Hunting Washington Forum

Other Hunting => Turkey Hunting => Topic started by: Elkstuffer on January 21, 2009, 12:00:51 PM

Title: Every Turkey hunter needs one of these!
Post by: Elkstuffer on January 21, 2009, 12:00:51 PM: Stuffer decoys work great. The only downfall is packing them in very far. But they sure do attract birds, especially if you have a slight breeze to lightly lift the feathers. The sun also make the colors really stand out.
Title: Re: Every Turkey hunter needs one of these!
Post by: NWTFhunter on January 21, 2009, 02:05:18 PM: what the heck heads did you use on them?
Title: Re: Every Turkey hunter needs one of these!
Post by: OneHorn on January 21, 2009, 02:11:12 PM: i would hate to have to pack them all over. they look good but there heads look to blue
Title: Re: Every Turkey hunter needs one of these!
Post by: Elkstuffer on January 21, 2009, 02:52:59 PM: They are the original heads. They look bluer than they really are. The idea of a decoy is to attract. Adding a little brighter color does just that. You can't argue with the results. 30-40 birds decoyed a year (hens, jakes and toms) they seem to be working just fine.
Title: Re: Every Turkey hunter needs one of these!
Post by: OneHorn on January 21, 2009, 04:39:17 PM: k i am just wondering how you have stuffers when you cant shoot a hen unless it has a beard?
Title: Re: Every Turkey hunter needs one of these!
Post by: fishunt247 on January 21, 2009, 04:54:17 PM: In the fall you can shoot hens up north. The ones head looks like an oscelated turkey to me. Where I hunt, couldn't use them, have to walk way too far.
Title: Re: Every Turkey hunter needs one of these!
Post by: OneHorn on January 21, 2009, 04:57:51 PM: o ya thats right i forgot about up north
Title: Re: Every Turkey hunter needs one of these!
Post by: Elkstuffer on January 21, 2009, 05:38:31 PM: The hen on the left came from N. Dakota and the hen on the right is from the Klickitat. If you look at a hens head up close some have little red nodguals. Some are bigger than others and some just have a shade of red. The Klick bird was real messed up and had a huge growth in its throat. Probably wouldn't have lasted the winter. That's why she was taken.
Title: Re: Every Turkey hunter needs one of these!
Post by: shootemup on January 21, 2009, 06:09:02 PM: Quote from: Elkstuffer on January 21, 2009, 05:38:31 PM
The hen on the left came from N. Dakota and the hen on the right is from the Klickitat. If you look at a hens head up close some have little red nodguals. Some are bigger than others and some just have a shade of red. The Klick bird was real messed up and had a huge growth in its throat. Probably wouldn't have lasted the winter. That's why she was taken.

not to hijack your thread but did you just admit that the hen from klickitat was shot illegally? i may be misunderstanding but sounds kind of interesting to post that
Title: Re: Every Turkey hunter needs one of these!
Post by: Elkstuffer on January 21, 2009, 06:34:26 PM: How in the hell did you come up with that from that post? There is a fall turkey hunt for either sex in the Klickitat unit.
Title: Re: Every Turkey hunter needs one of these!
Post by: shootemup on January 21, 2009, 06:44:42 PM: Well excuse me I apologize but I did say I may be wrong and t a prior post said you can shoot em up north an another post of yours on another thread about klickitat said you agree people shouldn't be shooting hens down there because it could easily hurt the bird numbers I was just commenting not saying your a poacher
Title: Re: Every Turkey hunter needs one of these!
Post by: 300wsm on January 21, 2009, 07:42:36 PM: Great job, I have thought of the same thing myself with a bird my friend had stuffed that doesn't look very good but would work great for a decoy. I bet you didn't think people were going to judge your decoys and call you a poacher when you started this thread. :dunno: Good luck this spring and remember don't shoot the hens until this fall :P
Title: Re: Every Turkey hunter needs one of these!
Post by: jdb on January 21, 2009, 07:50:34 PM: how bout a stuffer decoy for coyotes? think it would work?
Title: Re: Every Turkey hunter needs one of these!
Post by: TeacherMan on January 21, 2009, 07:54:43 PM: Are they real birds that have been stuffed? Stupid question probable. :chuckle:
Title: Re: Every Turkey hunter needs one of these!
Post by: Elkstuffer on January 21, 2009, 07:58:24 PM: Jdb, I mounted a shoulder of a coyote for a friend of mine. It's an open mouth that looks like he is panting. Real non aggressive looking. I made it so he could put it on a stake behind some brush. It works pretty good. It weighs about 4 lbs though.
Title: Re: Every Turkey hunter needs one of these!
Post by: Elkstuffer on January 21, 2009, 07:59:56 PM: Yeah Teacherman, they are real birds.

