What Happened...?

[turkeyhunter ewing]

My dad and i had three longbeards coming in gobbling. They were walking across a valley that we were set up at the top on (there was a crest about 25 yards in front of us). Soon enough we see the perascopes. I had one hen decoy out. The three gobblers perascoped for probably 5 seconds and we never got a shot. Then they putted and were gone..... what happened?


THANKS

[Mr. Longbeard]

Sounds like you guys got busted

[determined]

i was not there and im not throwing stones,i have alot to learn.if you speak of 3 longbeards that means to me they were identified and not a fellow hunter bringing his bird out.safety is paramount,i can buy a turkey for 39 cents a pound at the store so i squeeze the trigger when im absolutely sure.having said that if you had 5 seconds to take a shot at those periscoping gobblers by all means you should of.did they have to come down hill to your hen decoy to get closer?i understand they dont like to come downhill as a rule.be sure, shoot straight,good luck.

[Adrian J Hare]

If there was no movement and the birds only stuck up their heads to look, it sounds to me as the birds are presured and have became Decoy shy. Gobblers are not stupid and will run as they see the decoy trick before. The later part of the season is a better time to keep your decoys in the house, as most birds have been close to them before and see's what happened...BT

[mauser06]

sounds like they knew something wasnt right....either you stuck out like a sore thumb and didnt realize it....or you moved.....or they simply knew that wasnt a real hen and knew something was wrong....but 5 seconds is all i need.......if i know hes a shooter and i have a look at him for 5 seconds and can take him i would have.....but i wasnt there.....there may be more to the story we dont know........good luck getting one of them guys......i never use decoys.....i set up so as soon as i see them they are in range....so when they come looking for the hen by the time they realize there isnt one they are too late.......like your setup it sounds like....good luck

[turkeyhunter ewing]

When I said they perascoped i meant we could see there beards and all so they were showing about half of there bodies...

Sorry bout that