A Guide to Buying Decoys and Scents for Hunting

Open up any Cabela's catalog and you will find pages of hunting decoys and scents. It is enough to drive the normal person crazy! How do you decide what you need to get, and how do you know how to use it correctly? Both decoys and scents have been created with the purpose of helping hunters to be more successful. You need to be able to find the right combination of these aids to put more game in your game pouch, or the back of your truck. Here are some general guidelines to help you weed your way through all the options in your local outdoor store.

First, keep in mind that decoys and scents are aids for taking game. So, your first step is to identify what you are going to be hunting, and then finding the aids that will help you be successful. Make good choices in decoys and scents and you will see your success rate go up quickly.

Let's start with big game. If you are hunting deer, there are several options available for decoys. You can go all out and buy something like the MOJO Deer decoy, which is motorized and moves its head and tail by remote. Or, you could simply buy one of the many paper silhouettes available on the market. Of course the MOJO decoy is far more expensive, but also provides the best image for attracting deer. Remember to check your local game laws before using any decoy. Use of such a life like decoy is not recommended on private land, where many people are hunting and the safety of such a device is in question. There are also many different models of decoys available for other big game animals. Elk, moose and antelope can all be seduced into range by the use of a decoy. You want to find something that is easy to carry, especially if you are hiking a great distance to a hunting area. Again, consider safety and local laws before choosing to use a large animal decoy.

Decoys can also be used for hunting predators. A rabbit decoy, used with a rabbit squealer can work wonders when hunting foxes, or coyotes. Having something that looks alive running around on the ground, can cause those wary dogs to come in that last little bit, close enough for a shot. The Feather Flex Rigor Rabbit Motion Decoy, available from Cabela's as well as many other outdoor outlets, is a great choice, and has been the downfall of many a wily fox and coyote.

Any discussion of decoys would not be complete without addressing birds. Bird decoys have been around for about as long as men have tried to kill birds. They can be particularly effective on turkeys, ducks, and geese. There are limitless numbers of decoys available for just about every species of duck and geese. It is important to buy the right decoys for the area that you are hunting. Remember, your quarry has phenomenal eyesight, and so your spread must be convincing. MOJO also makes several duck and goose decoys, which will add movement to your spread, making it that much more convincing. Turkey decoys are often very effective in firing an old gobbler up. We have all watched the videos of a big tom tearing up a jake decoy. When getting a bird in close is important, having a decoy set up is the way to go. Check out Cabela's website (www.cabelas.com) for a wide selection of turkey decoys. They have nearly 40 models available. Be sure to check your local game laws before using turkey decoys, as they are still illegal in some states.

Once you have your choice of decoy, you can concentrate on scents. If you are hunting birds, scents do not matter. You won't have to worry about fooling the nose of a gobbler or a goose. However, when you are hunting predators or big game, scent disguise is vital to success. Having a big buck circle down wind before coming in to your stand can be disastrous if you are not prepared with your scent regimen.

Scents generally fall into two realms: cover scents and attractant scents. You can use one type of scent, or use both types in conjunction with one another. Each serves a different purpose, but both will help you be a more successful hunter.

Cover scents are designed to cover up the human scent on clothing and skin. Cover scents often involve the scent of something that is in the natural environment of the animal to be hunted. These scents include pine, acorn, fresh earth and various animal urine scents. These scents can fool the nose of your quarry, making them believe that there is no danger. These types of scents are effective if you are able to ambush your prey.

Attractant scents are designed to draw your prey in by your smell. Doe in heat scent, as well as other sexually based attractants are very effective on bucks, bulls and boars. If you can convince a rutting buck that you are a hot doe, he will come around. If you plan works right, he will give you an opportunity for a shot!

Scents can be used for both big game animals and predators. Often, predators will circle down wind before coming in to a call. If they smell only a fox (fox urine cover scent), they are more likely to come in the rest of the way to your set up. The same thing is true if you are hunting big game. Deer will be more likely to come into your set up if they smell something attractive to them (such as a doe in heat). Elk will also be less wary if they smell something attractive, or at least something that is familiar.

Finally, consider the new scent elimination products available on the market. Not only do hunters need to use cover scents, and attractant scents to be successful, but they can use these scent eliminator sprays to help increase their success. These sprays, such as Scent Killer from Wildlife Research Center, work very well at removing the smell of "human" from your clothes and skin. If you start with this product, and then use a cover scent or attractant scent, you will see more game, and will spook far less.

Both decoys and the proper scent regimen will help you be a better hunter. Most, if not all of the products mentioned in this article are available online from Cabela's Website (www.cabelas.com). When you set up your stand site, simply put your decoys out where they can be seen by the passing game animals. Then, make sure your scent is taken care of-either by covering up your scent, or by eliminating it with the proper products. When all of this is in order, sit back, relax and wait on your prey to stroll by.