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First time hunting turkey. ..

ltcdoty
This morning I went turkey hunting with a dairy farmer friend way up here in upstate New York on the Vermont border.  Three hens and a Tom started towards up and our decoys. About ninety yards out, one of the hens must have said" Oh look! lets go over to that field yonder. ...and the Tom followed. Oh well, it was cool listening to the turkeys while they were still up in the trees, and watching the male fan.
I have a question for the turkey hunters... We had a male decoy and a few hens. Would it have been helpful to also have a male call.

Could that have made a difference using a male decoy. It was obvious that  the Tom had his mind on the three hens, and didn't give us a quick look...see.

When I got out of the Air Force back in 1972, New York Fish & Game just started a stocking program way up here from birds captured in Pennsylvania. It has been overwhelmingly successful.....there are turkeys all over the place up here. I could get easily addicted to this.
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • guntech59
    If you were deer hunting the damn turkeys would be surrounding you.  At least, that is how it works for me.  LOL

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  • charliemeyer007
    Had 100's here for years, then some sickness came and wipe them out.  Have a few around this year.  A decoy that has movement and a good call will work.
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  • Smitty500mag
    They were just screwing with you. They knew you were there and one of them said to the others "lets make them think we're going to walk up to their stupid decoys and then we'll turn and go over there."   :D
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  • danielgage
    a jake in a breeding position on a hen works great
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  • Chief Shaway

    It depends on where they are in the breeding cycle.

    early I’ll use a jake decoy.

    when they are henned up, just a hen.

    When the hens leave him to set on the eggs, good chance he’ll be back to check on the lone hen he heard earlier.

    Either way, you just never know with the danged things.

    Brain smaller than a ping pong ball, still outsmarts you. Lots.

    Good luck to you.

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  • jimdeere
    It’s humbling to get outsmarted by one of the dumbest birds in the world. Been there...
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  • hillbille
    took a week off once to turkey hunt, spent more time running folks off property than hunting on next to last day walked out of woods about 10:30 and had 7 turkeys sitting on the peak of roof, on my house, figured right then it was easier to go to grocery store and get one........
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  • asop
    They are the dumbest birds BUT they are also the whyly.  Hunted them for many years.  In a group there was always at least one with it's head up looking around.  Always used a single hen decoy.   Make sure the decoy has no "shine" to it.  Many reflect horribly in the sun, especially the head area.  And don't over call.  A simple box type call works well.  Good luck.
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  • randomnut

    I never use decoys. Why would the 3 hens with the gobbler want to add another? That's why they left

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  • TrinityScrimshaw
    Do not use a call that mimics a male turkey, especially during the spring season.  You may end up attracting more other hunters then turkeys.  I always use at least a hen decoy.  If you call, and they come in there had better be something they expect to see, or they will key in on you, and with their keen eye sight they can peg you pretty quick.  Your bird was hen'd up.  It's early in the season, and when the hens start to not pay attention to the Toms. they will come running to your set up & calls.  A Jake decoy can be useful in coaxing a Tom in, but if he has a sure thing its hard to break him away form it.  I have been hunting the past two mornings on my farm in Jefferson County NY, and all the Toms were with hens.  I think it is going to be a good late season, once the hens commit to sitting on their nest.  I spent the last two day trying to call in birds for two neighbor kids who just started turkey hunting.  I'm hoping to at least get one of them if not both a bird.

    Good luck.

    Trinity +++
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