Decoys

[Gwtaylor]

What's your thoughts on the use of decoys.
1- setting up on logging roads
2- setting up in woods
3- setting up in Field edge

Also if you use what is your set up?

 

[Boll Weevil]

Not necessary.
Not necessary.
Not necessary.

 

[megalomaniac]

I like to use a hen decoy when setting up on a bird that will have a long line of sight between himself and my position. Usually that's 20-25 yds out in the field when hunting birds roosted on the edge of the field and will be flying down into the open field. This has to be done in the pitch black dark... do it when it's getting a little bit light and you will end up doing more damage than good.

I think decoys actually hurt your hunting while in the woods. They usually aren't necessary if you set up in a location where the bird has to come into range to be able to see where you are calling from, and I honestly think you end up spooking more birds trying to place a decoy in the woods.

I don't have any long straight logging roads, but they could be useful in that situation if there is no terrain feature on the road to create a visual barrier between you and the tom.

I will say this, they really only help with toms in the right mood... fired up, see the decoy, and come running. Most wary toms will watch the decoy from a distance, and either lose interest if it doesn't move, or realize it is not a real hen and not come to investigate.

 

[ruger7mag]

Not necessary.
Not necessary.
Not necessary.

Nailed it

 

[Andy S.]

For what it is worth, I am personally not a fan of them, at all. I think they account for 5-7k mature gobblers killed annually, if not more, that would survive without the use of visual decoys. Without decoys, these mature gobblers would survive the entire season to continually breed the hens if need be, and survive to see another season, and gobble from the roost the next year, basically having some carryover gobbling turkeys if you will.

The single most thing I dislike about decoys is how deadly they are "in open areas" on the "most mature birds" (> 1.25" spurs) early season before all of the hens are bred. These are the mature birds that most hunters could NOT kill otherwise, and these are the mature male birds the entire local flock needs the most to ensure all of the hens are bred throughout June. When they are shot the first weekend over a strutter decoy or in front of a fan, there's not much they can do to help us grow the flock.

My .02

 

[Setterman]

Decoys aren't necessary under any circumstances in my opinion. Sure field birds can be tough, but instead of making it a shooting match make it a hunt and face the challenge with no decoys.

Without decoys our harvest might be half of what it is now. The biggest issues I have with them are they allow the super dominant birds to be taken leaving hens that may go unfertilized because the other gobblers are beaten into submission by the time the season opens. They also allow hunters who have no chance of being successful to have a very easy avenue to harvest birds.

Set up smart, hunt smart, and learn how the birds use the land you're hunting. That's the recipe for killing lots of turkeys without a Chinese imitation.

 

[megalomaniac]

...
The single most thing I dislike about decoys is how deadly they are "in open areas" on the "most mature birds" (> 1.25" spurs) early season before all of the hens are bred. These are the mature birds that most hunters could NOT kill otherwise, and these are the mature male birds the entire local flock needs the most to ensure all of the hens are bred throughout June. When they are shot the first weekend over a strutter decoy or in front of a fan, there's not much they can do to help us grow the flock.

My .02

Andy, old birds are virtually nonexistent at this point. Very, very few birds with 1.25" spurs or better in the wild

 

[Andy S.]

^^^^ You need to get on social media and see for yourself . I've seen more birds with > 1.25" spurs killed the first two weeks of season than I have seen in a LOOOOONG time. The "victory pic" has a decoy spread with a strutter in the back more times than not. Before decoys were cool and a major crutch, we used to have a saying "May equals old birds". In short, we were saying he finally ran out of hens in the month of May and we got him to play the game last two weeks of season, and we actually won a game every now and then. Now, with the use of struuter decoys, those same birds are running away from a harem of hens early April and dying the first week of season. Not good for the local population, or the future of the sport.

 

[Setterman]

...
The single most thing I dislike about decoys is how deadly they are "in open areas" on the "most mature birds" (> 1.25" spurs) early season before all of the hens are bred. These are the mature birds that most hunters could NOT kill otherwise, and these are the mature male birds the entire local flock needs the most to ensure all of the hens are bred throughout June. When they are shot the first weekend over a strutter decoy or in front of a fan, there's not much they can do to help us grow the flock.

