Deer Hunting with the Carry-Lite Whitetail Deer Decoy

Decoys are relatively new to deer hunting, but can add tremendous excitement and pull in bucks that would pass out of range. However, it’s not as easy and throwing out a decoy and expecting deer to overrun you.

One of the great benefits of a deer decoy is that it takes the focus off you, the hunter. Normally deer that come in to the decoy are focused solely on the decoy, enabling the hunter to more comfortably come to full draw and make the shot on an animal that is not on "danger alert."

Unnatural Odors Are Your Enemy
It is extremely important to eliminate any unnatural odors from your decoy and keep it that way. Spray the entire decoy with a scent elimination spray like Code Blue EliminX or other odor elimination sprays. Then, handle the decoy only when wearing rubber gloves.

Assembling and Transporting Your Decoy
You may want to assemble the decoy prior to entering your hunting area. If you do so, always cover the decoy in hunter orange cloth while carrying it into your hunting spot. Carry-Lite assumes no responsibility if you’re mistaken for game because you failed to cover the decoy in hunter orange.

We recommend that you practice assembling and disassembling the decoy at home so it will become second nature to you in the field. Always store the decoy at home in a scent free area and transport it in the hunter orange bag until assembling it in the field.

Setting Up Your Decoy for Maximum Impact
Use the Carry-Lite Deer Decoy as a doe or a buck. Setting it as a buck can be most effective during much of the season. The exception is during the chasing and peak of the rut phases, when a doe can pull in plenty of bucks. One tip is to use only one antler. This shows that the buck has already been whipped and can be more easily intimidated.

Place the decoy where it can be seen from a distance. Obviously, it will not be nearly as effective in the woods as it will at the edge of a timberline or in a big food plot.

Bucks often approach a buck decoy head on and a doe decoy from the rear, which can be an important consideration when bowhunting.

Deer often approach the decoy from downwind, making scent an important issue. Keeping any human odor away is very important, so spray down the decoy after you’ve placed it in position. Then, use the appropriate urines to add deer scent.

If you set the decoy as a buck, use buck urine and other buck scents, such as tarsal gland. If you set your decoy as a doe, doe urine, doe estrous or Standing Estrous is best. If used as a doe, it’s also a good idea to place some buck urine nearby to further titillate bucks’ sense of smell.

Positioning the Ears and Tail
You can adjust the ears on the Carry-Lite Deer Decoy to "alert," "relaxed" and "aggressive." Try different positions, but use the following as a guideline.

• Relaxed ear position: when you have set the decoy as a doe.
• Alert ear position: most effective at the peak of the rut, when does are being run ragged by bucks.
• Aggressive ear position: when using the decoy as a buck. This is the equal of "calling someone out," and can prompt big mature bucks to come in to kick some tail.

The tail also can be set to different positions. Try a tail-up position when using it as a doe during the peak of the rut. Keep it down when used as a buck.

Utilizing Other Tools
Hunters can utilize all of the tools available to them by adding a deer call to the mix. A big, mature buck may show some interest in the decoy but not enough to come in for a fight unless you blow a grunt at it.

A doe bleat may catch the ears of a buck, and when it sees the decoy, will feel more comfortable coming in to investigate. If possible, lay down a scent trail with a drag as you walk into your hunting area.

It is all in the Tail
One trick hunters have used with the decoy is to use a piece of white T-shirt soaked in deer urine and hung directly under the tail. The shirt will move a little in the wind as well as dispense scent.

You can replace the tail on the Carry-Lite deer decoy with a real deer tail from a harvested deer. Remove the tail and use fishing line to tie the real tail to the post the decoy tail attaches to. Obviously, the real tails will retain scent, so use a real doe tail when the decoy is set as a doe and a buck tail when set as a buck. Keep these tails in resealable plastic bags to keep from contaminating them with foreign odors. Two decoys, one buck and one doe, is a deadly combination at the peak of the rut.

Experimenting and Observing
Part of the fun of using a deer decoy is experimenting with various combinations and watching how the deer react. You may have the decoy set up as a buck, have an aggressive buck step in, and give your decoy a whipping. Fortunately, the decoy is very durable and often no worse for wear after a buck attack. Set as a doe you may get more of a show than you want, but, again, the decoy is durable and normally can withstand the abuse.

Final Word of Caution
We offer a final word of caution when using the Carry-Lite Deer Decoy. It is highly recommend that you use the decoy in archery only areas or during archery seasons. Always carry the decoy in the hunter orange bag. Always carry the decoy completely covered in hunter orange over your shoulder or under your arm as you walk into or out of your area.