What decoys to buy?

I shoot 90% of my birds with no decoys out, but when I do use decoys I have Avian-X.

I'll go against the grain here and say that most times I'll run a single Jake over hens. I like to keep them guessing where the "hen" (me) is. I find they hang up less often, as they're actively looking for the hen -- the single Jake gives them something to look at and get pissed off about.


-Nick

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Originally Posted by Sprite

I like to keep them guessing where the "hen" (me) is. I find they hang up less often, as they're actively looking for the hen

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That's what I have also found; no decoys are often better when they're getting hung up. Let them come looking for the hen that is calling. I do most of my successful hunting with NO decoys.

Having said that, time of day sometimes dictate a change in tactics. I will use a hen (or2) in the bush during the late afternoon hunts, when the Hens are brooding and the Tom's/Jakes are out alone.

I find the big thing with using decoys, is don’t be afraid to change things up. Many times I’ve seen gobblers hang up. I wait until he goes away, then crawl out and retrieve the decoys. Start calling again and usually it will come right in looking for the noisy hen!!

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Originally Posted by rick_iles

I find the big thing with using decoys, is don’t be afraid to change things up. Many times I’ve seen gobblers hang up. I wait until he goes away, then crawl out and retrieve the decoys. Start calling again and usually it will come right in looking for the noisy hen!!

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Another tactic I've found with no decoys is to never call when a gobbler can clearly see your setup. Several times I've been calling while a tom is approaching at an excruciatingly slow pace (mistake), only to have him tuck his wings and get out of dodge when he doesn't see a hen.

A lot of the time I'll only call to a tom when he's behind cover or a tree. A quiet two or three note yelp is usually all that's needed!

- Nick

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Sprite

Another tactic I've found with no decoys is to never call when a gobbler can clearly see your setup. Several times I've been calling while a tom is approaching at an excruciatingly slow pace (mistake), only to have him tuck his wings and get out of dodge when he doesn't see a hen.

A lot of the time I'll only call to a tom when he's behind cover or a tree. A quiet two or three note yelp is usually all that's needed!

- Nick

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Usually when they bolt like that, they have seen movement. I don’t call when I see a gobbler coming.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rick_iles

Usually when they bolt like that, they have seen movement. I don’t call when I see a gobbler coming.

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I should have rephrased to say that it can and will make them nervous.

Nick - All I've ever had was a lone Jake. Seems to work just fine. I've had henned-up toms come check it out and keep moving with their hens, but generally they either ignore me or come in on a wire.

My first turkey hunt was with Dave Reid. He released the first wild turkeys into Ontario, down by Turkey Point. I asked him if he only had one decoy, what would it be. He said a jake. He wasn't wrong.

I love using my full strut tom decoy the first week of the season.
Nothing beats a big old tom running in tripping over his beard

I have an Avien-x hen, and it sometimes works well.
I have a full strut gobbler, but haven’t had luck with it - seems to scare off other gobblers more than attract them.
I just ordered the Funky Chicken jake to try it this year.

I like full strut decoys later in the season either by themselves or with a hen. For whatever reason I always seem to see the toms group up and start the prowl together coming off the roost.