Decoys

[Goodtimekiller]

Ok here goes...

A mature gobbler, 2 plus years old , is plenty old and mature enough to completely fertilize a hen. I do believe there are birds that are dominant and subordinate, but the two year olds breed too when they get with hens.

Predators kill more turkeys than we do, hens, eggs, and poults. Hay cutters probably do too. Adult turkeys do not have many natural predators outside of hens during nesting season.

I've hunted along time and have a lot of experience, most of you here though probably don't care because I never talk about killing birds or how many I've killed or post kill pics. I'm on here to read and learn and also to give others advice and that is it. Don't give a rip to tell everybody in the world I killed a turkey. It's a game I play by myself.

I've killed 1-1/4" spur birds that gobbled to the gun like two year olds, and I've played with two year olds that had hens all day long that I eventually killed. I've killed two year olds that come in in 30 seconds, I've killed old birds that I've played with all day.

When I was young, I'd crawl up on turkeys using ditches and creeks. I'd crawl up on them on cow pastures that had knolls and terraces. IT IS NOT HARD TO DO AS LONG AS YOU DO NOT GET SEEN, so I no longer hunt that way. I used to sit in green fields and wait on them. Again, not hard to do if your patient and be still, but it isn't fun so I quit doing it that way. I now only use a gun and call, and try to call the bird into gun range.

The original sport of turkey hunting, the right way, began with a call and a gun. The hard part of turkey hunting, and the correct game, is to call a bird up and shoot him thinking your a real hen. Most of the times they do not come to the call, that's why you have to set up just right, just close enough, without spooking him and also get a good area where he is in in range the first time you see him.


I've never ever killed a turkey with a decoy, and do not want to. Most people that use them that I know personally are duck/deer hunters that have intruded and infected the sport of turkey hunting with all the fancy blinds and decoys they use. Tv, and social media Have ruined it because everybody wants to out do each other, kill as many as possible, and a decoy.

Years ago decoys weren't a big deal, because it was just a tool that was used. Now days the ultra realistic decoy with full strut fans and blinds that you can hide in, makes it easy for anyone that can walk and shoot a gun to kill a turkey. It is a crutch, created by tv and social media, to help every jack leg in the world kill a turkey, and in turn help them and the wildlife agencies make money, while decimating the natural resource.

It is becoming a socialist sport, where everyone will only be able to have 1-2 turkey tags, because the babies that have to use decoys can't man up and learn how to hunt the hard way.

I do not know if the use of decoys have caused the decline on where I hunt, but the decoy explosion has coincided with the decline in population. So I don't know.

But hopefully, it's just a trend, and it will phase out. Just like I made myself quit bushwhacking turkeys when I was 14 years old. I matured as a sportsman, and now I enjoy it even more getting to play the game.


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To you, the correct way to hunt a turkey is to call him in. If someone else gets excited to watch them run into a decoy how can you and why would you call that incorrect? And you posting on here that others are babies because they use decoys is promoting yourself and skills over others, just what you are saying is the problem. And i can think of many more mature outdoorsmen than you that use decoys. As ive posted before, if 1/2 the hunters that shot a turkey last year each saved 1 nest and each hen had 8 eggs and 1/2 of those birds survived to adulthood, we could help roughly the same number of extra birds survive each year that we harvest. This are EXTRA birds.

I think you sir, get on here just to argue with folks. I was stating my opinion on the matter, don't care what you do or how you kill or don't kill turkeys. If you don't like it, don't read it or tough luck.

I've noticed your post this spring season, you seek to like to argue and stir the pot with whatever is going on.

You are correct in saving hens and nest. I wish everyone that could would try and help do that, and also try to create nesting habitat if they have their own land to do so.

And yes, my skills are pretty dang good...


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If you read my posts, actually, I am trying to ask why everyone is so separated. Why do we have to condemn others on things that we do not know as fact but not concentrate on the facts we know (predators, habitat, disease, etc). I am just trying to get people to think a little deeper than the surface. My main point to you was people hunt turkeys for different reasons and in different ways. I believe, for you to call another's way incorrect is driving a nail between hunters just because it is your belief. If you don't bushwack or decoy birds i respect that. I also respect people who can figure out different, fun, memorable ways to hunt turkeys.


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[woodsman04]

Ok here goes...

A mature gobbler, 2 plus years old , is plenty old and mature enough to completely fertilize a hen. I do believe there are birds that are dominant and subordinate, but the two year olds breed too when they get with hens.

Predators kill more turkeys than we do, hens, eggs, and poults. Hay cutters probably do too. Adult turkeys do not have many natural predators outside of hens during nesting season.

I've hunted along time and have a lot of experience, most of you here though probably don't care because I never talk about killing birds or how many I've killed or post kill pics. I'm on here to read and learn and also to give others advice and that is it. Don't give a rip to tell everybody in the world I killed a turkey. It's a game I play by myself.

I've killed 1-1/4" spur birds that gobbled to the gun like two year olds, and I've played with two year olds that had hens all day long that I eventually killed. I've killed two year olds that come in in 30 seconds, I've killed old birds that I've played with all day.

