Alabama leading the way

[Setterman]

Let's make this simple.

Outlawing decoys is a massive limit reduction indirectly as removing them saves far more birds than dropping the statewide limit outright.

there is a perfect example above. Whoever posted their daughter wouldn't have been successful without a decoy proves the point thousands of times over each season.

you simply cannot deny how easy a decoy and blind make it to kill turkeys.

Don't get me wrong I'm happy for her success, but for lots of us as young hunters we didn't have it easy. We had to learn, we made mistakes but eventually learned and found success.

Parents feel their kids must have instant gratification now, and that mentality is corrupting our society as a whole. Earning something is losing the battle to the easiest way possible

Claiming decoys aren't that effective is either a bald face lie, or just being naive.

want more birds? Reduce overall harvest. Easiest way and the one you can control? Eliminate plastic turkeys

 

[hbg1]

Why just not reduce the number of Tom's being killed? What's the big deal about using a decoy anyway. If it is about increase in population, reducing the bag limit is the best solution.

Doesn't take a genius to figure that out, why would anyone with common sense want to try and accomplish this by outlawing decoys is beyond me.

 

[hbg1]

People argue about limits. It ain't much to do with the limit. Most folks probably only kill one or two anyways.
Outlaw the decoys and thousands of birds would be saved each spring.

This may be a terrible and inappropriate analogy. Low limits with the use of decoys is like a socialist government.....,
"Let's make it fair and easy so everyone has a chance. We will penalize the guy over there that works hard to promote habitat for turkeys and allow him to only kill one or two a year, while this slacker can use a decoy and set across the road and kill the a couple of turkeys without working for them."

I believe in capitalism. If you can't hunt them the right way, learn how or find something else.

"Right way"? Are you God?

 

[tbadon]

The advent of the strutter decoys, HD jakes has been the demise of thousands upon thousands of dominant gobblers early season each year that would normally survive to breed their harem. There is absolutely no way to deny this. These birds would survive for most of the season without the aid and crutch of decoys. By the time they're vulnerable most hunters have hung it up, or all the hens are bred.

I feel that the pecking order is so well established when the season opens that many hens are going unbred because the dominant bird is dead. This leaves gaps in recruitment hurting the future population

The decoy stuff allows the biggest googans out there to waddle into a pasture stake a decoy out where it's visible and wait for the dominant bird to see it. When he does boom he dies with zero effort

Anyone comparing turkeys to deer/ducks/dove whatever else species immediately loses credibility.

as far as baiting with corn, it's illegal and been illegal. No way to make it anymore illegal.

I've been beating this drum for years. Outlaw the decoys and you'll save 50% more gobblers each season. Outlaw the decoys now. Outlaw the decoys forever.

Find some research that proves most birds taken early in the season are the dominant birds, AND they were taken using decoys and post the link. Until you can do that, don't talk about someone else's credibility. Back up your claims with science. Do that and I will concede your point.

 

[hbg1]

Let's make this simple.

Outlawing decoys is a massive limit reduction indirectly as removing them saves far more birds than dropping the statewide limit outright.

there is a perfect example above. Whoever posted their daughter wouldn't have been successful without a decoy proves the point thousands of times over each season.

you simply cannot deny how easy a decoy and blind make it to kill turkeys.

Don't get me wrong I'm happy for her success, but for lots of us as young hunters we didn't have it easy. We had to learn, we made mistakes but eventually learned and found success.

Parents feel their kids must have instant gratification now, and that mentality is corrupting our society as a whole. Earning something is losing the battle to the easiest way possible

Claiming decoys aren't that effective is either a bald face lie, or just being naive.

want more birds? Reduce overall harvest. Easiest way and the one you can control? Eliminate plastic turkeys

If you had stopped after "reduce overall harvest" you would have been correct.

 

[hbg1]

Find some research that proves most birds taken early in the season are the dominant birds, AND they were taken using decoys and post the link. Until you can do that, don't talk about someone else's credibility. Back up your claims with science. Do that and I will concede your point.

Amen

 

[Rakkin6]

No problem with decoys I will use a hen decoy on large fields but in the woods I don't even bother. Some of the fields I hunt over are pretty large. Now reaping in my mind is pretty dangerous. There is no way I would do that on public land and may even be really nervous on private land. I wouldn't even use a strutter on public land. With the popularity of TSS and hunters thinking they can shoot a bird at 80 yards that could result in diaster. I already wear a orange hat whenever I am walking and trying to strike up a bird on public land. It takes 3 seconds to take it off and throw it in the back of my vest. Plus if I am ever setup against a tree and I see another hunter I grab it and wave it at them. Now if Tennessee banned decoys would I stop hunting or throw a tantrum no I wouldn't. One question that comes to mind though is for those of you that hunt Kentucky where baiting is legal do you feel the same way about that? Because really baiting for deer is almost the same has using a decoy especially late in the season when food is more scarce. That's a serious question not trying to be a smart aleck.

