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Are decoys necessary?

180class

180class

Well-Known Member
I'm just wondering, since I will need to buy new decoys befor season starts (thanks to a friend), are decoys absolutely necessary for turkeys, or can you go without? I've always used them in the past and had good luck, but since money is a little tight right now, (with the baby on the way), I was wondering if I could do without. I've seen a couple hunts on tv, where they weren't using decoys, and the birds came in just fine. Just wanted to know what you guys thought.
 
Depends on how sexy you can sound!
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I have better luck with decoys...if...the tom gets where he can see them, I find he will come in like a puppy on a string
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Are you gun hunting or bow hunting?

With a gun I went for many years without a decoy.

In some cases I have had decoys hurt much more than they helped.

So is a decoy necessary for success, no way!
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Wish you lived closer, I would just give you a couple of decoys.

Setting up in the best places is far more important that having a decoy. Do plenty of preseason scouting (listening) and the best of luck to you!
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Ghost is right on.
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I've been using them less and less over the years. Last year I went totally 'decoy-free' all season for the first time and killed two nice toms.
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do you hunt public around madrid?

Cause that is where i do a lot of scouting and hunting

birds get decoy shy quick.

lots of pressure there.
 
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Ghost is right on.
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I've been using them less and less over the years. Last year I went totally 'decoy-free' all season for the first time and killed two nice toms.
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yeah but that's not fair kat...you know how to sweet talk em'!
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I can just imagine when they hear me squawkin!
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(and don't go tellin Ghost he's right...it'll go to his head!
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K2, I hunt mostly private land, but have a couple timbers that are public that I like to hit during the week. What public areas do you hunt?
 
Ghost, thanks for the offer. I'm sure I'll be ok without one. I'll just have to learn how to sweet talk em like Kat does!
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I go out hodges(sp?) road a lot plus up by the 4 h camp and west on 210 on the woodward side.

you a long time madrid resident?
 
K2, I've lived there my entire life. I've hunted out at Hodges quite a bit. there are a few birds out there. One of the private timbers that I hunt is out by the 4H camp. I also have another across the river on the Woodward side, out by Camp Matigwa.
 
I agree with what most of the others have already said.

I have shot many turkeys with a shotgun, without the aid of a decoy.

I have also harvest spring turkeys with a decoy and shotgun. And the past five or six years have used a decoy more often that not.

Preseason scouting and the set up are the main reason I feel for my past success.
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I plan to hunt turkeys with a bow a lot this year, so I will be using a blind and a fair sized decoy spread.

I wouldn't let not having a decoy keep me out of the turkey woods.
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If I'm using a gun, carrying decoys around is a waste of time for me. You just need to set up so they gotta come in close to find you
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I use them early in the season. Seems like it doesn't take long for the birds to catch on to those stupid looking birds that never take a step and shoot thier buddies. I think they are less effective later.
 
If using a gun I prefer to not have decoys for two reasons. For one I have had to many birds hang up in strut, and wait for the ladies to come to them. Just out of range of course. Two- You simply don't have to pack them. Most times for me the decoys end up staying at the first set-up. But maybe I'm just lazy. If using a bow I use them and have alot more patients.
 
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