So this spring will be just my second Turkey season ever. I know, crazy right.
Any way the bug bit me super hard last year when I got JUST outside of the range of two birds. Well, one was probably in range but I hesitated and he took off on me.
Any way, I have a nice call I have been practicing with. I have some good locator calls, and good camo. A good rig in a Stoeger M3500 with the pistol grip utilizing a indian creek choke with the Longbeard XR #6's.
Now I am wanting to add a quality decoy or two to my hunting package to try and enhance my chances. I feel like where I hunt, a decoy might give me that added advantage. Here in North Va, I hunt on a military base that has a TON of open fields, long logging trails and open woods. The birds can see a good ways and I feel like the right pairing of decoys should help bring in those Toms.
I will admit my calling needs work, and I think even the best of callers didnt have it figured out their first year so it is a work in progress.
So what are yalls suggestions for spring decoys? I am looking at the Avian-X series. They look the best from what I can tell, I need something that wont be too difficult to carry and setup. So I dont want to carry more than 3 decoys MAX. Absolutely prefer to pack 2 decoys.
What should I go with that will be best all around during the spring?
A hen and a jake should work just fine. Gobblers will key on the jake. Brand is your call on how much money you want to spend. The birds don't seem to know the difference. Just my .02.
Get the Jake and hen combo from zink. I have one of the original avianx hens that I pair with a bmobile with a real jake fan and I have had great success hunting with them. I have had a few gobblers shy away from the strutter decoy over the years but its brought in a lot of field birds that wouldn't commit to calling.
I'm assuming you'll be on quantico or AP Hill. That rolling terrain and topography make it very easy to maneuver tightly on birds without needing decoys.
That being said for the field set-ups I'd purchase a DSD hen and jake.
If you only purchase one item, I'd get the DSD leading hen through Cabelas.
Quote from: VaTuRkStOmPeR on January 19, 2016, 05:31:31 PM
I'm assuming you'll be on quantico or AP Hill. That rolling terrain and topography make it very easy to maneuver tightly on birds without needing decoys.
That being said for the field set-ups I'd purchase a DSD hen and jake.
If you only purchase one item, I'd get the DSD leading hen through Cabelas.
Close, I am hunting the Dahlgren naval base. Did not know there was some local folks on the boards. We have the hills and what not hear as well, but not near as much where the birds like to hang out. They prefer either the swampy areas, or the edges of the grassy fields. They don't get too deep back in the hilly spots.
For many years my primary ground was down in Westmoreland and I've hunted them just across 301 in Charles Co. Maryland.
Id say I've guided and killed somewhere between 30-40 down that way. They will roost in the big timber just off the ridge tops, they will roost on the timber edges where they meet the swamp marsh and they will roost off the field edges typically 80-100 yards back. Edge habitats where mature trees abut clearcuts provide roost, strut zones and good nesting habitats for hens.
I offer this advice because I think someone is misleading you on how to successfully pillage those birds. Roost em', get tight on them an hour or more before fly-down and use the terrain to kill birds. If the roost set-up doesn't produce, drop off the ridge tops into the bottoms and use the terrain to maneuver on your bird while keeping tabs on him with a crow or owl call. The fields were always our mid-morning places to check because most of the killing took place at dawn back in the timber.
Seems like everyone these days thinks you have to have a decoy to kill turkeys. And in the area you're talking about I'd gladly hunt without one any day of the week. You're hunting on the perimeter of one of the most turkey rich areas of the state.
Goodluck this spring!
Quote from: VaTuRkStOmPeR on January 19, 2016, 08:23:30 PM
For many years my primary ground was down in Westmoreland and I've hunted them just across 301 in Charles Co. Maryland.
Id say I've guided and killed somewhere between 30-40 down that way. They will roost in the big timber just off the ridge tops, they will roost on the timber edges where they meet the swamp marsh and they will roost off the field edges typically 80-100 yards back. Edge habitats where mature trees abut clearcuts provide roost, strut zones and good nesting habitats for hens.
I offer this advice because I think someone is misleading you on how to successfully pillage those birds. Roost em', get tight on them an hour or more before fly-down and use the terrain to kill birds. If the roost set-up doesn't produce, drop off the ridge tops into the bottoms and use the terrain to maneuver on your bird while keeping tabs on him with a crow or owl call. The fields were always our mid-morning places to check because most of the killing took place at dawn back in the timber.
Seems like everyone these days thinks you have to have a decoy to kill turkeys. And in the area you're talking about I'd gladly hunt without one any day of the week. You're hunting on the perimeter of one of the most turkey rich areas of the state.
Goodluck this spring!
