Have you used an Eastern hen decoy for Merriams or Rio?

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Magdump
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Have you used an Eastern hen decoy for Merriams or Rio?

Post by Magdump »

Or Goulds, or anything other than Easterns?

I have some friends in Colorado and Texas that have land full of turkeys so I will be flying out to hunt at some point and check those states off my list. I am wondering whether I need to paint one of my DSD hen decoys (I will only bring one decoy as I will be flying) to look more like a Rio or Merriams.

Do the gobblers out west not care so long as it is a turkey hen of some sort or do I need to re-paint my hen somewhat for best results? I don't want to scare a Western rio or Merriams with one of my Eastern hens!

I am still very new to turkey hunting so please bear with me if this is a stupid question and thanks for the help!
coconut
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Re: Have you used an Eastern hen decoy for Merriams or Rio?

Post by coconut »

It want matter at all.
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Southern Sportsman
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Re: Have you used an Eastern hen decoy for Merriams or Rio?

Post by Southern Sportsman »

I’m guessing they will fight each other to get a piece of that action. Everybody likes something a little exotic now and then. Once you go eastern . . .
I go stubbornly into error by myself, and reach my own fallacious conclusions using my own faulty data. ~Tom Kelly
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soiltester
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Re: Have you used an Eastern hen decoy for Merriams or Rio?

Post by soiltester »

No problems at all and going to see how my DSD hen alone, will work on a Gould's in Mexico this year ;)
ever wonder where the white goes when the snow melts??
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Magdump
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Re: Have you used an Eastern hen decoy for Merriams or Rio?

Post by Magdump »

soiltester wrote: February 22nd, 2018, 11:59 am No problems at all and going to see how my DSD hen alone, will work on a Gould's in Mexico this year ;)
Which one (upright, leading, feeding, etc.) are you planning to bring?
hobbes

Re: Have you used an Eastern hen decoy for Merriams or Rio?

Post by hobbes »

They won't know the difference. Ive painted a couple cheap decoys that I used to use with kids, but all my birds are Merriams. It never made a difference but Id hoped theyd be more visible.
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soiltester
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Re: Have you used an Eastern hen decoy for Merriams or Rio?

Post by soiltester »

Magdump wrote: February 22nd, 2018, 12:53 pm
soiltester wrote: February 22nd, 2018, 11:59 am No problems at all and going to see how my DSD hen alone, will work on a Gould's in Mexico this year ;)
Which one (upright, leading, feeding, etc.) are you planning to bring?
Upright, my cheap Wally World feather flex seems to make some of the turkeys skiddish,but not all of them, so I want to see the difference ;)
ever wonder where the white goes when the snow melts??
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ICDEDTURKES
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Re: Have you used an Eastern hen decoy for Merriams or Rio?

Post by ICDEDTURKES »

Head color, only thing that matters
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Grumpy
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Re: Have you used an Eastern hen decoy for Merriams or Rio?

Post by Grumpy »

Take what you have and you will be fine, good luck and have a good time.
I was not his father but he was my son,,MAK IV, 10-15-1993 - 4-22-2007
"Rest in Peace my Little Buddy"
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Re: Have you used an Eastern hen decoy for Merriams or Rio?

Post by Ozark Ridge Runner »

They aren't that smart.
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Re: Have you used an Eastern hen decoy for Merriams or Rio?

Post by timbrhuntr »

Ozark Ridge Runner wrote: February 26th, 2018, 7:56 am They aren't that smart.
You've obviously never hunted them in Alabama, or Georgia ! :LMAO:
hobbes

Re: Have you used an Eastern hen decoy for Merriams or Rio?

Post by hobbes »

Ozark Ridge Runner wrote: February 26th, 2018, 7:56 am They aren't that smart.
Especially Merriam's..........dumb as a box of rocks. :)
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Stinky J Picklestein
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Re: Have you used an Eastern hen decoy for Merriams or Rio?

Post by Stinky J Picklestein »

ICDEDTURKES wrote: February 22nd, 2018, 2:28 pm Head color, only thing that matters
This ^^^
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Magdump
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Re: Have you used an Eastern hen decoy for Merriams or Rio?

Post by Magdump »

You guys are the best! Thanks for the knowledge!
Ozark Ridge Runner
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Re: Have you used an Eastern hen decoy for Merriams or Rio?

Post by Ozark Ridge Runner »

timbrhuntr wrote: February 26th, 2018, 9:49 am
Ozark Ridge Runner wrote: February 26th, 2018, 7:56 am They aren't that smart.
You've obviously never hunted them in Alabama, or Georgia ! :LMAO:
When did you boys get Merriams in Georga? You want a real challenge, come to the big timber deep Ozarks and give those birds a try.
Ozark Ridge Runner
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Re: Have you used an Eastern hen decoy for Merriams or Rio?

Post by Ozark Ridge Runner »

timbrhuntr wrote: February 26th, 2018, 9:49 am
Ozark Ridge Runner wrote: February 26th, 2018, 7:56 am They aren't that smart.
You've obviously never hunted them in Alabama, or Georgia ! :LMAO:
When did you boys get Merriams in Georgia? You want a real challenge, come to the big timber deep Ozarks and give those birds a try.
decoykrvr
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Re: Have you used an Eastern hen decoy for Merriams or Rio?

Post by decoykrvr »

If they get close enough to tell the difference between an Eastern, Rio, Merriams, etc., they should be dead!!!
Realwarrior
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Re: Have you used an Eastern hen decoy for Merriams or Rio?

Post by Realwarrior »

Won't matter. I made my first decoys out of plywood and rebar, and painted gallon bleach jugs, Back in the 80s and the Rios and Merriams fell in love with them. Lol. Since then I've used production decoys and the colors haven't mattered anywhere
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