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

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

I hunt south Ga and yes it is a problem with spooking. This year I am going to try a jake with a fan. I know some guys who have had success with this decoy in S Ga.

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

Its a problem here in West,Tn too.Jakes will attack the deeks.Ole longbeard will look like he saw a ghost when he sees it.I think that areas that have several jakes,the deeks wont work because the Tom has been getting beat up by the jakes.Just a theory.

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

One thing that I have learned is if there is a hen with a tom and he seems pretty commited to her he wont leave her. That said, I have had toms come in and have a hen with them and he just follows that hen where ever she goes and alot of the time the hens avoids the hen decoys because they dont want the competition for breeding. Last year I had a bird patterned and set up on him perfect along a fence row and he came right on time. I had a hen decoy out and as soon as the hen that was with him seen the decoy she started to cut back towards the woods in the opposite direction. But I have also had hens come right into the decoy bringing tom with her and have been successful.

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

I never had a "Gobbler" spook from my deeks, but I did witness several jakes depart pretty quickly after comming into my calls.:eek:

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

SG# dont want to burst your bubble bud but this doesn't happen to just eastern gobblers.Lot of variables go into why a bird would quarter or walk away from your set-up after seeingyour "deke/dekes'.Young toms and satelite gobblers quite often will what I call "test the waters" in coming in almost to gun range and at the site of your dekes loose there nerve to walk away in fear not of your dekes or calling but the thought of a more dominant bird that inhabits that particular area in getting his but kicked!Even the social status of your birdsplays a role here in that these birds do recognize one another in there home ranges primarily vocally and a newcomer to their area can trigger a less freindly approach to very shy/cautious one especially after the birds have been hunted or pushed around a bit.Flyway makes another great point,as I have seen this happen many times afield Its no theory but fact a young enthusiastic group of jakes even 2 year olds can send an older gobbler packin.But than again I've seen a older tom do some woopin @&& too....:)...Bottomline is leave em(dekes) at home and make that gobbler look for you the caller/hunter and quite possibly your luck will change...;)..g/luck Bob..

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

I can't say that I never had a gobbler spook at the sight of my dekes, but I can't say that I have either. I hunt eastern turkeys and sometimes they come in to the dekes and sometimes they dont. I'd be a liar if I said I've never spooked a turkey, but I don't know if it was the whites of my eyes, movement, my calling, or my dekes; but if I were to guess, I wouldn't think it was the dekes. I probably could blame the dekes for longbeards hanging up a time or two, especially when I used to use a lone hen. If you think the dekes are ruining your day, leave em home!

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

thanks for the advice guys looks like my decoys will be gathering dust in the closet this spring

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

Every bird's different. I've had more birds scared by decoys than ones that came to the decoys.

One factor in the East, I think, is the forests tend to be more dense. Turkeys can be suprised by the decoys----I've seen it time and time again. Don't ask me why or how---they should hear the calling and be expecting to see the decoy, but some birds act plain shocked to see another turkey in the area---whether it's a hen, jake or gobbler decoy.

Another problem is the turkeys get WAY more hunter pressure in the east and south. When they are pressured, they get paranoid about EVERYTHING.

I use decoys only in the open, and only if I've failed on that particular bird without them.

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

I refuse to use decoys. Here's the reason. Where I hunt and have the most success are the tops of very steep ridges. The bird's gonna HAVE to top the hill to find his sweet thing, and if I'm sittin in the very middle of a small high point surrounded almost completely by ridges, he won't have time to run when he reaches the summit.......if I know which way to face.As soon as he tops the ridge I'm waiting to bust him.Lots of times I can see them coming down other ridges into a hollow beside me and I can tell where he's gonna come up by which direction he was heading going down that opposite ridge. If I know he's comin up the ridge I'm sittin on, I usually know exactly which direction to face and when he pops up he's dead. BUT sometimes he surprises me and sneaks in quietly and busts me, it happens. Another reason I dont use them is b/c I think a lot of turkeys keep a close track on the other birds in the flock and know each other's daily habits, so maybe they know what area all the birds are in andtheir habits, and they know the decoy is probably a rat.......that's just a theory of mine, may be a crock of crap but it sounds good to me. Turkeys arent dumb, they know a rat when they see one (or hear one). All these things are just theories I guess, it has a lot to do with the land, pressure, the hunter, set-up, etc. None of these things are guarantees. I will not kill a bird every time I go in the woods, nobody will. But these are the things I think about when I'm hunting that have helped bring me success. Bottomline, I'm doin just fine withoutdecoys so I aint using em. But it has a LOT to do with the terrain I hunt. I think the ridges give mesomewhat of an advantage.....kinda like that game you used to play in the arcade where you smacked the alligator whenhe popped his head out :D. In more flat open areas it seems likedecoys would work great b/c of the long range visibility. I dont know much about hunting turks in other parts of the country, so I cant say I wouldnt use them if I hunted in other places. Now that I'm done with my novel I'm goin to bed :D. Good luck to all this season!

