Originally Posted by
skipper21
Yeah turkeys get very smart (for a bird) by fifth and sixth season so yes it is much better to learn their habits and set up according to that. I have a full body mount of my tom I got last year and they never expect anything with that as the decoy. It's crazy how much of a difference that makes!
I have found pods of uneducated birds that ran in to my decoys at times, if a spot got isolated by flooding or something to keep hunters out. However, more often than not (~90%) this is not the case late season. I've seen some of the most interesting evasive measures taken then. Suspicious looks, skirting woodlines peeking out, big loops around if I was in their paths. You name it I probably saw it. All a learning experience.
When I finally gave in and put the dekes away, I had much closer encounters right up to my blind regularly. I won't hunt in WI without the blind due to Lyme's Disease. Know too many who contracted. Not worth the risk. Also keeps other hunters away because they see me from a distance.