why do decoys seem to scare some eastern turkeys?
 

this thought just struck me when i read somebodys post about decoys a few minutes ago.....i live in south georgia and i hunt eastern birds, and its been my experience that they don't seem to care for decoys all that much. i've used decoys only three times in the past, and each time i called up a gobbler, only to have it spot my decoys and turn around and vanish. i know the birds didn't spot me, as i was using a mouth call and not moving a muscle. has anyone else had this happen to them, or know the reason why?

RE: why do decoys seem to scare some eastern turkeys?
 

Ah i hunt in Southern Wisconsin and they always come into my decoys without getting scared or anything.. Maybe your birds are just smarter lol.

RE: why do decoys seem to scare some eastern turkeys?
 

maybe so lol its not just me either other guys i know that hunt around here have had the same problem so i really don't know whats going on with our turkeys

RE: why do decoys seem to scare some eastern turkeys?
 

Well the only problem Ive had is with my darn Jake decoy. I cant seem to get a bird in when I have him out. So he doesnt get to be with the other decoys hunting. He still goes but I dont know why I even carry him. He must be ugly I guess... :D

RE: why do decoys seem to scare some eastern turkeys?
 

i have never had a bird scare from my decoy, nore have i ever had a tom or jake see my decoy (assuming you mean just a hen or two hen decoys) and spoke...something isn't right...wind, movement...etc...i hunt only public land and hunt the same areas and have never had a bird spook because of a decoy...i have had birds come in with a hen and the hen walk away from my decoy and the tom and or jakes follow her....but never just a spook....what kinda decoys do you use?

RE: why do decoys seem to scare some eastern turkeys?
 

If you use decoys long enough....eventually a bird WILL spook at the decoy. He might spook before you see him, but give it time it will happen. It's just like missing. If you hunt long enough, you WILL miss. Of course, for those opposed to decoys, if you hunt long enough with them, there WILL be a time when the decoy is THE reason the bird came in.

RE: why do decoys seem to scare some eastern turkeys?
 

i was using 2FeatherFlex decoys a jake and a hen

RE: why do decoys seem to scare some eastern turkeys?
 

Maybe the gobblers that spooked got their tails wooped by jakes. You never know. Try using just one or two hens. I use the featherflex dekes also. I use one or sometimes two hens and have never had a gobbler spook. I have a jake featherflex, but never use it. Just remember, decoys aren't going to work every time you use them.

RE: why do decoys seem to scare some eastern turkeys?
 

x2! I told him he is no longer allowed to turkey hunt...he now resides in the attic.

RE: why do decoys seem to scare some eastern turkeys?
 

I hunt with 2 decoys and to date never lost a bird off either one here in Ohio


MrGobbler