To me, using decoys is just added insurance.
You might call in 5 gobblers over the season
that will strut right into gun range without the use
of decoys but that one time when Mr. big hangs up just
out of range you will wish you had that little extra enticement
to bring him in. When using decoys you still need all
the other skills required in turkey hunting. Last year I had set up my decoys on an open 40 acre field. I hadnt called in about 15 minutes
when a big tom came out at about 9:30 of the woods on far side of the field about 125 yards away. He kept stopping and glancing at the decoys but continued his walk to the left and away from me.
I gave a couple of yelps and puffed up and started strutting in circles. I did a couple of soft purrs and clucks and each time he wouldpuff up and strut but wouldnt come in. I played with him
for about 15 minutes but he just would not come in.
I was almost ready to write this one off when a slight gust of
wind came through and rotated one of the hen decoys
about 30 degrees. That woke him up. He started gobbling
and came in to about 50 yards and started strutting in place again.
One more purr and cluck and he shot right in to me.
I dont use the decoys in all situations but I do carry them with me
every time just as an added trick.
I also carry a turkey wing with me. Ive had gobblers
hangup just out of sight only to have them come barrelling
in after I flap the turkey wing. Sometimes they just need a little
reassurance.

Well I would have to say that If your shooting turkeys over decoys there's something wrong here,any time I use them and happen to have turkey's come into the decoy, I shoot them beside the Decoy <img src=icon_smile_approve.gif border=0 align=middle>.
Guy's, they must be seeing you Drawing on them ! <img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle> Maybe ya all should use RealTree Camo then <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle> <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>.

I understand everyones views on this question in all angles. I do use decoys but not all the time. It depends on the timeing and setup in the hunt.
Lets see last spring I used them a number of times,and even once I left the stupid thing in the PA woods still on the stake, I called her Tammi. Jalvja never did go back and get it !<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> then ,get this we all came back to Ontario,Jalvja and I and another great guy, takes a walk back behind the house. Well about 1/4 mile back and if we don't find A decoy on a stake!<img src=icon_smile_shock.gif border=0 align=middle> I yell for someone and no answer, so I walked over, and heres a different make decoy with a hole eat in the side of the head , this thing has been here for a while. I pick it up and in the vest it gose. Well a week later the wife and I are setup on this Old Boss Gobbler thats been worked by everyone in Ontario. Everytime I see it in the field you stop to glass it and it runs into the woods.It won't answer a thing and won't gobble to locators, We seen it one day about 9:00 am and way it went again , so we quietly went out to the Zone and set this old hole in the head and sat back I called with one series of soft yelps and couple of Clucks and took the call out and put it away. The wife and I are setup beside one and other, I whisper to her that we'll just sit and see what happens.Not more then 5 minutes and I slowly turn my head and there this Big Struttin Boss Gobbler coming right up the field to the Old Hole in the head. I whisper to Jannette and she get ready,the birds walks right up 10 yards away from the decoy in Full Strut, the head is <font color=red>Red</font id=red>and <font color=blue>Blue</font id=blue>. The Fan is full and he's right on the end of the Barrel, man, he just loves this decoy, he can tell that she is a stupid one, He can see right in the hole in her head No brains<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>, Bang! 20.5lbs,9inch BD, and 1 inch spurs,,, not one Gobble in the whole hunt. I don't use decoys all the time, But always have one Old Hole in the Head with me all the time...BT

I like them with Long Sharp Spurs....

Edited by - BOSSTOM on 01/21/2003 12:25:49

[quote]
me out at about 9:30 of the woods on far side of the field about 125 yards away. He kept stopping and glancing at the decoys but continued his walk to the left and away from me.
I gave a couple of yelps and puffed up and started strutting in circles.

OOPs. Actually it was the gobbler that puffed up and started walking in circles, not me.

I would have to say zero out of the last ten gobblers I have killed have been taken with decoys. I have a pair of Feather Flex, hen and a jake, and have had success with them a few times but would have to say the bad experiences have outweighed the good for me. Even after saying this, I still believe decoys have a time and a place. Each turkey you come across will respond to decoys differently.

0

About 9 out of 10 where every once in a while you feel you don't have time to set out a decoy. Turkeys here in Nebraska responde well to decoys and so did the ones I hunted in Wisconsin.

1 of 13. And that was my first one. They just aren't too important to me anymore. I have good enough luck without them.
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