New Turkey Hunter – Help #2

  • fishthumper
    Sartell, MN.
    Posts: 11903
    #211046

    Now that some of you have got me started in the right direction on a Turkey call – Lets move onto Decoy’s. What sex? How many? Brand? I have no idea on this one. Interested on what every one else here is using and doing. As always thanks in advance for all of your thoughts and responses.

    lick
    Posts: 6443
    #77498

    No decoys for me

    jason_ramthun
    Byron MN
    Posts: 3376
    #77502

    Quote:


    No decoys for me


    X 2

    fishthumper
    Sartell, MN.
    Posts: 11903
    #77506

    Quote:


    Quote:


    No decoys for me


    X 2


    I thought most everyone used decoys – What is the reason and thoughts on not using them?

    little_g
    durand WI
    Posts: 317
    #77507

    Gut and G keep shooting them In the woods I don’t but in the field I use a hen and a fanned out tom.

    mpearson
    Chippewa Falls, WI
    Posts: 4338
    #77511

    I use B-Mobile with some hens. I have used jake decoys as well. Been successful with both and also with none at all. Using decoys can be great and they can also hurt you! Just depends on the mood of the birds. Don’t think just because you have them out that they will come running in like in the DVD’s!

    lick
    Posts: 6443
    #77514

    Quote:


    Quote:


    Quote:


    No decoys for me


    X 2


    I thought most everyone used decoys – What is the reason and thoughts on not using them?


    My theory is I want the tom to coming looking for the hen that he heard and I hunt mostly woods

    illiniwalli
    WC Illinois
    Posts: 878
    #77527

    i rarely use decoys anymore. for every tom i have killed using a deke, another has hung up out of range waiting for the “hen” to come to him.
    like gut said, i want the tom to come looking for me.

    the only times i might use a decoy is my predawn setup or if i set up on a field i think i might call a tom into.

    swimingjig
    Waumandee, WI
    Posts: 695
    #77539

    Some guys swear by them others swear at them. I guess there is a time and a place for them, I personally have never had them work for me. I have not tryed the newer ones, I maybe should.

    Joel Nelson
    Moderator
    Southeast MN
    Posts: 3137
    #77554

    Decoys are most definitely not a necessity when turkey hunting. As many here have mentioned, they can help you and also hurt you.

    I base my decoy use first and foremost on weapon selection. With a shotgun, they hurt my odds as they limit my mobility, affect my positioning too strongly, and cause me to hunt more conservatively than I’d like. With a bow, I consider them a strong tool in drawing birds into tight quarters, while diverting their attention from both the sound and motion of my bow being drawn – even when perfectly concealed in a blind.

    After that, it’s a matter of season and style of hunting for me. If I’m blind-hunting, I tend to use them more than when out prospecting. Early season they’re much more effective IMO for a number of reasons. More young 2yr old toms running around, more competition for hens that are not yet willing to breed, and less spooking from decoys of other hunters to name only a few. Later season hunts are a different beast, and though that’s when I do a majority of my bowhunting, it’s also when toms have either seen it all, or have been kicked around by other aggressive toms.

    If it were me, I’d consider a hen or two if hunting earlier seasons. If budget isn’t too big a problem, I’d have two hens and a strutting tom with real tailfeathers.

    Joel

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