MT_Sourdough Report post Posted April 17, 2018 Do any of y'all paint your decoys to imitate a Merriam Turkey? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
naturebob Report post Posted April 17, 2018 Leave the decoys at home. Not neeeded Decoys way overated. Just sound like a Turkey.............BOB! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MT_Sourdough Report post Posted April 17, 2018 Leave the decoys at home. Not neeeded Decoys way overated. Just sound like a Turkey.............BOB! I knew YOU were going yo say that, but I already bought the dang decoys, so I plan to put them out in front of my blind with the lawn furniture and pink flamingos. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Couzer Report post Posted April 17, 2018 I dont see why you could not, while out hunting sand hill crane I ran into Jim Odell the AZGF bird specialist. He painted his own crane decoys. I would shoot him a Email and ask him, hes pretty knowledgeable and would respond. His email is usually listed in the Regs by Grouse page. Something about the ultra violet paints birds can detect better, I think. Anyways, hope this helps out, let me know what he says if you do email him. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Roosevelt Mark Report post Posted April 17, 2018 Don't you just drive around? 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yotebuster Report post Posted April 17, 2018 Theres actually a company out there making merriams decoys now. I dont think it matters but part of the fun of decoy hunting is the decoys themselves. If you just flat wanna kill a turkey, I hate to admit it but Bob is right, they dont really help you that much unless archery hunting out of a blind. If youre running and gunning with a shotgun just lean up against a treee and hold still and call and theyll come into shotgun range just fine. I think more turkeys get buggered by guys trying to quick set up their decoys when they have one coming in hot then get killed by decoys. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
120carp Report post Posted April 17, 2018 avian-x decoys make merriams. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TRKHNTR Report post Posted April 17, 2018 I use decoys for archery and when I mentor youths adds to the excitement and yes I was bored one cold snowy winter morning so I painted my DSD's to look like Merriam's. Bob is correct I would rather know my calling brought in the birds not the decoy's. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rossislider Report post Posted April 17, 2018 Draysen, my 13 year old, is determined to get his first big game kill with his bow this weekend. So I absolutely plan to pull out the decoys. But they are not painted. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PRDATR Report post Posted April 17, 2018 We successfully used them twice last week to take birds. First setup was done about 25 minutes before sunrise with the birds roosted about 60 yards away. We set them up in the road and the birds came in about 10-15 minutes after they flew down after we called once. Nice thing we were back into some mesquites and the toms were concentrated on the decoys giving me a little time to pick my shot. In the late afternoon we hiked into a bottomland of hackberry and mesquites that had some standing water and grass. We set up the decoys and moved back about 35 yards to setup. This was about 5:30 and did a couple of calls on a slate then would call a little about every 20 minutes. At 7 a couple showed up into view about 60 yards out we waited then called once and they gradually came up to the decoys and stayed put for about 1 minuted giving me a shot. First time I have used decoys but definitely helped in my success. The first bird the afternoon before gobbled to a call as we were walking in so we setup waited a couple of minutes and called. He came in silent and presented a shot at about 35 yards, no decoys were used. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yotebuster Report post Posted April 17, 2018 Draysen, my 13 year old, is determined to get his first big game kill with his bow this weekend. So I absolutely plan to pull out the decoys. But they are not painted. Do you have a blind? Thats the most important tool of trying to kill a turkey with a bow. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rossislider Report post Posted April 17, 2018 Draysen, my 13 year old, is determined to get his first big game kill with his bow this weekend. So I absolutely plan to pull out the decoys. But they are not painted. Do you have a blind? Thats the most important tool of trying to kill a turkey with a bow. I do and will be taking it. I 'm thinking I will probably head to our spot Thursday evening after dark to put it up so it is in place Friday morning. At the very least it will keep us a little dryer since rain is in the forecast. Both Draysen and I are relatively novice turkey hunters. We both now have a couple of seasons of "chasing" them and he has one turkey under his belt. But this will be our first time solo without my friend/mentor who, despite his jokester ways , has taught us most of what we know about turkeys. I've been practicing hard with the calls and hitting up the seminars, while Draysen has been practicing with his bow DAILY for months. It should be interesting. At the very least, it will be fun. We plan to head up north to units 1/27 tomorrow night. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TRKHNTR Report post Posted April 17, 2018 Draysen, my 13 year old, is determined to get his first big game kill with his bow this weekend. So I absolutely plan to pull out the decoys. But they are not painted. Do you have a blind? Thats the most important tool of trying to kill a turkey with a bow. I do and will be taking it. I 'm thinking I will probably head to our spot Thursday evening after dark to put it up so it is in place Friday morning. At the very least it will keep us a little dryer since rain is in the forecast. Both Draysen and I are relatively novice turkey hunters. We both now have a couple of seasons of "chasing" them and he has one turkey under his belt. But this will be our first time solo without my friend/mentor who, despite his jokester ways , has taught us most of what we know about turkeys. I've been practicing hard with the calls and hitting up the seminars, while Draysen has been practicing with his bow DAILY for months. It should be interesting. At the very least, it will be fun. We plan to head up north to units 1/27 tomorrow night. you have no friends, but PM me who your mentor is I need all the help I can get this weekend. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rossislider Report post Posted April 17, 2018 Draysen, my 13 year old, is determined to get his first big game kill with his bow this weekend. So I absolutely plan to pull out the decoys. But they are not painted.Do you have a blind? Thats the most important tool of trying to kill a turkey with a bow. I do and will be taking it. I 'm thinking I will probably head to our spot Thursday evening after dark to put it up so it is in place Friday morning. At the very least it will keep us a little dryer since rain is in the forecast. Both Draysen and I are relatively novice turkey hunters. We both now have a couple of seasons of "chasing" them and he has one turkey under his belt. But this will be our first time solo without my friend/mentor who, despite his jokester ways , has taught us most of what we know about turkeys. I've been practicing hard with the calls and hitting up the seminars, while Draysen has been practicing with his bow DAILY for months. It should be interesting. At the very least, it will be fun. We plan to head up north to units 1/27 tomorrow night. you have no friends, but PM me who your mentor is I need all the help I can get this weekend. Yea, I have heard that rumor about you. Draysen offered to give you a little coaching. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
yotebuster Report post Posted April 17, 2018 Draysen, my 13 year old, is determined to get his first big game kill with his bow this weekend. So I absolutely plan to pull out the decoys. But they are not painted.Do you have a blind? Thats the most important tool of trying to kill a turkey with a bow. I do and will be taking it. I 'm thinking I will probably head to our spot Thursday evening after dark to put it up so it is in place Friday morning. At the very least it will keep us a little dryer since rain is in the forecast. Both Draysen and I are relatively novice turkey hunters. We both now have a couple of seasons of "chasing" them and he has one turkey under his belt. But this will be our first time solo without my friend/mentor who, despite his jokester ways , has taught us most of what we know about turkeys. I've been practicing hard with the calls and hitting up the seminars, while Draysen has been practicing with his bow DAILY for months. It should be interesting. At the very least, it will be fun. We plan to head up north to units 1/27 tomorrow night. Pm sent Share this post Link to post Share on other sites