DeerWhisperer
Well-Known Member
All,
I have been a member for several years now and really enjoy all the informative posts. I myself do not post that much but I have learned a lot over the years from those who do. This is a great and informative site.
I do not want to start another debate on the use of decoys and/or other legal forms of taking a turkey. These are just my thoughts in general as I have grown older and my hunting tactics and thoughts have changed.
When I started out some 25 years ago, I would have definitely fallen into the old school category. I saved and bought a Mossberg 535 camo pump. I had one box call and one slate call and no decoys. Back then I hunted primarily public land so most of what I hunted was wooded timber and lots of other folks. Like most, I loved the thrill and chase of locating a bird and attempting to call him into gun range. It was both thrilling and challenging as I was new to all this stuff. Back then there were really no such things as decoys, you had to learn to think and act like a turkey and if you were lucky you knew someone that was willing to mentor you or if you were really lucky they would take you hunting. I remember making so many mistakes it was comical. I still make mistakes every season, but you know what , you learn and apply on the next trip.
I followed this approach for several years before moving to Middle Tennessee, I continued this approach as long as my land access allowed.
Over the past several years my land availability has changed. I have gone from several hundred acres of hard woods with limited fields to primarily fields with limited hardwoods My area and leases have changed. This in conjunction with gaining a wife that thoroughly enjoys to turkey hunts has changed the way I hunt. I tried the run and gun technique with her for two years. This proved to be very frustrating. I would see the turkey, she could not. She would move, turkey would run off, encounters with snakes, etc: I just about burnt her out on the sport before she got her first turkey. Turkey hunting should be fun and we should use any legal means to introduce our sport and love of of the outdoors to others.
So, as a compromise, I suggested hunting from a blind. This offered her the concealment needed as well as provided her a chance to move around without detection. Also, to be honest, we had some very good conversations in the blind. This tactic also lead me to try the use of decoys. Calling in a gobbler in a wooded timber is one thing, but you know I have found it is much harder to do so in the middle of a 20 acre pasture. If the Tom did not see the hen that was making the noise, he had non interest in walking across that field. So, I have adapted and made some changes. I am also an avid duck hunter and I equate the use of turkey decoys to the duck hunting. You can be the best duck caller in the world but if the ducks are working and do not all the ducks making that noise, chances are they will head somewhere else. Is it cheating, I don't think so. Just my opinion.
I do not have the time available as I once did, so I want to increase the odds in my favor as much as possible. I have actually learned to enjoy this method quite well. My wife and several adults and children have taken their first birds this way. So, coming from a "old school" method, I have changed but I still love to hunt. We follow all the rules and take only ethical shots. It has proven very rewarding for us. For me it all came down to making some sacrifices to allow my wife the opportunity to share in the hunt and also a change in our land availability.
However, I will say if given the opportunity, I still love the thrill of playing chess with a long beard in the timber, it is rewarding and challenging. I love it and I still do that if the situation allow me to do so.
I guess the main thing is for each us to enjoy our own form of turkey hunting. This could be old school, new school, or your own school. If you want to use decoys, make a spot and stalk, hunt from a blind, then do so. Just be legal and be safe. As we all mature our tactics and methods change. I am sure that there will come a point in my life I may be limited to sitting in a blind and hunting turkeys over a decoy, but you know what I am fine with that. If that is what I have to do to be outside and its legal thats probably what I will be doing.
As long as we are all safe and ethical hunters and have fun and enjoy God's creation that should be all that matters. So let's all enjoy the upcoming season. Be Safe, Hunt Ethical and Have Fun. Pray for each others safety and enjoyment If given the opportunity take someone that has never been before, it may change their life.
Sorry for the long post.
I have been a member for several years now and really enjoy all the informative posts. I myself do not post that much but I have learned a lot over the years from those who do. This is a great and informative site.
I do not want to start another debate on the use of decoys and/or other legal forms of taking a turkey. These are just my thoughts in general as I have grown older and my hunting tactics and thoughts have changed.
When I started out some 25 years ago, I would have definitely fallen into the old school category. I saved and bought a Mossberg 535 camo pump. I had one box call and one slate call and no decoys. Back then I hunted primarily public land so most of what I hunted was wooded timber and lots of other folks. Like most, I loved the thrill and chase of locating a bird and attempting to call him into gun range. It was both thrilling and challenging as I was new to all this stuff. Back then there were really no such things as decoys, you had to learn to think and act like a turkey and if you were lucky you knew someone that was willing to mentor you or if you were really lucky they would take you hunting. I remember making so many mistakes it was comical. I still make mistakes every season, but you know what , you learn and apply on the next trip.
I followed this approach for several years before moving to Middle Tennessee, I continued this approach as long as my land access allowed.
Over the past several years my land availability has changed. I have gone from several hundred acres of hard woods with limited fields to primarily fields with limited hardwoods My area and leases have changed. This in conjunction with gaining a wife that thoroughly enjoys to turkey hunts has changed the way I hunt. I tried the run and gun technique with her for two years. This proved to be very frustrating. I would see the turkey, she could not. She would move, turkey would run off, encounters with snakes, etc: I just about burnt her out on the sport before she got her first turkey. Turkey hunting should be fun and we should use any legal means to introduce our sport and love of of the outdoors to others.
So, as a compromise, I suggested hunting from a blind. This offered her the concealment needed as well as provided her a chance to move around without detection. Also, to be honest, we had some very good conversations in the blind. This tactic also lead me to try the use of decoys. Calling in a gobbler in a wooded timber is one thing, but you know I have found it is much harder to do so in the middle of a 20 acre pasture. If the Tom did not see the hen that was making the noise, he had non interest in walking across that field. So, I have adapted and made some changes. I am also an avid duck hunter and I equate the use of turkey decoys to the duck hunting. You can be the best duck caller in the world but if the ducks are working and do not all the ducks making that noise, chances are they will head somewhere else. Is it cheating, I don't think so. Just my opinion.
I do not have the time available as I once did, so I want to increase the odds in my favor as much as possible. I have actually learned to enjoy this method quite well. My wife and several adults and children have taken their first birds this way. So, coming from a "old school" method, I have changed but I still love to hunt. We follow all the rules and take only ethical shots. It has proven very rewarding for us. For me it all came down to making some sacrifices to allow my wife the opportunity to share in the hunt and also a change in our land availability.
However, I will say if given the opportunity, I still love the thrill of playing chess with a long beard in the timber, it is rewarding and challenging. I love it and I still do that if the situation allow me to do so.
I guess the main thing is for each us to enjoy our own form of turkey hunting. This could be old school, new school, or your own school. If you want to use decoys, make a spot and stalk, hunt from a blind, then do so. Just be legal and be safe. As we all mature our tactics and methods change. I am sure that there will come a point in my life I may be limited to sitting in a blind and hunting turkeys over a decoy, but you know what I am fine with that. If that is what I have to do to be outside and its legal thats probably what I will be doing.
As long as we are all safe and ethical hunters and have fun and enjoy God's creation that should be all that matters. So let's all enjoy the upcoming season. Be Safe, Hunt Ethical and Have Fun. Pray for each others safety and enjoyment If given the opportunity take someone that has never been before, it may change their life.
Sorry for the long post.