Well, I was disappointed in my 35 dollar investment. I don't use decoys very much these days and don't have much experience with them, so maybe I did something wrong. The other day I scouted an area I haven't yet hunted, and found it loaded with sign. Tracks, strut marks, scratchings so thick it looked like a bomb zone. I had also glassed two gobblers in the adjoining field tailing a pair of hens the evening before. So that evening about an hour and a half before fly up time, I made my set. I have an avian hen but I couldn't remember where it was. I then thought of a past hunt where I called three Jakes to a field, and when two longbeards topped the hill and saw them, came at a dead run to fight the Jakes. So I brushed in about ten yards back in the woods, and set my funky chicken by himself close to the woodline facing toward me. In my mind I was simulating a jake following the unseen hen (me) into the woods, which I figured would bring them running to run off this jake. I did some light, soft calls every so often with a trumpet and a box call to sound like a couple different hens. About 40 minutes into this, I hear a gobble over the rise in the field. I got down on my gun and waited. After a few minutes, I gave another quiet yelp and resumed waiting. Not long after two gobblers popped up over the hill. They stood and stared at this decoy for a minute or so. They did not like what they saw. They started to skirt around me, giving this goofy looking decoy a wide berth. I still managed to kill one of the gobblers, but after that experience I don't think much of this decoy. I was already skeptical, and definitely didn't see the action all the reviews rave about. So is using a single jake decoy a bad idea?
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Only time I've used mine, 4 hens came running right to it and brought 3 longbeards chasing them.
But, yes, all the reviews seems to say they run to it or directly away from it. Probably because those that leave reviews either really love or hate it. The ones that think it's so-so don't bother. I had been looking at them for a while but got it on clearance for like $15.
We had 3 crappy foam hen decoys out as well. I don't have a ton of experience so this is more of a "what I've heard": Turkeys can pinpoint the location of a sound from a long ways off. If they hear a hen and come looking for a hen but then only see a jake, they very could well think something's not right.
OR it could be because the decoy looks ridiculous.
Glad you got one of them.
I've never used mine without hen decoys also, so I can't give an educated opinion. I will say, like all decoys, it's hit or miss as to how they will react. My experience with FC overall is positive especially last season where 2 gobbler I killed ran to it to beat it up, but there were also hen decoys out as well, so....
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I have had birds react the same to my Avian jake... Sometimes they run to it, sometimes they ignore it, and I have had them absolutely avoid it.
I have a friend that has one, along with a DSD jake, and he reports that when the birds go to that funky chicken, they really go to it.
Not sure I would say their reaction was exclusively because of the F chicken. I had this same kind of thing happen using a DSD jake and submissive hen.
Turkeys act all kind of different ways toward decoys. Its so hard to judge sometimes how they are going to react.
Im not really a decoy guy now days but I have used them with good and bad results. Hey you got the bird anyway good on you for that.
My only experience was the bird stayed about 60 yards away from the Funk and a DSD hen. He gobbled his head off, but would come no closer. After he walked off gobbling, he gobbled in the woods about 150 yards away and I crawled out and pulled the Funk. An hour later he came back to the field (he had a weird kink in his beard, definitely same bird) - came straight in to the decoy and took a truck ride.
Never used one. Sure they did not see you?
Quote from: g8rvet on April 03, 2020, 08:23:52 PM
My only experience was the bird stayed about 60 yards away from the Funk and a DSD hen. He gobbled his head off, but would come no closer. After he walked off gobbling, he gobbled in the woods about 150 yards away and I crawled out and pulled the Funk. An hour later he came back to the field (he had a weird kink in his beard, definitely same bird) - came straight in to the decoy and took a truck ride.
There's the classic example of a tom that has been beaten up by jakes.
I've had toms come in and wear out that funky chicken and I've had them shy away.
I think it has more to do with the social situation than the decoy.
I was hunting with a friend. I had a DSD hen and a funky chicken out.
A tom came in and, as soon as he saw the decoys, he faded right away ( he had been gobbling on the way in ).
After he left, I went out and removed the chicken because...Well, just because. I thought that should be my first course of action.
About an hour later that same tom came back from the direction he went.
As soon as he saw the hen, he came in in half strut. Just as he was beginning to open up into full strut, four or five jakes came running in and opened a can of whoop a - - on him.
I've never seen such brutality in my life!
They actually were dragging him around and pecking him and beating him with their wings.