Don't you teach your students "THERE ARE NO STUPID QUESTIONS"? LOL
Title: Re: Every Turkey hunter needs one of these!
Post by: TeacherMan on January 21, 2009, 08:05:29 PM: No I beat them down if they back talk :chuckle: Just kidding
Title: Re: Every Turkey hunter needs one of these!
Post by: NWTFhunter on January 21, 2009, 09:47:29 PM: Just some food for though.
If you read something, and something clicks in your head. Just go look at the regs first before you accuse someone of doing something you think might be wrong.
Title: Re: Every Turkey hunter needs one of these!
Post by: wastickslinger on January 21, 2009, 10:50:30 PM: Man the police are out in full force with this thread. Holy crap people should lighten up.

Elkstuffer- those are sweet. Thanks for sharing! I really need a stuffed hen. If I shoot a bearded one this spring I'll call you.
Title: Re: Every Turkey hunter needs one of these!
Post by: coastalghost on January 21, 2009, 11:15:55 PM: Very cool Elkstuffer...I would pack one around if it meant a better chance.
Title: Re: Every Turkey hunter needs one of these!
Post by: fishunt247 on January 22, 2009, 12:24:22 PM: Elkstuffer, have you tried one of those hens for coyotes...or cats? I know they key in on the birds around here. I would think they would work great, just shoot the coyote before he gets to your deke so he doesn't tear it up. That would suck.
Title: Re: Every Turkey hunter needs one of these!
Post by: Elkstuffer on January 22, 2009, 04:59:09 PM: Two years ago I had a stuffer out and called in two coyotes. I was working a tom and didn't want to screw up my hunt so I let them see me. They came in at the same time from two different direction like they were hunting together. I should have shot them. I didn't get the tom either. LOL
Title: Re: Every Turkey hunter needs one of these!
Post by: yelp on January 23, 2009, 07:21:51 AM: What do you charge to mount one...I did this one myself for about $14.00. They work great..I agree I called in lots of birds last year too. You said you got one hen from ND? Do you hunt back there too? I went to college back there. Nice decoys.
Title: Re: Every Turkey hunter needs one of these!
Post by: Intruder on January 23, 2009, 02:28:48 PM: I've never gotten into using dekes too much for Turkeys. I know they work, I've killed birds using em. While I've seen birds ignore or actually react negatively I believe they probably help a lot more than they hurt. All that being said, I've just never felt the need nor developed the confidence that makes me wanna use em that much. :dunno:
Title: Re: Every Turkey hunter needs one of these!
Post by: yelp on January 23, 2009, 03:20:02 PM: Some situations, some Toms (subdominate) don't care for decoys. I use them every year however...The stuffer is unreal. I own 15 decoys..foam, plastic, blow up, etc... No comparison. They all can be used to draw attention away from your location. YOu will usually see me carrying one whether I use it or not depends on each situations. Several times I strike a hot tom who is running in and I just have enough time to sit down. Horny devils! :chuckle:
Title: Re: Every Turkey hunter needs one of these!
Post by: fishunt247 on January 23, 2009, 05:34:08 PM: I've never had a decoy that was the sole reason I've killed a bird, ever. They've never sealed the deal for me. Granted I've sat there and watched the show as they strutted in the decoys. But in the last 4 years I've had two toms come in all the way to 50 only to see the decoy and turn tail and head the other way. Both hunts were well on into the season. I'm guessing bad experiences with decoys. So I don't carry them anymore. Not worth it for me.
Title: Re: Every Turkey hunter needs one of these!
Post by: PA BEN on January 23, 2009, 06:04:24 PM: One thing to keep in mind is when your running and gunning turkeys, carring decoys is a big problem!!! ;) :rolleyes: :chuckle:
Title: Re: Every Turkey hunter needs one of these!
Post by: yelp on January 23, 2009, 09:15:49 PM: I usually don't have to run...I make them do that. The gunning is the easy part.
Title: Re: Every Turkey hunter needs one of these!
Post by: NWTFhunter on January 24, 2009, 12:23:24 AM: Yelp thats a good looking Deek. I need one too !!!!
Title: Re: Every Turkey hunter needs one of these!
Post by: hornhunter on January 26, 2009, 10:43:49 AM: I shot a jake rio in stevens county, Yes it was a rio. I shot a Merriams the day before, the only reason I shot it was to get a head start on my Slam. Well evidently because it was shot in Stevens County its a Merriams (even though it looks nothing like the bird I shot the day before) Long story short I didnt get credit, so in turn couldnt complete my slam. Its not a total waste though the Jake Rio is at the taxidermist getting mounted for a decoy, cant wait to use it!

