How Do You setup your Turkey Decoys............?

[Budog56]

Im sure there are many different ways to do it and not even 100% necessary to even have them but my hardest decision when trying for a turkey is how to setup the decoys usually go with 5 yards from blind facing it one jake and one hen ...How do you guys do it? what has been the most successful etc?

[BMN]

I change my decoy setup as the season progresses. In the early season when the birds are still in relatively large groups I put out a lot of decoys. I've been putting out 9 decoys the first couple of weeks here in Kansas with a jake right in front of the blind at about 5 yards. As the season moves along I'll reduce my decoy numbers based on what I'm seeing in the field. I'll usually end up with two hens and jake.

Bill

[Shakes.602]

So Far  I  only have 1 Hen and 1 Jake Myself, until they  GO ON SALE      anyway! how Much Distance should they be Apart from each Other? I am Right There With Ya Budog56!!  

[mark land]

I normally just use 1 hen and 1 jake and set the jake up about 10-15yds from my blind where I want to get my shot and put the hen wherever it can be seen from as far around as possible, but do try to keep it within 20-25yds if possible, if not them I will just set it where it can be seen.  Every bird that has come in to my setup has walked right by the hen and straight to the jake.  I have shot almost all my birds standing right by the jake decoy.  Mark

[John Krause]

Hen 2-3 steps from the blind facing away. Jake offset a bit from the hen 5-6 steps away facing the blind. The gobbler will face the jake or come in sideways and there is your shot.

They look further in this picture but several gobblers have walked into this obscenely close setup.

 

I do think one secret to success is to put your setup where they have to be close to see it. Several birds have come thru the fencerow behind this blind and they are right on top of it or they come down the row of pines and don't see the hen good until they are pretty close. You can almost hear them thinking, hey I'm this close might as well walk in.  If you set it up where they can see it a long ways off (which is what you might think you want to do) they tend to hang up and strut, waiting for the hen to come to them

Use a hidden corner of a field, a rise in terrain or whatever works. They are looking, looking and looking for that hen that is calling. They can't see her and then bam, they are right on top of the decoys and coming running in puffed up to kick some butt.

 

Hopefully a happy result  

 

[joel smith]

early season: one strutter facing me at ten yards, one hen offset to one side at eight yards facing away

mid-season: one or two hens or one hen and one jake

late season: one hen and call sparingly

[Wary Buck]

John Krause has some excellent advice (and pics).  Close to the blind is best in my opinion.

[Stykbowslim]

I do what John Krause does, with the same decoys... the Tom will want to seperate the Hen from the Jake and kick his butt.

Joel and the other folks here have some good ideas.

Bryce, how are you my friend? I hope all is well with the family.

[ishiwannabe]

I usually set the hen up facing away, low. I put a jake right behind her like he is getting ready to...well you get it. The toms tend to get mad and run in to pummle the offending jake. Put them where you want to shoot.

[John Krause]

If I am not hearing any gobbling I will yelp every fifteen min or so. Every 4 or 5 yelps I will throw in a cut. If he gobbles and I think he is close enough to be coming I shut up. Let him hunt you, he knows exactly where that yelp came from.

I will also sit in the blind from before sun up till 1:00 pm which is the end of shooting in MO where I hunt. If they are with hens early they will come find you mid to late morning.

[GrnMtnTradNut]

I like my decoys 5 to 8 yds in front of the blind with a jake or gobbler fake facing the blind a mature bird will like to come in face to face with his rival that gives me cloce back shot or a full stut base of the tail shot, that means no tracking involved if you connect.

[owlbait]

I used a breeding pair(jake mounted on hen) last year and the longbeards saw that and came charging in. I will try that again only closer since I will be using my blind and Zipper recurve this year.

[Shakes.602]

Well,  THANK YOU ALL!!          I will do my best, I dont have a Store Bought Blind, But I Got a Huge Old Tree to sit My Butt in the Shade!!     They will  NEVER  know what Hit 'em!! Uh, If I Can Actually Get To Shoot  AT  One!!!  :rolleyes:    

[BRONZ]

I set up like ishiwannabe-- jake mounted on a hen.  Sylvester (jake) has holes thru his body (spurred), foam missing from the side of his head (pecked)... but he's brought longbeards in close and occupied.