Turkey hunting with decoys. When they work and when they don't
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- Опубликовано: 20 апр 2018
- Many have asked about decoys and what I personally think about using decoys. Here's a couple of things you may want to remember this turkey season if you enjoy hunting with decoys.
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This gentleman knows his stuff. It’s a privilege to get this kind of knowledge for free for new hunters.
You have the best attitude!! "I did get him up, so I feel like he deserved to live. I'm not mad or upset, that is just turkey hunting." So refreshing in a time when lots of folks just care about the instagram post, thank you!
Hey..I followed your advice on this video...using just a hen..not overcalling...with a mature tom that consistently would hang up. I finally got him this morning. Appreciate you sharing your experiences with us.
I swear turkey hunting is the most complicated hunts there's is...damed.if u do,.. and damned if u dont. And to think they have a brain the size of a pea..and then u look at ours and what r we doing wrong is what comes to mind when you hunt these big game birds...I love it...!!! Total challenge for sure
I went out turkey hunting last weekend and somehow forgot to put my decoys in the truck. I was on an overnight hunting trip about an hour away from my house and when I realized that I forgot them, I almost drove back home to get them, but my buddies talked me out of it though as they wanted me to sit around the fire and drink a few beers with them. Reluctantly, I agreed to stay and hunt the next day without decoys. I ended up shooting a 10.5" beard with 1-1/8" spur that I called in anyway. While he was walking around trying to find the hen, he found a face full of 4 instead. I'm 100% convinced that decoys are optional now.
Thanks for the info once again. You're like my turkey bible when I forget tricks and info. Theres a "Turtle Man" you sir are the "Turkey Man"😂🤘
Z
Thanks Matt.....been turkey hunting for 25 + yrs and still learn from and enjoy your videos......your attitude towards the hunt is infectious......keep 'em coming.
Wow! First to respond. Monday is our opening day. Thanks for all your videos. they really help.
Such a good guy. Enjoy your videos a lot. I don’t use them in the woods unless in an open area.
Your 4yr old video is still helping hunters today! I had a subordinate gobbler come by me this morning. Had 2 decoys out - 1 hen and 1 tom, and calling from my blind. The gobbler was pacing back and forth 20yrds out. Wouldn’t approach any closer. I was like - what’s up?!? Then I saw your video and there ya go. Thanks for the tips! Keep ‘em coming 👍
Last week had two gobblers shy away from decoys the same way there were 3 strutters tending the hens and these other two were not. However this morning I called the 3 big strutters right in to a strutting jake and hen they came right to it. Was fortunate to take the dominant bird this morning. I love seeing the videos and real scenarios in the field. Keep them coming
Thank you. It on in the morning. Fingers crossed!
I believe if your hunting a field or open powerline or gasline you need a decoy cuz if they come out and dont see one they arent coming. But in the woods i dont use one cuz i want the gobbler to look for me.
Sometimes they win. Gotta love the challenge 👍🏻👍🏻
awesome video...I agree on the scenario is best to decide whether or not to use a decoy and if so what kind of set up...lone hen, lone Jake, Jake and a hen...a lone hen did the trick on a silent tom for me last weekend where my Jake and hen I had a bird hold up on me around 60 yds...not sure if he ever saw the decoys though as I never seen him. Here in my home hunting grounds a Jake and a hen works excellent due to quite a few mature birds and very little hunting pressure. Love your insight and experience since joining your channel keep em coming and good luck this year!!!
Damn good advice which covers a range of situations! I saw a ton of jakes last fall so I'll grab a single hen decoy for tomorrow.
I go with no decoys in the woods, but a hen or 2 and a Jake decoy when hunting a field edge. I've had good luck in north Iowa that way.
EXACTLY!!!Simple but effective rules!!!However I use just a 1 or 2 when decoys, no jake or toms...
Good point..happened to me this morning.
Thank you for got that explanation. Couldn’t understand why sometimes they just wouldn’t come to my realistic jake decoy. Honestly it’s a pain carrying that real jake fan through the woods(cumbersome). I hunt with a recurve bow so always felt I needed it.
Just had the same thing happen to me. I'm new to turkey hunting, and just had that "classic" scenario. Heard him.gobbling in the dark all the way to my spot. Worked him for an hour and popped up over the hill,took one look at my tom decoy and split and shut up.
I had that exact situation like that last year!!! I had a Jake come in but he was very nervous. He wanted to see a lone hen to breed fast before he got chased off .
Matt, now I understand why two gobblers walked away when they saw my decoys yesterday. I couldn’t understand why now I got it. Dang ! Thanks Matt!
