I just came across a post where a few people were debating the use of decoys and it reminded me of a conversation I recently had with a friend of mine. On the topic of "fanning" a bird or using one of those death traps that strap to your barrel, do you guys feel that something is taken away from a hunt using these tactics? Myself I feel very hypocritical talking about it because I've never looked at decoys the same way. Let me know what you think
As long as its legal and ethical, I don't believe its a question of right or wrong, but a personal choice of whether to use or not to use.
I harvested my fair share of turkeys over the years without decoys, chairs, blinds and such, but I use them now as the situation allows, or deems their use. I enjoy my turkey chair, watching the reaction of birds to my decoys, and spending a rainy day in the field in my blind, staying warm and dry.
When the other guy pays my bills, I'll worry about what he thinks...until then, I'm going to enjoy my hunting, my way.
Gman
Quote from: Gamblinman on February 23, 2015, 04:40:17 AM
As long as its legal and ethical, I don't believe its a question of right or wrong, but a personal choice of whether to use or not to use.
Gman
I couldn't agree more!
Quote from: Gamblinman on February 23, 2015, 04:40:17 AM
As long as its legal and ethical, I don't believe its a question of right or wrong, but a personal choice of whether to use or not to use.
I harvested my fair share of turkeys over the years without decoys, chairs, blinds and such, but I use them now as the situation allows, or deems their use. I enjoy my turkey chair, watching the reaction of birds to my decoys, and spending a rainy day in the field in my blind, staying warm and dry.
When the other guy pays my bills, I'll worry about what he thinks...until then, I'm going to enjoy my hunting, my way.
Agreed , hunted turkeys since the 70's , used chairs, blinds decoys , different guns etc.Have taken kids, elderly, and even a fella who couldn't hear. Was satisfied with every turkey taken.
As others seem to agree, I believe it is a personal choice, as long as it is legal and ethical.
If by fanning you mean just strapping a fan to your gun, then I don't see it as being any different than a decoy or a blind (Kind of a mixture of the two really.). It is just another way of hiding yourself from the animal.
If by fanning you mean these guys who strap a fan to their gun and use it to move closer to a turkey, then I see it as just another way people are taking a sport to the extreme. If it is legal and ethical, I see no problem with somebody else doing it. I, personally, do not and would not care for that tactic.
It all boils down to what is legal and ethical. I don't see any situation where one person should have say so over what another does, unless it involves creating the law, rules, etc...
Why must this topic always come up. It has caused more problems on every forum out there. IF you use decoy fine IF NOT fine. I dont think most people really care what you use as long as it is legal.
How somebody else kills a turkey is none of my business.
I've carried decoys a few times and dont like packing them around. To much trouble for me. I'm not strapping someting to me or my gun that looks like a turkey. To Skeerd to try that. I have & will probably again try to crawl on a turkey, just no feathers on me.
I say go for it if thats what you want to do.
Quote from: strutnrut on February 23, 2015, 06:44:52 AM
IF you use decoy fine IF NOT fine. I dont think most people really care what you use as long as it is legal.
I don't use them often but I feel no different about the birds I've shot using them. It'd be like saying hunting turkeys in fields isn't as ethical as chasing them in the timber.
I wish everybody used them, except me.
I always consider safety first!!! I hear people say they don't use a gobble call, but then sit up behind a strutting gobbler! If decoys are legal where you hunt and you feel safe, then that's your choice. Crawling up to a gobbler with a fan strapped to your gun barrell, legal... yes, safe... no. I guess it just boils down to just how bad you want to kill one. "Ethical".......well that is left open to each individuals interputation.
To each his own, as long as it's within the law. I cheered the day Florida removed rifles from the spring woods.
Why should I spend any energy caring how other people hunt? I dont and find others that do very curious.
Decoys and fans are simply turkey hunting tools. There are places and conditions where they are important to success,...and there are just as many places where they can be more detrimental than they are good.
When I hunt my normal stomping grounds, I don't use them,...and if I see someone else using them, I say to myself,..."This guy doesn't have a clue about how to hunt turkeys here." And by the same token, I have hunted other places where I looked at the situation and circumstances and said,..."Hmmm, I really should have some decoys to put out here".
There are tactics and tools that can be used in certain situations that will definitely increase a guy's odds of success. Sometimes the use of visual aids is one of them,...and sometimes their use hurts your chances. A consistently successful turkey hunter learns how to tell which is which,...and then uses the tool when it is deemed necessary for the place and conditions.
