So Saturday was the opening day of the Louisiana turkey season. A co-worker and I camped out at a WMA that I have been scouting. He is very green, he has only hunted a few times, and has take one turkey that I called in for him when we both lived in Oklahoma. We had a decent morning hunt, found one one on the roost that gobbled his head off until he flew down and walked directly away from us. He was still excited and remarked how he sounded so different that those Oklahoma Rios! I have been trying to explain the Rios versus eastern to him, but that is another story . . .
Fast forward to the evening hunt, we went in early, and went in about as deep as we could go, judging by my poor map of the area, somewhere around 1 mile in, unfortunately, there are some locals that access the place from private ground. . . Anyway, there was only one truck in the parking lot when we got there, and he was leaving. My friend asked if we could use the decoys. Now, he has been spending time watching turkey videos, even some of mine where I have a decoy out. He has never hunted over decoys and really wanted to see turkeys interacting with the fakes. I told him I am pretty nervous about decoys on public land and told him about people sneaking around and shooting decoys. He didn't want to believe me, he said, but they don't move and they don't look that real.
For what ever reason, I gave in and took the decoys with us. We hiked way back, past where they roosted that morning in hopes of catching them coming back to roost. I told him that if we are going to set the decoys out we have to make sure we can see in front of use to make sure we see if someone is walking, and set to the side enough that if someone sneaks behind us that we don't catch pellets if that mistake the decoys for real birds.
We sat there for a couple hours, I would call a little bit here and there, suddenly, I heard something right behind me walking. I shift eyes left and there is a hen in the path 10 yards from me. I whisper to him that there is a hen here DON'T MOVE. I could tell when he saw here because he was visibly shaking. She walked straight up to the decoys and began aggressively purring and pecking at my DSD hen. My friend was wide eyed and grinning, he had never had one that close to him before. At this moment, I was happy I set out the fakes so that I could give a new hunter this feeling. Suddenly, the hen scurried off and that happy feeling was replaced . . .
BOOM!! A guy walking the path shot my jake decoy! I immediately stood up to let him know they were decoys. Scared the crap out of me, my buddy was ghost white . . . A few words were exchanged and we parted ways. He was at least 60 yards from the decoys and barely peppered it.
So, lesson learned, the hard way. The decoys will stay in the garage until I go on my Oklahoma hunt on private land. You never think things like this will happen to you, but things can go bad in an instant. Luckily, I was forward thinking enough to make sure we were out of the line of fire, but it is not a good feeling to hear a load of copper plated 5's (one is stuck in my decoy) fly by at 15 yards.
Stay safe you all!
Geez. Some real brain deads out there. I'm glad you guys didn't get hurt.
Glad you are ok. This is what we all fear, not the decoys, but shot flying by us. I got some #5's in the face many years ago while pheasant hunting, scary deal. I am lucky that there is a lot of open land up here and for the most part people respect other hunters. Good luck and be safe. :OGani:
Glad you are ok. I am not sure I wouldn't have said a few explicits and a whole speech about how unethical they was.
Quote from: snapper1982 on March 30, 2015, 10:19:10 AM
Glad you are ok. I am not sure I wouldn't have said a few explicits and a whole speech about how unethical they was.
Like I said, there were words exchanged . . . OG is family friendly, so I did not type about our "conversation" :funnyturkey:
Happened to me when I was "using the facilities", no good rat was gone when I got back. I heard the shot, scared me to death.
jeez glad it didnt turn out worse that guy must of been awful trigger happy
and how in the world did this guy think he could sneak that close to turkey what a dummy
Wow!
I don't deal with Stupid very well. I'd probably have made the local news.
I'm mad just reading about this... I agree and leave the decoys at home when on public land
maybe u should fill them decoys with some tannerite and stay a safe distance away i bet he would think twice before he shoots a bird he walked up on again
Quote from: WV TURKEY THUG on March 30, 2015, 12:43:56 PM
maybe u should fill them decoys with some tannerite and stay a safe distance away i bet he would think twice before he shoots a bird he walked up on again
lol, I may do that myself! Sounds like fun!
Quote from: WV TURKEY THUG on March 30, 2015, 12:24:01 PM
and how in the world did this guy think he could sneak that close to turkey what a dummy
I have done it, both incidentally and purposefully...
Still no excuse for taking such a shot, but some of these decoys are pretty realistic... And, seeing a live hen scurry away from a jake, might have made the scene a bit more convincing for a hunter.
Glad everyone is ok, and that no damage was done, (except to the decoy and possibly some underwear).
Jblackburn, what kind of Jake decoy were you using out of curiosity?
Wow. Good thing you didnt get hurt.
Quote from: Marc on March 30, 2015, 01:13:46 PM
Quote from: WV TURKEY THUG on March 30, 2015, 12:24:01 PM
and how in the world did this guy think he could sneak that close to turkey what a dummy
I have done it, both incidentally and purposefully...
Still no excuse for taking such a shot, but some of these decoys are pretty realistic... And, seeing a live hen scurry away from a jake, might have made the scene a bit more convincing for a hunter.
