Deer decoys are nothing new. Curiously, however, hunting over them successfully is. Not until savvy hunters finally factored in the whitetail’s incredible sense of smell have deer decoys become consistently effective buck-attracting tools.

The science involved in decoying bucks into bow range is relatively simple. The appearance of an unfamiliar buck in his territory stimulates both a deer’s natural curiosity and his territorial instincts. But scent is the trick that closes the deal.

Whitetail bucks establish a pecking order as soon as their antlers harden. Within days, dominant bucks rule the roost. So virtually anytime after they have shed their velvet is a good time to decoy.

It’s vital you hunt with a clean, scent-free decoy. Start by scrubbing every part of it – inside and out – with Scent-A-Way Soap. Don’t miss the antlers. Wear latex gloves during the entire process, and anytime thereafter when handling the decoy and deploying scents.

Stow the clean decoy someplace where it will not be contaminated by human odors. The garage or the back of your truck are poor choices. I usually bury mine in the backyard under a pile of leaves.

When you get to your hunting spot, set up the decoy in a location where it can be readily seen by deer. Hiding it in cover limits the visual stimulation.

The Scent Scenario

Know that most dominant bucks will approach the decoy head-on. He will probably come in with his ears back and the whites of his eyes showing, posturing as he rubs his metatarsal glands. Position the decoy in relation to your stand accordingly.

The last thing a buck should smell when he comes to investigate is human odor. So spray the decoy liberally with Hunter’s Specialties Scent-A-Way to neutralize odors that may linger, once it is in place.

I use three distinctly different aromas to paint a complete scent picture for approaching bucks. I deploy Primetime Doe Estrus lure on the ground, under the decoy’s nose, as if it had just sniffed fresh doe urine. Secondly, I sweeten the set up with Primetime Dominant Buck Urine. This I position on both sides of decoys to simulate the buck marking the spot with urine.