I know the first time I hunted in North Carolina the area I was hunting in using dogs is legal. Well I didn't know this and I am up in a tree and next thing I know about 5 hounds came running past me. I knew they were hunting dogs by their collars. I was in shock never heard of this before. Lol

 

[Setterman]

Find some research that proves most birds taken early in the season are the dominant birds, AND they were taken using decoys and post the link. Until you can do that, don't talk about someone else's credibility. Back up your claims with science. Do that and I will concede your point.

It's called common sense, the Scores of kill pics/videos post opening weekend, and general knowledge.

I'm sorry your feelings are hurt because I and others despise decoys and know how big of a crutch they are and the negative impacts they're having to our flock.

 

[Rakkin6]

Here is Georgia

 

[hbg1]

It's called common sense, the Scores of kill pics/videos post opening weekend, and general knowledge.

I'm sorry your feelings are hurt because I and others despise decoys and know how big of a crutch they are and the negative impacts they're having to our flock.

Common sense only to the person promoting it

 

[hbg1]

It's called common sense, the Scores of kill pics/videos post opening weekend, and general knowledge.

I'm sorry your feelings are hurt because I and others despise decoys and know how big of a crutch they are and the negative impacts they're having to our flock.

More kills opening weekend because more hunters are afield, common sense, remember?

 

[Andy S.]

More kills opening week because more hunters are afield with a decoy...............

This too!

 

[bowhunterfanatic]

It's called common sense, the Scores of kill pics/videos post opening weekend, and general knowledge.

I'm sorry your feelings are hurt because I and others despise decoys and know how big of a crutch they are and the negative impacts they're having to our flock.

You've obviously forgotten more about turkeys and turkey hunting than I've ever known, and I 100% don't mean that in jest. But riddle me this. I know from years of posts that you spend most of your time in TN hunting the CNF, and I know from reading years of your posts that the hunting there is a far cry from what it used to be. Now, I've never hunted CNF, or anything close to it for that matter, but I'm quite certain that googans with decoys aren't killing all the turkeys in those mountains. So if decoys aren't the cause behind the massive decline in birds where you hunt, why are you so adamant and certain that it's the cause everywhere else?

I totally understand your disdain for people who don't have a clue what a traditional turkey hunt looks like, but I just can't wrap my head around how so many people on here that hunt nothing but hardwoods think that outlawing decoys is going to magically mean there are more turkeys in said woods. The older I get and the more "turkey hunters" I meet, some of which I've known to kill a lot of birds over the years, the more I realize just how many get killed over a pile of bait. I'd gladly be willing to wager that bait piles are responsible for just as many if not more turkeys dying than decoys.

 

[Setterman]

More kills opening weekend because more hunters are afield, common sense, remember?

You are correct the vast majority of hunters are out opening weekend. It's by far when the most birds are killed. What if there was a way to reduce that number allowing birds to survive one extra day, week, etc? More hens being bred? Better chance they survive the entire season? Wouldn't this benefit the flock statewide?

Is it so far fetched that opening weekend birds, especially field birds are easy to pattern? They're visible and predictable right?

would you not agree that these birds are far easier to kill with a decoy than without?

So with all that, eliminating decoys would allow thousands of birds to live when they are the most vulnerable to being decoyed. It would allow them extra time to breed, and maybe even survive increasing the carry over from one season to the next.

 

[jag1]

Some people just will never understand.
I don't argue with the group with shut ears. I try to explain to those that want to listen.

Get rid of the decoys the turkey population rebounds. It all makes too much sense.

If you have a bad hatch or two, you still have three and four year old gobblers to hunt and do the breeding.

Comparing species to species hunting styles and tactics is impossible. Every animal is hunted differently for fair chase and sport.

Deer should be scouted and set up on according to wind directions and such. I don't think it's too hard to sit in a shooting house in a big food plot and snipe them.

Squirrel hunting is usually done with dogs or still hunting.

Quail hunting done with dogs.

rabbits and dogs.

Doves are shot as they fly over a field that was prepped by you or another person or farm.

Ducks are called in to work into a decoy spread. Any googan can go and sit on the edge of someone else's duck set ups and shoot the fly by ducks and swing shoot and sky bust. Legal yes. Sporting hell no.

Turkeys are meant to be called up to within 45 yards and shot in the head with a shot gun. Fooling him at his own game. His game is to gobble and strut to attract hens. His game is to also fight off intruder gobblers. Hence too easy to stick a male decoy in a cow pasture.

Anyone that hunts turkeys with the decoys strategy truly looses the unique experience of calling up a gobbling bird. It cheapens the turkey. It lessens their splendor and awe.

While I'm at it, I'm also a dedicated fall turkey hunter. Those that despise or think it's too easy have never done it like I have. True fall hunting isn't sitting around and waiting to shoot a flock that walks by you. It's intense scouting in big hardwoods. Listening even more than the spring. Walking more than in the spring. Find some birds and do the best you can to scatter them every direction. Wait several minutes and try to call one back up. Same calling technique used in spring, set up where he's in range when you see him. But my fall hunting is gobblers only. Anyone that would shoot a hen on purpose should not be hunting turkeys.

