternoon to kinda settle the woods back down from the noise I`ve made entering stand. Hoping the rustle of the leaves I`ve made entering followed by the call may make deers mind more at ease. Squirrel or turkey decoys may work.

wpcexpert · October 12, 2009, 11:43 AM

Now turkeys I think would make a better confidence decoy than squirrels. From my experience, squirrels don't like deer. But I've seen deer following a flock of turkeys. They seem to co-habbit when they can. Deer trust the turkeys eyes and sense of being spooked, the turkeys trust the deer sense of smell and hearing.

You may be on to something.

VaFisher · October 12, 2009, 04:00 PM

Better add some sounds to make them more realistic.

October 11, 2009, 08:46 PM	#1
Swampghost Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: Florida, east coast Posts: 2,106	New theory about deer decoys Let's assume that deer and other animals 'read' their environment. How do they do it? They notice everything around them. What creates the most alarm? Squirrels and songbirds. I'm thinking about placing some of these decoys near the stand to make the deer 'comfy' and far enough away JIC there may be a squirrel hunter around. The big question is where to find the decoys. __________________ NRA Patron Member

October 11, 2009, 09:56 PM	#4
Swampghost Senior Member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: Florida, east coast Posts: 2,106	I would never place a squirrel decoy within a few feet of my stand. Some people use shotguns and not all are good shots. I was thinking that one on a branch 30 ft. away would work with some songbirds maybe a little closer. snipe, I know that deer will get spooky when other animals do. It's kind of like a woods alarm system. They'll also get wary when things aren't where they usually are like squirrels and birds. __________________ NRA Patron Member

October 12, 2009, 11:43 AM	#7
wpcexpert Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Central Arkansas Posts: 791	Now turkeys I think would make a better confidence decoy than squirrels. From my experience, squirrels don't like deer. But I've seen deer following a flock of turkeys. They seem to co-habbit when they can. Deer trust the turkeys eyes and sense of being spooked, the turkeys trust the deer sense of smell and hearing. You may be on to something. __________________ When once a republic is corrupted, there is no possibility of remedying any of the growing evils but by removing the corruption and restoring its lost principles; every other correction is either useless or a new evil. - Thomas Jefferson

October 11, 2009, 09:06 PM	#2
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	http://www.cabelas.com/big-game-decoys.shtml

October 11, 2009, 09:18 PM	#3
snipecatcher Senior Member Join Date: February 1, 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 314	I believe he was referring to putting up fake squirrels and songbirds. These are referred to as confidence decoys, and are used by waterfowlers in the form of blue herons. The way I see it, if the deer sees a motionless squirrel a few feet away from you, the deer will also see you. Squirrels and songbirds only seem to get noticed by deer when they start chattering and making a commotion.

October 11, 2009, 10:13 PM	#5
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	Gotcha!....I'm used to hunting out West - we didn't have trees to sit in, let alone squirrels, in the mountains of NV...... We just worried about not spooking them with our movement from one mountainside to the other

October 12, 2009, 03:31 AM	#6
shortwave Senior Member Join Date: December 17, 2007 Location: SOUTHEAST, OHIO Posts: 5,970	May work! I`ve had my turkey decoys out and deer have come within feet of them. Don`t know if decoys helped but they didn`t hurt. In early bow season I have used a squirrel/turkey call after getting into deer stand in the afternoon to kinda settle the woods back down from the noise I`ve made entering stand. Hoping the rustle of the leaves I`ve made entering followed by the call may make deers mind more at ease. Squirrel or turkey decoys may work.

October 12, 2009, 04:00 PM	#8
VaFisher Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2006 Posts: 596	Better add some sounds to make them more realistic.