Why I'd never "reap"
Why I'd never "reap"
I've hunted turkeys for 39 years this year and started waterfowl hunting while in high school about 13 years before I caught the "turkey disease". During @ 51 years afield, I've had decoys shot at with a high power rifle three times, a 22 twice, and with a shotgun three times. When foam decoys first came on the market in the 80's, I bought one and stuffed it with white plastic bags to fill it out and remove the creases. I can still vividly remember, while working a gobbler in a field on a WMA, the hen decoy suddenly exploding in a spray of white. The shooter was behind me and I was stunned and deafened by the muzzle blast and simultaneous destruction of the decoy. When I recovered my wits, I tried to run the culprit down, and afterwards was glad I didn't catch up to him. The shreaded hen decoy hung at the WMA check station for about 20 years until it just fell apart. I've done some dumb, downright stupid, things in my life, but knowing what I know and have experienced, trying to physically emulate a gobbler in full strut in order to kill it, Is probably one of the most idiotic things I've ever seen. If that's the only way you can kill a turkey, and it means that much to you "to score", have at it at potential considerable risk and peril. I'd suggest that you'd be a lot safer if you'd learn how to call turkeys.
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Re: Why I'd never "reap"
The part that bugs me is everyone just assumes that because you fanned a turkey you can't kill a turkey ! One of the best turkey hunters I ever met from Georgia told me how he usually carries a fan in his vest for some of those stubborn ones !
And on the stuffed decoy getting blown up so I take it that hens were in season at that time ?
I have had guys stalk and shoot at my decoys and I've also had guys stalk up to me in the bush where I was calling with no decoy !
I feel a lot safer crawling across a field with a fan in front of 240 pound fat guy than hiding in the bush calling lol
And on the stuffed decoy getting blown up so I take it that hens were in season at that time ?
I have had guys stalk and shoot at my decoys and I've also had guys stalk up to me in the bush where I was calling with no decoy !
I feel a lot safer crawling across a field with a fan in front of 240 pound fat guy than hiding in the bush calling lol
- Hoobilly
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Re: Why I'd never "reap"
It’s bad that there’s those guys who stalk and shoot decoys. I guess they are piss poor hunters whose only desire is to just kill a turkey and will shoot non moving decoys
- guesswho
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Re: Why I'd never "reap"
Non moving are the only ones I can hit. And even that gets sketchy, depending on how fast the truck is going when I shoot.
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Re: Why I'd never "reap"
It was during a gobbler only spring season which made shooting a hen decoy even more egregious. I hunt with decoys infrequently, but when I do I get on the other side of the decoys and make sure that I could see another hunter and not be in their line-of-sight.
Last edited by decoykrvr on March 21st, 2019, 3:18 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Why I'd never "reap"
It’s lots of fun on private ground. Pretty solid adrenaline rush.
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Re: Why I'd never "reap"
Yup I am always very careful where I set up and what view I have etc last year I had 3 jakes come into my setup of jake and hen decoy. I could see earlier a guy come in on the other side of the field and set out a couple decoys. I guess he couldn't stand it that I didn't shoot at the jakes because I watched as he stood up walked out and pointed his gun at my set up and fired . He then turned grabbed his decoys and ran into the far woods.decoykrvr wrote: ↑March 21st, 2019, 3:14 pm It was during a gobbler only spring season which made shooting a hen decoy even more egregious. I hunt with decoys infrequently, but when I do I get on the other side of the decoys and make sure that I could see another hunter and not be in their line-of-sight.
Re: Why I'd never "reap"
You should try antelope at 80 mph with a 20 gauge to sharpen up your shooting skills
I was not his father but he was my son,,MAK IV, 10-15-1993 - 4-22-2007
"Rest in Peace my Little Buddy"
"Rest in Peace my Little Buddy"
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Re: Why I'd never "reap"
Naw just get buck antelope decoy and reap one !!
- Hoobilly
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Re: Why I'd never "reap"
Wouldn’t the real rush be on public ground!?
Guesswho.. my ZipLoc brother from another mother!
