Weight
A decoy that is heavy and cumbersome will probably be left at home after a few times to the woods. Select a decoy that you can easily carry back and forth to your stand or ground blind.
Portability
In addition to being light enough to be carried, a good decoy should be easy to carry in one hand or in a specially made backpack. Decoys that can be assembled and disassembled quickly are always more easily transported.
Quietness
Some hollow plastic decoys tend to be noisy to carry in the woods and assemble. The sounds normally associated with such decoys can often be muffled by making special cloth carrying bags that keep components from making noise.
Visibility
Good decoys will stand as high as a live whitetail and carry colors bold enough to be seen clearly from a distance by passing bucks. Modifications such as a movable tail or ears will increase visibility and may reduce the nervousness of deer.
Versatility
Decoys that are equipped with detachable antlers allow you the option of hunting with doe or buck decoys.
Realism
The more realistic a decoy appears, the better it will work on cautious deer. Make sure your decoy doesn't present a buck-frightening glare, as some hard-plastic models do. Silk-screened silhouettes based on whitetail photos are generally the most realistic-looking decoys.
