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10 Tips for Using Turkey Decoys

1. Decoys must be seen to be effective. Open pastures, logging roads, power lines, or sparse woods are good spots for decoys.

2. Place the decoy about 15 yards away from your position (10 yards if bowhunting). If a gobbler hangs up 15-20 yards from your decoy, he will still be in range.

3. If you use a shotgun, set your decoy so that your non-shooting shoulder is pointed directly toward it. This will give you maximum gun swing to cover a gobbler’s approach.

4. Purchase the best decoy your budget will allow. You know how well a gobbler's eyesight is, and you'll see better success with a decoy that is realistic in appearance. Add real turkey feathers or fans to your decoys to increase realism.

5. A gobbler or a jake decoy paired with a hen can be an extremely effective combination on a mature tom. However, this can also cause a young, shy, or sub-dominant bird to avoid your set-up. If you only want to fill your tag with a mature, dominant gobbler – use a jake or a gobbler decoy in your set-up.

6. When using multiple decoys, consider setting them up in a row with the gobbler or jake decoy at the back of the line. Leave enough room between the decoys for a gobbler to pass between them.

7. Always use extreme caution when transporting and using decoys on public land or where you suspect other hunters might be in the area. An old black sock makes a great cover for your decoy’s head to ensure safety while transporting your decoys in a hunting vest. Full body decoys should always be transported in a carry bag.

8. Consider a gobbler’s approach options to your decoy when you set-up and clear a shooting lane or two if necessary and if time permits.

9. If your rubber or foam decoy has dents and doesn't look as good as you'd like, use a hair dryer to heat up the dent while pressing it out and back into shape.

10. If you are hunting an open area, seriously consider using a decoy. If a gobbler continues to hear a hen but doesn't see one, he may be tough to get within range.

Turkey Hunting and Heaven

“Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird” (Proverbs 1:17).

Turkeys are notoriously wary game birds and can be very difficult to hunt. I have hunted spring gobblers for over 30 years and have completed numerous Wild Turkey Grand Slams with both a bow and a shotgun. During this time, nearly all of my hunting has been done on public land. I have never been on a guided hunt, and every gobbler that I have taken I called in for myself. While woodsmanship and calling have been critical to my accomplishments in the field, a significant portion of my success in the spring turkey woods can be attributed to the use of turkey decoys.

When I decide to use a turkey decoy, I put a lot of thought into which decoy to use, where to set it, how far to place it from my set-up, and which direction to face the decoy. These factors can be vital in determining the outcome of a spring turkey hunt when a gobbler responds to my calls and approaches my set-up.

Spring gobblers are extremely cautious, with eyesight and hearing that is estimated to be ten times better than that of a human, so decoy selection and placement are critical for success. Modern turkey decoys are very lifelike in appearance and are available in a variety of genders, postures, and materials of construction. Though prices vary, an effective decoy that will fit any hunter’s budget can generally be found. Some hunters actually use taxidermy mounts as decoys for attracting gobblers in the spring, but these “stuffers” can be very expensive. The closer a decoy appears to resemble the “real thing,” the better chance it has at fooling the keen eye of a mature spring gobbler. However, no matter how well a decoy resembles a live bird, if a hunter doesn’t get his decoy in place and hide himself properly before a gobbler arrives, the turkey will detect the deception, and the hunter’s plans will be foiled. Most turkey hunters enter the woods well before daybreak so they can get to their hunting area, locate a gobbler, and set up their decoys under cover of darkness in order to keep the keen eye of a roosting longbeard from spotting them. No turkey hunter, or should I say no “successful” turkey hunter, waits until he can see a turkey coming to him before he puts his decoys out.

It is ironic that the strategy employed by a hunter to fool a turkey and trick it into entering a trap set for its life, is eerily similar to the strategy that is used by Satan to destroy men’s souls. (The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy, John 10:10a). And just like a serious hunter’s pursuit of a spring gobbler, the devil must be subtle and deceptive in his attempt to deceive a person in order to capture and destroy them. In fact, the Bible states in Proverbs 1:17, “Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any bird.”

Any hunter who is trying to fool a bird in order to capture or kill it, goes about doing so in a sneaky way so as not to be seen as he sets his trap. If the bird sees a man placing his decoys, the hunter will have almost no chance of deceiving a gobbler into believing that it is safe to approach the decoys. However, if he uses realistic looking decoys and places them in a believable setting before the turkey arrives, the hunter will have a much better chance of using his turkey call to convince an unsuspecting bird that there is no danger at the set-up. Hopefully, a tom will be convinced that the decoys are real, and that the area is safe. Unfortunately, this is what often happens in the spiritual battle for a man’s soul.

When it comes to salvation and eternity, everyone has an opinion. However, while everyone is entitled to their own opinion, no one is entitled to their own truth. There is only one truth, and no matter what a person’s opinion is about the truth, their opinion will not change the truth. The Bible is God’s truth revealed to man. There are many different opinions about the Bible, but no one’s opinion changes the truth of the Bible. An understanding of, and a belief in, the “truth” is the difference between being saved and being lost for eternity.

Jesus said in John 8:32, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Free from what? Free from sin! So what is the Bible truth about a man’s soul and eternity? Here is the reality about your soul and its eternal destiny according to the Bible:

All men and women have sinned and failed to meet God’s standard of holiness.

For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23

The penalty for sinning against a holy God is eternal separation from God in a lake of fire that was created for the devil and his angels.

