Tom or Jake decoy

[Gary Logsdon]

Roy, the only male decoy I use is what we call a "Super Jake" which is a more mature bird that has a larger beard (7") but not a full fan, fuller than a typical jake, but still a little short on the sides.  He's a taxidermy mounted decoy with glass eyes and a painted head with muted colors, so not too aggressive looking. Jakes try to peck him but the big boys think they can whip his butt:^) My 11 yr. old son arrowed a huge bird at 4 yards that was all over the decoy.  The bird weighed 27 1/2 pounds on certified scales, sported a 12 1/4" paintbrush of a beard, and had two 1 9/16" spurs. My taxidermist says he should score in the top 2-3 in the NWTF records for Easterns taken with archery tackle. I have 10 or so mounted turkeys but my son's is the only one my wife allows in "Her" living room:^)

[Marvin M.]

Some good ideas popping up here.  I like the push button call in the decoy idea.  Might try that this year.

Gary,

Murray State grad here too.  MBA in '95.  Real handy to get to LBL from there.  Missed my first turkey with a bow in a corn field one December afternoon.

[Gary Logsdon]

Hunting LBL can be tough, but where else in KY can you find 100,000 self-contained acres to roam around in with very few restrictions?! The deer numbers aren't what they were when I was at Murray State but it's still a great place to get away from it all.  I filmed a monster main frame 5X5 two years ago near Turkey Bay.  He had a min. 24" inside spread, split brows, plus good mass and extreme tine length.  The big ones are still there.

[Spurs]

This is the first year in four that I haven't been drawn for the TN lbl hunt.  I am bummed out about it.  I was hunting an area last year and heard an awful screaming noise.  I found out that I was hunting way to close to a ticked off bald eagle.  I double checked the map, and indeed it was an open zone for hunting.  My friend had the same happen to him.  There are eagles everywhere up there.  I am surprised that they allow us to hunt around them.  Make mention of an eagle sighting here, and they want to shut down hunting for that area at certain times of year.   Just thought I would share thought it was interesting.  LBL is a wonderful place to hunt.  It can be tough, but a wonderful experience nonetheless.

[MJB]

Originally posted by Don Stokes:
I learned turkey hunting from the daughter of the gentleman who owned the M. L Lynch turkey call company, back when Lynch box calls were the only call on the market, before mouth calls and decoys were invented. Polly was a pro, having called in her first one at the age of 12. I knew her in Forestry school at MS State. She gave me my first call, and taught me how to use it. She also instilled in me the disdain for ambushing, which she defined as just lying in wait and shooting one that didn't know you were there, or bushwhacking one along the roadside. Back then rifles were legal, and I remember her rejoicing when they were outlawed, because with a rifle there was no personal involvement with the bird when it was killed. Ever since, I've always called to them while hunting, even when hunting in a funnel, or other terrain or vegetative feature that naturally directed them my way. I have to fool them to make it worthwhile, I guess. I also resisted using decoys, until I started bowhunting for them. It didn't seem sporting to me while gun hunting. It may not make much logical sense, but it's how I feel inside.

Hi Don,
M L Lynch make and named a box call after his daughter. Miss Polly    

[Don Stokes]

Thanks for that Mike, I didn't know one had been named after her. Wish I still had that call she gave me- lost it in a house fire in '88.

[wisconsinteacher]

Well I ordered the Jake Mobile and will test it out in two weeks when we have the DRN Learn to Hunt program in the area.  I meet my young first time hunter this weekend.  I hope to get a bird or two in front of him to shoot at.  Last year my kid missed along with 10 of the other 30 that our group took out.  It is a great program and a lot of fun for everyone.

[Buckeye Trad Hunter]

Get the jake.  In nature everyone wants to whip the little guy.  especially if he's on a gal.

[MJB]

Your Welcome Don    

I also think it depends how far into the season your are. Weather you would use the Tom or Jake.