Rough stats on decoy success?

[Grouse]

I've killed a pile of birds over the years but gave up carrying decoys years ago because they are bulky and I cover alot of ground at times. So I've messed around and never killed a bird over them. I'd love to watch one flog a Jake or breed a hen. I'm just scared to use them kinda. I'm afraid it might scare them off somehow. I found where some gobblers have been strutting the creek bank. It's a easy setup to just sit and wait for them to show up so I'm torn as to whether or not I should risk putting any out. These birds are receiving moderate pressure on public and private. Just wanted to ask around and see what other folks experienced.

 

[catman529]

I think decoys are more a matter of preference than anything. However they have been the demise of many gobblers. Some really good hunters use them on occasion. But there is a time and place for using them and that's where the hunting skill comes into play... knowing when to use one. I couldn't say cause I don't ever use them.

One exception would be unpressured field birds. Field birds are tough to kill without a tail fan or decoy. They're unpredictable and spend a lot of time out of range from cover. I think decoys and fans have killed a lot of field birds that would otherwise get away.


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[timberjack86]

O percent for me, I don't use them and I dang sure wouldn't use them on public land.

 

[megalomaniac]

I used to use decoys back in the 90's and 00's hunting field birds. I would get 1/10 come to the hen and jake decoy in range. The others just ignored the decoy or would hang up outside of gun range. I never had turkeys spook off decoys like some have seen. I finally figured out how to kill field birds, but it took me 20 years. THE SUN IS YOUR FRIEND. Instead of calling to birds in a field early in the morning, just sit back and watch the show. Around 9-10am on sunny days, the toms WILL head for shade. Once they make that move, you make your move and use the woods as cover. If they are by themselves, piece of cake to call them through the woods into gun range. If they are with hens, sneak to within 60 yards and cluck and purr to get him to come to range. If there is a tree in the middle of the field they use for shade or it is a cloudy day, you are screwed until the hens make a break for water. In those situations, I acutally just leave those birds and go look for others in a more killable location. The original birds will not stay in that field every single day of the season. I just kill them in a different location later.

For woods birds, decoys do way more harm than good. Most woods birds will never even see a decoy, but you will spook a ton of birds setting them up in the woods then backing back off to your calling position without even knowing you spooked them.

 

[Setterman]

Woods birds id say it fairly low.

Dominant field birds insanely high, especially when you consider that most of those birds are extremely hard to kill without a decoy. Also, decoys allow googans to kill birds when otherwise they'd come up empty. It makes the game too easy

 

[Gravey]

I used to use a hen or two but haven't carried them in a while. On public land there's no way I'd risk it.

 

[catman529]

I used to use decoys back in the 90's and 00's hunting field birds. I would get 1/10 come to the hen and jake decoy in range. The others just ignored the decoy or would hang up outside of gun range. I never had turkeys spook off decoys like some have seen. I finally figured out how to kill field birds, but it took me 20 years. THE SUN IS YOUR FRIEND. Instead of calling to birds in a field early in the morning, just sit back and watch the show. Around 9-10am on sunny days, the toms WILL head for shade. Once they make that move, you make your move and use the woods as cover. If they are by themselves, piece of cake to call them through the woods into gun range. If they are with hens, sneak to within 60 yards and cluck and purr to get him to come to range. If there is a tree in the middle of the field they use for shade or it is a cloudy day, you are screwed until the hens make a break for water. In those situations, I acutally just leave those birds and go look for others in a more killable location. The original birds will not stay in that field every single day of the season. I just kill them in a different location later.

For woods birds, decoys do way more harm than good. Most woods birds will never even see a decoy, but you will spook a ton of birds setting them up in the woods then backing back off to your calling position without even knowing you spooked them.

you got that right about field birds and shade. Hunted a bird a few years back that I nicknamed shade tree bird. Neighbor ended up killing him when we set up in a pasture and called him in over 200 yards across an open field in the evening. That bird finally wanted to die


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[Uncle Jesse]

I've had them run from decoys like they just saw Bigfoot. It happens enough that I'll only use them for juvenile and first week or so of season

But it does work sometimes, I used a decoy on the one I killed last year. I was using my 410 with lead and had a 25 yard Max. I put my decoy in the bushes and it worked. Don't know why I tried it but it worked

 

[ROVERBOY]

I used to use them some but, I've got to where I hate carrying the dang things. It seemed I carried them all the time and hardly ever used them. They're very popular with big money tv hunting programs. Especially the ones that need to endorse big sponsers. :super: arty:

 

[Remington700]

I made a thread similar to this the other day. I have never been overly successful using decoys. I hunt areas that get pressure though. I think they want to see some movement. I quit taking mine altogether.

 

[Grouse]

I think decoys are more a matter of preference than anything. However they have been the demise of many gobblers. Some really good hunters use them on occasion. But there is a time and place for using them and that's where the hunting skill comes into play... knowing when to use one. I couldn't say cause I don't ever use them.



One exception would be unpressured field birds. Field birds are tough to kill without a tail fan or decoy. They're unpredictable and spend a lot of time out of range from cover. I think decoys and fans have killed a lot of field birds that would otherwise get away.


