Author Topic: Who uses decoys? (Read 1231 times)

Frog123 · « **on:** February 12, 2003, 07:40:28 PM »

OK, Let's do a head count on who uses decoys. I realize that they may not be legal in all areas but you can still add an opinion. I myself have used 'em in the past but I haven't used one in the last couple of years. My success rate has improved especially on two year old and older birds. Where I hunt at if you haven't scored on open weekend you're going to be facing educated and pressured birds on Monday morning. Turkeys here have a notoriously bad habit of seeing the decoy and locking up and not coming any closer. I like for the bird to come in looking for the hen instead of locking up just outside of gun range.

Frog

limbhanger · « **Reply #1 on:** February 14, 2003, 05:34:53 AM »

Being from Alabama where decoys are illegal, I have not used them here, but I've hunted in Mississippi and North Carolina with people who use them. Myself, I have not seen where decoys help a whole lot. If a gobbler is coming in, he's not gonna stop unless spooked; so, why bother with decoys? However, I've had success with blinds; especially in the afternoon when I'm still hunting turkeys with very little or no calling. As I stated before, I place the blind in an area where I know there is lots of turkey activity. For example, my brother and I hunted a gobbler for an entire season and never got a shot at him. But whenever we left the woods, we would find his track all over the roads. We even named this turkey "the Road Warrior" due to his habit of walking the roads. The next year, I built a blind overlooking a particular bend on an old logging road where he left many tracks. Well, on the first day of the season, I left out before daylight as usual but no gobbling was going on. About lunchtime, I got in my blind and waited. About 3 hours later here he comes walking behind 4 hens doing the half strut, fanning-out, routine. While all fanned out with his back to me, I shouldered my gun and the hens spooked. He relaxed out of his fanned-out pose and took a glance in my direction giving me a perfect shot. I never called once that afternoon, yet came back to the camp with a fine bird with a 12 inch paintbrush beard and 1.25 inch spurs. Get this, the spurs were purple with back tips making him one of my favorites. The reason why I was successful that day was due soley to my knowledge of the habits of that turkey. Thats why I believe that good scouting gives a far better edge than good calling.

rickyp · « **Reply #2 on:** February 15, 2003, 03:25:57 AM »

In MD we can use decoys and blinds but can only hunt until 12 noon. Maryland sucks :x
I have a hen decoy. For a blind I set up in a fallen tree and mix in the branches. I also use the turkey decoy for hunting foxes and when deer hunting. I have deer walk right up to the turkey and feed beside it with out even looking around. One time I even had a cat stalk and attack the decoy that was his last mistake.

Do most of you set up in the woods or beside a field?

limbhanger · « **Reply #3 on:** February 15, 2003, 05:17:33 AM »

Around fields is a good place to find turkeys in the spring here in Alabama, but since the daylight hunt is always the best, I try to slip in where they are roosting well before daylight. A field with a creek or hardwood bottom behind it is a good location to find turkeys roosting. So mainly, I set up in the woods where I think they are roosting. As far as the blinds go, I am not refering to the carry with you stuff that Splendid is speaking of. I agree totally with him that that stuff is garbage. The blinds I set up are at a pre-determined spot, and I build them 2 or so weeks before I plan on hunting them. Being that I hunt turkeys every year here, after a while, I kinda get to know the turkey's activity patterns where I hunt which enables me to place the blinds where I know turkeys are gonna be during the day. However, there is no substitute of getting on a hot gobbling turkey at daylight and calling him in. I'm like Splendid in that I only carry my gun, my calls, and something to drink with me when I head out in the morning. I'll be ready to travel and do not want to be burdened down with excess gear that I don't use anyway.

HoundDog55 · « **Reply #4 on:** February 16, 2003, 01:08:19 AM »

I dont use decoys. May someday. I'm close to the middle of TN up on the mountain and where I hunt it is pretty thick. I would have to set real close to the decoy. I have friends who use them but I havent seen them with any advantage over me yet because of them. For me, the less I have to carry, the better.

freddogs · « **Reply #5 on:** February 16, 2003, 03:34:21 PM »

:grin: I've used decoys.
Sometimes I've hunted with them and sometimes without them. Now days I sometimes take my one decoy. I like to set it where turkeys can't see it from a distance. i think turkeys can get decoy shy just like duck do. One decoy I can fold up and carry with me without trouble. If I can put my decoy somewhere were it can't be seen till they're close it distracts them so I can shoot. :oops:

varmit_master · « **Reply #6 on:** February 19, 2003, 11:44:14 PM »

i use decoys all the time i'm from Ark and say around 10:00 or 11:00 hunting the a field i will but out 2 hens and a jake and if i am hunting in the woods and hunting a place that i know theres a good bird i will just use a jake i have take to a few turkey hunters like Don Shipp and Walter Parrott and David Melcalf they have them come in and put on a class is what i call it i when i was young the first one i when and seen the teacher that yr was late Ben Lee i have seen others and talk to them BUT THE best 2 i ever watch was the kIng i think of turkey huning was late Ben Lee and the other one is Walter Parrott he sat down with me and we talk for a while and i ask about decoys and he said if he had to go into the woods with one decoy he said it would be a jake he said he has kill more older birds by just using a jake because u r making the hen sound and when he comes in and see thaT THERE IS A JAKE getting to the hen before he does he will try to catch the jake to run him off i have kill more turkeys using decoys than not using them when i go into the woods there be decoys in my turkey vest :-)