Who uses decoys and who dont?
I tried them last year.The birds I encountered never showed any interest. So I'm not really sold on them yet.
Most of the time, I don't when I'm hunting for myself.
However, I'm never reluctant to grab my Dave Smith if I'm in wide open timber, along a field edge or guiding.
I used to, but I gave up on them. The places I hunt are pretty thick and I haven't really seen a difference.
I don't and won't.
I used to with average success.
I am a run/gun hunter that covers ground. The less I carry the better.
I do, just about every time out. I am only going to be going into my 4th year hunting, and this may have something to do with it. I just like to have a decoy out, prefer to have 3 out for more of a "natural" environment, even though they don't move.
Especially with my kids, I'll have them out every time. Just give that gobbler something else to focus on than me or my kids.
DSD's are so life like, just awesome!!!
Last time I used a decoy was in 2006, it spooked the gobbler I had coming in, so no!!
Not normally, but every now and then I will break out a jake and or a feeding hen.
Very rarely do I use a decoy.
I usually do.
Almost always
No decoys for me.
Decoys have proven very useful to me. Killed three birds last year, 1 Osceola and 2 Easterns, and two of the three came right to hen decoys.
Kinda thought I would hear differentalot of yall dont use one. I dont either but have hunted with people that do. Just doesnt seem to make a big difference probably where I hunt. This year where I will be hunting mostly they will be well within range by the time it does make a difference.
The only time i'll use one is if I'm hunting a guys property I have permission to hunt. He has some huge fields and if a gobbler can't see the hen thats calling (me) he won't get close to the edge. The fields don't have any places to set up in them away from the fence row's.
I am leaning on not using them this much this year.
I hunted a couple of spots where dekes spooked birds, so we were forced to change tactics.
I tell ya, it made for a couple of the most exciting hunts I have ever been on! There is nothing like hearing a bird hammer as he is looking for that "hen!"
Absolutely, I use them anytime I'm hunting a field.......until I get the first negative reaction, then they get put away. I usually have great success with them in early season.
Without intending to hijack this thread, what about the strutting gobbler decoys in particular? I bought one a couple of years ago, used it intermittently, but have never actually had it deployed when I called a bird in. I know they work great on hunting videos, and I bought one after a friend of mine told me there were 7 birds killed over his B-Mobile the first year he owned it. I'm also guessing they might work better in other states where the hunting season opens earlier than ours does in relation to the breeding cycle?
Typically not, but I have.
I did last year, Came right up to the Deek and started strutting, He had 2 live hens with him when they started walking off he broke strut and I dropped the hammer on him
Yes, they help when using the bow.
Also when taking first time hunters.
Usually set up with them first thing in the AM. later on if I do a little running and gunning they usually stay in vest.
I use s hen and Jake whenever in a field. Seems to get their attention and helps with hangups.
All depends on the situatuon. I do use them on some set-ups. I probably use them more than not, though..
I carry one decoy, a hen, I very seldom use her though as I do ALOT of running and gunning in the woods. I'll put it this way I really prefer to hunt the old fashioned way, no blinds and no decoys.
Probably 75% of the time, especially on fields, which is where I have to hunt. If I can set one up without running the risk of getting busted, I usually will.
Yes I do I hunt crop Fields, some of the times it don't matter what you use it depends on the bird. There's times it's help an times it hasn't. It sure is exciting watching a big tom come in on a Jake an submissive hen right infront of ya. Nothing better...
Not yet but I am seriously considering it this year. It will depend on when I get over the mountain this spring.
:fud: :OGani:
When hunting large field edges sometimes, have never put one out in tight cover though maybe I should give it a try might work.
DSD :z-guntootsmiley:
Yep, most of the time.
99% of the time NO. I have DAD in the truck and only used them twice last year when hunting a pasture. Decoys were not legal in Alabama until 5 years ago. Had not hunted.with them for 25 years before then so why start now.
