Turkey Decoy Question

[Zach White]

I was wondering how many people use turkey decoys. I use them and had great success with them, however, there have been many cases where the turkeys don't even mess with them. I know turkeys are able to detect exactly where the call is coming from...like an owl...I was just wondering how many people use them and how much....people feel they help them bag birds.

[Mark Brendemuehl]

Zach- I have used them and I think they are instrumental in getting the bird where you want them for a shot.
Mark

[Zach White]

There was one hunt this year, i was out with my younger brothers....we had 2 hen decoys in a milo field. We had a great set up.....two young toms came pasted the decoys and just came straight to us. Only one brother was gunning but they didnt even look at the deks they just came to the trees edge....we had some fun with them...they would leave and we would scratch in the leaves and they would come right back looking for the hens....paying no attention to the fake hens....when is avery coming out with motion fully flocked turk decoys so we can really decoys some birds!

[David Hochman]

Everything has its day. I think that the majority of the time they are a great asset. I have seen hens attack them and plenty of toms make the mistake of walking straight into them. I have also seen cagey birds spook from them(I believe it is a lack of movement). As far as the birds ability to place sound you are correct and that is why it is best to let up on them just before you have them in view. If they are coming, let them finish without any calling. You can always get on them if they hang up. So, in a nut shell, I say the vast majority of the time you are better off with the decoy. Funny thing is we shot 2 toms this morning without any decoys. The only reason we didn't have them was we forgot them at home. You know how that goes, opening day, 3:30 am wake up.... I'm just glad I remember my smoke pole.