Do you need them? No. Do they help? Sometimes. Do they hurt? Sometimes. You'll need to get some experience and form your own opinions. There were times I didn't have decoys out that I wished I did, and vice versa. Sometimes they come in on a string, sometimes they avoid them. Sometimes putting them out is a waste of time just because of the terrain you're in. I typically use a jake and hen decoy when I do use them. I should probably add another hen to the set-up but I do okay without. If I'm trying to call a bird into a fairly open area, I typically use the dekes. If he's coming in and doesn't see that hen he's been hearing, that might not be a good thing. If I'm in an area that is a little thicker and he has to come in to get a peak, chances are he'll be in range eating a load of #6's before he knows what hit him.