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rarely hunt fields for that reason, but in early season when they typically don't pay any attention to my calling I will go sit and deer hunt them as bad as I hate to. None of the fields round here are too level so I'm usually able to sneak up on them when they stand in foolish places. Did it twice this year and didn't enjoy it much but the property gets poached and lots of surrounding pressure. I guess Im gonna have to try them a time or two and see how the birds react. Definitely not gonna bother using them in the woods, I've killed 20 something birds in my 8 year turkey hunting career and not one was over decoys. I just wanted to leech some experience before I decided to try them

 

[Grouse]

I used to use decoys back in the 90's and 00's hunting field birds. I would get 1/10 come to the hen and jake decoy in range. The others just ignored the decoy or would hang up outside of gun range. I never had turkeys spook off decoys like some have seen. I finally figured out how to kill field birds, but it took me 20 years. THE SUN IS YOUR FRIEND. Instead of calling to birds in a field early in the morning, just sit back and watch the show. Around 9-10am on sunny days, the toms WILL head for shade. Once they make that move, you make your move and use the woods as cover. If they are by themselves, piece of cake to call them through the woods into gun range. If they are with hens, sneak to within 60 yards and cluck and purr to get him to come to range. If there is a tree in the middle of the field they use for shade or it is a cloudy day, you are screwed until the hens make a break for water. In those situations, I acutally just leave those birds and go look for others in a more killable location. The original birds will not stay in that field every single day of the season. I just kill them in a different location later.

For woods birds, decoys do way more harm than good. Most woods birds will never even see a decoy, but you will spook a ton of birds setting them up in the woods then backing back off to your calling position without even knowing you spooked them.

Thanks for the shade tip! I've never bothered in the woods, I won't sit anywhere that they can see before they are in range anyways.

 

[Grouse]

Woods birds id say it fairly low.

Dominant field birds insanely high, especially when you consider that most of those birds are extremely hard to kill without a decoy. Also, decoys allow googans to kill birds when otherwise they'd come up empty. It makes the game too easy

Yeah, I have the same line of thinking. I definitely don't need them to kill nor do I like fooling with them. But for some reason I kinda wanna watch one beat up a decoy I guess. Ive really never just sat there and lesiurely watched one close up. I have always just shot them the moment they were in range

 

[eddie c]

I'm not a master Hunter by any means. In my 30 years of chasing the birds, I can only recall one time my decoy made a positive difference. My first long beard, he was hot. 20+ years ago.
Today a bird saw my decoy and ran right passed it, luckily it stopped right at 42 steps past it long enough to get shot. The other times the birds, Tom's and hens, would hang up or completely ignore it.
I took the decoys out of the vest and truck when I got home.

 

[Shooter77]

I can only think of 2 kills that the decoy worked. Even open field birds I've seen little to no reaction to decoys. I've got 4 avian x decoys that I've hardly used in the 5-8 years. Better than the foam crap we use to have...lol I've had gobblers spook at my jake decoy and then not even come near my hens only set up. if it wasn't for my kids, i would probably dump them. Now I've had a buddy that's completely opposite. he's have a lot of luck with them open woods and field set ups.

 

[Coroner01]

Early season in Illinois, esp. with a child, I use the funky chicken and a bedded hen. I don't know why the jakes and gobblers want to beat the hell out of the funky chicken, but they do. My daughter had time to calmly take her safety off, turn on her red dot, and had eight jakes whooping the funky chicken for a bit. She took her time, and got her first bird ever. I hunt later in May, use one lone hen. Hard plastic, pull cord makes the head bob. Many a group of gobblers have tried to hook up with her. I guess its preference as I have killed quite a few birds without any decoys. AL

 

[Mike Belt]

I've used them in the past on field birds and have had as much luck as not. One thing I will say about their use is that in my experience, when I have them set up in a field with live birds, they seem to work better attracting them in close enough for a shot without ever using a call. It's like the live birds can see the dekes aren't calling but hear birds calling from that direction and tend to shy away from them.

 

[Grouse]

Early season in Illinois, esp. with a child, I use the funky chicken and a bedded hen. I don't know why the jakes and gobblers want to beat the hell out of the funky chicken, but they do. My daughter had time to calmly take her safety off, turn on her red dot, and had eight jakes whooping the funky chicken for a bit. She took her time, and got her first bird ever. I hunt later in May, use one lone hen. Hard plastic, pull cord makes the head bob. Many a group of gobblers have tried to hook up with her. I guess its preference as I have killed quite a few birds without any decoys. AL

Nice, I thought about making a "jerk rig" of sorts. I kinda had the mindset of duck hunting. Motionless decoys definitely do more damage than good

 

[Grouse]

I've used them in the past on field birds and have had as much luck as not. One thing I will say about their use is that in my experience, when I have them set up in a field with live birds, they seem to work better attracting them in close enough for a shot without ever using a call. It's like the live birds can see the dekes aren't calling but hear birds calling from that direction and tend to shy away from them.

I'll keep that in mind. I don't call much anyways.