Glad everyone is ok, and that no damage was done, (except to the decoy and possibly some underwear).
Jblackburn, what kind of Jake decoy were you using out of curiosity?
with that tailfan thing? lol jk i guess it all depends on the terrain ur hunting
What worries me just as much is someone with a rifle 200 yards out and there I set in close proximity to the decoys. How in the world these states think that rifles and turkey decoys in combonation aren't dangerous is beyond me.
Quote from: Marc on March 30, 2015, 01:13:46 PM
Quote from: WV TURKEY THUG on March 30, 2015, 12:24:01 PM
and how in the world did this guy think he could sneak that close to turkey what a dummy
I have done it, both incidentally and purposefully...
Still no excuse for taking such a shot, but some of these decoys are pretty realistic... And, seeing a live hen scurry away from a jake, might have made the scene a bit more convincing for a hunter.
Glad everyone is ok, and that no damage was done, (except to the decoy and possibly some underwear).
Jblackburn, what kind of Jake decoy were you using out of curiosity?
Then hen knew he was coming, she hurried off probably 45 seconds to a minute before he shot. I really don't think he saw the hen, but I really did not ask him either.
The jake is a Pretty Boy Jr with a repainted head. Looks good, but not that good.
Quote from: WV TURKEY THUG on March 30, 2015, 01:22:28 PM
Quote from: Marc on March 30, 2015, 01:13:46 PM
Quote from: WV TURKEY THUG on March 30, 2015, 12:24:01 PM
and how in the world did this guy think he could sneak that close to turkey what a dummy
I have done it, both incidentally and purposefully...
Still no excuse for taking such a shot, but some of these decoys are pretty realistic... And, seeing a live hen scurry away from a jake, might have made the scene a bit more convincing for a hunter.
Glad everyone is ok, and that no damage was done, (except to the decoy and possibly some underwear).
Jblackburn, what kind of Jake decoy were you using out of curiosity?
with that tailfan thing? lol jk i guess it all depends on the terrain ur hunting
Not a strutting jake. The terrain was pine woods that are fairly open and the decoys were in a mowed path that the LDWF keeps up. The trail is probably 5-7 yards wide
living in wv were rifles are legal i have yet to see one person on public land with a decoy. but ive only seen one person i can recall use a rifle on public land. i good portion of rifle kills are from people shooting them from there vehicle and checking them in acting like they legally killed it. wv is bad for turkey poachers. but there is some people that do legally hunt them with a rifle dont get me wrong. decoys are not popular in my area vary rarely do here someone tell a story that involves a decoy
Quote from: guesswho on March 30, 2015, 12:27:07 PM
Wow!
I don't deal with Stupid very well. I'd probably have made the local news.
My thoughts exactly.
Glad everyone was ok. I don't use decoys on public land for this very reason....
about 4 years ago I was sitting in my little make shift natural blind when I noticed all the birds got dead silent.
I knew that meant someone was walking close and sure enough I see a guy headed my way. Think he has to see me I just sat still and then I see him take aim at my decoy!!! now I know some guys are green but to think you can walk with in 30 yards of a hen and to top it off it was a cheapo feather flex any one should be able to tell it was not real right?
anyway I stopped him but if I had not he was about to fire. yep we had some words.
im sorry that happened to yall.. im just amazed at the things we have to go through in the name of safety .. why oh why do we have to place something orange on our dead ,upside down. hung across our back turkeys is beyond me. I mean how in the world does guys mistake this for something to shoot at?...ill never understand
You can't fix STUPID you can try all day but it won't happen.I'm glad you guy's are alright.
Quote from: sbbow on March 30, 2015, 08:05:56 PM
You can't fix STUPID you can try all day but it won't happen.I'm glad you guy's are alright.
:whip2:
Decoys have only been legal in Alabama for a few years. I really hate carrying it. I have set it up exactly 3 times. Twice on private land and once on public land. The time I set it up on public land there were two gobblers and one flew down on the ground and then picked up and flew to within about 70 yards. He almost busted me sitting it out. I had not called yet so I am pretty he saw me putting the thing out. He was not the first turkey gobbling. That joker must have been pretty desperate to see a human set out a decoy and the fly to it. Those two turkeys ended up standing out there gobbling and finally walked off in separate directions. I took the decoy down and laid into him calling and got woound again. Gobbled at him a few times and here he comes. I am just not so sure they are worth the trouble they are to carry around. If he is going to come he is going to come. My dad shot through my decoy shooting a gobbler once. But he did that on purpose. He "claims" the turkey saw us but I am not so sure. I think he did it being funny.
Glad you guys are OK. At least the dude was shooting something that resembles a turkey. Back in 2010 a man was killed just down the road from me because he wore a red shirt under his camo. Another hunter saw something red moving in the brush and shot. You can't be too careful. There's a lot more bad hunters out there than good ones.
Glad no one was hurt!!