I think it not only depends on age structure, but time of year. I took my son out on 1st day of youth season and set out a jake and hen decoy. The dominate tom came right into the decoy. I won't use a jake or tom the rest of the year though. The toms get tired of fighting after a while.
Kool shot! advice!! 🦃
Great tip Dale! I literally just had a situation three days ago where I called the Gobbler in.......... across an open field....... & sure as heck,..... he stayed out about 60 yards when he saw my Gobbler decoy! I called & called........ but he just meandered up on the hill back & forth.......... looking right towards my decoy. I`m not a fan of decoy myself, but figured I was working an open field so I set out a few. Definitely gonna try the single-hen next time. Thanks for all of your great tips with your videos.
Hell yeah brother, raise hell praise dale
Absolutely, I had a hen decoy out and a tom came in eating bugs and when he looked up and seen the decoy he turned and ran as he ran about 45- 50 yards I hit my box call he stopped and gobbled and continued to walk away hit him with a pot call and again he gobbled and walked up a ridge. I Yellped 2 more times then shut up. Eventually he came back down with a hen but kept looking at my decoy walked away with the hen circled around and started coming to the decoy. I harvested that bird! but that was a 2 sided scenario. I thought about it later on if I didn't have the decoy that gobbler was headed right to me, but it was the decoy that brought him back in. definitely a subordinate turkey because he knew when he looked up and saw the hen decoy he knew a dominant tom should be close..it was patience also that helped harvest that bird!!
You our the genuine article and know birds
Just getting into turkey hunting. I think you're doing an amazing job of explaining it. of course I thought you had to use a lot of big boys. From watching other RUclips videos. you make a lot more sense. However my question is this instead of a single hen would it be more intriguing for the gobbler if you used say three or four with no turkey?
You offer some really unique tips that you don’t see everywhere else. I was one of those guys who thought I always needed a decoy out. First I fell for the strutter decoy hype. Had more birds shy away that I would have otherwise probably killed. Then I fell for the Jake hype. I mean there are thousands of videos of gobblers running in and flogging them. Well that only worked for me maybe 1/3 times. Finally I ditched the decoys or rarely I use a lone hen. Let the calling bring them in. Getting the right set up and position is the name of the game. Especially with big timber birds.
nickanto I agree 100 percent
He talking facts on real deal hunting not handed to u hunts😁🤣🤣
Man when thwy are fighting a fan is amazing. Like after they atop and the bug guy is showing off and the others are still pissed but are tired of getting slapped. There is about 45 mins that you can literally crawl uo to em
Very good information.
Another informative video, as we know we can expect, you are the man when it comes to explaining things easily. I may try a feeding hen and/ or jake. Just going out naked to start. Like you said, can always have it in my vest. Going crazy cause Pa. doesn't start till May 2nd. Gives me more time for scouting, I guess.
Whoever hunted enough , most likely have experienced both ways. One thing for certain when involved male decoy along a hen, if the gobbler is a boss one, you will carry him in a truck. But if the gobbler is subordinate, you coming home empty handed. Unless that turkey decided to die that day anyway lol.
Personally, I got 2 boss toms using a jake & a hen. But missed a few gobblers which got spooked by the male decoy.
Can’t wait for next week anyway to start all over again 😋
Good information thanks
I like carrying a single hen a lot of the time. To me without a decoy that happens to me a lot, bird gets to 50 yards and gets nervous cause he can’t see anything. I do hate having to decide to go out to an open spot and put out a decoy I always feel like I’m risking getting seen
Good tips.
great info Matt on flock dominance and why they act crazy sometimes.
Great info
Had that happen to me a few days ago had a strutter and a Jake and a few hens out there called for 10 minutes and had 5 toms came in but they all kinds skirted off out of site
I'm like you I have decoys but rarely ever use them mostly because the times i have used them they done more bad than good.
Good advice. If I'm ever putting a decoy out it's a hen or two that's it. Dominate bird seesand comes in less dominate same thing.
I routinely hunt public land and have run into this, so I tried the lone hen a few times. I think some are just decoy-shy, because they've busted humans or been shot at, and wait 70-100 yards out for the hen to come over to them. I've actually never shot a bird over a decoy.
I enjoy your videos I'll be 60 this year I have Turkey hunted scenes i was 13 a gobbler decoy has hurt me more than help but to each there own if a Turkey could smell we would never kill one lol
I hunt thick cover of pine woods in the Pacific Northwest. I’ve found not using decoy(s) at all as my best success. Turkeys come looking for the call regardless of whether a decoy is used or not and decoys are in my case just extra stuff to tote.
I'm surprised a turkey hunter of this caliber doesn't understand the decoy brings out the best hunt experience. The absolute best hunts are decoy fights or a bird swoons leaving you to enjoy the show. I've killed many birds and the ones most easily remembered are the ones with good decoy interaction.