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

Not a jake per sea.... but I think that a lot of jake decoys look WAY WAY too aggressive. Big black bodies with bright red heads.

I hunt mostly easterns as well, and I've had birds come to decoys and birds spook from decoys. I've found that the birds that didn't spook when I had a jake decoy out, were usually no younger than 3, and quite typically at least 4. Meaning that they were older, badder birds... usually the boss of the area. I've had plenty of birds come out and see the jake and turn tail and book it. Those are likely sub-dominent birds that have gotten their butts kicked recently, and are not up for seconds. I doubt that turkeys can tell the difference between a jake and Tom, unless they are strutting. All they see is a big black bird with a bright red head... thats enough for them.

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

I have a delta jake. Its basically the same deke as the hen, but with a different paint job. It also has a puny beard that has been replaced by cat whiskers (the kind you put on your bow string to make it quiet for those who don't know...) Any respectable bird would be much bigger than my dekes, so I don't think they spook from them.

Prob not the decoy
 

I hunt easterns in MI and over the years I've learned that the MOST important thing is NOT calling or how expensive your decoys are. I've heard the best callers have birds hang up just out of range, and I've seen a dark wind sock bring turkeys in while I was goose hunting
I believe the most important thing is Knowing what part of the breeding season their in!!! Is it still the pecking order?? If so I use a strutting Tom only no hens. If their in breeding phase I'll use either a tom and breeding hen or a jake and a breeding hen if the hen chase is over (early-mid May here) and the hens are nesting I'll go back to a single tom or jake with standing hens The toms will start to group up again they'll look for a buddy after the hens go to nest late morning.
The thing to remember is nothing is going to work every time!! And sometimes no calling or minimal calling is best. Sometimes I'll only tree call twice and not call again till 10-11 am. Couriousity doesn't just kill the cat. Good luck. I hope this helps.

I think turkeys remember a bad experience. I have had birds run across a field to get to my decoys and at other times are coming in hot until they see the decoys and then putt and go the other way fast. I have probably taken more birds without setting them up because I like to run and gun and often don't have time for a set up. Just like others have said either they work or they don't and you never know. The last bird gave me the slip 2 days in a row when he saw the decoy. The third day I set up in an ambush spot without a decoy and with minimal calling after he heard me and was coming in.

Get rid of the Jake, use just the hen.
Jakes are angry teenagers that usually travel in gangs.They will torment mature birds. Witnessed it
a lot.
And most Jake decoys produced are postured wrong. The only Jake decoy I have seen work consistently is All because or his posture. As Arrow said. I've got Jake decoys used only for flower bed enhancements.

Second not all strutting Toms are dominant. As others have said he may had his hind end whipped. You see that also using a strutting decoy. You always have a 50-50 chance the Tom will stop short.

And some Toms just stop short. They will strutt, do their dance hoping to lure a hen or two their way.

After all why do Toms strutt?
They want to get laid. And if Jenny hen says not today,
maybe tomorrow the Tom follows dutifully along , in strutt until Miss Jenny changes her posture and lays down.

My two cents
Watch how birds react with each other and place your decoys similar.
AND YES you still will have times leaving you scratching your head.

JW

My experience is mixed when using a lone hen. Sometimes the gobbler will hang up just out of range and strut. Other times, I've had them approach fairly close. When using 2 hens and a jake, all of my experiences have been bad ones. I've had several very large gobblers spook at the sight of them ... so I use just the hen.