Decoy scared Gobbler

[Tetelestai]

We we were hunting this morning and had a gobbler about 45 yds away in some thick stuff and once it saw the decoy, it let out a putt and headed the other way. Didn't have a clear shot or I would have put him n the dirt. We have had success using decoys in the past, but have noticed that some birds seem to be frightened by the decoy. Anyone think that decoys seem to deter gobblers from coming in more than help? If so, why?

[Greg Massey]

We we were hunting this morning and had a gobbler about 45 yds away in some thick stuff and once it saw the decoy, it let out a putt and headed the other way. Didn't have a clear shot or I would have put him n the dirt. We have had success using decoys in the past, but have noticed that some birds seem to be frightened by the decoy. Anyone think that decoys seem to deter gobblers from coming in more than help? If so, why?

What kind of decoy?  I would think he seen you moving probably.

[Tetelestai]

Maybe so, we were using Avian X lookout hen. Another time we had a couple  hens walking up road with Gobbler behind them and spotted decoy and detoured quickly back to woods. That time there was no way we were busted.

[drake799]

Sounds like that birds been educated before   I ve seen a decoy shy bird before.   Was a older bird    He was scared of  blinds also lol

[RutnNStrutn]

It's always a risk you take using decoys. What make of decoys were you using? Also what decoys were you using? Hen, jake, gobbler, how many of each?

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[Tetelestai]

Single lookout hen, avian X

[fallhnt]

Yes it happens

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[owlhoot]

Maybe so, we were using Avian X lookout hen. Another time we had a couple  hens walking up road with Gobbler behind them and spotted decoy and detoured quickly back to woods. That time there was no way we were busted.

Same area? Quit using it.

[Tetelestai]

Killed a lot of birds before I exercise got a decoy so if it has the birds spooked in this area, that seems like the best course of action.

[MK M GOBL]

Have been hunting with decoys over the last 30 years and the number of times I can say "the decoys spooked the bird" I can count on one hand. I have learned to set my decoys by time of season/breeding cycle, what decoys I have set, position of decoy(s) and to where I set. As I say "Hunting Decoys Right". I have had birds "shy" from decoys, but to downright spook a bird is rare. So from shy this is dependent on said birds fit in the social structure of flock. Imagine having an alpha that is "extremely aggressive" and runs any other gobbler/jake he make contact with off, even will leave a hen to do so. So in "this" flock I will generally NOT set a strutter decoy for most hunts (I hunt with a lot of other hunters) as those satellite (beta/omegas) will shy when they see another bird and it is strutting, I will only hunt a 3/4 Strut Jake. Once I have determined this Alpha's disposition an use it by setting a Strutter in his "area" I may have birds work and shy, but when I run into the Alpha it is DEADLY on him and most cases he has some HOOKS! This in turn changes the whole areas social arrangement, once that Alpha was killed the number of birds in area gobbling increased, birds were responding to hens calls better and such. For me that's why we always try to kill the Alpha in a flock (social structure disruption). Not to say all "alpha's" are this way but there those out there that have had this temperament. I always listen for the stories of how "this bird is un-killable" I talk with said hunter, and have offered to go in with hunter and see if "we" can team up together, I won't even carry a gun I'm just there for the hunt.

The most "successful" decoy I hunt with is my "White Headed" Strutter I designed/developed back in 1999. That decoy aka BIG PUFFY has changed over they years as I have "upgraded" decoys, now a DSD Jake Strutter that I "Gobblerized" and added my design to and he is DEADLY, I do hunt him from seasons start to seasons end and have great success in doing so. He is for certain hunts, I do not hunt him all the time and never on "public" (or any jake decoy) but when I have the right set for him you can bet his out! As I say,  Hunting Decoys Right and Just tools in the Shed.

I have a thread dedicated to DSD's and lot's of little bits of this in there, how I set and the why's to that. Here's that link http://oldgobbler.com/Forum/index.php/topic,70971.0.html

Use the White Head and He's Dead!
Here's a pic of the latest "lil PUFFY" and the first "BIG PUFFY"

MK M GOBL

[Marc]

I have certainly see jake decoys deter birds.
I have seen birds hang up on a hen decoy and strut out of range.
I have seen birds rush in on decoys as well.


Today I was using decoys, and saw groups of hens/jakes/toms, and with multiple encounters, the only bird that was at all interested in the decoys was a single hen.  I had birds walk within several yards of the decoys and not pay the slightest attention (hens and jakes).

Had another encounter that I had no decoy out, and the birds hung up looking for that hen (that was not there)...  Maybe a decoy would have helped???

[Ozarks Hillbilly]

Maybe so, we were using Avian X lookout hen. Another time we had a couple  hens walking up road with Gobbler behind them and spotted decoy and detoured quickly back to woods. That time there was no way we were busted.

I would trade your lookout for a feeder. The lookout is postured in a to alert stance IMO. I can see a bird seeing the lookout and being alarmed by it's posture. Not necessarily afraid of the decoy itself but not seeing what has her on alert. And who knows he may have been alerted by a thousand different things. That's just my 2 cents.

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[2eagles]

Maybe so, we were using Avian X lookout hen. Another time we had a couple  hens walking up road with Gobbler behind them and spotted decoy and detoured quickly back to woods. That time there was no way we were busted.

I believe the hens were simply leading the gobbler away from their man-turkey.

[bbcoach]

Maybe so, we were using Avian X lookout hen. Another time we had a couple  hens walking up road with Gobbler behind them and spotted decoy and detoured quickly back to woods. That time there was no way we were busted.

I would trade your lookout for a feeder. The lookout is postured in a to alert stance IMO. I can see a bird seeing the lookout and being alarmed by it's posture. Not necessarily afraid of the decoy itself but not seeing what has her on alert. And who knows he may have been alerted by a thousand different things. That's just my 2 cents.

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X2  If I use a hen or hen decoys, it will be a feeder.  Gives the other birds a relaxed posture not an alert posture.

[Tetelestai]

Last several posters make some great points. I think changing to feeder may be best. I have avian 1/4 strut, lookout, feeder, but hate carrying multiply decoys for the run and gun tactics that you sometime have to use. Sometimes too many decoys adds for a lot of extra movement and time when moving to new spot. Thanks for all the great info. I will definitely keep decoy setup in mind.