When I was young, I'd crawl up on turkeys using ditches and creeks. I'd crawl up on them on cow pastures that had knolls and terraces. IT IS NOT HARD TO DO AS LONG AS YOU DO NOT GET SEEN, so I no longer hunt that way. I used to sit in green fields and wait on them. Again, not hard to do if your patient and be still, but it isn't fun so I quit doing it that way. I now only use a gun and call, and try to call the bird into gun range.

The original sport of turkey hunting, the right way, began with a call and a gun. The hard part of turkey hunting, and the correct game, is to call a bird up and shoot him thinking your a real hen. Most of the times they do not come to the call, that's why you have to set up just right, just close enough, without spooking him and also get a good area where he is in in range the first time you see him.


I've never ever killed a turkey with a decoy, and do not want to. Most people that use them that I know personally are duck/deer hunters that have intruded and infected the sport of turkey hunting with all the fancy blinds and decoys they use. Tv, and social media Have ruined it because everybody wants to out do each other, kill as many as possible, and a decoy.

Years ago decoys weren't a big deal, because it was just a tool that was used. Now days the ultra realistic decoy with full strut fans and blinds that you can hide in, makes it easy for anyone that can walk and shoot a gun to kill a turkey. It is a crutch, created by tv and social media, to help every jack leg in the world kill a turkey, and in turn help them and the wildlife agencies make money, while decimating the natural resource.

It is becoming a socialist sport, where everyone will only be able to have 1-2 turkey tags, because the babies that have to use decoys can't man up and learn how to hunt the hard way.

I do not know if the use of decoys have caused the decline on where I hunt, but the decoy explosion has coincided with the decline in population. So I don't know.

But hopefully, it's just a trend, and it will phase out. Just like I made myself quit bushwhacking turkeys when I was 14 years old. I matured as a sportsman, and now I enjoy it even more getting to play the game.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

To you, the correct way to hunt a turkey is to call him in. If someone else gets excited to watch them run into a decoy how can you and why would you call that incorrect? And you posting on here that others are babies because they use decoys is promoting yourself and skills over others, just what you are saying is the problem. And i can think of many more mature outdoorsmen than you that use decoys. As ive posted before, if 1/2 the hunters that shot a turkey last year each saved 1 nest and each hen had 8 eggs and 1/2 of those birds survived to adulthood, we could help roughly the same number of extra birds survive each year that we harvest. This are EXTRA birds.

I think you sir, get on here just to argue with folks. I was stating my opinion on the matter, don't care what you do or how you kill or don't kill turkeys. If you don't like it, don't read it or tough luck.

I've noticed your post this spring season, you seek to like to argue and stir the pot with whatever is going on.

You are correct in saving hens and nest. I wish everyone that could would try and help do that, and also try to create nesting habitat if they have their own land to do so.

And yes, my skills are pretty dang good...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If you read my posts, actually, I am trying to ask why everyone is so separated. Why do we have to condemn others on things that we do not know as fact but not concentrate on the facts we know (predators, habitat, disease, etc). I am just trying to get people to think a little deeper than the surface. My main point to you was people hunt turkeys for different reasons and in different ways. I believe, for you to call another's way incorrect is driving a nail between hunters just because it is your belief. If you don't bushwack or decoy birds i respect that. I also respect people who can figure out different, fun, memorable ways to hunt turkeys.


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The bottom line is, I don't like decoys because they make an unkillable bird killable. And it probably doesn't always work, but it does indeed help out hunters kill a turkey more than a call or anything else. I would venture to say that a decoy is more lethal than hunting around a corn feeder. I would be more on board for legalizing baiting, which I despise, than I am for decoys.

Used to, these birds would be left over to breed hens later in the spring or early summer. Now they all get shot opening weekend. I don't know how many different guys have said this same exact thing.

I respect everyone's opinion and do not care how anyone else hunts or chooses to hunt.

I promise anyone that if they'd just try the old fashioned way it be more fun because it's more of a challenge and seldom ends with a bird flopping. I am probably made fun of by the younger crowd that limits out the first week of the season, but I don't care. If I had the birds that some folks had and used decoys and fans I'd limit out the first four times I went hunting.

I've killed a lot of turkeys, and I can remember the close calls of birds and the games played that I never killed one more than I remember many that I did kill. I'm out there to the play game with the wild bird, and that's it.




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[Setterman]

If this will load, this video from some buddies this morning says all that needs to be said regarding the ease of decoys. Case closed

It won't load, but it basically is two birds sprinting 300 yards and the only call made was to get them out of strut. Every time I see this it reminds me that this isn't turkey hunting. By the way both birds had spurs around 1.25"

These birds would be alive right now without decoys in a field scenario yet two boss birds are dead. The sooner they are gone the better off the sport and population will be

 

[Goodtimekiller]

My nephew shot a bird today, spurs over 1.5", 10" beard, called him in from a field. He's 22 years old and has been hunting since 13. Killed his 2 biggest birds this year calling them in and has hunted less than 2 hours total. Without calls these birds would be alive to breed.


