Turkey decoy's for deer?

202turkey · November 18, 2011, 08:47:00 PM

Anyone ever try this to divert attention or calm skittish deer. I'm bow hunting during the firearms season here in Ky. And the deer seem to be getting really spooky. Joe.

November 18, 2011, 09:30:00 PM

I have not tried that but I have called in a ton of turkeys while trying to rattle for deer.

Bisch

centaur · November 18, 2011, 09:51:00 PM

I haven't tried it either, but I see no reason why it wouldn't be a good idea. I see turkeys and deer together all the time.

Burnsie · November 19, 2011, 11:19:00 AM

Often times put a mouth diaphragm in and make some clucks as I'm walking in, in the mornings, seems to keep things calm in the area.

Guru · November 19, 2011, 05:27:00 PM

I wouldn't!

I think the lack of movement in the decoy will just make them more nervous. Not saying they'd run away, but I sure don't think it will calm a skittish deer.

I've had them come around decoys both spring and fall, they strae right at them, when they don't move, they get nrevous...

Tajue17 · November 20, 2011, 08:12:00 AM

yes but you should tie a decoy cord to it and give it a few shakes,,, I know it will work because here I have seen turkeys from my stand browsing thru and alot of times theres a young deer behind them muscling in on the scrapings..

Burnsie hit it head on though doing the clucks while walking in..

Dave Bowers · November 20, 2011, 09:31:00 AM

I have to disagree about the lack of movement just because you can use crow decoys for confidence and they don't move. just a thought?

jcar315 · November 20, 2011, 10:01:00 AM

QuoteOriginally posted by Guru:
I wouldn't!

I think the lack of movement in the decoy will just make them more nervous. Not saying they'd run away, but I sure don't think it will calm a skittish deer.

I've had them come around decoys both spring and fall, they strae right at them, when they don't move, they get nrevous...

I'm with Guru on this one. Maybe I am in the minority but haven't had great success with decoys of any type when deer hunting.

I actually use mine now to "influence" deer away from one area and move them my way. They don't like it at all.

Friend · November 20, 2011, 04:00:00 PM

X2 - Deer have shied away from my turkey decoys,even DSD decoys and stuffers, in both the spring and fall.

kpete · November 21, 2011, 03:02:00 PM

But deer decoys can work! Not always but sometimes it is quite amazing.

Biggie Hoffman · November 21, 2011, 04:15:00 PM

QuoteOriginally posted by Dave Bowers:
I have to disagree about the lack of movement just because you can use crow decoys for confidence and they don't move. just a thought?

I agree with Dave on this one. Sorry Guru 8-)
I've used crow decoys before with good success. ONce I had a trun in the trail and the only tree I could use had the deer looking right at me before the curve. I put 2 crows up on the nside of the curve and every deer that walked down there after that looked at the decoys instead of me. I left them up all season and I'm sure several of the does at least, were regulars. They never walked the trail without looking over at the decoys

Altiman94 · November 21, 2011, 04:22:00 PM

I heard of once a guy putting a turkey decoy up on a branch near him at his level in a treestand. He thought that when the deer looked up (if they heard somethign or suspected something) at him, they would see the turkey decoy and calm themselves down. I thought it was a good theory, but never tried it myself.

That said, I have had deer in the spring come so close to my hen turkey decoys that a doe onced licked it. Not sure if that would work in the fall though when there's more hunting pressure on the deer.

jcar315 · November 21, 2011, 04:55:00 PM

Interesting use of crow decoys Biggie....decoys can elicit certain responses from deer without a doubt.

wollelybugger · November 24, 2011, 01:53:00 PM

I don't use a turkey decoy but do use a turkey call to call in deer. They seem to feed your way if you give a couple of yelps. Seems to calm them down.

202turkey · November 24, 2011, 10:24:00 PM

I was wondering because early bow season I did have deer try to run live turkeys away from feeders. In the county I live in the gun hunters have until the 27th, I think I will wait them out and head back in maybe the following weekend. Joe.