Fanning

timberjack86

timberjack86

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Not trying to start a riot, but has anyone tried it? Does it work? I got a piece of property to hunt that access is strictly regulated. There was a Tom that drove me crazy there last year. He would stay out in the field and strut but never come within 75 yards. I was thinking about flashing a fan at him if he's still there and up to his old tricks again. I'm usually a traditionalist but I want to put my foot on this turkeys head. Good idea or stupid?
 
I've never tried it, but I've got two birds on separate spits that I have been able to kill for 2 years now. They would gobble on their own GREAT...loud and often. I'd get set up PERFECTLY, hit a call...dead dead silence immediately :bash: . I did this maybe 3 or 4 times on each bird same result. :bash: :bash: :bash: . Was able to call in 3 others last year for some of the young men at church, so I can still get r dun, but those 2? :pray: I just might be using that fan on them two :super:

Principly though, for myself, I don't use decoys especially strutters or fans...for me in most situations those would make it too easy. They have their place especially in video taping a hunt. I'm not judging anyone who chooses to use them, they are perfectly legal, so knock yourself out...and Ole tom turkey!
 
If you do use a fan, and kill the turkey easily, will you think you cheapened the experience on a tough bird? Personally, I would and wouldn't be proud of the kill. I would be much more satisfied when I got him the old way. That's just me and my thoughts, not bashing!


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The birds i have tried to fan ran like crazy the other way. Only tried it a couple times on some tough field turkeys. I guess the birds i encountered just did not like it. This was on private property next to some public ground.


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I filmed for it once and the bird was making his way closer until two other gobblers appeared way down the field off to the side and alerted all the turkeys. It could have worked but got messed up that time. It was a wide open field on a hillside where I'd consider very safe to do it. There are many places I would never hide behind a fan, but it's a good trick in certain instances.


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timberjack86":3l3wcsup said:
Not trying to start a riot, but has anyone tried it? Does it work? I got a piece of property to hunt that access is strictly regulated. There was a Tom that drove me crazy there last year. He would stay out in the field and strut but never come within 75 yards. I was thinking about flashing a fan at him if he's still there and up to his old tricks again. I'm usually a traditionalist but I want to put my foot on this turkeys head. Good idea or stupid?
Click to expand...

I'd say try what you want after all it's your hunt, right? Do what makes you happy not someone else.
Just be on the safe side and good luck..
 
Lots of videos showing it working on youtube. I wouldn't worry about the "cheating" and "unmannly" way to hunt argument. Some people say that makes it easy, but so does camo, and turkey calls, and tss ammo, choke tubes etc. So I'm not big on that argument. If you want to do it go for it. It's your hunt and your bird. BTW your freezer will never know you fanned it haha.

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Thanks everyone for keeping this thread out of the gutter, I haven't made my mind up yet but this seems like a nice tool to have. Their is no way I'm crawling behind a fan. I'm thinking if a strutter appears in the field and he won't close the distance I'm gonna flash the fan at him.
 
I've personally have not done it but I have a buddy that has used it to kill 4 or 5 in the last couple of years he swears by it on those tight lip stay out of range birds. I can't get myself to do it personally. I think it will work but I have heard of it haveong negative affects also. So I don't know.
 
Ever been around a few people and one mentions something you know is another's pet peeve and once they say it you know what's coming next....? Fanning is the buck limit thread from now until the close of turkey season followed closely by decoying. It's coming so I guess nothing can be done about it. Before it happens though....

I've never tried it and until I read about it here I never really thought about trying it. I've had 3 or 4 times in the past that I wish I had known about it because I would definitely have tried it on gobblers that spent all their time strutting in the middle of the field. I spent a couple of seasons trying to out maneuver them and could never manage to counter their moves...and I'm not a novice turkey hunter. I'd much rather call them in but sometimes there are birds that just will not work. If it's safe and you want to try it go for it.
 
I personally will not fan one but will hunt with a strutter decoy. I just can't put my self behind a fan. On a turkey like you describe I have tried with some success getting someone to back up and call going away. And if that doesn't work I have been known to cut him off when I see that he is leaving the field and get infront of him. Not something I like to do but sometimes a turkey just gets under your skin and you do what you got to do to get him on the ground.
 
go get you a "sqealing hen" call from H.S. strut if he's hung up and he'll come running.. maybe not every time but ive seen it bring one out of a tree at 5 in the afternoon and he hit the ground with his feet running right at us!! Of course it hasn't worked that well since haha

But to your topic, I haven't personally done it but know a few who have, w success and w failure too.. like others say be careful!
 
Mike Belt":3ab5l46c said:
I've had 3 or 4 times in the past that I wish I had known about it because I would definitely have tried it on gobblers that spent all their time strutting in the middle of the field. I spent a couple of seasons trying to out maneuver them and could never manage to counter their moves...and I'm not a novice turkey hunter. I'd much rather call them in but sometimes there are birds that just will not work. If it's safe and you want to try it go for it.
Click to expand...

BINGO! I have battled a few season wreckers over the years that I would be thinking about when I went to sleep and when I woke up that I would have gladly tried this on. But, I would only do it after I had exhausted the more traditional ways first.

Let me just add that it personally does cheapen the outcome because it is too easy.
 
Think of it like this....
How many times have you seen a boss bird strutting around with 1 or more young birds mimicking his every move...including not leaving the middle of a field or responding to any calls? They're learning the tricks of the trade. Before they become unkillable like their mentor take him out. 8-)
 
You'd better not do that on public land, way too risky. Personally, I think it would be quite a rush to get that close to a gobbler and take him out. I don't feel like it would cheapen the hunt at all. Forget people who are going to give you crap for it. It's your bird, your hunt. As long as you're harvesting a legal bird via a legal weapon, do what you want.

I have access to some private land at my parents house that in the past has had plenty of turkeys, the past few years only hens though. If I find gobblers there, I will highly consider fanning. It looks like a very fun way to hunt.
 

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