My .02

Andy, old birds are virtually nonexistent at this point. Very, very few birds with 1.25" spurs or better in the wild

There may not be a ton of birds with greater than 1.25" Spurs, however there's a ton of dominant birds that die the first week of the season when lured away by a strutter decoy. I'd bet 70% of the birds killed the first week are field birds with decoys.

What are the impacts of removing the primary breeders before they have a chance to breed? Are the subordinate birds able to pick up the slack or are they so beaten down they won't go near hens even when he's gone.

This is why I say the single most impactful thing that could help the population is get rid of the dang decoys. Look at Alabama, they legalized them and their population has been on a steady decline since.

Any hunter can stake out a decoy in a field and when the dominant bird sees it, he runs in a dies. Explain how this is good for the population?

 

[bloodtrailing]

I wish I could get on these decoy crazed field turkeys. I hunt open fields with limited access to woods due to property lines. I have yet to have a long beard come into a decoy, in fact it is just he opposite. I have experience with both gobblers alone and those with hens. I have hens and jakes come to my decoy. I have quit using them and resorted to deer hunting field birds or bird watching, both are low on fun.

 

[Andy S.]

I wish I could get on these decoy crazed field turkeys.

You are definitely in the minority. Do you ever look on social media (Facebook, Instagram, etc)? It is SATURATED with kill pics of 3+ year old turkeys next to a strutting gobbler decoy. 99% of the time, it is in open areas (fields, pastures, yards, etc). I understand folks that could not care less about social media, such as myself, but looking at kill pics on such sites is very eye opening and telling of the preferred methods of today's younger hunters (< 35). There is no way anyone with half a brain can tell me, or anyone else, that is good for sustaining the turkey population and the future of the sport. If we are going to continue to accept it, other measures need to be put in place to ensure some of these mature birds have a greater chance of surviving for a longer portion of the season so they can be available to breed the hens when necessary.

 

[Andy S.]

There may not be a ton of birds with greater than 1.25" Spurs, however there's a ton of dominant birds that die the first week of the season when lured away by a strutter decoy. I'd bet 70% of the birds killed the first week are field birds with decoys.

Exactly the point I was making. Sure, some of the spurs that hunters claim to be 1.25" are really 1.125", but my point remains the same.

 

[bloodtrailing]

My guess/stereotype/whatever is the posts on facebook are the "hey I got one" folks that just need to have people think they are a hunter. I would not be surprised that bait is more what caused the turkey to die rather than skill, decoys, or master calling which they claim one of those. I do not put much credit on fakebook.

 

[bloodtrailing]

I wish I could get on these decoy crazed field turkeys.

You are definitely in the minority. Do you ever look on social media (Facebook, Instagram, etc)? It is SATURATED with kill pics of 3+ year old turkeys next to a strutting gobbler decoy. 99% of the time, it is in open areas (fields, pastures, yards, etc). I understand folks that could not care less about social media, such as myself, but looking at kill pics on such sites is very eye opening and telling of the preferred methods of today's younger hunters (< 35). There is no way anyone with half a brain can tell me, or anyone else, that is good for sustaining the turkey population and the future of the sport. If we are going to continue to accept it, other measures need to be put in place to ensure some of these mature birds have a greater chance of surviving for a longer portion of the season so they can be available to breed the hens when necessary.

I would say that the limits need to be changed rather than the methods if too many are being killed.

 

[Goodtimekiller]

For what it is worth, I am personally not a fan of them, at all. I think they account for 5-7k mature gobblers killed annually, if not more, that would survive without the use of visual decoys. Without decoys, these mature gobblers would survive the entire season to continually breed the hens if need be, and survive to see another season, and gobble from the roost the next year, basically having some carryover gobbling turkeys if you will.

The single most thing I dislike about decoys is how deadly they are "in open areas" on the "most mature birds" (> 1.25" spurs) early season before all of the hens are bred. These are the mature birds that most hunters could NOT kill otherwise, and these are the mature male birds the entire local flock needs the most to ensure all of the hens are bred throughout June. When they are shot the first weekend over a strutter decoy or in front of a fan, there's not much they can do to help us grow the flock.

My .02

How do you feel about calls?


