for all who have filled a tag...decoy questions

[TeeBugg]

For those that have filled tags or at least had birds come in, what's your strategy for decoys? I had a jake and feeding hen out this morning and I'm not sure but I had a hen come in close then change her mind and scoot around the decoys and me in the blind. Wondering if it was the decoys or the blind. She didn't spook just chose to half circle around me an the decoys. Was thinking maybe just go with the lone feeding hen in the morning. Any tips? All I saw this weekend were hens. And with the lack of vocals I'm willing to try anything!

[G-Man]

dont use them... to many bad experiances. I set up so when bird can see where hen is supose to be its in range.

[Buckstopshere]

I use a feeding hen decoy only. And most setups, I use a decoy, but not all. I have been using decoys for quite a few years. Some toms shy away from tom or jake decoys. I have seen jakes chase long beards, and of course, long beards chase jakes. The last few toms I shot have come into the hen decoy, but sometimes the hens come in (like last year) and the strutter is following them. I think that the set up location though is more important than the decoy. Some toms won't come in to a bad set up. (One where they don't feel safe.) That happened to me yesterday!

[Uncle Nicky]

Jury is still out on decoys, sometimes they seem to help, other times they seem to spook the birds. If I do use them, it's only in an open field.

[coldchris1723]

I used a hen and jake decoy on saturday had a bird coming in but once it saw the decoys went into strut and wouldnt come any further i seldom use decoys but like you with lack of gobbling i was willing to try anything after the fact I kinda wished i left the decoys at home

[TeeBugg]

I've killed more turkeys without decoys than with them. But on the other hand my biggest tom I shot with decoys out. With the recent lull or lack of activity I figured id give anything a try. Maybe in the morning ill go without a decoy an see what happens.

[WNY Bowhunter]

I don't typically use them unless I'm set-up overlooking a field. The bird I killed yesterday left a hen and came strutting in to check out my hen and jake decoys. The day before I had two hens come by my hen decoy and they kept picking around the field like it wasn't even there. Last weds. I had a gobbler come out into the field right off of the roost and strut back and forth for 10 minutes drumming like crazy just waiting for the hen that he heard calling to come to him. I really believe that if he had seen my dekes he would have come in and I would have tagged him. Turkeys all react differently and no two situations are ever the same in the spring turkey woods. Just when you think you have then figured out they'll throw you a curveball. That's what makes it so much fun to hunt them.

[TeeBugg]

Yeah I'm torn right now. Can't decide if I put the hen out or not. Guess it'll be a morning decision.

[TeeBugg]

Guess I should say my setup. I'm hunting a powerline cut between two sets of woods with the canal winding around it.

[HTRedneck]

It is a total setup question. I never leave home without a decoy or two or three in the vest but often times dont use one. If you are hunting in the open I think it can help a lot to use one where as if you are huntin tight cover may not be as helpful. But when using a decoy you want to be aware that if you call too agressively that the tom may hang up as soon as he sees the decoy and expect the hen to come to him. The game is to get him interested and then play hard to get so he comes looking for her. The trick is understadning how fired up do you need to get him or act to bring him all the way in. One bird may act differently today then he did yesterday depending on pressure from other hunters, competition with other Toms and or Jakes int he area and then availability of receptive hens and the influence of weather on all of those deciding factors.....

[growalot]

Usually an alert and feeding hen(bobbin head,never spooks them)...but I tried the Jake and sitting hen and had a slob walk through 50yrds and refused to come in....so then went to nothing but a feeder......have them hanging up on neighbors land...in one tiny little area that is the same area all the deer from the other day were headed for.....today I moved again to a small clover plot in the woods...at 11:45 I had a young doe with a very thin very light red coat come in and checked me out at ten ft....decided she wasn't sure and turned...about then she spotted the 3/4 strut tom and sitting hen I had out...startled..then bobbed weaved...stomped...and just stared..finally walking behind me and up through the woods...when I went to get the decoys I realized what spooked her...its an inflatable and the sun had heated him up...giving off a strong vinyl smell....usually I hunt early morning only and that's not a problem...any hoo right after she left I heard a hen putting and clucking coming in...but 12pm hit and I packed up...figures...lol...The Tom I took was with alert and feeder hen but also a few live hens had walked through the area....when I went to get decoys I noticed the grass hoppers have had a good hatch...I may have been luckier if I'd stuck to an early morning hunt there...instead of 9-12...we'll see tomorrow

[ants]

I've had Too many birds get spooked by decoys. Maybe it was me and/or my set up but I rarely use them. A couple weeks ago( before I got hurt) I had a hen decoy out. After calling for a few minutes a hen came running in. It Walked twards the decoy and suddenly darted off to the left, into the brush....She saw something she did'nt like.

[TeeBugg]

yeah im starting to think its more of a setup deal most of the time. hoping tomorow morning i can get the right setup!