I swear I'm not trying to stir anything up just trying to begin my turkey education and I'm quite certain this is not the question to start with but it's the one on my mind so here goes. Can turkeys be consistently taken without decoys? Do most turkey hunters hunt with or without decoys, or is this practice akin to deer hunters hunting over corn? Don't FLAME ME! I seriously want to know.

question 1- not by me. question 2- Decoys make it easier!
I didn't say EASY. its legal to use decoys.
They have a visual to draw them in. Placement and calling helps to. Roasting a bird is one way to know where to start on a morning hunt. Corn helps turkeys love it to.
people have different option's about all hunting methods. some hate rifles some hate cameras some hate corn some wont use climbers some wont roost a bird.

1. YES. I killed LOTS of birds way before decoys were legal to use. I have used decoys on one (1) kill. I tote enough junk when I'm turkey hunting and I'm too lazy to add decoys to the list.

2. I don't know what "most" turkey hunters do.

I have never lead off attempting to use a decoy to kill a turkey but it is in my bag of trips. I have a 3 or 4 routines I go thru and when one tactic doesn't work I change things up. I have had turkeys stop when they see the decoy and never take another step and I've had them turn is ode out and when they spy it. They have their place but it's mostly in the backseat.

I'm kinda asking with a particular spot in mind. I've seen turkeys from time to time but the property is VERY small so there will be no moving if he gets hung up. He either comes to this spot or that's it, no turkey.

never used a decoy except when bowhunting. Killed couple hunnert without a decoy.

It's nearly impossible to hunt turkeys on very small pieces unless you have a food source.

I've never killed a turkey with a decoy and I've killed several.... But I setup where a turkey wouldn't be able to see a decoy until they are within range

1) Yes turkeys can be killed consistently with decoys in certain situations. They are deadly in most cases on stubborn field turkeys. I rarely use a decoy hunting timber.

2) I do not know what most turkey hunters do nor do I care as long as it's legal.

I rarely use them. I generally don't need them in the woods. They can be very beneficial around large fields and pastures.

I'll readily admit that I hunted a tough bird last year that seemed to go the opposite direction from me every time. Near the end of the season I resorted to setting up a decoy near his preferred roost location. My intent was to never call and just let the decoy lure him in. It might have worked, but when a lonely bird from neighboring property got too vocal, I had to move and change plans.

I think most old guys in AL like me that have been hunting them for years don't use decoys. But nearly every TV hunter uses them, so most of the younger hunters use them. They certainly can do more harm than good on educated turkeys.

If you are a beginning hunter and have a lot of open land or fields or pastures that you can hunt, then you might be more likely to kill something by using them.

I wouldn't compare it to using corn. They are legal everywhere now, so there's nothing unethical about using them. I'd say it's more like traditional bowhunters looking down on compound users, and both groups looking down on x bow users.

I've killed several over the years on a 21 acre tract, so don't be afraid to hunt a small acreage. If you can hear him gobbling, you can call him up. Good luck!

I use em bowhunting and find that decoys do about as much harm as good, toss up as to the bird coming in or running away. Seen em do both. It is cool to have a gobbler come in and trash yer decoy 30 FEET in front of you though...

Never seen any need for one gun hunting

I hunt ALOT of public land and decoys can be dangerous if another hunter happens to be hunting the same gobbler your set up on, and spots the decoy. I've had good luck fanning them on private land fields before, and that's a blast to watch if they commit to it, but I hardly ever use one when hunting in timber. Normally in timber, if it's not too open, he will get close enough for a shot when he is looking for the hen.

Decoys are a tool. When one is not dependent on them then I see no problem with them being used. If you want to be a good turkey hunter then learn to hunt with out decoys, once you get that done use them as a tool for certain times and places. Good luck.

Use them in the evening.

I really only use them huntin a field...when I'm in the woods, I never fool with dekes....I've killed most without decoys but no I wouldn't compare it to corn for deer...I'd compare it to a grunt call if you were to make a comparison because sometimes they work, sometimes turkeys will turn the other way

Yes. Esp in the woods; on pastures, I've killed more w/dekes. Just my experience, but I always carry them.

I guess I'm just Ole school.I learned to hunt turkeys 35 years ago and have never seen the need for them. Not opposed to others using them but I'm not dragging them around.

Well I don't guess I need any more crap to carry around, so if I don't need 'em then I guess I don't need 'em. Thanks for everybody's opinion.

Smells if you do get some just get the $10 foam ones from wal-mart they will fold up so you can carry them in a back pack they work fine and weigh almost nothing..

I usually tote 'em with me. A strutter deke can bring 'em running or send them off the other way even faster. My favorite shoice is a non-strutter jake if I am gonna take only one. Hens can make 'em hang up so make sure you place 'em close enough to spit on.