Does decoys spook turkeys
Some
depends on the turkeys mood
I hunt with decoys on a regular basis. I have had much more luck using them, than I have had bad experiences using them.
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sometimes
You can never judge when they will or when they won't when it comes to decoy's. Placement is the key, put em behind you and they will never get the chance to get a good look,but then again that depends on the situation. I use them when I think the situation might be beneficial...but I don't think it's a necessary part of your every day set. Just my opinion, we'll see what everyone elsethinks O0
Some birds are put off by decoys. Lots of reasons, no reason... they are turkeys after all. I agree that there are times that decs are great but not usually necessary. Just depends on your style of hunting and the type of terrain you are in. I think if it's a natural set up, 9 times out of ten..he won't spook.
I would say that I have had gobblers shy from full strut decoys many of times, but I have also had times that they have wanted to kill it at 10 yards! I typically use a decoy during my early morning set ups, or if im trying to get ahead of a turkey. If I'm runnin and gunnin' (esp in hardwoods) I won't even set one up once I get a bird going!
Yes. Sometimes they have for me. I rarely use them any more.
Depends on the bird and it's mood.
I've yet to see them actually "spook" a bird; but, hang a bird up - yes. I had to shoot a gobbler just this year that wouldn't come into my jake-hen decoys; fortunately for me (unfortunate for him), I was just over a ridge, so where he hung up was in gun range & I let the Stoeger eat!
But, he definitely stopped, and didn't want to "challenge" the jake; turned out, he was a 2 y.o. bird... People knock the Funky Chicken decoy - but, I wonder sometimes if a smaller jake decoy might make even subordinate birds want to come on in & whoop some tail.
Quote from: Bigspurs68 on April 15, 2014, 11:35:13 PM
I think if it's a natural set up, 9 times out of ten..he won't spook.
I understand what your saying and not disputing your statement. But I've never seen a natural looking, acting set up that had decoys. They all look like time standing still to me.
I Agree with everthing said so fare .
Yes they do!
No they don't!
I've had them bum rush a jake decoy and beat the tar out of it and I have some turn and run.
I just mean natural as in not leaning over or spinning like crazy on the stake. I usually put the quarter strut jake over a hen on a short stake. Looks pretty good. I do agree, fake turkeys on sticks don't look natural to me but I try to make them seem presentable to other turkeys. If longbeards evaluated decs like we do, we'd never kill one near them. Lol
Quote from: Bigspurs68 on April 16, 2014, 07:46:08 PM
If longbeards evaluated decs like we do, we'd never kill one near them. Lol
:laugh: Yep, I figure I'd have a 14" beard and 2 1/2" spurs if I was a turkey. But then again I'd probably have strangled myself to death as a Jake crossing a barbed wire fence.
some times they work like a charm,some times they scare the birds off