Confidence Decoys for deer

Doug

Doug

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I know that some folks use a deer decoy, with or without antlers, in some deer hunting situations. I was putting away some hunting stuff today and looked at my wild turkey decoys...............

In the woods, you often see deer and turkeys in the same area, albeit (in my own experience) never at the same time. I did read an American article some years ago to the effect that turkeys and deer like to feed together, since the turkey's awesome eyesight and the whitetail's incredible sense of smell complement each other, and both are wary of the same predators (coyotes and people, basically). Both act as early warning for the other.

So I wonder if using turkey dekes would be a good idea for deer hunting - and especially I am thinking of bow-hunting southern Ontario white-tails. They "SHOULD" be a confidence decoy for wary deer. Has anybody tried this? Any experience and/or opinions out there?

Doug
 
decoys

The confidence decoy sounds reasonable Doug, I guess that's the reason deer sometimes hang around elk, it's beneficial to both species to have more senses out to warn of common enemies. So I guess where turkeys would feel safe then deer will too......:)
 
I read one article where a guy uses a turkey decoy placed in front of his alert deer decoy. The idea is that the real deer will see what the alert decoy is looking at and then relax. I have twice had young bucks come right up to my turkey decoys. Both times they were within 15 yards of where I sat and were puzzled as to why the decoys weren't moving. Both did the head-bob, foot stomp, snort and then noticed me sitting right beside them at 90 degrees. It was an awesome show both times.
 
Thanks Marlin. Did you have the near-deer experiences whilst TURKEY hunting, ie spring? I have heard a number of guys who have had deer approach them in the spring whilst they were out turkey hunting....

I do not have a deer decoy, have no place to keep one, think it would be a serious PITA to carry around to my stands etc etc, but my turkey dekes (four of them) fit in a small backpack so are very portable.

Doug
 
Redd and I have kicked that idea around now for two years and this year concluded that yes indeed it will work however it is illegal in Ontario. A C.O. assisted us in this conclusion from Guelph when I called in to inquire. The arguement could be made that you were in the act of "hunting" turkey out of season as there is no fall season for turkey. Not a good thing to have to defend yourself against.
 
One of our group members is a retired District Manager for the MNR and he assured us that if you were hunting with turkey decoys in the fall... you would be charged.

I use a deer decoy occasionally with and without horns and it can be very effective... I have had it attacked when set up as a doe by another doe... and once with the horns on I left in place and walked away to put another hunter in his stand and when I returned it was smahed to the ground and the leg was broken off.
 
BIGREDD said:
One of our group members is a retired District Manager for the MNR and he assured us that if you were hunting with turkey decoys in the fall... you would be charged.

I use a deer decoy occasionally with and without horns and it can be very effective... I have had it attacked when set up as a doe by another doe... and once with the horns on I left in place and walked away to put another hunter in his stand and when I returned it was smahed to the ground and the leg was broken off.
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That is unfortunate... I doubt if it would hold up in court but just being charged would be a pain. I have seen guys use a rabbit decoy for coyotes, I guarantee they were not hunting rabbits!!
I use a Blue Heron decoy and an owl decoy when hunting... but I never hunt herons or owls.
 
I'm sure an arguement like yours bill c68 would fall on deaf ears when a C.O. has your crossbow, climbing stand, range finder, and all your other hunting gear in his truck. Turkey violations here in Ontario are high and C.O.'s are looking for anyone walking a thin line.
 
A buddy and I were stopped by a C.O. while walking down the road with an empty shotgun in front of my house in August. He asked what I was doing... I told the truth and said that I was going to look at the Turkeys in the food plot. He asked what the shotgun was for... I responded that it was for the Fox that has been hanging around if I see him.
He got all pissy and said he could charge me for harassing or hunting turkeys out of season just on the weight of what I had said...
It was touch and go for a while and I really thought he was gonna charge me until my buddy stepped in and said we had no intention of hunting or harassing Turkeys and that is not what was said!
The C.O. realized at that time that it was two against one in court as to the gist of the conversation and backed off. No doubt in my mind that he would have charged me if I was alone.:(

I had an Eastern Bronze Domestic Tom escape from my pen once and while trying to recapture him I used a box trap and a decoy beside the pen. The C.O. showed up with an OPP and he told me that I could be charged for that as well. He told me to shoot the bird when it showed up... it never came back. But it did make the papers for a wild cluster f**k and shootemup on the 115 hwy.:runaway: :D
 
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so if your turkey hunting and a deer shows up.....ahhhhhh neaver mind:rolleyes:
just another kick in the nutz to show us we are doing what they say and not what we are doing:rolleyes: ....
gotta love it.......im deer hunting and they have the right to say im turkey hunting:rolleyes:
 
Thanks guys. I had not even CONSIDERED that angle!!! Of course, if you don't have a guilty mind, you tend not to think of what "ILLEGAL" thing you "MIGHT" be doing if somebody with a bit of authority and an axe to grind shows up..........

Sheesh!

I was also thinking that the turkey dekes would be good for coyote hunting, since I have seen them come in to my calls in the spring (probably out of curiosity as to what on earth is making that NOISE!?!?). So the same argument would apply - I am out there with my varmint gun but hoping to ambush a turkey. DUHHHHHH.

I think the dekes are not the only turkeys here.............

Oh well, another theory out the window.


Doug
 
bill c68 said:
That is unfortunate... I doubt if it would hold up in court but just being charged would be a pain. I have seen guys use a rabbit decoy for coyotes, I guarantee they were not hunting rabbits!!
I use a Blue Heron decoy and an owl decoy when hunting... but I never hunt herons or owls.
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The difference here is that rabbit season is open as well while you're hunting coyotes. While turkey season and deer season don't overlap.

I had two deer come to my turkey decoys a couple years ago. A buck and a doe. The buck sniffed my decoys then followed my scent right to me and sniffed my boot, then walked away. I almost shjt!:D
 
..........and I should not be bashing COs. They do a thankless job with nowhere near enough resources. But when I hear about (and have experienced first hand) the threats of stupid charges against LAW-ABIDING hunters, it drives me to distraction. There are poachers and other scum-sucking lowlife out there that wantonly RAPE our fish and game resources, and THEY are the bad guys, not us law-abiding types. Like BIGREDD's experience........

Anyways there are no doubt going to be some COs who read this thread and my intent is not and was not to bash COs. I just think there is common sense that can sometimes be in short supply out there, and this would appear to be one of those cases where I would HOPE that a CO would use common sense and not abuse the authority granted to them under our (Ontario) laws. I am glad I posted this idea here and found out that the interpretation would be highly unpleasant for me if my friendly local CO happened to visit...................

Doug
 
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