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The case for banning the fan. Outdoor life

Maybe the best and most concise argument I've read yet in favor of outlawing the garbage. He focuses too much on reaping but you can easily see how male decoys are just as bad if not worse as they're more prevalent.

His and others view is finally gaining traction after people like me and others have been lambasted for years for expressing this exact view.

Ban the male decoys and save this sport along with the the turkey population!
 
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Interesting read.... particularly the biology part.....allot of information to chew on and consider..... another interesting comment from the article is where he mentions the number of young people who learn from YouTube videos.....they see fanning success...so they fan or reap....it's what they know....concerning for the future no doubt.
 
I like it. I've said and thought that for a very long time, especially with the late 2000s when primos and knight and hale began with the realistic decoys.

I just don't think it will happen. Too much money involved and perhaps too many people will get their feelings hurt.
 
gobblegrunt said:
Lets ban buck decoys, duck decoys, and every other decoy while we're at it.
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Can't speak of deer decoys, never used them nor care to. I like trying to get on a bucks path and shooting him with my bow or rifle in the woods. I plant food plots but I don't hunt in them.

Don't duck hunt, but know some guys that duck and turkey hunt and they too think turkey decoys are cheating. The sport of duck hunting is setting up your decoys in a way that the ducks will work in and try to land in your spread. And you shoot them when they commit. Not when they are circling or just flying over. It's all about when you have beat the duck. Not about just killing your limit. Any one could go sit on a good duck place and get lucky enough to sky bust or swing shoot their limit.

Turkeys ain't ducks and deer.
 
Setterman said:
Yeah because other species are totally relevant to this discussion. Year in and year out this is top 3 dumbest arguments for decoys.

Its obvious you didn't read the article, extremely obvious
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Oh I read it. If you think a male turkey decoy is the main reason for the turkey pupulation to fall something else is also obvious. I personally have never fanned/reaped a tom. If I can't call it in I don't want to shoot it. However, I will never condemn another hunter for doing so as long as they are safe.
 
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gobblegrunt said:
Oh I read it. If you think a male turkey decoy is the main reason for the turkey pupulation to fall something else is also obvious. I personally have never fanned/reaped a tom. If I can't call it in I don't want to shoot it. However, I will never condemn another hunter for doing so as long as they are safe.
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when we as non biologists start rejecting leading biologists views then we are completely off the rails. I don't think anyone including me is saying male decoys is the single reason for the decline but theres becoming a decent case that it could be a contributing factor.

If it wasn't why did Alabama outlaw them at the beginning of their season?
 
I have sent in comments for years to do away with this method and just sent another. It's a safety hazard and guys are doing this stuff on public land. The turkey I killed Saturday has been there all year but he had numerous hens. I didn't even bother with him til the last week and finally caught him Saturday with no hens. It never once crossed my mind to crawl behind a fake gobbler and have him charge me. He bred his hens and I eventually got him, I knew I couldn't call him away from those hens and had no problem with that, it's simply how it works. I would love to see all male turkey decoys done away with but doubt it will happen. Two years running I have been shown a video by the same guy of gobblers going down opening day out of a blind with absolutely no calls being made , just a full strut decoy in a field with a hen in the breeding position and gobblers charging. I congratulate and move forward but it's just not my thing and I believe it's taken a toll on the turkey population. Again not going to demean anyone but I have a strong opinion on the subject, just like others feel strongly the other way. That was a good article thanks for sharing!
 
Stingray said:
sounds like most of you think we're taking to many Turkeys ? If thats your concern why not lobby for a 2 bird limit ?
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I'd be ok with that as I typically only kill 1 if that. Only been a couple of times this year and not pulled the trigger yet having passed on some jakes.

Do I think fanning / reaping is cheating…yep but it's as much a safety thing for me. Too much risk for me to put a fan in front of your face. I did it once on an old neighbor's place to see the reaction. I was seated against a tree and just flipped the fan up and moved it to catch the gobblers attention. He came in on a string and that was that. No woodsmanship to it in my opinion.
 
So here the author concludes that the main issue causing our declining turkey population is the killing of dominant toms before they have had a chance to breed their hens. I also suspect that is a major factor in the population decline. Then he proceeds to focus on banning reaping and full strut decoys as the solution.

Why do you suppose he didn't instead propose moving the season back, which would immediately and directly address the issue? Why do you suppose he doesn't propose banning these newer shotgun loads that have effectively doubled the killing range?

The number of dominant toms killed by reaping would pale in comparison to the number killed beyond 30 yds, enabled by these newer loads.

Also what about semi strut male decoys? He thinks dominant toms only approach full strut toms?

I don't think the author understands turkey behaviors all that well if this is his recommended first course of action.
 
Just to be clear, I do not think "fanning" or "reaping" should be a legal tactic in TN.
But I also realize any law becomes only as good as its enforcement.
Baiting is already illegal, but more early season dominant Toms are killed over bait now
than are killed by fanning or reaping.

Dennis said:
Why do you suppose he didn't instead propose moving the season back, which would immediately and directly address the issue?
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Good question.

You want to do something really meaningful to help our turkey populations?

Our season needs to open AT LEAST one week later,
and our annual limit dropped to 2 birds.

The main reason this is not such a popular idea is so many hunters complaining about reaping are also the most avid & accomplished hunters limiting out in TN each year?
 
gobblegrunt said:
Lets ban buck decoys, duck decoys, and every other decoy while we're at it.
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A- VERY VERY few folks carry around a deer decoy. and even if more did its still not apples to apples. Deer populations and birth rates are not whats in dire need of changes currently.
B - Duck decoys are used in a totally different manner and reason vs turkey decoys at a totally different time of the breeding season.

not an apples to apples comparison at all.
 
As I've said before, I think male decoys of any kind should not be used. I wouldn't go so far as saying it's unethical, but it also isn't hunting either. If populations were doing just fine and there wasn't inherent danger involved with using them, then have at it, I don't really care. They are detrimental to turkey populations and a danger to hunters. Moving the season dates and lowering the limit is a better way to use the system to help the turkeys IMO. I just wish guys could do what's right without being made to.
 
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gobblegrunt said:
Oh I read it. If you think a male turkey decoy is the main reason for the turkey pupulation to fall something else is also obvious. I personally have never fanned/reaped a tom. If I can't call it in I don't want to shoot it. However, I will never condemn another hunter for doing so as long as they are safe.
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I have to ask this, How do you safely crawl behind something legal to shoot by other hunters? My skin crawls just thinking about it, again people are doing this stuff on public land. The ones I have seen guys carrying on public land have fans, beards , wings, colored up heads. They are way beyond just a fan now. I put orange on just carrying a gobbler out in my vest on public land and then I am still looking over my shoulder. I just can't imagine doing it in a way that would be safe. Maybe I am just thinking wrong but hiding behind something that is legal to shoot by others just doesn't seem safe to me. Have LBL man tell his story of the young man at LBL that came over the rise at 35 yards hiding behind his gobbler on a stick. The young man is very lucky it was him sitting at 35 yards, but who will be responsible when one of these guys are shot ? Imagine how the person who pulls the trigger will feel and they are shooting at something realistic , that is moving and legal to shoot. I just can't see how the method can be safe.
 

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