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[Andy S.]

I would say that the limits need to be changed rather than the methods if too many are being killed.

I'd be fine with that.

If we are going to continue to accept it, other measures need to be put in place to ensure some of these mature birds have a greater chance of surviving for a longer portion of the season so they can be available to breed the hens when necessary.

 

[Andy S.]

I do not put much credit on fakebook.

Me either, but after seeing beaucoups of the same style "victory pic", I'd say the strutter decoy in the field in the background has some merit.

 

[Andy S.]

How do you feel about calls?

Calls take time to master, and some will never take the time to master them, unlike a decoy that takes 5 seconds to set up and deer hunt over. Calls definitely tip the odds in a hunters favor during SOME of the spring mating season, but by far, they are not a 100% death sentence to the majority of mature gobblers like strutting decoys are. I can assure you, and anyone else that wants to listen, that the turkey population will NEVER be in jeopardy because of hunters, like you and I, just using calls. Simply stated, calls are just not "instantly" effective like a decoy, especially on the dominant 3+ year old birds, that do most of the breeding.

 

[poorhunter]

For what it is worth, I am personally not a fan of them, at all. I think they account for 5-7k mature gobblers killed annually, if not more, that would survive without the use of visual decoys. Without decoys, these mature gobblers would survive the entire season to continually breed the hens if need be, and survive to see another season, and gobble from the roost the next year, basically having some carryover gobbling turkeys if you will.

The single most thing I dislike about decoys is how deadly they are "in open areas" on the "most mature birds" (> 1.25" spurs) early season before all of the hens are bred. These are the mature birds that most hunters could NOT kill otherwise, and these are the mature male birds the entire local flock needs the most to ensure all of the hens are bred throughout June. When they are shot the first weekend over a strutter decoy or in front of a fan, there's not much they can do to help us grow the flock.

My .02

How do you feel about calls?



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I may be misunderstanding your point about calls, but there is a vast difference in effectiveness of decoys vs calls. I think even Setterman uses calls! The problem that Andy and Setterman are talking about is how effective decoys are at killing turkeys (specifically mature breeders) that basically requires no skill. Anyone can put a decoy in the ground and kill turkeys now, which is very different than calling one to you staying still be in the right place at the right time etc etc. This is causing a reduction of effective breeding going on which reduces overall population health.

 

[REN]

reducing the harvest is not the answer although it will have somewhat an impact and im fine with it. I say that because you would be AMAZED how may guys "forget" to do an online check-in for a bird. you outlaw certain methods and it is much easier to catch IMO

 

[Goodtimekiller]

How do you feel about calls?

Calls take time to master, and some will never take the time to master them, unlike a decoy that takes 5 seconds to set up and deer hunt over. Calls definitely tip the odds in a hunters favor during SOME of the spring mating season, but by far, they are not a 100% death sentence to the majority of mature gobblers like strutting decoys are. I can assure you, and anyone else that wants to listen, that the turkey population will NEVER be in jeopardy because of hunters, like you and I, just using calls. Simply stated, calls are just not "instantly" effective like a decoy, especially on the dominant 3+ year old birds, that do most of the breeding.

Sure, calls take time to master, but i can teach someone to call good enough to kill a turkey in 15 minutes on a slate and box call. In no way are strutting decoys 100% death, they may be high but no way 100%. I would say decoys in general are in no way that hight. I saw a post this morning of a guy that called in a dominant bird with 5 yelps. Calls can be more effective than decoys in general if you use them correctly. Many times people use calls to draw attention to the decoys or locate a bird to use decoys, even solely strutter decoys. So if you are talking about the numbers of turkeys killed, you have to say calls give them hunter a huge advantage over not having them. I bet most people on here, given the choice, would pick taking calls over decoys to kill turkeys.


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[Andy S.]

The problem that Andy and Setterman are talking about is how effective decoys are at killing turkeys (specifically mature breeders) that basically requires no skill. Anyone can put a decoy in the ground and kill turkeys now, which is very different than calling one to you staying still be in the right place at the right time etc etc. This is causing a reduction of effective breeding going on which reduces overall population health.