I only have a handful of "hard and fast" rules that I adhere to. I won't shoot turkeys out of their roosts. I won't shoot turkeys over feeders or artificial bait piles. I won't shoot turkeys by road hunting them. And I won't shoot turkeys with a rifle. ...Whether any of those are legal or not.
I haven't been turkey hunting very long but I've been hunting since I was big enough to carry a gun. I read a lot of forums on hunting and most all have some "controversy" (for lack of a better word) on one thing or another. I wouldn't fret too much about others opinions, because it's just that, an opinion. If you stay within the law, safe, and the main thing have fun, then go for it. After all, isn't it about having fun and putting deep fried turkey nuggets on the table?
Jeremiah 29:11
I won't shoot a bird if I don't call it in. I don't spot and stalk or sit in a blind with decoys. Nothing wrong with any of these styles. The thrill of calling in a bird is what it's all about for me. The connection made by calling a bird is indescribable for me.
If everyone did what I want the world would be a better place and people would seem a lot smarter to me.
Quote from: RemingtonRules on February 23, 2015, 09:45:32 AM
If everyone did what I want the world would be a better place and people would seem a lot smarter to me.
Agreed!
Jeremiah 29:11
I can't remember where I saw it but I read something not to long ago about this. The guy was basically saying that how is fanning and decoying not ethical when hunters use precision chokes, htl shot, (even the big push with 60 yard shots with longbeards). I'm in that opinion. How can we say that using decoys is unethical when one of our buddies starts talking about a 76 yard shot he made and that he can do it from now on? That's unethical to me. Where it is legal, I say go for it. I have had succes with and without decoys and I have not thought "man that sure didn't mean as much as one without a decoy. No, I've never fanned. Have never had the opportunity, and I probably wouldn't do it. However, I don't thank it's right to slam Peaple for using successful tools as a way to get there bird. Some Peaple enjoy the spring woods but because of work and family, only get to hunt a few days a year. if it helps make them happy to see a longbeard hammer the jake decoy then buy all means if it is legal, go for it. If we really wanted to go back to ethics, lets ditch the chokes, htl, sights, calls, seats, camo, etc.. And go back to winchester model 12s with 23/4 inch 4s. But at the same time, you could say we are very ethical for using such productive equipment??? In my opinion it i that beauty is in the eyes if the beholder. Do what is legal always, and be happy that you're blessed enough to be there. Just my two cents
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Season comes in N. C. about 3 to 4 weeks late every year you use every thing that is legal to get one. year before last I saw a hen with chicks the last week of season. I would like someone in charge to tell me how the season is not coming in to late it makes hunting them a pain in the rear.
Quote from: Gamblinman on February 23, 2015, 04:40:17 AM
As long as its legal and ethical, I don't believe its a question of right or wrong, but a personal choice of whether to use or not to use.
I harvested my fair share of turkeys over the years without decoys, chairs, blinds and such, but I use them now as the situation allows, or deems their use. I enjoy my turkey chair, watching the reaction of birds to my decoys, and spending a rainy day in the field in my blind, staying warm and dry.
When the other guy pays my bills, I'll worry about what he thinks...until then, I'm going to enjoy my hunting, my way.
Gman
Well said...
Quote from: strut2 on February 23, 2015, 09:37:13 AM
I won't shoot a bird if I don't call it in...... Nothing wrong with any of these styles. The thrill of calling in a bird is what it's all about for me.
Similar. As long as it's legal I'm not going to judge. I do use a blind in bad weather or when I have a kid along. However, it's all about the dance with the bird and calling him in. No ambushing in my world.
Quote from: guesswho on February 23, 2015, 07:32:48 AM
I wish everybody used them, except me.
guesswho-
So you don't actually use your BodonkaDeke to kill turkeys? ;D
It's in a class by itself.
Quote from: Gamblinman on February 23, 2015, 04:40:17 AM
As long as its legal and ethical, I don't believe its a question of right or wrong, but a personal choice of whether to use or not to use.
I harvested my fair share of turkeys over the years without decoys, chairs, blinds and such, but I use them now as the situation allows, or deems their use. I enjoy my turkey chair, watching the reaction of birds to my decoys, and spending a rainy day in the field in my blind, staying warm and dry.
