Turkey Decoy??

[Jeremy (Yeti)]

What do you recommend for decoys this time of year?  Just a hen or a jake and a hen?

[sconihunter]

I personally would recommend no decoys.  I have had nothing but trouble with decoys over the years, even decoys like the pretty boy.  From my experiences, unless you have a realistic decoy or can make it move some how, they can be counter productive. 

[Viking]

So sconihunter - Do you still call?  Or are you just waiting for them to walk by?

[HD]

Even this late in the season....I still run 2 hens and a jake.
Of course, it depends on if they have been pressured already.
If they have, I'll drop down to 1 or 2 hens and keep the calling to a minimum.


Hunter

[sconihunter]

So sconihunter - Do you still call?  Or are you just waiting for them to walk by?

Yeah I call...I just have had bad luck with turkeys hanging up about 60 yards from decoys. At times decoys have worked, but especially in the later seasons I don't even bother. 

[101PROOF]

I found out last week end that the turkey hens and toms avoided my decoy.
When they where out 70-80 yard I would try calling with three deferent calls, and it seemed not to even get there attain.

The toms would look up by then see there hens feeding and go back to wht they do best this time of year, stay just outside the shooting rang.

I did pull my decoy on Sunday and did get my Turkey that morning.

[Jeremy (Yeti)]

Sconihunter thanks for the info.  Last weekend I used a jake and hen decoy, called a tom to about 50 yards only to have him stop, turn around and walk off.  I'm thinking it was the decoys, guess I'll try it again this weekend without.  Thanks again and happy hunting.

[Big E]

I'm still using 2 hens and a jake. Last Saturday I was using 2 hens and 2 jakes and called in a Tom but the wind started blowing very hard and my blind was shaking and made him nervous. He hung up at 48 yards. He was on a mission until the wind picked up. The land I was hunting was not pressured at all. I called in a hen yesterday on state land with 2 hens and a jake decoy out. Trying in the morning on state land again with decoys.

[Pegg]

I always use a few decoys. I have 5 total. 3 hens and 2 jakes. Most of the time I just use the two or 3 hens and maybe 1 jake. I have had them come in and when they see them. I don't call very much because I hunt the last 2 seasons with my bow. I would use at least 1 and if you only use one make it a hen. I even have hens come into my hen decoys. Then it is just like using live decoys. This last weekend I had a hen come out to my 1 hen decoy and and was around it for about 35 to 40 minutes.   Good luck and hope you all do well this year.

[JohnWester]

here was my setup this morning... a bit blurred with the phone camera... but you get the idea.
1 hen and a jake.