You nailed it. My issue is really not the use of decoys per se, or other hunter's success, it is killing/removing these mature gobblers VERY EARLY in the season that otherwise would most likely never be killed by ANY OF US, ever! That has to have detrimental impacts to the local population when this recurring early removal of dominant male turkeys continues over a decade, if not longer, all because of strutter decoys. There are A LOT of great turkey hunters out there, but I can promise you NONE of them can consistently win a battle in the woods/fields/pastures against a mature gobbler with his harem of hens without a crutch such as a strutter or fan. If you do not agree, you truly do not understand mature gobblers and their springtime breeding dynamics.

 

[Setterman]

The problem that Andy and Setterman are talking about is how effective decoys are at killing turkeys (specifically mature breeders) that basically requires no skill. Anyone can put a decoy in the ground and kill turkeys now, which is very different than calling one to you staying still be in the right place at the right time etc etc. This is causing a reduction of effective breeding going on which reduces overall population health.

You nailed it. My issue is really not the use of decoys per se, or other hunter's success, it is killing/removing these mature gobblers VERY EARLY in the season that otherwise would most likely never be killed by ANY OF US, ever! That has to have detrimental impacts to the local population when this recurring early removal of dominant male turkeys continues over a decade, if not longer, all because of strutter decoys. There are A LOT of great turkey hunters out there, but I can promise you NONE of them can consistently win a battle in the woods/fields/pastures against a mature gobbler with his harem of hens without a crutch such as a strutter or fan. If you do not agree, you truly do not understand mature gobblers and their springtime breeding dynamics.

Exactly.

And calls aren't nearly as sure a thing as a Chinese turkey. Although some could argue otherwise if you saw my spur ropes :rotf:

 

[Andy S.]

Sure, calls take time to master, but i can teach someone to call good enough to kill a turkey in 15 minutes on a slate and box call.

Kudos to you, but that is only true if they want to learn and be passionate about it, and are willing to "put in the time", where most are not.

In no way are strutting decoys 100% death, they may be high but no way 100%.

Maybe not 100%, but they are very near it with mature gobblers, especially ones courting 10-15 hens early season.

I saw a post this morning of a guy that called in a dominant bird with 5 yelps.

It happens, but it is not the norm, especially early season when their are hens readily avaialble up until middle of the day.

Calls can be more effective than decoys in general if you use them correctly.

Maybe, but most out there do not use them correctly, thus in the turkey's favor, and the sustainability of the local flock.

Many times people use calls to draw attention to the decoys or locate a bird to use decoys, even solely strutter decoys. So if you are talking about the numbers of turkeys killed, you have to say calls give them hunter a huge advantage over not having them.

True, decoys definitely coerce turkeys to come look at "calling" they typically would walk away from.

I bet most people on here, given the choice, would pick taking calls over decoys to kill turkeys.

I hope you are correct, but I believe calling a turkey to the gun is becoming a thing of the past, especially in early season, and in open areas (fields, pastures, etc). You and I both know the new "in thing" is instant gratification and recognition, and old school turkey hunting that takes work, time, preparation, scouting, setup, patience, awareness, decision making skills, and sealing the deal at the right second is the farthest thing away from instant gratification that drives the world we live in.

 

[Goodtimekiller]

For what it is worth, I am personally not a fan of them, at all. I think they account for 5-7k mature gobblers killed annually, if not more, that would survive without the use of visual decoys. Without decoys, these mature gobblers would survive the entire season to continually breed the hens if need be, and survive to see another season, and gobble from the roost the next year, basically having some carryover gobbling turkeys if you will.

The single most thing I dislike about decoys is how deadly they are "in open areas" on the "most mature birds" (> 1.25" spurs) early season before all of the hens are bred. These are the mature birds that most hunters could NOT kill otherwise, and these are the mature male birds the entire local flock needs the most to ensure all of the hens are bred throughout June. When they are shot the first weekend over a strutter decoy or in front of a fan, there's not much they can do to help us grow the flock.

My .02

How do you feel about calls?



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I may be misunderstanding your point about calls, but there is a vast difference in effectiveness of decoys vs calls. I think even Setterman uses calls! The problem that Andy and Setterman are talking about is how effective decoys are at killing turkeys (specifically mature breeders) that basically requires no skill. Anyone can put a decoy in the ground and kill turkeys now, which is very different than calling one to you staying still be in the right place at the right time etc etc. This is causing a reduction of effective breeding going on which reduces overall population health.

