Are decoys necessary.

I am planning on bowhunting turkey for the first time this season and I was wondering if decoys would help or hurt.

Depends. Sometimes they work, sometimes the birds head the other way when they see them. If your hunting pressured birds on public land, they may be more of a hinderance than help. On some of the heavily pressured public lands I hunt, gobblers go away from real hens when they call

I personally think they do more harm than good. Especially on public land.

I've had good success with decoys. I think a lot of it has to do with the pressure the birds have felt through calling and decoys already. I've been hunting public land for over a month here in Iowa and I have had some good opportunities using decoys. I will also say that if you're planning on moving a lot they can be a hinderance. Carrying decoys all over the woods can be cumbersome. If where you're hunting has received significant pressure, I'd say use a hen at the most. If its not a highly pressured area, I've had good success with a jake and hen, or a jake and 2 hens.

I have had worse luck without dekes. When that gobbler gets to where he can see; and that me be 80yrds+ out. He expects to see a hen. If he does not see a hen, chances are he will hang up and leave.

I never turkey hunt with out my dekes ( a jake and hen). In 26 years of turkey hunting I have had on 2 occasions where a gobbler sees the jake and will not come in, but make a wide circle around me. I believe the reason is, he has had his butt kicked and does not want anything to do with another gobbler, even if it is a jake.

Usually when the gobbler see the set up he marches right in.

I never use decoys. I don't want to carry them into public land. Just something else to be annoyed with.

I like decoys. A lone hen. But i don't always use them.

Parkersdad wrote: I never use decoys. I don't want to carry them into public land. Just something else to be annoyed with.

I quit using them many yrs ago also..never spent but about 10 minutes in a blind. Don't like not being able to see all around.