THE ONE DOE DECOY YOU NEED DURING THE RUT

There is a lot we do not know about the whitetail rut. Most of our theories are just that: theories, and not fact. The deer may not even know when exactly the breeding time will take place. This is evident by the “chase phase” of the rut when a buck hounds a doe until she is receptive. This uncertainty is one reason the Estrus Betty doe decoy works and will be effective throughout all phases of the rut.

Beginning during the pre-rut phase, bucks are ready to breed, yet the does are not. Mother Nature knows best, but this seems like a cruel trick on a buck hopped up on testosterone. They are anxious for the does to come into estrus, and now you can show them exactly that.

During the pre-rut, set up an Estrus Betty deer decoy where does frequent. A buck will think his time has finally arrived and your decoy is ready to breed. His curiosity should get the best of him and he will come in for a closer look. Place some doe-in-estrus scent on the ground around the decoy to fool his nose as well as his eyes. The buck will circle downwind of the decoy and approach from the rear, so set it up for the perfect shot angle.

As the rut heats up, from the time bucks start to chase does more aggressively to the beginning of breeding activity, add The Freshman buck decoy to the setup. Pecking orders are well-established by this time and a dominant buck will not tolerate a punk putting the moves on a doe before him. Again, apply doe-in-estrus scent on the ground below your decoy and mix in a few doe bleats and tending grunts to sell the act. In this case, the buck will try to run the buck off first and come to him head on, so keep this is mind to set up a clear shot.

When rutting activity fades, go back to just using the Estrus doe decoy. Not all does come into estrus at the same time, and in areas where there is a low buck-to-doe ratio, some does may not participate during the peak-breeding phase at all. A doe not tended by another buck while displaying a willingness to breed will get the attention of bucks looking for more love.

It’s never been easier to show a buck what he wants to see throughout all phases of the rut. The squatting pose and raised tail of Estrus Betty translates to a doe-in-heat in deer body language. Not only is Estrus Betty a realistic and charismatic sight, but it is also one of the most portable doe decoys on the whitetail market, so carry it with you this season and bring the rut to the deer.

For more deer decoy tips, download the Deer Decoy Setup Guide for free!