Nice deeks boys!
Title: Re: Every Turkey hunter needs one of these!
Post by: yelp on January 26, 2009, 11:11:02 AM: What is he charging you and who is your taxidermist?
Title: Re: Every Turkey hunter needs one of these!
Post by: NWTFhunter on January 26, 2009, 03:43:52 PM: Quote from: hornhunter on January 26, 2009, 10:43:49 AM
I shot a jake rio in stevens county, Yes it was a rio. I shot a Merriams the day before, the only reason I shot it was to get a head start on my Slam. Well evidently because it was shot in Stevens County its a Merriams (even though it looks nothing like the bird I shot the day before) Long story short I didnt get credit, so in turn couldnt complete my slam. Its not a total waste though the Jake Rio is at the taxidermist getting mounted for a decoy, cant wait to use it!

Nice deeks boys!

Yep! You shoot it in Stevens its a merriams.
But you can go to the upper areas of stevens and notice differences in birds from cream to white to bronze.
Title: Re: Every Turkey hunter needs one of these!
Post by: hornhunter on January 27, 2009, 08:48:06 AM: Quote from: yelp on January 26, 2009, 11:11:02 AM
What is he charging you and who is your taxidermist?

Since Its only a decoy, Im letting my buddy put it together for me. He wanted to try and it was only a jake so I said have at it. Free, (materiels) I was told I could have a decoy made for 100.00. How does yours stand? looks like there is no base? that would be awesome to save wieght, but if the wind blew it may tip over. Turks normaly dont gobble when the wind blows hard enough to tip a decoy over though. ;)
Title: Re: Every Turkey hunter needs one of these!
Post by: hornhunter on January 27, 2009, 08:56:27 AM: Quote from: NWTFhunter on January 26, 2009, 03:43:52 PM
Quote from: hornhunter on January 26, 2009, 10:43:49 AM
I shot a jake rio in stevens county, Yes it was a rio. I shot a Merriams the day before, the only reason I shot it was to get a head start on my Slam. Well evidently because it was shot in Stevens County its a Merriams (even though it looks nothing like the bird I shot the day before) Long story short I didnt get credit, so in turn couldnt complete my slam. Its not a total waste though the Jake Rio is at the taxidermist getting mounted for a decoy, cant wait to use it!

Nice deeks boys!

Yep! You shoot it in Stevens its a merriams.
But you can go to the upper areas of stevens and notice differences in birds from cream to white to bronze.

Yeah we have shot three Rios in the same area around Springdale in the last 12 years. Not only is the fan Bronze but the feathers are and there is way more color on the Rio's. We have shot Merriams and Rio's the same morning, hold them next to eachother and they look NOTHING alike. Its cool they are both there, its not cool you dont get credit for shooting one. I know 98% of the birds in Stevens are Merriams and they probably cross breed, but if you ask anyone they would so thats a Rio.
Title: Re: Every Turkey hunter needs one of these!
Post by: Phantom Gobbler on January 31, 2009, 07:49:06 PM: Great looking stuffer decoys. I'm having a fall Jake made into a decoy by a friend who is considering going into taxidermy part time. I am looking forward to trying it for lowland field hunting in NE WA this spring.