Decoys in the fall...

[tgturkeytaker]

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Hello turkey fanatics,

I am writing to find out if anyone has any tips for fall regarding decoys. In the past (2) falls, I have utilized various decoys without much luck. Only one group of mixed jakes and hens came straight to the decoys just prior to roost time on a sunny day. I am interested to know if anyone out there has any good suggestions on decoying in the fall. I own a whole flock of outlaw decoys which were out on the evening mentioned. I have had lone gobblers and gobbler flocks come to a halt and refuse to come any closer even with the wind blowing the decoys around. The same thing happened with feather flex types.

I am using a good underbrush magnum bowhunters blind and have shot (1) turkey from it under a stand of white oaks at a field edge. (No decoys)I would appreciate any help since I obviously have the affliction and the state says I can chase them until January.

[KYhunter]

Yes I use decoys in the fall,but I have found sometimes they just aren't much interested in nearly ANYTHING I do. I try to put them where they can see them- usually use three- two together and one off by itself.

[Ky Headhunter]

This is just a semi-educated guess, but I'm thinking a bunch of hen & jake decoys might work to sway a group of hens, jakes, jennies your way. In my experience, gobblers mostly want to be left the heck alone in autumn. I've seen them band in small groups, but on the occasions I've been able to watch them for awhile, they don't seem bonded to each other. More like they just so happen to be going to the same food source, and would be just as happy if they were alone. In fact, most of the toms I've seen this time of year are alone. Just my experience; your results may vary[;)]

[KyHorse]

Most of my experience using decoys in the fall have been negative. I usually do not use them and deploy the "bust the birds" up approach and call them back in. As for fall gobblers, probably 10 times as hard to kill as a spring bird unless you know where they are roosted and can get in front of them after fly down. You bust a group of fall long beards up and they are gone. As someone stated, they are just as happy alone and grouping back up may take several days.

[turk2di]

If i know the direction from which the birds will come from, i put the decoys past my blind 20-30yds or so.Many times they come only so close and stop[:(] Single birds and perhaps real small flocks are more apt to saunter over bit it seems larger fall flocks have a place in mind and unless your lucky enuf to be in thier way, will feed on past tho they may look u over repeatedly. Also, if your are using a pack in blind, deer lock onto the decoys and then onto your blind.Pee-pie[:I] Personally i like just one hen decoy with kee-kee's thrown in[;)]

what u get out, is what u put in