That is all very encouraging to hear.
I am just picking up what I can from reading or what some of the local hunters on the base can (are willing) to share. Last year was my first, as previously stated. I am practically teaching myself. It sure is a blast and a hell of a rush but the end of last year was frustrating. I can only run shotgun on Saturdays, so it limits me to 4-6 days during the season. Not a ton of opportunities. I plan on doing more scouting this year than the previous, and definately trying to figure out their roosting locations. I had little to no luck with locating calls last year. They either seem to be smarter here, or further back in the woods off the roads.
How do you go about scouting areas like this?
Last year I used satellite images of the base to give me an idea of the thicker wooded areas, creeks, and opened up spots.
So my vote would be for DSD's, If you are looking for light, mobile, versatility and durability don't think they can be beat! And yes I'll give them a plus for MADE IN THE USA! Yup you may pay a little more but to me well worth the investment. If you are looking for 2-3 decoys I would have an Upright hen, Feeding Hen and Jake or Strutter. The Strutter is a little less mobile if you are a run & gun guy, and you need to learn how to hunt a strutter "right" to have a high success rate. That Upright hen can double as a Breeding / submissive by cutting a short stake for her so she sits on the ground.
MK M GOBL
DSDouble!
Quote from: VaTuRkStOmPeR on January 19, 2016, 05:31:31 PM
I'm assuming you'll be on quantico or AP Hill. That rolling terrain and topography make it very easy to maneuver tightly on birds without needing decoys.
That being said for the field set-ups I'd purchase a DSD hen and jake.
If you only purchase one item, I'd get the DSD leading hen through Cabelas.
Agreed. If your wanting to save money and have something easy to carry get one of the Montana 3D decoys. I believe any decoy will work as good as the next, saying that I only use DSDs.
Thanks for the inputs. I think I am going to go with a single hen decoy and a cheaper Jake from someone.
I am liking either the DSD leading hen, or the Upright hen. I cant decide which of the two would be better. I know with the leading hen I can drop it down and dual purpose it as a breeding hen. The Upright hen looks more alert and catches my eye pretty well.
I am thinking about the Jake deal long and hard. I don't want a full strut with my limited experience I don't want to set something up wrong and scare off the Toms. I am actually thinking about that little "Funky chicken jake". Reviews seem good, price dirt low and it seems like Toms look at it and want to destroy it, probably because it looks sickly.
Montana decoy 2d one word...amazing
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357, I hunt on similar areas but in a different state and I'm with VA turkstomper. Scout with your ears and figure out where they generally roost, before season if you can get out at daybreak to hear gobblers on the roost without going deep. And be really careful about putting a legal bird deke like a jake or tom out on public land. Your expensive new decoy or even you could get shot. I don't carry them much anymore but when I do I like the Cherokee sports call girl and mamasita. I'm cheap and these are basically a photo of a hen, inflatable and tuck in the back of vest. I hunt areas with lots of open fields and kill most in da woods. Good luck!
Its not really public land, it is open to folks with base access. Any way, you have to check out "areas" to hunt... Each area is usually around 50 or so acres. Typically there are about 10-15 hunters out, and we keep space from each other.
That said, totally understand what you are saying.
A decoy can be invaluable at times, when birds are quiet and stubborn you can set up in an area where your decoys are seen from a long way, Instead of running all over trying to get a response you can sit tight and be patient, if you do hear a bird in the distance you can just grab the deke and go.
After guiding a taxidermist years ago who brought a mounted bird for a decoy my opinion on them did a complete 360, I went from rarely using a decoy to pretty much always using one, he gave me a mounted hen and that thing is pure poison on birds, now with the dsd and similar decoys it is obvious the more realistic decoys are superior, I had never really had birds respond to decoys that well until the stuffer deke.
I archery hunt turkeys primarily anymore and decoys are the key component!
Our turkey population here in ky has made it more difficult to hunt over the years.... We have so many hens at times it is almost useless to use a decoy. I have learned to do without decoys most of the time but i def. Don't rule out using a deek or 2.... When I do use deeks I use avian x.... Good luck this year my friend
Quote from: 357MAGNOLE on January 20, 2016, 06:07:19 PM
Thanks for the inputs. I think I am going to go with a single hen decoy and a cheaper Jake from someone.
I am liking either the DSD leading hen, or the Upright hen. I cant decide which of the two would be better. I know with the leading hen I can drop it down and dual purpose it as a breeding hen. The Upright hen looks more alert and catches my eye pretty well.
