GROUND BLINDS & DECOYS

[SOUP]

FOLKS ,
I've never used a ground blind or decoys for deer hunting. I used tons of them for waterfowl hunting for 25 years & with much success. But let me give you this set up & my first day results.
Southern New Jersey farm-80 acres mostly fields & about 15 acres of woods. Farm on one side is pasture Other side is woods & soybeans. We are about 60/40 soybeans & wheat.
Set up Amer.Stackhouse in backyard & let air for 3 days-then sprayed with hose let dry for a day or 2 & covered inside & out with a solution of baking soda mixed with hot water. Let dry for 3 days-same with Montana buck & doe decoys . After 3 days put on ruber gloves & got all baking soda that had remained on outside of blind/decoys brushed /washed off-if you don't you have an unnatural white on your gear.
Set the blind up for 2 weeks before season in corner of a field next to hedgerow/pasture . Hunted last Friday from a stand across from the blind ( 200 yards ) & passed up does & a small buck. I could CLEARLY see deer walking past the blind . I had the decoys out in front of the stand I was in & the does seemed inquizative but not happy with them.
Yesterday I hunted the blind & the deer would not come down to me.They would walk about 60 yards from me & stare . I don't think it's the blind -I think it may be the decoys. The rut is not here yet & it was about 60 degrees yesterday & about 52 on Friday. I did not see half as many deer today as Friday-but-my two friends were hunting in the field behind me & saw lots of deer & 5 bucks.
I'm really kind of lost on this one !!If it was the blind would they not avoid it ALL the time ? But with the decoys out BEFORE the rut-am I pi---on my on parade ?Please remember here in NJ we don't have the wilderness that most of the members are use too. My area is a farming county-but roads intersect everyplace in New Jersey.
Thank you all in advance for your time & help. I appreciate your sharing of information.
SOUP

[Bobber54]

I've hunted with decoys for years. Does hate decoys. They are very territorial and know everyone in there area. I don't leave my decoys out when I'm not hunting. I use my decoys during the rut and prerut when bucks are cruising and usually during midday, when does are bedded down. I don't use decoys in traffic area's. Pinch points are for ambushing only. I like to go to a suspected buck bedding area's and find a small clear area and decoy and call to see if I can get a buck to come in. Use scents very sparingly, more is NOT better. Does like grassy area's to bed, bucks prefer some he--hole to bed in, with lots of noisy entrance. If your hunting a heavy used trail, thats a doe trail. Bucks usually travel off trail, that is the mature ones.
I hopes this helps

[DrDan]

I bought that same blind this fall and did nothing to it. I just put it up behind my woodpile in the back corner of my yard. I toss shelled corn and sunflower seeds on the ground about 20 yards from it daily. I probably lay out about 10# of feed a day. The does and fawns come in every night and eat and don't pay any attention to me at all.
One night I put a salt block out in the same area and it totally freaked them. I moved it the next day. I think it's your decoys that are scaring them. Put some shelled corn out every night and you'll have deer. I'm not really a trophy hunter so I'd just as soon get a doe - better eating!

DrDan