When passing judgment on gobblers struck stupid by a piece of foam shaped and colored to look like a hen turkey, the Spanish Inquisition's stance on heretics was more lenient. When it happens, every advantage should be taken.
Turkey decoys are a blessing and curse.
The fake birds can make the difference between success and failure. And that cuts both ways. Decoys can pull a reluctant gobbler close enough for a shot. Sometimes, as with that opening weekend long-beard, a decoy can enthrall them so completely that they seem oblivious of everything around them. But a decoy also can spook a bird that otherwise would have ended up in the oven, or cause him to hang up far out of range.