Turkey hunting forum for turkey hunting tips

I carry two decoys with me but very seldom use them it seems. How many of you use or favor decoys in setting up for a gobbler?

i use to carry all kinds and seems like i have better luck being sneaky and not having to deal with one, and i can move faster and quieter

About half the time I will take a hen decoy - light foam body that folds up easily.  I bought a similar Jake a year ago, but haven't ever used it (probably try it out this season).

Quote from: EliteArkHunter on March 04, 2011, 08:43:43 PM
i use to carry all kinds and seems like i have better luck being sneaky and not having to deal with one, and i can move faster and quieter

:agreed:

Nope, not for me.

Voted  :smiley-patriotic-flagwaver-an  No... however, sometimes verry rarely yes

 I usually carry one, but don't always put it out. I hunt some pretty large fields some and they do come in handy in those situations. If I hunt up in the woods, I rarely put one out.

Yes, I use decoys. I have hunted with out them and killed bird's but, I just get the biggest thrill out of watching that old gobbler come to my decoys and fall in love.

a hen could be useful sometimes, but haven't carried any for 4 or 5 seasons now

Never.  I'm 38 and I have never killed a turkey in front of a decoy.  I've only carried them with me once and I did not use them

drag a Dave Smith hen and Jake with me everywhere I go.

i use them for a back rest while they are in my vest when im hunting woods, i use them alot midday in the field edges though :you_rock:

Most of the places I hunt the birds head for fields first thing in the morning, or they are already roosting along a field and pitch right down into it so I usually start the day over some decoys.  If things don't pan out I'll take one hen decoy (which I may or may not end up using) with me and go searching for a bird.  I like either way just fine, but there's something about getting to watch a bird work in to some dekes strutting and gobbling the whole way that I will never get tired of.

I usually use decoys.

I used them in the past, but got tired of fooling with them and don't haven't used one in 5 or 6 yrs.

If I hunted out of a blind and especially in and around pastures I probably would, but hunt public land woods so don't bother with them anymore.

Quote from: magicman on March 04, 2011, 09:48:19 PM
I usually carry one, but don't always put it out. I hunt some pretty large fields some and they do come in handy in those situations. If I hunt up in the woods, I rarely put one out.

X 2

Really depends on the situation. But I always carry them.

Turkey hunting is so varied. Turkeys are turkeys, BUT, public vs. private, lots of turkeys vs. not so many, pressured vs. not, species vs. different species, etc. To me, it all boils down to what works best for you. If you are hunting hard pressured public land, I wouldn't recommed dekes. But primo private I would. Now do I use dekes on private? Damn straight I do!!! I also use them on private, and public, only in a safe area, far from the other hunters (aka. Wally's)!
That's the perfect situation!!! :icon_thumright:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            

Quote from: knightrider on March 04, 2011, 09:56:57 PM
i use them for a back rest while they are in my vest when im hunting woods, i use them alot midday in the field edges though :you_rock:

x2

Three of my 4 spring birds last year (including my 8 yo's first bird) were killed over decoys, the fourth was cutting and running and came in way too fast. However, the two best turkey hunters I know (probably over 100 birds apiece) hate the things. They just grab a few mouth calls, maybe a pot call and go till they kill a bird, and they always do. When I hunt with them I them I have to leave all that junk (blind, vest, decoys) behind just to stay up with them!

I always carry them and if the situation warrants, they get set up. I hunt public land 99% of the time and never set em up if safety may be an issue. The new "no centerfire/rimfire rifles on public land" rule will make me rest a bit easier. :happy0064:

Yes
2 hens and a strutter

Yes...

like the glock 26...never leave home without em'..lol :z-guntootsmiley:

Quote from: magicman on March 04, 2011, 09:48:19 PM
I usually carry one, but don't always put it out. I hunt some pretty large fields some and they do come in handy in those situations. If I hunt up in the woods, I rarely put one out.

:agreed:

I have in the past but maybe once or twice a season if that but I don't know what this season may include or what a certain bird may need to get him in there so I said Yes.

Have only killed 1 bird over a decoy and that was after I missed him with a bow. Thought I had wounded him so I picked up my shotgun and gave him a blast.

Not my cup of tea, takes away from the hunt for me.

Sometimes they are very helpful, such as field hunting.  In the woods you don't need them most of the time.

They do help keep them focused on something other than the hunter.  I know I've had several toms just appear focusing on a decoy when I never knew they were in that location.  They can also spook birds.

I usually dont ever put one out but I do have one in my vest. When I take my boys with me, they like to use them. They think it is fun settin them up.  :icon_thumright:

I usually have a decoy with me (DSD hen), but don't always set it up.  I did not have it set up last season for either of the toms I shot.  However, I do like to set it up if the situation is good for it.  I have enjoyed watching the action the DSD seems to bring to the hunt.  

This will be the third season I have owned the DSD.  The first season she was assaulted by a boss hen who was pulling in a mature gobbler.  She walked around my decoys in circles purring and all puffed up.  She then decided to jump up and kick my DSD, which caused it to tilt some.  Then she jumped up and kicked it again, causing it to fall over.  The gobbler got nervous and walked back the way it came still in full strut, leaving the boss hen and my decoy on their own.

Last season I had a group of jakes come running into the DSD and circle her and then weren't sure what to do.  They looked like a bunch of zit faced teenagers who were in love, trying to act all cool, but not sure what to do next.  Finally one got brave enough and jumped up on top and tried to mount the DSD.  Finally they all got nervous and walked away, strutting and gobbling as they left.  

So somtimes, having a decoy set up can add some excitement and some chuckles to the hunt.