I am thinking about the Jake deal long and hard. I don't want a full strut with my limited experience I don't want to set something up wrong and scare off the Toms. I am actually thinking about that little "Funky chicken jake". Reviews seem good, price dirt low and it seems like Toms look at it and want to destroy it, probably because it looks sickly.
Good plan...To be honest, the hen or jake decoy can be pretty much anything. I have a buddy who has a couple of "foamies" that are, well, pathetic, truth be known. The gobblers come to them pretty much as well as the expensive ones.
The Funky Chicken, as you say is cheap and from my experience really effective. They do come and beat that poor little fella up. I had one pound on him for, if I recall correctly, something like 4 minutes. He just wouldn't give up. I couldn't get a shot so I just had to let the little fella take his lumps...
That said, I have the exact setup that you're eyeing. DSD hen and Funky Chicken jake. I do notice that the turkeys (both hens and toms) seem to stay somewhat longer with the DSD than "foamies" but as far as drawing them in, I haven't really noticed that much of a difference.
My opinion is these high priced decoys are more for the hunters than the turkeys.
I wouldn't hold back on buying what makes you feel good though. If you have Cabelas points, you may get one for 0$. That's how I got mine...
Nice. I actually ordered the DSD leading hen a couple days ago. I had $125 worth of gift cards to use and figured what the heck.
I've used dekes for years. Started with cheap foam dekes and got more realistic (and expensive) since then. Last year I took the plunge and added 2 DSD hens, leading and feeder, to go along with B-Mobile and his woman, and a super realistic jake (forgot the brand). I use varying combos during the season.
Those DSD's though, are the most realistic dekes I've seen yet, other than spending $400+ on a Cally Morris. My vote is for DSD's!! :icon_thumright:
I agree get a DSD hen and Jake. You were gonna get three dekes, get two great ones
Hmmm, I haven't used a decoy in years but I was contemplating getting one for this coming season. I won't buy any Avian X made in China stuff even if they do look good. I made the mistake of buying some duck decoys that "looked good" too. It's too bad some of them didn't last the season. Cracked on the bottom for no apparent reason. Absolutely worthless.
Anyway, you guys caught my eye with these DSD's, I may just have to grab one of them, maybe even two. And they're made in the USA, even better!
Steve
Another vote for DSD!!
Quote from: 357MAGNOLE on January 30, 2016, 10:53:24 PM
Nice. I actually ordered the DSD leading hen a couple days ago. I had $125 worth of gift cards to use and figured what the heck.
I'd go ahead with your plan and get the Funky Chicken. Like you say, he's cheap and he's effective. I put him and the DSD in the DSD bag so no extra gear. The stake on Funky Chicken is an inconvenient arrangement as it comes from the factory. I use a rubber band looped through the stake ring and stretched around the decoys head. That way it doesn't get lost and it's easy to find in the dark...Good luck this coming season. Hope ya' get a big un'!
Oh, and a p.s. Another thing I like about Funky Chicken is you're less likely to have some knuckle head take a shot at him since he looks kind of stupid. Be hard to mistake him for a real gobbler...Well, unless you're a turkey... :drool:
Here is the best advice I have seen to new hunters and decoys.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDL2J7XkCdc
Learn to hunt with out them and then use them as a tool rather than a crutch.
Sent from the Strut Zone
I'm going to have to agree with MK M GOBL. AvianX decoys look good but I DSD trumps them on just about everything. I own a AvianX strutter a DSD jake and a DSD feeding hen. I've had the DSD hen for a few years now and I have had on issue with her neck getting ripped and I'm not sure how it happened. I called DSD and told them I was a week away from leaving north Iowa to go hunting in Nebraska and Kansas. I emailed them a picture and I had a new decoy at my house in three days (sent the old one back in box). Moral of the story is, DSD practices great customer service. I lost a zink striker that I really liked in Nebraska and was unable to order one on their webpage because it said no stock. I then tried emailing them and they never responded. I tried calling and leaving messages and got no calls answered or returned. Moral of that story is, Zink/AvianX basically doesn't care about their customers.
Now I love both of my DSD jake and hen and wouldn't trade them for anything. I chose an AvianX strutter over DSD for mobility purposed only. I love it but I carry it in a DSD because the AvianX bags are just about worthless.
My DSD hen got thrash by about 14 jakes for 4.5 hours my first night in Nebraska and it still looks the same. I couldn't find marks or missing paint.
I hope this helps with the decision making. Good luck this spring.
Truthfully a turkey could care less what brand you use thousands of birds killed each year over walmart specials. The looks is for the hunter and what you want so just decide how much you want to spend and get what your happy with they all will work and at times have their use but can often make for a boring hunt cause a tom to hang up or a subordiante tom may shy away from your jake if I use one its normally single hen
Can't go wrong with dsd or avian if you want quality. A half or full strut Jake and then a hen is all you need. Cheap decoys work too, but there is no comparison in the response from birds between quality and cheapos.
