Dekes and Fanning

AT Hiker

AT Hiker

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Just curious for those that use either or, do you think you would kill as many turkeys if you couldnt use a deke and/or fanning.

After watching that fanning video and my experiences with strutter dekes, its no wonder some places dont allow the use of decoys.

* this is not a "my method is better than yours" thread, just a honest question. It seems that killing a turkey is a lot easier now with all the advancements, if more hunters become successful something will need to happen with bag limits or equipment restrictions I would think.


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I have several friends that kill 2-4 each year that I am not sure could kill 1 if their decoys were took away from them.
So my answer is no. Less birds would be killed if decoys or fanning wasn't legal.


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I got a couple buddies that tag out every year over a strutter, I think it might even have a motor on the stake to make it turn...not sure about that though. If dekes were outlawed that would be a few more long beards to make it.


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I don't use decoys and I kill plenty of birds without fanning and I call up a few for friends as well every year, I don't fan turkeys because I don't know how to call or hunt them, it's just a different and very exciting way to hunt them,I have hunted with people in the past that used strutter decoys but I have never seen turkeys react to a strutter decoy the way they do to a fan I guess because the decoy doesn't move and with the fan they feel challenged by you, using fan is a hell of a lot more work than sitting in a blind over a strutter decoy. It's also more exciting and more rewarding in my opinion.
 
After watching a few videos, I've decided that i don't shoot good enough to even try it lol. But I think it's neat and I'd like to see it in person
 
ZachMarkus":1e6noyct said:
I don't use decoys and I kill plenty of birds without fanning and I call up a few for friends as well every year, I don't fan turkeys because I don't know how to call or hunt them, it's just a different and very exciting way to hunt them,I have hunted with people in the past that used strutter decoys but I have never seen turkeys react to a strutter decoy the way they do to a fan I guess because the decoy doesn't move and with the fan they feel challenged by you, using fan is a hell of a lot more work than sitting in a blind over a strutter decoy. It's also more exciting and more rewarding in my opinion.
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I'm gonna try fanning one day. I have to find a place that has open fields and is private though. all my spots are mainly small tracts and mostly woods. I know some think it is unfair, but I have to agree with Zach it would be exciting.

Oh as a side note, I have only hunted 4 complete seasons. I missed 2012 due to my grandfather passing. I have limited out in 3 of the 4 seasons and the season I didn't I got 3. I have never used a decoy and just started calling this year. If you know about where the birds are, know the lay of the land, and can be relatively quiet on the move, you can sneak up on a turkey and bush whack them. I should also mention that 9 of the 15 birds i have killed over those 4 seasons were off high pressure public land.

To much money is being made on the ammo, the chokes, and the decoys, so i would doubt they will restrict those. I can see them lowering the limit, but I hope in Mid TN they do not and then maybe cut off the fall season.
 
I posted a story earlier this year about a buddy of mine I went with and he watched him kill a bird without ever making a call. He's just one of many friends that I have that before the decoy/blind craze never killed turkeys, maybe one every other year. Now they all tag out, and it would say 80% don't even carry calls. So the answer is yes to the question the decoys and blind stuff allows anyone to kill turkeys as it takes virtually no skill or knowledge, just put it out and wait.

No one I know and consider a friend would ever fan. They understand the risks are not worth the reward.
 
AT Hiker":2lbl6g2u said:
its no wonder some places dont allow the use of decoys.
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I'm curious as to where dekes aren't allowed?

I have used decoys in certain situations, and yes I would kill just as many without them.

But, it's like asking if I would kill as many deer with an old open-sight, Hawkins-style muzzleloader as I do now with my inline, scoped one ;) :D !
 
Honestly I dont know, have just heard this before. AL is a recent convert to decoys.
I do know for sure some states say you cannot use motorized decoys. Not sure the logic in it because evidently putting a fan in front of your face and crawling through a field is a very deadly tactic.


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I use dekes for my son. I used to use them, but don't now so I can be more mobile. There's something cool about strategically setting up where a bird has to turn the corner, or pop his head up to find you.
I have fanned before, and will again, because it is a rush, but calling without any decoys is the well-earned hunt
 
Hell I've tried using decoys 4 times total and twice it's costed me a bird on state land....they ran away.....but my first 2 birds on private ground the decoys are magnets and birds run right to them so private ground decoys are good state land they will ruin a hunt
 
Several years ago I bought a Pretty Boy strutter and every gobbler that saw it ran away so its in my barn if anybody wants a deal on it. Will even throw a real fan in. I used to carry a couple of hens in my vest but have all but quit. Not sure I've killed any turkeys as a result of having a decoy out. It may have turned their focus there as they were coming in but no idea if it was because they saw a decoy or my fabulous calling. Yeah I'm sure it was the calling. :tu:
 
Absolutely WAY more birds are killed each year because of dekes and fanning. I absolutely love both... but would be just fine if both were outlawed. If no one else were using dekes or fans, I'd have even more in your face (5 yards or less) encounters with pissed off gobblers, since I'm usually hunting unarmed (and would therefore still be legal :) ) There's nothing like having an enraged bird charge right to you ready to open a big can of whoop-a$$. Total adrenaline rush.
 
Gravey":ofs7hb98 said:
Several years ago I bought a Pretty Boy strutter and every gobbler that saw it ran away so its in my barn if anybody wants a deal on it. Will even throw a real fan in. I used to carry a couple of hens in my vest but have all but quit. Not sure I've killed any turkeys as a result of having a decoy out. It may have turned their focus there as they were coming in but no idea if it was because they saw a decoy or my fabulous calling. Yeah I'm sure it was the calling. :tu:
Click to expand...
pm me I will take the pretty boy


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Over the years I've killed a few birds using dekes that I just couldn't get to come to a call. In most cases it was where a gobbler was with hens and the hens would lead the gobbler away from any calls.
 
Daniel90":1wqcwpfb said:
Gravey":1wqcwpfb said:
Several years ago I bought a Pretty Boy strutter and every gobbler that saw it ran away so its in my barn if anybody wants a deal on it. Will even throw a real fan in. I used to carry a couple of hens in my vest but have all but quit. Not sure I've killed any turkeys as a result of having a decoy out. It may have turned their focus there as they were coming in but no idea if it was because they saw a decoy or my fabulous calling. Yeah I'm sure it was the calling. :tu:
Click to expand...
pm me I will take the pretty boy


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PM sent
 
I too know several guys that would not kill birds if it were not for decoys. 95% of my hunts I don't use decoys. Like it was said earlier, I like to set up where the gobbler has to show himself in range to be able to find me. Best way to kill a bird in my opinion.
That being said I really enjoy taking my wife and several kids out every yr to get birds and will use decoys and a pop up then. I have found that kids get into the hunt more when they can watch the interaction of a Tom turkey strutting up to a decoy. My wife is as bad as a kid when it comes so fidgeting around to the blind helps hid their movement.
 

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