What is funny when I traveled out of state hunting and showed up with no decoys people would say "what, no decoys?" They thought they were more important than a call for killing a turkey.
If you hunt open county and just camp out over a couple of decoys for several hours, good for you. For me, if he's not talking, I'm walking. When you walk a lot having to set up decoys and then pick them up and move again to set them up again. No thanks if you run and gun things happen too fast and when I make a move I'm thinking about the gobbler and not I got to get the decoy and then sit here so I can get the decoy there and get back set up on a tree before they gobbler comes in.
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Absolutely, if i have time to put one out I will. If I am running and gunning and don't have enough time no. Sometimes it is tough to get a bird to see them when hunting in the mountains but it can certainly make a difference between a gobbler that hangs up and a gobbler who is hung up on my wall if he sees it! :z-guntootsmiley:
Quote from: hd mike on February 05, 2012, 11:41:59 AM
Yes, they help when using the bow.
Also when taking first time hunters.
I usually carry a jake and a hen decoy but rarely use them if I am hunting by myself. I plan to put them out when I take my son on his first youth hunt next month.
I do most of the time. However, I am not the slightest bit opposed to going without. If I can sneak in close, but can't put out a deke without being busted, I do so. If I am slipping in on a gobbler, crawling, I also don't. I have killed birds both ways.
I vary the number and sex of the dekes throughout the season, prefering to mimic what I am seeing from the birds. Often early in the season I'll use 2 or 3 hens, a lot of times with a strutting deke. As the season rolls on, and the hen numbers dwindle as they go to the nest, I cut down on the number of hen dekes. Sometimes I'll use a jake instead of the strutter. At the end of the season, I usually cut it down to 1 hen.
As far as strutting dekes go, they are no magic bullet. I've had some awesome hunts with them when 1, 2 and even 3 gobblers came charging in. I've doubled up with friends. But, I've also seen nice satellite gobblers that you would like to take shy away from the strutter deke, and go by out of range.
I've also put out flocks of dekes with several hens, a strutter and a jake. I rarely do this, but when I've roosted a bunch of birds, or know there are a lot in the area, or am hunting a large field, this seems to work. Often larger groups won't come to your calling, or to a single or couple of dekes. But if you have a flock of your own, you can sometimes pull them in. Also single or smaller groups of birds will readily come in to a larger group of dekes.
I understand why run-n-gunners don't like dekes. I don't use them much when I get to do that either, but I rarely am in spots where I can do that. I also understand the make them come looking for you philosophy. But when you are hunting open areas, the turks expect to see the hen they've been hearing. If they don't, they usually exit stage left. I think the big thing when using dekes is to be natural. Set the dekes in the same numbers, and same actions as what you've been seeing birds do.
I think I am gonna skip buying one this year. Thought I may be missing out on something. In the past I have hunted field edges alot. This year I think I am gonna be huntin thick woods and swamp bottoms. Not sure one will help.
If I know I'll be hunting a field or not moving much then I will but most of the time they are just another thing to carry and are way more trouble than they are worth.
I'd say 75% of the birds I kill are without a decoy. Got no problem with them but I hate messing with extra stuff if I can help it.
I am going to go without them this year.
Decoys are pretty good at flairing birds off but they are also good at getting birds to come in certain situations.The problem is you don't know when to use them.
Almost always when bowhunting as placement determines where I will kill the bird. When using the shotgun I carry 2 foldables in my vest and will put them out if I don't feel I'm in jeapardy of being seen setting up.
Normaly no if I have a young hunter or someone who hasn't hunted much I will just to try and keep the birds focus on the decoy and not any extra movement going on.
I almost always use them. I have a checklist of things a turkey must do before I shoot it. They must strut, they must gobble, and they must be with in 30 yards. I have let many birds walk because they didn't meet these requirements, and decoys help with that a lot.
I usually use a decoy, I hunt a lot of fields and the decoy helps bring in the long gobblers.
