Every bird's different. I've had more birds scared by decoys than ones that came to the decoys.

One factor in the East, I think, is the forests tend to be more dense. Turkeys can be suprised by the decoys----I've seen it time and time again. Don't ask me why or how---they should hear the calling and be expecting to see the decoy, but some birds act plain shocked to see another turkey in the area---whether it's a hen, jake or gobbler decoy.

Another problem is the turkeys get WAY more hunter pressure in the east and south. When they are pressured, they get paranoid about EVERYTHING.

I use decoys only in the open, and only if I've failed on that particular bird without them.