He somehow managed to get on his feet and, with one of them still hanging on him, stumble off.
That jake returned a short time later and the little hoodlums finally walked off.
After that display, I understood EXACTLY what was going on.
It wasn't the decoy, it was the social situation...
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May even just be a bird that got a whoopin from another Tom too. I only use dekes in fields and now just use a hen. Not that it can't work. I reckon if I knew there was a dominant longbeard I wanted to kill, I would pull it out again.
Couple of years ago I decided to try the funk and got one. Hunted my farm in SC set up first morning in a field with the funk and a hen or two. Had some gobbling in front of me and a silent gobbler came in from behind and had no interest in the decoy. Started walking in the field and then left in a hurry. I see a group come from the far side and I call a little and they start working over. Turns out it's a group of 5 jakes. I started call them the Gang of 5. They catch sight of the funk and hens and come right in. I had them milling around I could probably killed 3 in one shot. Soon as I saw this I knew what was going on. I let them walk and almost had them called back and decided I would kill one since there's 5 of them. Farmers wife drove by and spooked them. I cut through the woods to the next field over and there they were having a stand off with a gobbler about 100 yards apart. I pulled the funk and hunted the rest of the time with just a single hen. Killed the biggest Jake the next morning doublr bearded and about 7 inch beard. Bubba
So you killed a bird and are complaining?
Gotcha.
I don't think he was complaining at all. He was making the point that that gang of jakes was beating up the local toms. I thought that was pretty clear.
I did not see a complaint. Jeez
Quote from: g8rvet on April 05, 2020, 12:33:51 PM
I did not see a complaint. Jeez
I'm a Grumpy Old man I complain about everything! :turkey2: But I was just making an observation on my experience with the decoy. Never complain about hunting except for maybe on public land. Haha. Larry how you doing? Haven't seen you around? Bubba
Wow Grumpy old men :z-guntootsmiley:
Quote from: ChiefBubba on April 05, 2020, 10:32:38 AM
Couple of years ago I decided to try the funk and got one. Hunted my farm in SC set up first morning in a field with the funk and a hen or two. Had some gobbling in front of me and a silent gobbler came in from behind and had no interest in the decoy. Started walking in the field and then left in a hurry. I see a group come from the far side and I call a little and they start working over. Turns out it's a group of 5 jakes. I started call them the Gang of 5. They catch sight of the funk and hens and come right in. I had them milling around I could probably killed 3 in one shot. Soon as I saw this I knew what was going on. I let them walk and almost had them called back and decided I would kill one since there's 5 of them. Farmers wife drove by and spooked them. I cut through the woods to the next field over and there they were having a stand off with a gobbler about 100 yards apart. I pulled the funk and hunted the rest of the time with just a single hen. Killed the biggest Jake the next morning doublr bearded and about 7 inch beard. Bubba
In all seriousness, how much do you still use your Funky? I have two and have only used the one a few times and had an experience where a gobbler wouldn't commit into range (was using one and a hen), I am just trying to get some feedback because I sure as heck wanna use it more but positive feedback leaves me not second guessing as much?
Probably shouldn't have been wearing blaze orange. Lol.
That's what I love about this sport. Nothing you do is a sure thing.
Quote from: joey46 on April 05, 2020, 05:02:10 PM
Probably shouldn't have been wearing blaze orange. Lol.
You mean the blaze orange boony hat wasn't the way to go? The kid working at Dicks said that's what he wears when he's Turkey hunting. Haha. Bubba
Been well. Hope you are too. Stay safe down there brother. Our duck season was poor but we managed a few.
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Probably have a dozen pictures of "Funky" after action results but rarely post them on this forum, and this forum only, because of file size restrictions. Grr!
Anyway - in the last few seasons Funky has been included in our decoy spread. When hunting with a buddy we will usually have his breeding position Avain X, a Primos hen, and Funky placed near the Avain X. Sometimes throw in an old Primos Jake Mobile with real tail. Quite a collection. If by myself it will be Funky and the hen. This is all private land stuff. If we hunt public it's a hen only. Nothing red. So far this Florida season my buddy has taken one on 3/22 and I took one last Thursday. Funky and his buddies involved in both. Pictures added later - maybe. I see I did get two to post on a thread titled "What kind of jake do you prefer".
Is that a .410 Joey?
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That funky chicken is so strange, that makes me want to try it, to see if it works.
