Backyard birds

[jrfelkins]

While I was blessed to get a nice bird with my scatter gun I have one spot that I'm allowed to hunt that is now only. There I use decoys because my understanding is that I've got to get them to line up looking away from me to shoot. I'm using a half blind. I'm not opposed to a box blind but I don't have one. The thing is it seems like these backyard birds are actually repelled by decoys. What would y'all suggest for next year? Thanks!

[Tail Feathers]

Hunting without decoys may be a good option.  They don't necessarily have to be looking away from you, they rarely will be.  When you're sure he's coming, stop calling.  He will come in looking, have the gun up facing where you think he will come from.  Of course they don't always come in like you think, but it's a good place to start.  You want to minimize gun movement to line up the shot.  Sometimes it's easy, sometimes you have to move it like molasses in the winter.

[jrfelkins]

Thank you! Would you amend that at all for a bow? I'm hunting this spot with my recurve per property owner not allowing guns. Thanks!

[Tail Feathers]

Bow hunting is usually done with decoys to help focus their attention away from the draw motion.
What I described would be pretty darn hard with a bow.  You can get them in, but getting a decent shot with a bow and no decoys is very difficult.  If you get one to come in looking and strutting, you may get the shot when he turns away.