Re: Why I'd never "reap"
I’ve tried it ONCE on public ground in an area a long way from a parking area. Just used a fan though. I don’t care for anything red, white, or blue on my body in the woods
Re: Why I'd never "reap"
During the off season, it's good practice to shoot at different speeds at stop signs, etc. Problem is distinguishing your pattern from the others.
Re: Why I'd never "reap"
Come on out and I'm sure we can fix you up with something that will get you shaking hands with the "Grim Reaper"
I was not his father but he was my son,,MAK IV, 10-15-1993 - 4-22-2007
"Rest in Peace my Little Buddy"
"Rest in Peace my Little Buddy"
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Re: Why I'd never "reap"
Out there every year twice and I’m a good two stepper lol
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Re: Why I'd never "reap"
After a few more folks get shot, hopefully more state agencies will start looking to outlaw it.
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Re: Why I'd never "reap"
Even the times I’ve seen it on TV hunts the miss rate is high- bet it’s really higher in “real” life. For those of us that prescribe to the “theory” that hunting pressure educates/changes behaviors this one would hammer it home in a turkey brain lol.
Never done it myself but it does seem slightly dangerous. Even on private ground you have trespassing. If they’re ballsy enough to trespass then they’re capable of anything...
Never done it myself but it does seem slightly dangerous. Even on private ground you have trespassing. If they’re ballsy enough to trespass then they’re capable of anything...
“Son, Turkey HUNTING starts at 40yds and in. If you can kill him farther that’s all you’re doing- KILLING. Make him think he’s answering you, call him up, kill him closer-Man! Now that’s what it’s meant to be…” Johnnie Keel ( an Old Pro most never know)
Re: Why I'd never "reap"
I’ve done it. It works. Hadn’t done it in a long time. I take a fan with me some but hadn’t had to use it. Rather them work the call.
But the name reaping is stupid. It’s called fanning. But whatever. To each there own but
I understand why you disapprove of it.
But the name reaping is stupid. It’s called fanning. But whatever. To each there own but
I understand why you disapprove of it.
TURKEYS
COYOTES
DEER
SQUIRRELS
(all in this order)
COYOTES
DEER
SQUIRRELS
(all in this order)
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Re: Why I'd never "reap"
If people getting shot was a reason to outlaw it then you wouldn't be able to hunt turkeys at all !! LMAOdeerhunt1988 wrote: ↑March 22nd, 2019, 5:07 am After a few more folks get shot, hopefully more state agencies will start looking to outlaw it.
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Re: Why I'd never "reap"
Michigan banned it last year. Technically it was always illegal as our book readnothing "but wind powered decoys" But like alot of game laws left alot for interpretation. It became debated on our forum.deerhunt1988 wrote: ↑March 22nd, 2019, 5:07 am After a few more folks get shot, hopefully more state agencies will start looking to outlaw it.
DNR took notice and stated last year in bold in the digest in bold it was illegal
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Re: Why I'd never "reap"
Ya Michigan sucks lol
- Stinky J Picklestein
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Re: Why I'd never "reap"
Are you allowed to move the fan with your own "wind"?ICDEDTURKES wrote: ↑March 22nd, 2019, 9:56 am Michigan banned it last year. Technically it was always illegal as our book readnothing "but wind powered decoys" But like alot of game laws left alot for interpretation. It became debated on our forum.
DNR took notice and stated last year in bold in the digest in bold it was illegal
- ICDEDTURKES
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Re: Why I'd never "reap"
Stupid law ain't a bird here to reap anyways
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Re: Why I'd never "reap"
Yup no turkeys in Michigan move on !!
Plus I could never kill one now anyways lol
Plus I could never kill one now anyways lol
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Re: Why I'd never "reap"
You can't even walk out with it to stake into the groundStinky J Picklestein wrote: ↑March 22nd, 2019, 11:36 amAre you allowed to move the fan with your own "wind"?ICDEDTURKES wrote: ↑March 22nd, 2019, 9:56 am Michigan banned it last year. Technically it was always illegal as our book readnothing "but wind powered decoys" But like alot of game laws left alot for interpretation. It became debated on our forum.
DNR took notice and stated last year in bold in the digest in bold it was illegal