Quote from: sixbird on April 06, 2020, 11:53:31 AM
Is that a .410 Joey?
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Yes - New this season. Be taking it out again this weekend. Funky will tag along. Lol.
Quote from: Beards and Hooks on April 05, 2020, 02:25:52 PM
Quote from: ChiefBubba on April 05, 2020, 10:32:38 AM
Couple of years ago I decided to try the funk and got one. Hunted my farm in SC set up first morning in a field with the funk and a hen or two. Had some gobbling in front of me and a silent gobbler came in from behind and had no interest in the decoy. Started walking in the field and then left in a hurry. I see a group come from the far side and I call a little and they start working over. Turns out it's a group of 5 jakes. I started call them the Gang of 5. They catch sight of the funk and hens and come right in. I had them milling around I could probably killed 3 in one shot. Soon as I saw this I knew what was going on. I let them walk and almost had them called back and decided I would kill one since there's 5 of them. Farmers wife drove by and spooked them. I cut through the woods to the next field over and there they were having a stand off with a gobbler about 100 yards apart. I pulled the funk and hunted the rest of the time with just a single hen. Killed the biggest Jake the next morning doublr bearded and about 7 inch beard. Bubba
In all seriousness, how much do you still use your Funky? I have two and have only used the one a few times and had an experience where a gobbler wouldn't commit into range (was using one and a hen), I am just trying to get some feedback because I sure as heck wanna use it more but positive feedback leaves me not second guessing as much?
Truthfully I can't really give it that much of a review. I think in my situation with all the Jakes it drew them in. Any other time I think it would work. Like the others have said I think it reallys depends on the birds and the pecking order. Bubba
Quote from: High plains drifter on April 09, 2020, 12:34:20 AM
That funky chicken is so strange, that makes me want to try it, to see if it works.
That's exactly what I thought When I was reading the post on here about how good it works. Bubba
I have one I use with some Avian X hens but feel like I can't give an honest review. I've had times where a single gobbler will run right in and I've had other times where they just seem to ignore me.
Quote from: joey46 on April 09, 2020, 07:24:45 AM
Quote from: sixbird on April 06, 2020, 11:53:31 AM
Is that a .410 Joey?
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Yes - New this season. Be taking it out again this weekend. Funky will tag along. Lol.
Nice about .410 Joey!
I know F/C works, no question. I had a gobbler wear mine out for three or four minutes straight. He came in gangbusters and knocked the chicken over, behind a big tree. I couldn't get a shot so he just opened a can of whoop a _ _ on the poor little fella. He was beating him with his wings and pecking him. Apparently he had an issue with the little fella' 'cause he didn't give up until I snapped a cap on him. He backed up for a second and gave me a shot. POW! I ended the beat down.
They work if you don't have a gang of hoodlums running around beating up on the single gobblers.
Quote from: ChiefBubba on April 09, 2020, 10:00:52 AM
Quote from: Beards and Hooks on April 05, 2020, 02:25:52 PM
Quote from: ChiefBubba on April 05, 2020, 10:32:38 AM
Couple of years ago I decided to try the funk and got one. Hunted my farm in SC set up first morning in a field with the funk and a hen or two. Had some gobbling in front of me and a silent gobbler came in from behind and had no interest in the decoy. Started walking in the field and then left in a hurry. I see a group come from the far side and I call a little and they start working over. Turns out it's a group of 5 jakes. I started call them the Gang of 5. They catch sight of the funk and hens and come right in. I had them milling around I could probably killed 3 in one shot. Soon as I saw this I knew what was going on. I let them walk and almost had them called back and decided I would kill one since there's 5 of them. Farmers wife drove by and spooked them. I cut through the woods to the next field over and there they were having a stand off with a gobbler about 100 yards apart. I pulled the funk and hunted the rest of the time with just a single hen. Killed the biggest Jake the next morning doublr bearded and about 7 inch beard. Bubba
In all seriousness, how much do you still use your Funky? I have two and have only used the one a few times and had an experience where a gobbler wouldn't commit into range (was using one and a hen), I am just trying to get some feedback because I sure as heck wanna use it more but positive feedback leaves me not second guessing as much?
Truthfully I can't really give it that much of a review. I think in my situation with all the Jakes it drew them in. Any other time I think it would work. Like the others have said I think it reallys depends on the birds and the pecking order. Bubba
Thanks for the feedback chief do you plan on using it more? Thanks to the other guys sounds encouraging going to be fun to try it out again with hopefully the same results as some other posters on here.