If you are gonna set out a single hen which one would you? Would it be a feeder hen or which one?
Had this happen had a jake and hen decoy out .gobbler stood out at 70 yards and hung up.
That same thing happened to me today
I'm planning on going again in the morning to red creek. there's a bunch of turkeys by the creek. would two decoy hen work better instead of one.clifton jamison
I have a question is there anyway to keep from gaging when I use a mouth piece for calling turkeys
I had a Jake and a hen out the other day. I got a gobbler to come in on top of the hill (right next to me). He stopped next to me and started puffing up and started strutting right towards my lap. Will a jake decoy cause a subordinate gobbler to strut at a distance? He sat next to me for a good 10 minutes (I about had a heart attack) before he started puffing up and strutting
I totally agree with ya you don't need a decoy....
I think your advice is spot on man. I am a Turkey addict. Dont work, dont do anything except turkey hunt during the season here in NC. Have you had any luck using fans?
Me too. I'm in Charlotte, hunted South mountain game lands today. where have you been hunting?
@@mdriles36 im hunting down in sampson co man. Lots of turkeys. They are still fighting tho and they wont do anything but that. I got mine with a fan but that aint the way i wanted. I been going since about 3 weeks before season without a gun. Just watching and messing with that ffan. If they are fighting i can crawl right up in the middle of em as long as the hens are away
Jason Hodgws thats crazy man! They apparently just outlawed fans in SC. I think its hard enough as it is, on public land for sure, soooo much pressure this year, that I dont care what works. You think the fan is lame? Makes it too easy? I can believe you can crawl up to em like that
They dont work everytime. It has to be the right bird and the right situation with all the birds in front of you. Its pretty hard to do. If any hen sees you its over.
pleading hen calls over a solo hen deke is deadly - works on sub birds, as well as dom ones, and also/often torques off the boss hen (if she's in the picture) - jakes like to group up w/her, too ... i subscribe to being a "lover" in the woods more often than being a "fighter" ... "Henrietta", my 20+ y.o. FeatherFlex hen decoy, has seen a lot of action over the years LOL there are no guarantees with anything in turkey hunting - but moving to this has proven more successful for me more often than not
A group of several jakes or toms together will want to come to a jake decoy easier than a single by its self, the single non dominate bird wont want to fight alone.
instead of one decoy hen.would two work out or not.clifton jamison
I never use decoys in the woods. The objective of turkey hunting is to call turkeys to search for your call. I’ve had toms hang up a ridge over because he has seen my decoy.
decoys have caused me more grief than joy. in my experience when the tom sees a decoy he locks up and wont come in. i have only killed one turkey while using a decoy.
I too like them thirty yards and under, I have never shot one over 35yds.
I haven't had a turkey shy away from my decoy yet, but I think that's just because they shy away from my calling 🤷🏻
and this is why I use a lone hen decoy every time.. I fell into the marketing of how a 1/4 strut jake decoy will make them come in and beat it up every time.. I had more toms hold up and stay out of gun range or flank around my set up because , although they were big birds, they were clearly the subordinate toms... if you think you feel horrible when you shoot and miss then you haven't had a huge bird hold up at 60 yards in the timber and just gobble and strut back and forth then walk away.. makes you sick to your stomach..
I yodel alot in the woods and the deer and turkeys come from miles and miles when I'm in my climbing tree blind
I have been hunting Turkey for 20+ years.
I have never shot a bird over decoy. I'm done even trying anymore.
I had one flank me after calling him in because I believe of my Jake and hen was in the field. I called him again after he passed me and he came back and flanked me again but my biggest mistake was I should have got out of the blind and got in his path but I was thinking this time he would come in the field but I learned something that day. The Jake decoy ruined my hunt.
The turkey just don’t like my decoys... they will walk 60 yards around them.
You apparently have a lot on the ball for turkey hunting ... but you need to be a little less jerky with your body language for presenting it. Very distracting shifting, jerking, and moving around., though I can see that it is the result of the excitement in recalling a hard driving, working hunt. Thanks for the information.
Loser n hater?
@@drdwgmd14 You must be a "progressive", they always view constructive criticism with blind eyes.
@@Oldclimber1 dude, let him present in his style. Loser. Your a total scumbag. Like no other.
@@drdwgmd14 Apparently you are a border line literate of a ghetto education. "Your" is not "you're" (contraction of you are) which is the proper presentation. And you are right about the "like no other" because I am. Whereas you are just like the millions of other stupid sheep who think they have a lock on "knowledge" from the baaaing of the other sheep, and the "cool" from the echo chamber of idiots.
Only when hunting big fields would I use decoys.
I usually just have a fan and flash that if they wont commit.