Flambeau Outdoors Decoys - Tips and Tactics

Scents can play a big role when hunting with big game decoys. Make sure that you don't over do it, and try to send it in the direction of the game you're hunting.

TIP- Always handle your decoy with scent free gloves when transporting to and from the hunt.

Whitetail Deer

Scent is the #1 rule when deer hunting in general. Watch how you handle your decoy to and from the field, and for off season storage, place in a sealed bag away from any strange odors.

Hunting Over Deer Decoys

. Decoy placement - when the time is right deer will come into the decoy every time, but

when deer are cautious, placement is key. Try to be as mirrored to nature as possible.
. Doe decoys should be placed with it's head facing away (Bucks will always walk around

to scent check a doe, which will leave you the hunter with a vital shot).
. Buck decoys are just the opposite of the doe. Dominate bucks will come at other bucks face

to face ( which will also create a shot to the vitals).
. Early in the year using more then one decoy in a setup can create a natural herd look

that may relax bucks to join in feeding.
. When the rut is in full swing, it is good to place a buck/doe combo creating a

chase scenario.
. Placing the doe in the bedded position while the buck is tending again shows that the

doe is relaxed, which sometimes relaxes the buck enough to drop his guard and come in.

When using a buck decoy do the opposite as the doe decoy, place the decoy facing you. This will force the buck to offer a shot when he goes face to face with the decoy.

Remember - In or out of deer season, always try to watch body language of wild deer it will only help you when your trying to get the perfect setup.

When using a Redi Doe Decoy in the rut try to face the back of the deer towards you. This method forces the buck to circle towards you to get to the back of the doe.

If treestand hunting for deer is your preferred method, try increasing your treestand height by 5 feet. By getting 5 feet higher, the odds are more in your favor of not being picked off or more importantly winded.

By increasing your normal shooting skills 5 to 10 yards further when shooting at home or on the range, you will also up your odds this fall of taking that deer you're after.

It's one thing to do preseason scouting to better your chances of closing in on a deer this fall, but do not overlook the importance of going over your equipment (treestand, bow, etc..) well before deer season starts.

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Specialty

Hunting Doves Over Decoys

. Decoys can be very effective when hunting doves, especially early seasons.
. Grouping Dove decoys together on a setup shows a safe haven, and a great place for feed.
. Dove wires can be constructed to be placed on the middle of fields to create a place for birds

to land. When using a dove wire, try to not crowd the wire with decoys. Doves will keep their

distance if there is no room.
. In cut open fields placing decoys on the ground shows another great feeding area.
. If possible place decoys in or around dead trees. Visibility is better for the doves to spot

decoys.
. Always try to offset decoys to the left, or right of your setup. This will make the birds pass in

front of you for a cleaner shot.

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Turkey

Getting out as early as 2 to 3 weeks prior to season opener will allow you to key in on several birds, as well as pattern them.

Always remember safety and be aware of your surroundings in case of an approaching hunter.

Practice your calling techniques. Being a super star caller is not necessary, but being fluent with the basic clucks and yelps will increase your odds.

Try using a squatted hen decoy (a hard body Flambeau attentive decoy without the stake) along with a Jake decoy. This will simulate a breeding scenario and will be something a mature gobbler will find hard to resist.

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Waterfowl - Duck

Duck Hunting Over decoys

. Try to string big groups of your decoys together with one anchor. This will show small groups

moving together, and not just individual decoys floating alone all over the water.
. Never leave your spread of decoys on the water when you are not hunting. (#1 rule never

educate the birds, especially when your not even hunting).
. Mixing species is great to add realism. Just make sure that every species you have in your

spread are common to your region.
. Using larger decoys within your everyday spread improves your chances of high flyers

coming in.

Offsetting decoys to the right or the left can create easier shots when hunting. (Right-handed hunters should set spread off to the left and left-handed hunters should set spread off to the right.)

TIP- When thinking about how to place your decoys, remember one thing, try to keep the drake to hen ratio as even as possible. Leading the drake in front of the hen shows a more realistic look.

Always have the right decoy for the job. In shallow water or thick marshy areas, pontoon decoys have a no keel system. That gives your spread the freedom to move around in the shallow waters.

Flambeau Enticers can offer a visual for ducks from a long way out. This works great for field hunting ducks.

When placing out your spread, facing decoys into the wind can offer a greater chance of getting the ducks to land.

Allow for easy landing to incoming ducks when placing decoys out. Example - a runway or hole in your spread gives the ducks an easy place to set down.

Always keep your decoys clean. Leaving mud and dirt on decoys camos your decoys to nature.

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Waterfowl - Goose

Field Goose Hunting

. Always try mix up your style of decoys. Try to put different size shells, full bodies, and

remember different head positions are key.
. When watching fields before season, keep your distance. Try to never disturb the

flocking/eating birds.
. Group calling can only help with your group calling efforts, providing a real-to-life sound of

more than one goose.
. Movement is not always bad if done correctly. Flagging can pursue birds to turn your way,

I recommend flagging on gloomy days when visibility is not great.
. If laying directly on the ground or in a blind, place decoys around you to break up the outline

of your blind. Birds will focus on the decoys over the blind.

First and foremost - always make sure your decoys are visible, land or water.

When hunting in fields try to keep your decoys away from any type of woods. (Safety from preditors).

Place most of the decoys facing into the wind, but turn the heads in different directions to create a more realistic spread.

When scouting a field the night before a hunt, set up in the same spot where the geese last fed.

When hunting geese, try team calling. Example - one hunter clucks while another honks. This will add a more realistic sound to the geese flying over.

When hunting all day, do not hesitate to mover around every few hours. Changing around a spread gives often flying geese a different angle when they fly over.

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