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[prstide]

......

 

[Goodtimekiller]

......

Now this is funny, i just hope those old guys have their bifocals to read it!


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[Goodtimekiller]

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?

I would love to talk to you about using decoys since everyone else on here is opposed to them and is trying to get them outlawed. If you ever make it to northern middle tn maybe we could do a little hunting together.


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[Setterman]

My nephew shot a bird today, spurs over 1.5", 10" beard, called him in from a field. He's 22 years old and has been hunting since 13. Killed his 2 biggest birds this year calling them in and has hunted less than 2 hours total. Without calls these birds would be alive to breed.


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Please post pics. I'd love to see these spurs...

 

[Goodtimekiller]

My nephew shot a bird today, spurs over 1.5", 10" beard, called him in from a field. He's 22 years old and has been hunting since 13. Killed his 2 biggest birds this year calling them in and has hunted less than 2 hours total. Without calls these birds would be alive to breed.


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Please post pics. I'd love to see these spurs...

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[Setterman]

I may eat these words but those aren't even close to 1.5". Nice spurs and probably 1.25" but not 1.5"

 

[FARMTOFIELD]

I may eat these words but those aren't even close to 1.5". Nice spurs and probably 1.25" but not 1.5"

I agree

 

[Andy S.]

Gtk - since you are tagged out in TN, when you have some time, post up your success of kills with just calls versus kills with calls/decoys. In other words, let's compare the times you have called birds to the gun with just a call and killed them, versus how many times you have killed them over decoys with some calls thrown in there. Just wondering what your percentage is with each since you appear to think calls alone are as deadly as decoys accompanied by calls. I would guess your kills with just calls far out number your kills over decoys, at least that's the way it seems from your posts. But then again, you are willing to offer the guy some advice about decoys if he gets to northern middle TN, so maybe I am mistaken, your decoy kills may exceed just the call kills.

 

[Goodtimekiller]

Gtk - since you are tagged out in TN, when you have some time, post up your success of kills with just calls versus kills with calls/decoys. In other words, let's compare the times you have called birds to the gun with just a call and killed them, versus how many times you have killed them over decoys with some calls thrown in there. Just wondering what your percentage is with each since you appear to think calls alone are as deadly as decoys accompanied by calls. I would guess your kills with just calls far out number your kills over decoys, at least that's the way it seems from your posts. But then again, you are willing to offer the guy some advice about decoys if he gets to northern middle TN, so maybe I am mistaken, your decoy kills may exceed just the call kills.

I will do that for you, but right now i am trying to film a hunt with a friend. I would say close to 75% of my kills are with no decoy. They have a place and time and but I like to cover lots of ground so I do not use them much. If I had as much faith in them as some guys here I would use them daily.


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[poorhunter]

Gtk - since you are tagged out in TN, when you have some time, post up your success of kills with just calls versus kills with calls/decoys. In other words, let's compare the times you have called birds to the gun with just a call and killed them, versus how many times you have killed them over decoys with some calls thrown in there. Just wondering what your percentage is with each since you appear to think calls alone are as deadly as decoys accompanied by calls. I would guess your kills with just calls far out number your kills over decoys, at least that's the way it seems from your posts. But then again, you are willing to offer the guy some advice about decoys if he gets to northern middle TN, so maybe I am mistaken, your decoy kills may exceed just the call kills.

If I can call in one in twenty birds, I think that's pretty good. That's in 26+ years.

I used decoys twice with a friend last year on two hunts. Four dead longbeards. They came in running just as advertised.

I do not have data, but EVERONE (with a couple exceptions) say the same thing about decoys, that they only work maybe half the time. I admit I cannot match that with calling...not even close.

 

[Andy S.]

I will do that for you, but right now i am trying to film a hunt with a friend. I would say close to 75% of my kills are with no decoy.

Good luck, hopefully some "no decoy zone" footage, right?

 

[Goodtimekiller]

I will do that for you, but right now i am trying to film a hunt with a friend. I would say close to 75% of my kills are with no decoy.

Good luck, hopefully some "no decoy zone" footage, right?

Sorry, this afternoon has been rough, no gobbling, we set up decoys at the edge of a field with some blind calling. Not really my style but I'm on my buddy's farm hunting with him so that's what we did. Headed to a different farm now.


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[Andy S.]

Totally understand, the weather has left a lot to be desired today in my neck of the woods. Good luck on your next setup.

 

[SEC]

If Setterman was as good as he thinks he is he'd be hunting turkeys barefooted with a handmade hickory bow wearing only feathers in his hair.

 

[Setterman]

If Setterman was as good as he thinks he is he'd be hunting turkeys barefooted with a handmade hickory bow wearing only feathers in his hair.

Who's to say I don't?

 

[REN]

If Setterman was as good as he thinks he is he'd be hunting turkeys barefooted with a handmade hickory bow wearing only feathers in his hair.

who said he wasnt??