Do you use them or not? Also is there a certain time when decoys are more or less effective. I don't want to drag these thing out there if they aren't worth the effort.
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Here's to cold noses and warm barrels.
I ALWAYS us decoys. Either a Jake and Hen or a Strutter and Hen.
I will AWAYS use a DSD Hen in every turkey hunting set-up I hunt from, regardless of wether I use a Tom, a Jake, or more Hens!
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An "archer" tries to see how far away he can get from his target and still connect, a BOWHUNTER tries to see how CLOSE he can get to his!
gspguy, if inconvience is the issue, go with FeatherFlex decoys. That is what I use. They are foam and almost weightless. They fold right up and you can stick them in your backpack, vest, or even a large pocket. Sure they don't look near as lifelike as the ones IL Cornfed posted, but the Toms won't know the difference. Or atleast the Iowa gobblers don't.....
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Kurt Rojemann
www.drop-tine-taxidermy.com
Not to be a contrarian, but I never use them in the woods. When I have to hunt the field edges, such as rain, wind, etc., I use a lot of them at once,4-5 typically. I feel it distracts the turkey from focusing on one single decoy long enough to figure out it isn't real.
I use the plastic fold up type of decoys. I think they look far more realistic than foam decoys. I also touch up or repaint them every season. Some decoys, in my opinion, are much too dark and lack the light brown secondary feathers or the white with black bars primary feathers. I have painted all mine to include those and I think it makes them look better. I also lightly add bronze highlights to the breasts and make sure the heads are slate bluish/gray.
Maybe I am too picky.
Mouthcaller
__________________ Captain, Team 1 - The Last Gobble 2009 HuntingNet.com Spring Turkey Contest Champions
I always have the Feather Flex deke along.I carry mine in the game pouch on the vest to keep it's shape but you can roll it up and stuff it in a pocket so there's no effort involved with these.