I think you are grossly exaggerating the ease of killing turkeys with a decoy. I think there are thousands of people that would disagree with your statement that anyone can do it. And to be effective you still have to know where to put it and be still. Decoys don't just make old birds plain stupid. I also think your statement about effective breeding is unfounded. Do you have any information anywhere that supports that? Subordinate birds will step in and become dominant and breed when a dominant bird is gone. Turkeys don't know if a bird is gone because a hunter killed it or a coyote or a truck. Hens are going to seek out a male to breed even if they have to travel long distances. But my main point is calls give you just as much of an advantage as decoys, depending on the circumstance. I say we outlaw calls. Predators kill more turkeys than people every year, lets outlaw them.


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[poorhunter]

Then, like Andy said, you don't understand turkeys or turkey biology. Yes, any male gobbler CAN breed, that's why I qualified my statement with "effective" breeding.

Are you seriously saying that calling is more effective than decoys? My hats off to you and your calling ability :tu:

 

[Boll Weevil]

I think you are grossly exaggerating the ease of killing turkeys with a decoy. I think there are thousands of people that would disagree with your statement that anyone can do it. And to be effective you still have to know where to put it and be still. Decoys don't just make old birds plain stupid. I also think your statement about effective breeding is unfounded. Do you have any information anywhere that supports that? Subordinate birds will step in and become dominant and breed when a dominant bird is gone. Turkeys don't know if a bird is gone because a hunter killed it or a coyote or a truck. Hens are going to seek out a male to breed even if they have to travel long distances. But my main point is calls give you just as much of an advantage as decoys, depending on the circumstance. I say we outlaw calls. Predators kill more turkeys than people every year, lets outlaw them.

I respectfully disagree with nearly every point you just offered except: 1) predators kill more turkeys than people every year and 2) the word grossly. I know folks that deploy nothing more than a popup blind and a few decoys in a field and kill birds. One such fellow has a call but I honestly don't know if he even knows how to run it.

 

[Andy S.]

I also think your statement about effective breeding is unfounded. Do you have any information anywhere that supports that?

Not sure I understand this question, please expound.

Subordinate birds will step in and become dominant and breed when a dominant bird is gone.

If there are any left. These are the easiest birds to kill with just a call, especially early season before all the harassing begins. Most solid turkey hunters have a chance with these satellite turkeys with just a call in hand, as long as the dominant gobbler in the area is locked down with hens. These can be some of the funnest turkeys to call to the gun, and kill, but rarely do they have spurs over 7/8" first two weeks of season.

Predators kill more turkeys than people every year, lets outlaw them.

Do you have any information anywhere that supports that?

How do you feel about decoys? Do you use them regularly?

 

[gobblesandgrunts]

This year I have killed two birds in the woods that came straight to my decoy. It's whatever triggers the bird at the time. One day it could be decoys and the next calling. And one of the birds was a really old bird


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[Goodtimekiller]

I think you are grossly exaggerating the ease of killing turkeys with a decoy. I think there are thousands of people that would disagree with your statement that anyone can do it. And to be effective you still have to know where to put it and be still. Decoys don't just make old birds plain stupid. I also think your statement about effective breeding is unfounded. Do you have any information anywhere that supports that? Subordinate birds will step in and become dominant and breed when a dominant bird is gone. Turkeys don't know if a bird is gone because a hunter killed it or a coyote or a truck. Hens are going to seek out a male to breed even if they have to travel long distances. But my main point is calls give you just as much of an advantage as decoys, depending on the circumstance. I say we outlaw calls. Predators kill more turkeys than people every year, lets outlaw them.

I respectfully disagree with nearly every point you just offered except: 1) predators kill more turkeys than people every year and 2) the word grossly. I know folks that deploy nothing more than a popup blind and a few decoys in a field and kill birds. One such fellow has a call but I honestly don't know if he even knows how to run it.

You can disagree all you like but predators hunt 365 days a year and destroy nests constantly during the entire nesting season. Facts are facts on that issue.


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