I started using a 3D deer target as a decoy in about the mid 90's
I then bought a Flambea decoy in about 2002 or so
I have mixed results, MORE BAD than good
MY personal experience is, it comes down to your deer heard and its age group and buck to doe ratio's
I have taken my decoy to several states too, MO, Oh< ND., SD>< WV> PA< MD, NY NJ<
and have had the same luck more or less, SOME times it works some times it scares deer away
it got to the point I quit using it and actually sold it last fall
its a royal pain in the ass to cary in, even if you break it down, its LOUD plastic is terrible if you have to carry thru any type of twigs or branches
THAT alone I think scares deer away!
I tried leaving it at sites ina LARGE plastic bag and covered it up, BUT again come morning, your making a TON of noise getting it up and out
to me, there NOT worth the time and effort to carry into a set
On a few places I have ground blinds on food plots, I had the best luck as I could stick the decoy in the blind at night LOL
but me, I would never spend the money or time on one again
killed FAR more deer without one, SO don't see the need
YES they can work
but its like a gadget that's NOT needed IMO
and Worse, at times they spook deer, so, your rolling the dice on making your hunting harder and NOT better!
and it seem MOST folks have 50/50 luck, SO< that means just as many times it NOT helping, and work to use it and costs!
My 2 cents LOL