Looking for advice on using turkey decoys

[jebeckjr]

This will be my first year really focusing on pursuing turkeys.  I've nailed down the blind I'll be using, put the order in for my chair, and have been reading the threads on which are the "best" decoys, and they have all been helpful.  

Something I'd like to get a better handle on, though, is how to set them up and hunt with them.  How many decoys and what kind(hens, jakes) make up the most effective decoy spread?  Any advice for how to set them up in relation to the blind to be most effective?

Any advice is appreciated!

[LittleBen]

I've hunted them with and without decoys. Both work. For that reason I wouldn't stress tooooo much about what exact decoy. The only thing I've really ever done to ruin a turkey hunt is make a bad call. In my opinion thats probably more critical.

Anyway to answer your question, I've generally used a single Jake decoy. Seems to work just fine. I generally position him 10-15yards away. Longer or shorter depending on weapon used/range etc. I've heard you're supposed to have him facing towards you, or maybe its away form you, so I think i usually make him face sideways becasue I can't remember.

Again though, most of the birds I've shot have not been over decoys, same goes for birds my buddies have shot with me guiding/calling em in.

Oh and the decoy I have used is a rubber molded hollow bird that can fold/roll up a bit for packing. Its definately nothing fancy. Turkeys have brains the size of a walnut or something. I dont think it matters. It's like fishing lures, they have to catch fishermen first and fish second.

[Sean B]

I generally use a hen facing my blind at 10 yards and a jake behind it at about 12 or 13 yards.   In over 30 years of chasing them, I've only used decoys the last 5.  I really use them to divert attention, not so much to attract.   I've called birds in to within feet of me, but they're looking.

Play around with it.  There's no substitution for woodsmanship. Good luck.

[Sean B]

Also, if hunting public land, even on private land, BECAREFUL.  Try to position them safely.

When I take kids turkey hunting I always take a couple of the cheap collapsable foam ones.  Then when they mess up on the live turkeys or if I cannot get them in, I let the kids take a shot or two at the decoys.  About the cheap foam decoys, I have had fox, yotes and toms attack my jake decoys, nothing seems to care about the foam ones.  Maybe they are just too ugly, but I will never invest the hundred plus for the expensive decoys.  Around here, at times, one needs to be somewhat moblie; blinds, rigid decoys and loads of gear can be limiting.  I face the jake decoys away from me, as I have noticed that live jakes tend to look in the direction that the decoy is looking.

[Whip]

I'm no expert turkey hunter by any means, but I do pay attention to those that are.  And the best turkey hunters I know swear that which decoy you use can make a huge difference.  Turkeys brains may be small, but they have excellent eyes, and seem to be quick to pick up on anything that is not quite right.  

The other very important part of it is not just which brand, but how you set them up.  Body language for turkeys is just as important, if not more so, than the calls used and what you are saying. Jake versus mature tom, upright hen versus feeding.  Which way they face each other and how far away they are.  The guys that take this stuff much more seriously than most of us do pay attention to all of that.  That's probably why I am not an expert at it.   :rolleyes:  

There were some good suggestions on the other thread about which decoys were best, so I won't repeat that here.  But learning to use them correctly is a big part of it as well.

[Dirtybird]

It's a good rule of thumb that a turkey wants to make eye to eye contact when using decoys.  Turkeys express themselves more with body language than people would imagine.  Lots if very help tips on the site  www.bestturkeydecoy.com

[jebeckjr]

Thanks for the advice, everyone.  I can't wait for Spring to get here!

I've had good luck with a breeding pair decoy-- sometimes the gobblers will just run it over!

[snakebit40]

Originally posted by Dirtybird:
It's a good rule of thumb that a turkey wants to make eye to eye contact when using decoys.  Turkeys express themselves more with body language than people would imagine.  Lots if very help tips on the site  www.bestturkeydecoy.com  

X2

[Bernie B.]

Well said Whip!

Bernie Bjorklund

NC Iowa/SW Wisconsin

[southernarcher]

Are you hunting fields? Swamp? Woods? Where plays a big role.

I haven't seen a difference in the type used. I've hunted with almost all brands over the years and haven't noticed the birds having a preferance. I've had the same results you see/hear about that guys have with stuffers and DSD with plastic/foam folders.

Their brain small, eyes good. The eyes take up most of the skull. Movement, or with dekes sometimes the lack of movement can break a hunt. They don't miss much movement. But, the attention to detail I'm not so sure of. Even the DSD dekes have a single less than leg looking leg, if memory serves.

Toms will want to be in the face other Toms and Jakes, and want to get up behind hens. That being said he will strut all around the hens, but he wants to get behind her. Sometimes male dekes, even a Jake in the late season can break a hunt, just depends on the birds in your area.

[Jerry Russell]

I strongly believe in a quality decoy and placing that decoy at around 7 yards from the blind. I feel that is the best range for a trad bow and puts the turkey in a good range even if he elects to circle your decoy. I face the decoy away and most every shot I get will be right at the 7 yard mark.

I am a strong advocate of a quality decoy because the bird will be very close and will be looking at this decoy for a long time compared to hunts with a shotgun. We hunt/guide about six days per week and went to Zink decoys last year. We saw a dramatic difference in the behavior of the dominant birds on our hunts.

[DamselflyFarm]

Fireboss, On your hunts, do you use Jakes, toms, hens or a combination of each?

Jeff

[jebeckjr]

Originally posted by DamselflyFarm:
Fireboss, On your hunts, do you use Jakes, toms, hens or a combination of each?

Jeff

I had the same question!

[southernarcher]

I agree with the placement, and that the decoy should be a quality one. I just haven't seen the stuffers or DSD working any better than folders guiding here in SC.I have birds strut all over and even try to breed folders. If they boost your confidence then without a doubt use them, the more confidence you have in your sets the better. I just don't see them as being a must have.

[soy]

I have noticed that when I hunt in an area with a lot of Jakes that are grouped together my jake decoy scares the toms I believe they must be ganging up on them... I have quit using my tom decoy all together .
I like to use my feeding hen's when i am on crop field edges
And the alert hens in woods and heavy cover( disclaimer ...I am NOT an expert and do not claim to be) that is just what is produced best results for me with decoys...
 But just calling for people With no decoys Like stated by others Have had them come into Within feet!