Quote from: guesswho on March 30, 2015, 12:27:07 PM
Wow!
I don't deal with Stupid very well. I'd probably have made the local news.
Ditto!!!! You and I think alike
Quote from: TauntoHawk on March 30, 2015, 12:32:11 PM
I'm mad just reading about this... I agree and leave the decoys at home when on public land
very good idea, but also in this day and time be very careful on private land also, just because you are suppose to be alone doesn't mean that you are alone
I bet that guy would never buy calls from me had of I been there.
Quote from: jblackburn on March 30, 2015, 01:30:44 PM
Not a strutting jake. The terrain was pine woods that are fairly open and the decoys were in a mowed path that the LDWF keeps up. The trail is probably 5-7 yards wide
Yeah, a Pretty Boy Jr. (painted head or not) is probably not a decoy that should fool a hunter close enough to take a shot... The fact that he was too far to do real damage to the decoy makes me wonder how many turkeys are shot at long ranges that are not recovered, but do not survive?
As I stated earlier there is no good excuse for taking the shot... The vast surplus of stupidity of people in general, and hunters in particular will never cease to amaze me...
The lack of common sense and common courtesy, is one of the biggest reasons it is so darned difficult to get access on private property in my state... Stories like this are prime examples of why no reasonable person would let someone they do not know hunt on their land..
It saddens and disturbs me to hear these stories...
What an absolute idiot. Guys like that shouldn't be allowed to hunt. Glad you and your friend didn't get hurt.
Quote from: Marc on March 31, 2015, 12:10:20 AM
Quote from: jblackburn on March 30, 2015, 01:30:44 PM
Not a strutting jake. The terrain was pine woods that are fairly open and the decoys were in a mowed path that the LDWF keeps up. The trail is probably 5-7 yards wide
Yeah, a Pretty Boy Jr. (painted head or not) is probably not a decoy that should fool a hunter close enough to take a shot... The fact that he was too far to do real damage to the decoy makes me wonder how many turkeys are shot at long ranges that are not recovered, but do not survive?
As I stated earlier there is no good excuse for taking the shot... The vast surplus of stupidity of people in general, and hunters in particular will never cease to amaze me...
The lack of common sense and common courtesy, is one of the biggest reasons it is so darned difficult to get access on private property in my state... Stories like this are prime examples of why no reasonable person would let someone they do not know hunt on their land..
It saddens and disturbs me to hear these stories...
I had the same thought, I'm guessing he was at least 50 yards, but probably more like 60. There were two pellets rolling around in the body cavity and one stuck in the head.
What did really tick me off is when I got home I realized there are a couple pellets in my DSD hen that I got for Christmas last year! >:(
Dang man glad you guys weren't hurt. The lenghts people will go just to kill a turkey, no matter where they are or whats around them. Your a better guy than me, somebody probably would have bled a little. Hope your friend still wants to hunt after dealing with idiots like that.
I am glad your Ok and your story literally makes me sick at my stomach and want to cry. You see it did not turn out as well for me and a turkey hunt nearly cost me my life. It is the most horrible feeling in the world to be sitting on the ground dieing and thinking you'll never see or hug your wife again, you'll never see your kids grow up, you'll never walk your daughters down the isle, you'll never know your grandchildren and more. By God's grace I made it, but it took over a year for the open wounds to completely heal closed. I still suffer some effects 6 years later.......There is no DAMN TURKEY WORTH KILLING SOMONE OVER
Quote from: eggshell on March 31, 2015, 07:35:03 PM
I am glad your Ok and your story literally makes me sick at my stomach and want to cry. You see it did not turn out as well for me and a turkey hunt nearly cost me my life. It is the most horrible feeling in the world to be sitting on the ground dieing and thinking you'll never see or hug your wife again, you'll never see your kids grow up, you'll never walk your daughters down the isle, you'll never know your grandchildren and more. By God's grace I made it, but it took over a year for the open wounds to completely heal closed. I still suffer some effects 6 years later.......There is no DAMN TURKEY WORTH KILLING SOMONE OVER
Oh my gosh! I'm so sorry that happened, but I'm glad you're still here! After the initial shock, I certainly thought about all the "what if's" you are correct, no turkey is worth that!
I don't like decoys at all but I like them even less on public land. The same thing is apt to happen on private land as well though. Decoys look like real turkeys.
Scary.
Had a guy down here setting up on the trail along the fence and he was using a fan decoy in some tall grass. He was really asking for it set up like that on the trail. Luckily I knew he was using it and stayed away from. Glad no one was hurt. Hopefully this teaches him a lesson.
Hate to hear that, bottom line is hunters shouldn't stalk turkeys. I realize they were dekes, and he shouldn't have shot to begin with, but inexperienced and trigger happy hunters will shoot anything. And I say stalking, as he obviously walked in range of shooting, or atleast what he thought was in range, and thought were real turkeys? I know here in PA it's right in the handbook"By calling only" which is to prevent incidents like this. If you can't call it in you don't shoot, but many stalk here too, down right dangerous.