I'm extremely protective and selfish with turkeys. If you do it right, and truly enjoy pursuing the wild turkey and do everything you can to promote more turkeys I'll help you out and be happy for you as much or more than I am myself.
To those that just shoot and hunt them because they can, or that brag about crawling and using fans and decoys, then I'll always thing you don't deserve that bird.

Very nicely explained. Last year, I just really started going after turkeys. I haven't quite understood some on here's sentiment about "how it's done correctly". As a deer hunter and duck hunter I have very definite ideas about how I feel it should be done. Now I see how turkey hunting is to be done. Everybody has their opinion but this gee haws with my thinking.

 

[Setterman]

You've obviously forgotten more about turkeys and turkey hunting than I've ever known, and I 100% don't mean that in jest. But riddle me this. I know from years of posts that you spend most of your time in TN hunting the CNF, and I know from reading years of your posts that the hunting there is a far cry from what it used to be. Now, I've never hunted CNF, or anything close to it for that matter, but I'm quite certain that googans with decoys aren't killing all the turkeys in those mountains. So if decoys aren't the cause behind the massive decline in birds where you hunt, why are you so adamant and certain that it's the cause everywhere else?

I totally understand your disdain for people who don't have a clue what a traditional turkey hunt looks like, but I just can't wrap my head around how so many people on here that hunt nothing but hardwoods think that outlawing decoys is going to magically mean there are more turkeys in said woods. The older I get and the more "turkey hunters" I meet, some of which I've known to kill a lot of birds over the years, the more I realize just how many get killed over a pile of bait. I'd gladly be willing to wager that bait piles are responsible for just as many if not more turkeys dying than decoys.

I've never hunted CNF, but do hunt the public mountain lands along the KY border. Our populations are just fine, they've dipped a little but are really in pretty good shape. I worry about the entire flock here, Bama, GA, KY as I hunt it all and want the numbers where they were.

I don't disagree on the bait pile killers. It's always an issue and a big one, but it's illegal now and always has been. So I'm not sure how that can be managed.

I am always skeptical of trail cam pics posted this time of year as turkeys aren't easy to capture unless something draws them to a spot

 

[Setterman]

Very nicely explained. Last year, I just really started going after turkeys. I haven't quite understood some on here's sentiment about "how it's done correctly". As a deer hunter and duck hunter I have very definite ideas about how I feel it should be done. Now I see how turkey hunting is to be done. Everybody has their opinion but this gee haws with my thinking.

I bet as a duck hunter sneaking ponds and jump shooting turns your stomach when compared to working a group of birds into a decoy spread with calls, motion, etc?

 

[Andy S.]

Most of you are missing the point. It is not ONLY about what is killed (numbers), especially with dominant male turkeys that have been pre-selected to do most of the breeding early season, it is WHEN they are killed. Bottom line for me, I want as many older dominant turkeys to survive the first two weeks of season as possible, especially if they are courting a harem of hens. I want all of the hens to be bred before we blast them. The best of the best turkey hunters can rarely touch them the first few weeks if they have hens, but plop a strutter decoy in their line of sight and they will walk right into the trap. It's in their DNA to protect their territory and hens, at all costs. They have been doing just that for weeks leading up to season opener without any harm, because us hunters have not been there to take advantage of them. There have been hundreds, if not thousands of videos documenting this behavior over the last decade. If some of you truly have not witnessed it, you have not been looking very hard.

 

[hbg1]

You are correct the vast majority of hunters are out opening weekend. It's by far when the most birds are killed. What if there was a way to reduce that number allowing birds to survive one extra day, week, etc? More hens being bred? Better chance they survive the entire season? Wouldn't this benefit the flock statewide?

Is it so far fetched that opening weekend birds, especially field birds are easy to pattern? They're visible and predictable right?

would you not agree that these birds are far easier to kill with a decoy than without?

So with all that, eliminating decoys would allow thousands of birds to live when they are the most vulnerable to being decoyed. It would allow them extra time to breed, and maybe even survive increasing the carry over from one season to the next.

I've rarely ever found any bird to be predictable, if he was he was predictably hard to kill, which by the way are some of my favorite birds to hunt.

second point, in my area very very few birds are in the fields the opening weekend of season, it's usually later when the grass grows a little thicker and bugs are more prevalent before they move into the fields. With that said I've seen years where birds just never seemed to use fields much at all.

third point, I've ruined more hunts using decoys than I have without. I rarely ever use a decoy, period. With this said I am not opposed to decoys in the least.

fourth point, we all want more turkeys, to accomplish this reduce the bag limit, simple as that.

 

[megalomaniac]

Find some research that proves most birds taken early in the season are the dominant birds, AND they were taken using decoys and post the link. Until you can do that, don't talk about someone else's credibility. Back up your claims with science. Do that and I will concede your point.

He stated fact. If you disagree, YOU post up info stating the contrary. Back up your claim that