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Quote from: davisd9 on February 02, 2016, 08:03:15 AM
Here is the best advice I have seen to new hunters and decoys.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDL2J7XkCdc
Learn to hunt with out them and then use them as a tool rather than a crutch.
Sent from the Strut Zone
Great video. Funny ending. I found this video about a passage from a book he wrote and it perfectly describes my first turkey encounter.
get something lightweight and portable...if that sucker gets close enough to see that its not a real turkey he needs to be floppin!
Quote from: davisd9 on February 02, 2016, 08:03:15 AM
Here is the best advice I have seen to new hunters and decoys.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDL2J7XkCdc
Learn to hunt with out them and then use them as a tool rather than a crutch.
With all due respect to Tom, who has infinitely more experience than me, and the poster, I have to respectfully disagree. Decoys are a great tool, as the poster pointed out, they have their place. I wouldn't look at them as a crutch.
Look, we're out there to have fun and to, hopefully, get a turkey here and there. As you're learning, it's a benefit to have the help of a decoy. It doesn't matter that much that a decoy attracted a bird or your call did it in the early stages of your turkey hunting career. The point is to have fun and have a little success.
I recall one bird that I just couldn't get to respond to the call. I had seen him a number of times but he didn't want any of what I was giving. Finally, one morning, I decided to not utter a peep. I just put the decoy out where I knew he'd see it and waited. He came out where he normally did, and after a while, noticed the decoy. A short time passed and he just couldn't stand it any longer. He folded up and started toward the decoy. We went home together...Now would I give up that memory because he wouldn't come to my calling? Was it any less rewarding that I had fooled him with a decoy? Absolutely not...That hunt was one that I remember with fondness. There was a puzzle to solve and the decoy was the solution (that particular time).
My advice, do what helps you to be successful and what gives you enjoyment. If it's a decoy (especially in the beginning), do it. If it's calling, do it. If it's scratching in the leaves, do it. Don't limit yourself and by all means don't handicap yourself especially while you're learning...Have fun man...That's what it's all about!
Sent from the Strut Zone
Good stuff. Wonder if that turkey might have been deaf haha
I will also say the DSD's. I hunt right up the road at quantico and have since I was about 7 years old. I rarely use decoys on quantico unless I'm taking someone out or if I happen to know if a bird using a field, but then I'll use my DSD hen and jake. But due to the large ridges and terrain there I usually let them come looking for me. Not sure about Dahlgren but I have seen birds come in to decoys and see them, only to turn around and run the other way.
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Quote from: 357MAGNOLE on February 09, 2016, 09:41:55 PM
Good stuff. Wonder if that turkey might have been deaf haha
HAH!!! Hadn't thought of that! Actually I know he heard me on two other occasions. I'd call. His head would come up. He'd go into strut. He knew I was there. I'm guessing he'd been called to lots and maybe shot at. I'm thinking about it right now and I'm questioning whether it was a hen or jake decoy I put out. Been so long, I can't recall. In any event, he left his hens and came to the decoy...Good memory!
I have to agree with davisd9...I would rather see a new hunter learn to hunt them without them first, then graduate to them and use them as the tools they are. I see newer hunters kill a bird over them and then tote them into every situation. There is a time and place for everything, sometimes the dekes belong in the truck.
Just don't learn to become too dependent on them, I guess...just food for thought...
2015 Old Gobbler contest Champions
Quote from: BowBendr on February 18, 2016, 04:32:25 PM
I have to agree with davisd9...I would rather see a new hunter learn to hunt them without them first, then graduate to them and use them as the tools they are. I see newer hunters kill a bird over them and then tote them into every situation. There is a time and place for everything, sometimes the dekes belong in the truck.
Just don't learn to become too dependent on them, I guess...just food for thought...
2015 Old Gobbler contest Champions
Gotten to the point where I agree. After talking to another member here that has experience in my neck of the woods, I don't know how useful the Decoy will be. I am glad I already have it, never know when it might come in handy. I am thinking it will still be useful to put out on the edge of a field or in some of these flatwoods we have.
I've got some of those cheap foam hens and a blow up strutter I got at a yard sale. Obviously won't be using the strutter for run and gun. Gonna use the foam hens and I got a funky chicken. I get that the foam hens don't look as nice at dsd or avian, but does that really matter to a turkey? Have yall ever seen them spook or not respond to the older foam ones? I want better ones just can't afford right now.
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