I just feel more secure and it gives the gobbler something to focus on, also when I happen to nod off it gives the gobbler a reason for the snoring.
Yep love em
Most of the time. Dave Smith when I do...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v712/mudhen/2011turkeyall074.jpg)
mudhen
I have used them in the past and had little success with them but for me, they are just a pain in the butt to tote around in my vest along with all the other useless crap I tote to the woods. Usually, they sit on the back rack of the golf cart unless I plan on setting up on a dirt road or someplace where they can see for a good distance. I need to try some of the self inflating type that take up just a little space and maybe I might use them a little more.
Looks like DSD attracts jakes
Like most, if I set up on a big field early in the a.m. If I am hunting in the woods...never. Just really depends on the situation.
Used to. Don't now.
Like a few other people on here, I just don't want the hassle. Dekes used to work better for me but I guess the birds got smart really quick. I've actually seen public land gobblers walk away from them.
I get a little paranoid about the idea of using turkey decoys on public land from a safety point of view, too.
I use to use them every hunt, yrs. ago and had some success as well as had them cost me gobblers. I move around a lot and cover lots of ground and just got tired of setting them up and taking them down. Don't even own any now.
If I hunted a lot of open fields and pastures I would probably use them, but hunt all public land and mostly woods.
Sometimes I do - sometimes I don't. I kind of analyze the situation and what's going on. They're a tool and definitely not a necessity. Like someone else said it sure is a lot of fun watching them get beat up. :turkey2: :drool:
I'll use a primos jake mobile early in the season, then I use my foam hen for a back rest.
Ya sure do
I almost always take them but almost never use them. Might quit carrying them, just more STUFF to take.
I used them all the time. Placement is a key (for me, anyway), especially in large hayfields. Most of the time I know which direction birds will enter fields so I put them 25-30 yds past my set up. When birds walk past me looking at the fakes, I have a good shot.
I use one in heavier cover cover where a 15 yd shot max is possible. Put it 15 yds to my right or left where a gob can see it. At the last second, a bird will glance at it and.....pow!
I'm considering the relationship of hen/jake decoys in my placement this spring. May do something different this year.
Early season I use them all the time. We hunt some huge fields and it gives the birds a focal point when they fly down. reflexl
In fields, almost always...in the woods, almost never
I've had mixed results. I've seen them head right to them and I have seen them go the other way when they see them. Also, if you are hunting a field and don't have any action right away, they sure do get to looking fake the longer they sit out there not moving. But my thoughts on dekes is it gives the birds something to focus those beady eyes on other than me in case I have to shift to get my gun on him.
I usually have king Strut and a hen in my vest but dont use them much . Sometimes after the gobblin has stopped I will watch a field and nap , Sometimes I get lucky!
No
Quote from: MOStrutter on February 07, 2012, 03:55:12 PM
I almost always use them. I have a checklist of things a turkey must do before I shoot it. They must strut, they must gobble, and they must be with in 30 yards. I have let many birds walk because they didn't meet these requirements, and decoys help with that a lot.
Wow, don't know what to say. I would hate to see the list you used to screen for your wife. :o
Quote from: turkey slayer on February 07, 2012, 02:51:07 PM
Quote from: guesswho on February 04, 2012, 08:23:16 PM
I don't and won't.
I agree, I hate decoys
x2. Me personally if I killed one over a decoy I wouldn't feel like "I" fooled the bird. Its a one on one game to me. Fooling their hearing is one thing but using a decoy to fool their eyes just doesnt seem fair. I would always be thinking did I really trick that bird or did the decoy? Its up to each individual to decide how they hunt and I will always congratulate those who are successful using them but there not my cup of tea.
There are some situations that ill use one (If I HAVE to hunt a big open area) but I usually have a setup where they wont make much difference in the hunt anyway, so I dont take them most of the time.
i believe hurt more than helped me... can actually say never killed one with decoys help