Decoys for Merriams?

[WW]

I've hunted Merriams once and killed my limit on that trip. I didn't use a decoy at all but was wondering from those of you that chase Merriams regularly, do you use decoys? Most shows on TV use decoys with Rios, easterns and Osceolas, but hardly ever do I see a decoy with a Merriam. What do you say?

[MK M GOBL]

As long as the decoy you are using is legal where you hunt, I'd say use them as long it's the "right" set to hunt with. Of course you need to take precautions with decoy use on public (to a lesser degree on private) especially if you are using a Tom or Jake decoy.

As always just a tool in the shed.

DSD Decoys!!

MK MGOBL

[Gamblinman]

LOL...Us flatlanders up in the mountains want to go in as light as possible. Those decoys double in weight as the altitude increases.

[GobbleNut]

While I believe there are situations with any of the subspecies where the use of decoys is beneficial, my experience hunting Merriams most of my life is that decoys are generally unnecessary, and in many cases can be detrimental to success when they are used in the wrong manner.  Learning to recognize when setting out decoy(s) is helping your chances,...and when it is potentially hurting,...is important. 

I have seen people set over decoys in places where I knew they didn't have a "snowball's chance" of ever killing a gobbler doing what they were doing. ...And conversely, I have been in a few situations where I have said,..."if only I had set a decoy out that gobbler would be dead".

In any situation, you just have to have an idea as to "when to hold'em, or when to fold'em."   

[hobbes]

I carry a hen decoy on occasion.  I used to not carry them at all, but began using one when my kids and wife began hunting with me.  However, my kids are old enough now that they can barely be called kids, so Im transitioning away from it again.  Seems like in most cases I never got it set out, and cannot recall the dang thing ever helping us when we did.  I rarely set up to take advantage of the decoy.  Our set ups usually result in a dead turkey before they even see the decoy if I do set it out.

I also despise carrying the dang thing.  If I bowhunted, I'd probably reconsider.

[dublelung]

I've hunted Merriams once and killed my limit on that trip. I didn't use a decoy at all but was wondering from those of you that chase Merriams regularly, do you use decoys? Most shows on TV use decoys with Rios, easterns and Osceolas, but hardly ever do I see a decoy with a Merriam. What do you say?

If your leg ain't broke, don't use a crutch.    Good luck on your hunt.