You could have had a $200 DSD there and more than likely the reaction would have been the same. Some birds just get nervous around decoys.
Quote from: Beards and Hooks on April 09, 2020, 03:19:29 PM
Quote from: ChiefBubba on April 09, 2020, 10:00:52 AM
Quote from: Beards and Hooks on April 05, 2020, 02:25:52 PM
Quote from: ChiefBubba on April 05, 2020, 10:32:38 AM
Couple of years ago I decided to try the funk and got one. Hunted my farm in SC set up first morning in a field with the funk and a hen or two. Had some gobbling in front of me and a silent gobbler came in from behind and had no interest in the decoy. Started walking in the field and then left in a hurry. I see a group come from the far side and I call a little and they start working over. Turns out it's a group of 5 jakes. I started call them the Gang of 5. They catch sight of the funk and hens and come right in. I had them milling around I could probably killed 3 in one shot. Soon as I saw this I knew what was going on. I let them walk and almost had them called back and decided I would kill one since there's 5 of them. Farmers wife drove by and spooked them. I cut through the woods to the next field over and there they were having a stand off with a gobbler about 100 yards apart. I pulled the funk and hunted the rest of the time with just a single hen. Killed the biggest Jake the next morning doublr bearded and about 7 inch beard. Bubba
In all seriousness, how much do you still use your Funky? I have two and have only used the one a few times and had an experience where a gobbler wouldn't commit into range (was using one and a hen), I am just trying to get some feedback because I sure as heck wanna use it more but positive feedback leaves me not second guessing as much?
Truthfully I can't really give it that much of a review. I think in my situation with all the Jakes it drew them in. Any other time I think it would work. Like the others have said I think it reallys depends on the birds and the pecking order. Bubba
Thanks for the feedback chief do you plan on using it more? Thanks to the other guys sounds encouraging going to be fun to try it out again with hopefully the same results as some other posters on here.
Matter of fact I'm thinking I'm going to hunt with it tomorrow. If so I'll let you know. Bubba
Quote from: ChiefBubba on April 09, 2020, 05:20:23 PM
Quote from: Beards and Hooks on April 09, 2020, 03:19:29 PM
Quote from: ChiefBubba on April 09, 2020, 10:00:52 AM
Quote from: Beards and Hooks on April 05, 2020, 02:25:52 PM
Quote from: ChiefBubba on April 05, 2020, 10:32:38 AM
Couple of years ago I decided to try the funk and got one. Hunted my farm in SC set up first morning in a field with the funk and a hen or two. Had some gobbling in front of me and a silent gobbler came in from behind and had no interest in the decoy. Started walking in the field and then left in a hurry. I see a group come from the far side and I call a little and they start working over. Turns out it's a group of 5 jakes. I started call them the Gang of 5. They catch sight of the funk and hens and come right in. I had them milling around I could probably killed 3 in one shot. Soon as I saw this I knew what was going on. I let them walk and almost had them called back and decided I would kill one since there's 5 of them. Farmers wife drove by and spooked them. I cut through the woods to the next field over and there they were having a stand off with a gobbler about 100 yards apart. I pulled the funk and hunted the rest of the time with just a single hen. Killed the biggest Jake the next morning doublr bearded and about 7 inch beard. Bubba
In all seriousness, how much do you still use your Funky? I have two and have only used the one a few times and had an experience where a gobbler wouldn't commit into range (was using one and a hen), I am just trying to get some feedback because I sure as heck wanna use it more but positive feedback leaves me not second guessing as much?
Truthfully I can't really give it that much of a review. I think in my situation with all the Jakes it drew them in. Any other time I think it would work. Like the others have said I think it reallys depends on the birds and the pecking order. Bubba
Thanks for the feedback chief do you plan on using it more? Thanks to the other guys sounds encouraging going to be fun to try it out again with hopefully the same results as some other posters on here.
Matter of fact I'm thinking I'm going to hunt with it tomorrow. If so I'll let you know. Bubba
Good luck Bubba hope you smoke a good old longbeard and looking forward to your report bud!
I agree , some ranches decoys work well, others, decoys spook the birds.That chicken is just so strange, it just might work.
