Turkey Decoys
 

Do turkey decoys really work?

RE: Turkey Decoys
 

I've had instances where they have worked,but I've also had times where the gobbler would hang up out of gun range and wait for the decoy to come to him.For that reason,I don't even bother to use them any more, and have been able to take birds every year with out them.

RE: Turkey Decoys
 

This is a topic that usually gets pretty active. I have had birds come right to the decoys. I have birds avoid the decoys like the plaque. I have had birds approach cautiously but come close enough to take. A lot depends on how hard an area is hunted (more negative exposure). Time of year (exposure or availability of ready hens, or lack ther of).

I use them when I am calling near open areas, especially when the birds are coming off the roost and tend to pitch into open areas and feed for a awhile. If birds are avoiding decoys I leave them at home. It is a matter of trying different things and adapting to what the birds want (for now).

RE: Turkey Decoys
 

- Sure decoys work - sometimes. IF they worked all the time, everyone would use themALL the time. Decoys are an option I keep available. I've had birds trip over their spurs to get to them, and other birds ignorethem or be wary of them. It's neat to see an adult bird knock the crap out of a jake you have mounting a hen. If you use a bow, the decoy helps more than it hurts...
- just another tool in the bag of tricks...

-fsh

RE: Turkey Decoys
 

Absolutely!!

RE: Turkey Decoys
 

I use them, sometimes they work, sometimes they do not I just do not expect them to be a cure all when I set them up I try to have them facing away from where I expect the gobbler to come from yhis seems to help a little eliminating hung up birds anybody else do this?

RE: Turkey Decoys
 

Yes,and no.I have never had a Tom run away from them,but have had them hang up.This is how/when I use them.Early in the season I use 3 hens,and1 jake.In late season I use 1 hen,and 1 jake.I situate 1 of the hens where she is squatting down as if she is going to breed.If the decoy hangs a Tom up I won't use them on that bird again.If it is very thick I don't use them.(He'll likely be in range when he appears anyways).If it is too open I have found that they tend to hang up easier.Unless he is an agressive tom.They work great to distract a Tom if he is receptive to them.

My wife's first bird ran down the road over 100yds,and came into my set up gobbling,strutting,spittin' and drummin'.She begged me to stop him while Hemingled amongst my decoys 25yds away,and whenever I made acluck or yelp on my cody he would gobble,and then double gobble.I decided to stop calling so he would settle down.Finally he realized he was the only one moving.[8D]He popped his head up,and finally my wife shot him.That was very exciting.I wasso happy,andshe made a perfect shot.That bird did everything you would want one to do.

I have also noticed most of the Toms that I have had success with decoys are 2 year olds.I have had a Tom fight my jake decoy.I have had a hen squat in front of my jake,wanting him to breed her.She sat there for over 30 minutes until I ran her off.Talk about hard up![8D]I think they are worth a try.Ultimag I have done the same thing.I usually point them looking around in all directions,but not looking in the directionthe Tom is gobbling,same as you.

The Tom will approach the jake first usually,so put him where you would like to shoot.I would stay away from multiple jakes in your set up.Some Toms won't approach a group of Jakes.But one on one he may.It will take some experimenting,but I think you'll be pleased.

RE: Turkey Decoys
 

Sometimes they work, sometimes they dont. I have had birds come in to the dekes on a string. Last year, the jake/hen combo did the trick for me.

RE: Turkey Decoys
 

Ditto!!! But needless to say, Iwouldn't leave home without them.

RE: Turkey Decoys
 

Yes and no like everyone says. But I have to say, I had to replace mine twice since I have been turkey hunting, because those darm Toms practically gave my decoys permanent air-conditioning.

RE: Turkey Decoys
 

I set them up if I have time and if I don't have time I don't worry
about it. I seem to have good luck either way.

RE: Turkey Decoys
 

Double Ditto!!!

RE: Turkey Decoys
 

Since sometimes they pull them in, and sometimes they keep them away, I rarely see any use for them. I've never worked a bird without decoys where wished I had decoys, but I have worked them with decoys where I wish I wouldn't have.

Hal

RE: Turkey Decoys
 

Great point Hawg!!!My feelings exactly!!I keep reading everyone saying that sometimes they work and other times no!On the times that it did work was it the decoy that really made the difference or do you think the bird would of came in without it anyway?????Personally I would rather thebird look for me and not my deke!If I was bow huntin I might change my tune!!;)

RE: Turkey Decoys
 

Bob,I would have to add on my previous post,and say that on highly pressured birds I don't use them.I feel like you sometimes too,that it is best sometimes to make him look for you.However sometimes a stubborn bird may need the image of a jake trying to breed his hen,to make him jealous enough to come in,with that said...I have had Toms look at my decoys,and keep on their way without a worry,but you can be amazed at some of the reactions that you can get from them.

I have read up alot on bowhunting turkeys,and this one guy had a tactic I really liked.He set up 25-30yds away from his decoys .Between the Tom,and the decoys.Basically with his back towards the tom.while he looked back at his decoys,He said it worked great for getting a tom with a bow.Most of the time the Tom would walk right by him,and when the tom went in full strut he would draw,while the tail fan was blocking the toms view.I'm going to try it this year.

RE: Turkey Decoys
 

Over the yeas I have used a number of Coys on the market today. As stated above sometimes they work and sometimes they don't. But I have found that the BuckWing Bobblin head is the best of the best.

What I have noticed is these coy's need some modification. and I have changed them a little, adding a little more darker color up the back of the head and have also cut out more room at the bottom , so the spring can move freely back and forth to make the coy look as if it is feeding. Also I have glued the nut on the top and did not tigthen it down so the decoy can easyly move around the bolt it is sitting on. I also cut some of the material away from the sides of the head that moves back and forth to allow the head to bobble more freely.

Now here is a little tip I use quite often. If you place a decoy out and work a bird or birds into seeing range and the birds will not come into your shot range , but instead move off and work back " As to get the hen to come to them" when the bird moves off , get up fast and get out and pull the decoy and then quickly move back to your setup point and sit quiet and don't call ;) Gobblers hate that and will walk into where the decoy was to see where the hen went. Try that on the next frustrating hunt with decoys...BT

RE: Turkey Decoys
 

i'm going to try that Adrain.........i just got that bobblehead hen, i'm telling ya, i have her set up in my room, i love watching her, i hope those gobblers feel the same, lol.....i dont like the buulky rubber she has, but i think a couple of the foam ones will be accompy her in the woods, lol...... i like to use jakes in the early season, then i tend to stray from them..and i also dont like sticking my decoy out in the open later in the season, i like to have her walking into some palmetto or something,not just in the open....

RE: Turkey Decoys
 

Great tip BT!!!Although I rarely use coys another little tip as you just pointed out is sometimes you just have to take a chance!I ve done this very same thing as you BT but left the decoy standing and just cut the distance from where the birdswere to good shooting range!Alot of times I end up in a prone position but I've killed a whole lot of birds in this fashion before!!;)It also works without a decoy too,particularly on those quiet birds that tend to like to hang up or quarter your set-up where they heard you calling from!!:)

RE: Turkey Decoys
 

i like to use different tactics just another option I do not use dekes in every set up sometimes calls do not work I do not leave them in the truck if I have to move and get ahead of travelling birds I will do that I just see how every situation plays out ever try moving away from a hung up gobbler?