When the other guy pays my bills, I'll worry about what he thinks...until then, I'm going to enjoy my hunting, my way.
This!!! ^^^
It still baffles me why some guys go off on people they don't even know on forums, simply because they employ different tactics. ??? If you don't like it, don't do it!! But if it is legal, and ethical (which is another discussion, because people differ on ethics as well), don't criticize another hunter for doing it. To each their own, kumbaya!! ;) ;D
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v476/RutnNStrutn/Avatars%20Banners/fred_zpsldupflxi.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/RutnNStrutn/media/Avatars%20Banners/fred_zpsldupflxi.jpg.html)
Reminds me of the recurve/compound/crossbow debate. No winner there either.
Exactly!!
Quote from: RutnNStrutn on February 23, 2015, 11:51:18 AM
Quote from: Gamblinman on February 23, 2015, 04:40:17 AM
As long as its legal and ethical, I don't believe its a question of right or wrong, but a personal choice of whether to use or not to use.
I harvested my fair share of turkeys over the years without decoys, chairs, blinds and such, but I use them now as the situation allows, or deems their use. I enjoy my turkey chair, watching the reaction of birds to my decoys, and spending a rainy day in the field in my blind, staying warm and dry.
When the other guy pays my bills, I'll worry about what he thinks...until then, I'm going to enjoy my hunting, my way.
This!!! ^^^
It still baffles me why some guys go off on people they don't even know on forums, simply because they employ different tactics. ??? If you don't like it, don't do it!! But if it is legal, and ethical (which is another discussion, because people differ on ethics as well), don't criticize another hunter for doing it. To each their own, kumbaya!! ;) ;D
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v476/RutnNStrutn/Avatars%20Banners/fred_zpsldupflxi.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/RutnNStrutn/media/Avatars%20Banners/fred_zpsldupflxi.jpg.html)
Well Said.......
Quote from: strutnrut on February 23, 2015, 06:44:52 AM
Why must this topic always come up. It has caused more problems on every forum out there. IF you use decoy fine IF NOT fine. I dont think most people really care what you use as long as it is legal.
:agreed:
No problem with it here. Actually plan on trying it this year if the situation comes up.
We got our ways that we like to hunt and about 20% of the time, my ways work for me.
I never thought it was going to be easy, or I wouldn't enjoy it so much!
It's a fine sport .... this turkey hunting.
Dudes...the BadonkaDeke is NOT only legal....but supremely ethical as well!!!!
Just cause it is legal does not make it right...
But to a large degree, the ethics involved with hunting are largely personal, and will vary from person to person... My personal ethic code might not jive with the next person, but that does not necessarily make either of us wrong...
I believe that why we hunt plays largely into the personal ethics of how we hunt... If I were hunting to put meat on the table to feed my family, my view of turkey hunting and success would likely differ vastly from my current views.
Currently I try not to be judgmental on anyone's hunting practices as long as they are legal, considerate to others, safe, and humane to the game being chased.
I have always enjoyed the act of calling birds in, whether it be waterfowl or turkeys... Crawling through the woods on my belly with a decoy strapped to my gun to ambush a turkey has no appeal to me at all... I really do not take issue with the practice though, except that I fear at some point, someone will be shot doing this.
Quote from: KansasGobbler on February 23, 2015, 04:29:58 PM
Dudes...the BadonkaDeke is NOT only legal....but supremely ethical as well!!!!
Look what you've done Ronnie!!! :lol: ;D :TooFunny:
To some it's turkey killing and some it's turkey hunting.
Quote from: RutnNStrutn on February 23, 2015, 11:57:39 PM
Look what you've done Ronnie!!! :lol: ;D :TooFunny:
Hey, the product has a large loyal following. I'm thinking of ordering a bunch of Badonkadeke T-shirts.
:OGani: Everyone needs to obey the local laws. In the same respect, everyone is responsible for their own actions. In my own personal case, I am very aware that another hunter could be anywhere. Everyone needs to look out for each other also. I have a responsibility to make it home every day for my family. If that means backing out on a gobbler that someone else is working then so be it. If I can't find a bird off the beaten path and get him fair and square, he wins. I cannot take a chance on hurting or even killing another person in a hunting accident. I knew a fine young guy who did kill someone in a deer hunting accident, not a reckless act, and he was never the same. I am a nervous Nellie in that respect. Good luck everyone and be safe. Al Baker