Would or have you ever used your turkey decoys while deer hunting? I was talking to a guy yesterday and he said that after the rut and gun season he will put his turkey decoys out in the field while deer hunting and that it seems to make the deer relax more as they come into the field. I have never heard of it before and was thinking about trying it but I would like more opinions first.
Judging by how deer react to my decoys while I'm turkey hunting, i would NEVER use that tactic. NEVER
You know it makes sense...when nature around them are calm the deer seem to be calmer.....worth atleast experimenting with. Although like stated I've heard of deer freaking over turkey decoys...who knows.
Thats why I can't decide. I know I have seen deer in the fields with live turkey but never around the decoy's. So I am really conflicted about it.
Set them up on the other side of the field and watch. Might just bring the deer to your side of the field if they do make them nervous. Tim
I had many deer come up to they decoy while i was turkey hunting. That thought about using that myself. Its so much easier to carry then a deer decoy.
While I've routinely watched deer and turkeys interact both spring turkey hunting and fall bow hunting, I would never use a turkey decoy for bow hunting because like rybo and bloodcrick eluded to, all deer that's ever been around my turkey decoys are on edge! Not sure it's the fact they aren't moving or not realistic enough to fool their eyes compared to deer decoy or what but regardless of their interactions with live turkeys, they've been spooky and on edge to dekes.
Like others have said, its a no no. I think the fact that they aren't moving is what makes deer weird around them. Not sure why gobblers don't care in the spring, with the eyesight they have, but deer just do not like them a bit.
