whitetaco02
Senior Member
All this talk about decoys has got me thinking. I would like to hear everybody's opinion on this. This could get interesting.
Do you use them?
Why or why not?
Do you use them?
Why or why not?
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Do you use decoys?
- Thread starter whitetaco02
- Start date
Al33
Senior Member
For me it depends on where I will be hunting if I do or not. If I have a pasture or open clear cut I will use them in a set up situation but just walking and calling trying to locate a tom I do not bother carrying them.
Arrow3
Senior Member
Depends on where I set up....I have good luck with them 98% of the time....
GA DAWG
Senior Member
I dont..I aint no expert or anything but I've ran em off or had them hang up with decoys out.Mostly on wma land...I have been thinking of trying one of the b-mobiles they have out.Since I got some private land to hunt this year.
silvestris
Senior Member
No, when decoys work, they take the gobbler off of his "A" game and I want my gobbler looking for me when he comes, not distracted by a piece of rubber.
Otherwise I wouldn't use them because of the trouble placing them and taking them up. You can easily be detected placing them. I see those using them discussing the proper placement of their decoys. That is just too darn complicated to think about; I doubt if any "know" what they are talking about; they are just theorizing.
I think they have become a crutch for those who will not put out the effort to learn to properly call. I used them for a while in the 80s when they first came out and they made me feel silly.
Otherwise I wouldn't use them because of the trouble placing them and taking them up. You can easily be detected placing them. I see those using them discussing the proper placement of their decoys. That is just too darn complicated to think about; I doubt if any "know" what they are talking about; they are just theorizing.
I think they have become a crutch for those who will not put out the effort to learn to properly call. I used them for a while in the 80s when they first came out and they made me feel silly.
blindhog
Senior Member
Although I have stated my feelings in another thread, I may use one this year to get another hunter a gobbler.
My friend who lets me hunt his 5oo acres with him is a paraplegic. No feeling sorry for this man, he will amaze you. He consistantly shoots nice bucks on his place.
But he hunts out of a rhino and hasn't scored yet. I want to set him up a "blind" and put one of those strutters out for him. In his limited mobility situation I feel he needs something to even the playing field. I don't think he's realized it yet.
My friend who lets me hunt his 5oo acres with him is a paraplegic. No feeling sorry for this man, he will amaze you. He consistantly shoots nice bucks on his place.
But he hunts out of a rhino and hasn't scored yet. I want to set him up a "blind" and put one of those strutters out for him. In his limited mobility situation I feel he needs something to even the playing field. I don't think he's realized it yet.
tbgator
Banned
I love my jake decoy Bam Bam. He has closed the deal on several good gobblers in the right situation. Gotta know when to use him and when not.
Public Land Prowler
Senior Member
Sometimes I do,sometimes I don't.Generally on public land I quit with them after the 2nd weekend.
Wetzel
Senior Member
I never liked using decoys until I tried a B-mobile decoy last year. I doubt it'll work everytime, but I'll take mine a few times this spring. I've never seen anything that makes a gobbler run to the gun like my b-mobile decoy did for me last year. Looking forward to trying it out this year.
BOSSOFTHEWOODS
Senior Member
Just another tool in the arsenal. I've never seen a bird run from em & I use mine a good bit when the situtation is right. Some birds like to sit out in a pasture or clearcut & wait for the hen to show. Some are just plain suicidal. I'm trying for my first w/ a bow & I hope it will distract him just enough. And as far as dekes being ethical, as much as 3.5 " super shells, chokes tite enough you can't see thru em, cones lengthened,etc. JMHO
& all my hunting is on public land.
& all my hunting is on public land.
trkyhntr70
Senior Member
Trkyhntr70 swears by em, I mean at em !!!!!!!!!Ain't that right James?
Darn things
Depends on the situation, defenitely prefer not to.
capt stan
Senior Member
I used to but have had them hang up too many times on them. I mostly hunt swamps in thick stuff though. Since I stopped using them...I'm killing more birds!!! I used my decoys for Sabrina to target shoot at
Now if I ever find myself with a chance to hunt open ground..I might try it again, ( I'd have to go buy some)but to be honest. I have lost confidence in them (in my type of terrain)
Now if I ever find myself with a chance to hunt open ground..I might try it again, ( I'd have to go buy some)but to be honest. I have lost confidence in them (in my type of terrain)
whitetaco02
Senior Member
I sure wish I had put a hen out today. I had a gobbler come in about 60 yards looking for me but would not come any closer. I HONESTLY feel if I had a decoy out he would have presented me a shot. His head was REDDER than a tomato if that is possible!!
nuddin
Member
Yes, when I can get a chance.
Frank,
You know I like decoys. Wish I had time to get them up this morning, could have closed the deal.
Frank,
You know I like decoys. Wish I had time to get them up this morning, could have closed the deal.
The Horned Toad
Senior Member
I sometimes put out a whole flock of 6 or 7.
I get the bigest thrill when I have pretty boy out and a gobbler comes in spitting and drumming and starts fighting him and knocks him off his stick.
I get the bigest thrill when I have pretty boy out and a gobbler comes in spitting and drumming and starts fighting him and knocks him off his stick.
Gsutn22
Member
I had a young jake come into the field this morning from about 200 yards and took one look at my stand up hen. He took off towards it on a dead sprint. At least until someone walked into the field with blaze orange on. I wondered why at about 75 yards he hit the skids and ran the other way.
trkyburns
Senior Member
I hardly ever use em. Even when i carry it with me I find myself not wanting to set it up. They are too much trouble and get in the way when in my vest and i need to put my back up against a tree quickly. If you position yourself so the bird is in range by the time you see him, you don't need a decoy - at least not on ridges where i mostly hunt. The only time i use one is when i set up in a field edge mid-day and hope a turkey will show up.
bilgerat
Senior
depends on the set up, I use them in open areas like fields n foodplots but not in the woods. not sure why thou