Quote from: Beards and Hooks on April 09, 2020, 07:08:37 PM
Quote from: ChiefBubba on April 09, 2020, 05:20:23 PM
Quote from: Beards and Hooks on April 09, 2020, 03:19:29 PM
Quote from: ChiefBubba on April 09, 2020, 10:00:52 AM
Quote from: Beards and Hooks on April 05, 2020, 02:25:52 PM
Quote from: ChiefBubba on April 05, 2020, 10:32:38 AM
Couple of years ago I decided to try the funk and got one. Hunted my farm in SC set up first morning in a field with the funk and a hen or two. Had some gobbling in front of me and a silent gobbler came in from behind and had no interest in the decoy. Started walking in the field and then left in a hurry. I see a group come from the far side and I call a little and they start working over. Turns out it's a group of 5 jakes. I started call them the Gang of 5. They catch sight of the funk and hens and come right in. I had them milling around I could probably killed 3 in one shot. Soon as I saw this I knew what was going on. I let them walk and almost had them called back and decided I would kill one since there's 5 of them. Farmers wife drove by and spooked them. I cut through the woods to the next field over and there they were having a stand off with a gobbler about 100 yards apart. I pulled the funk and hunted the rest of the time with just a single hen. Killed the biggest Jake the next morning doublr bearded and about 7 inch beard. Bubba
In all seriousness, how much do you still use your Funky? I have two and have only used the one a few times and had an experience where a gobbler wouldn't commit into range (was using one and a hen), I am just trying to get some feedback because I sure as heck wanna use it more but positive feedback leaves me not second guessing as much?
Truthfully I can't really give it that much of a review. I think in my situation with all the Jakes it drew them in. Any other time I think it would work. Like the others have said I think it reallys depends on the birds and the pecking order. Bubba
Thanks for the feedback chief do you plan on using it more? Thanks to the other guys sounds encouraging going to be fun to try it out again with hopefully the same results as some other posters on here.
Matter of fact I'm thinking I'm going to hunt with it tomorrow. If so I'll let you know. Bubba
Good luck Bubba hope you smoke a good old longbeard and looking forward to your report bud!
Well can't give you a report on the Funk. I ended up killing a jake by running and gunning. Had the leave the decoys behind. Bubba
Funky with a smirk. This is a 2019 Funky pic. He's been involved in two so far in 2020. He's starting to get the "big head". LOL.
I know this thread is a year old but have an additional story about chicken.
A buddy and I went to Fla. for an Osceola hunt and I decided to use the Funky Chicken.
The short of it is, the first bird spent about three or four minutes strutting around that ridiculous decoy and a prone hen before he went to turkey heaven.
The second one committed fully at first, then from a few feet away, saw something he didn't like.
He putted and started walking away, too late.
So, those two add my conviction that they work under the right circumstances.
One completely committed. The other committed long enough to seal his demise.
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I use one when I take my kids. Set the funky chicken out with a feeding hen or even a lay down hen. In my experience toms come running in. Honestly can't remember a bird ever avoiding it or hanging up.
Sometimes call shy birds will avoid decoys all together. It's just the nature of turkeys being turkeys.
Hunting alone I don't carry decoys that much but often tote 1 or 2 during youth season hunts or taking newer and less experienced hunters. Long story short youth season in FL in had multiple longbeards at different times shy away and skirt a DSD jake and hen combo my wife and kids bought me several years ago for my birthday. So I decide to try the Funky Chicken I bought from Walmart on end of season clearance for $5 2 years ago. Never really had the courage to carry it but after all the DSD heartbreak I was curious.
First chance I got to hunt I decided to experiment and called 2 longbeards in off the roost that ran as fast as they could down the hill to flog the decoy. Only 1 longbeard left that day and we decided to start calling the decoy Slim Jim. Took a first time turkey hunter the next day and had a big strutter bump Slim Jim as he was showing off for his hens and was about to strike when my buddy put him down. A couple days later in back to back days Slim Jim got trashed by a pair then group of 5 jakes and now his stake is all bent and he's missing some paint. Called in another single strutter for another new hunter last Sat who unfortunately ended up missing the bird.
My point is the Funky works so far, but if you would of asked me if the DSD worked last season I would of told you absolutely every time I've used it. Slim Jim has been good so far but nothing's full proof and if you use any of them and depend on them they'll let you down at some point. That's kind of the fun of it, the dang turkeys are going to do what the dang turkeys are going to do and sometimes if just doesn't make sense from one day to the next.