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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: deerhunter_w on April 21, 2016, 07:11:00 AM
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Yesterday end up with another close encounter. I pulled into my parking spot yesterday afternoon and steped out of my car. Looked to my right and there was a Tom standing. He worked his way back into the woods. I quickly grabed my vest, decoys, blind, and chair. I worked my awround to where I thought he would go. After setting up,i have a few quiet calls and waited. It wasn't long he gobbled about 75 yards away.he worked his way in, and when he saw the decoys he buggered. I quickly called again and he setteled down but wouldn't commit. He strutted at 30 yards for what seems like hours. He finally worked off into a valley. It wasn't long and he was walking behind the blind and worked his way around to the left but stayed out of range. This continued all evening until 30 min before dark. Any suggestions would be appreciated. My only thought was maybe he's a subordinate gobbler. Or something was wrong with my decoys or setup.
Thanks
Jeff
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Everybody has different experiences depending on where they hunt. I bowhunt where there is a lot of shotgun pressure and these hunters usually run and gun educating the birds. This is just my opinion on decoys. I have hunted and bow killed birds over cheap feather flex, pretty boy, and B mobile decoys. The gobblers sometimes would just not finish to the decoys. Turkeys would be in shotgun range, but not close enough for me to get a good bow shot. Three years ago I purchased the DSD breeding pair. My success rate on finishing birds in these heavily pressured areas went way up. These decoys aren't 100%, but have allowed me to finish birds more consistently. Including tagging out the last three years with a stick and youth seasons with my kids, these decoys have accounted for 12 turkeys. If I'm bowhunting for turkeys my DSD will always be in my bag of tricks. One of the reasons I think the DSD Jake is so effective is the body posture. I do believe decoys in the strutting position spook the subordinate birds more. Good luck with the rest of your season.
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I'm using the avian x decoys.
Jeff
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I have seen the avian X decoys and they look really good. Some gobblers just don't play fair!!
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Turkeys just do what they do. And that's something different every time. I have been hunting them since the 70's and there is sometimes no rhyme or reason how they act.
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Try just a hen(s) decoy.
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Regardless of the decoy, gobblers can become decoy shy after a while. The later in the season, the more likely it is to happen. Can also become blind shy if heavily hunted. Might give it a try without a decoy and see what happens.
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If he's young, or pressured, try hens only. If he's an old warrior, mount the jake behind a hen on the ground. Might get him charged up and get him to commit.
Cheap dekes work, but I think the lifelike ones hold a tom's attention longer. I use AvianX.
Just my two cents. Good luck my friend!
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I would have to agree with warden609, I used to use cheap decoys and NEVER had my decoys been attacked or anything like that until I bought a DSD hen and jake. I've been on 4 hunts since I bought them and I've had hens attack my DSD hen and gobblers I've got all of it on video and pictures. So if you want to take the "was it my not so real decoys that spooked that bird" off the list just buy the DSD's and you'll never have to worry about it being your decoys fault again.
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I'll post some pics later and you can see for yourself how much like a real turkey they look like.
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I'll post some pics later and you can see for yourself how much like a real turkey they look like.
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The avian decoys are a Lot like the dsd. Just frustrated. Blew an opportunity last Sunday when a big Tom caught me drawing my bow at 5 yards, and now this one hung up at 30. But it's going better this year. At least I'm seeing a few turkeys.
Jeff
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(http://i.imgur.com/ZJcXbAe.jpg)
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(http://i.imgur.com/mJzmMNul.jpg)
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This is my hen and jake getting whooped on at same time. i took a picture of a video i filmed so the quality isnt that great
(http://i.imgur.com/FIZYNOZl.jpg)
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Great post with good questions and solid answers. Nice decoy and pics Ethan.
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Nice looking decoys. I had the hunt of my life yesterday. I managed to take my first turkey with archery gear. And it was with my longbow.
Jeff
(http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t487/deerhunter_w/Mobile%20Uploads/20160422_181103_zpssaqabjze.jpg) (http://s1062.photobucket.com/user/deerhunter_w/media/Mobile%20Uploads/20160422_181103_zpssaqabjze.jpg.html)
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Glad you got it done. Congrats
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Congrats! Those dekes look great. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Put up a hen and a jake decoy ... Then watch what that old gobbler does
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Put up a hen and a jake decoy ... Then watch what that old gobbler does
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I have been running a hen and a Jake. The picture above only shows the Jake.
Jeff