For the wages of sin is death. Romans 6:23a

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. Revelation 21:8

God loves all men and women and created them for fellowship with him in paradise. He wants all men to be saved so they can be restored to fellowship with Him and live eternally with Him in heaven.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Romans 6:23

Man’s sin was so bad, that in order for it to be forgiven, God’s only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, had to be offered as a blood sacrifice to provide payment for man’s sin.

Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins. Colossians 1:12-14

Jesus Christ paid for man’s sin on the cross at Calvary. He was buried, and three days later He rose from the grave to prove that He was God’s own son and that His sacrifice was accepted.

For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures. 1 Corinthians 15:3-4

Jesus offers salvation and complete forgiveness to anyone who will repent of their sin and who truly believes in their heart that He died on the cross, was buried, and rose again for their sins.

That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. Romans 10:9-11

The plan of salvation must be received and believed by faith and faith alone. Faith is what pleases God. Salvation cannot be earned and nothing can be added to faith in order to obtain salvation.

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him. Hebrews 11:6

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8,9

God intended this plan of salvation to be simple so that everyone, including children, could understand it.

Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein. Mark 10:15

There is absolutely no other way to be saved. There are not many paths to the same God and same Heaven. There is only one way. There is only one truth. There is only one salvation. There is only one Savior.

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Matthew 7:13,14

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6

He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. John 3:36

Unfortunately, there are a lot of false religions and false teachings that, if followed, (no matter how sincerely) will lead to an eternity in hell. Ever since the Garden of Eden when Satan entered into the serpent to deceive Eve and tempt Adam, he has been hard at work trying to deceive men and women and destroy their lives. And today, just like in the Garden of Eden, he is subtle in how he accomplishes his deception. He doesn’t vainly spread his net in the sight of any man or woman, nor does he use “decoys” that don’t resemble the true. No, just like an experienced hunter that uses his skills to completely fool his quarry before killing it, Satan deceives men and women by appealing to their lusts and carnal nature. He appeals to their “intellect” and portrays the cross of Calvary as foolishness. He portrays the death of Christ as an archaic, barbaric, and gory form of religion, only to be believed by the mentally weak. He paints sin as fun, and popular, and harmless, without revealing the deadly effects of ruined lives and broken homes that await those who are deceived thereby.

The most expensive and most effective hunting decoys are the ones that most closely resemble real birds. The more realistic a decoy is in appearance, the better it is at deceiving a wild turkey. The same holds true for other counterfeits. A store clerk will not be fooled with a fifty dollar bill taken from a monopoly game. However, a bill produced by a professional counterfeit cannot be discerned with the naked eye and requires the clerk to use a special pen in order to detect its true identity. The same is true with religion. Some are so far from the Bible that they are easily recognized as illegitimate. However, it is the religions and churches that most closely resemble the true Christian churches of the Bible that pose the greatest danger to a man’s soul. These counterfeits deceive and capture sincere and well-intentioned men and women because they so closely resemble the real thing. These churches and cults don’t throw the Bible out completely, but they give some credence to the Bible in their doctrines and beliefs in order to fool the unsuspecting. However, these false religions usually hold their own writings and teachings as more important than the Bible. Jesus warned about this in Matthew 15:9, “But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.”

So how about you? Have you been deceived? It’s your life and your decision about how you live it. What you believe is totally up to you, and you are certainly entitled to your own opinion. The truth, however, remains the same and will not change, no matter what you believe. Dear reader, I am just trying to help you see the net that has been spread for your soul. But don’t take my word for it, or anyone else’s. If you don’t know for sure that you will go to heaven when you die, say a short prayer right now and ask God to help you and then read the verses that I have listed from the Bible about salvation again. If you want to be saved and accept Jesus as your personal Savior, it’s as easy as ABC. All you need to do is A) Admit you are a sinner. B) Believe in your heart that Jesus died for your sins on the cross, was buried, and three days later rose again. C) Call on the Lord Jesus to save you. If you have never done that, go to God in prayer and ask Him to forgive you of your sins and tell Jesus you believe in Him and ask Him to be your Savior. It is that easy and that simple, and don’t let anyone deceive you into thinking otherwise! Every false religion in the world teaches that you have to do something to gain God’s favor and to be permitted entrance into heaven. The Bible teaches that there is nothing you can do to gain God’s favor and earn entrance into heaven. The Bible teaches that God Himself has done all the work for you, and that all you have to do is receive His free gift and offer of salvation.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. John 3:16-18

Listen to God’s truth. Don’t be deceived to believe a lie! It is very important that if you are concerned about your soul and where you will spend eternity when you die, that you go to God in prayer now. If God has spoken to your heart about salvation, don’t wait to do business with Him. It is a dangerous thing to refuse God’s Holy Spirit when He is pleading with your heart. Consider these verses:

While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them. John 12:36

For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. 2 Corinthians 6:2

So don’t be tricked! Your soul is too important for you to be fooled. Just like an outdoorsman deceives a fish, or a deer, or a turkey in order to capture and kill it, the enemies of the Bible want to capture your soul. Consider what the Holy Scriptures have to say:

Deliver thyself as a roe from the hand of the hunter, and as a bird from the hand of the fowler. Proverbs 6:5

Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life. Proverbs 7:23

For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time, when it falleth suddenly upon them. Ecclesiastes 9:12

There are many other scriptures that I could share with you, but these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

A spring gobbler hunter’s method is deception, and his motive is destruction. The same holds true for Satan – his method is always deception and his motive is always destruction. Dear reader, please don’t be deceived and destroyed - Repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ today!

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