What decoys to buy?

[SongDog]

DSD is top notch but I run Axian X. Breeder hen, jake and full strut Tom using real fan. I use them all, none or just the hen, depending on the day.

Pretty happy with Axian X, I use my hen decoy coyote hunting and the paint has held up well being dragged across snow/ice.

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[Articcat]

I use a hen and Jake decoy with real Jake fan tied to it.
This has worked for me with the same decoys IAttachment 39811 bought ten years ago.
I just touch up the paint now and then as needed

[benjhind]

I shoot 2 birds a year over an old, beat up, worn out, jake decoy that was 24.99 new. The foam doesn't unroll properly anymore, so its tail is bent to the side and one side is usually dented in. 10 years in I'm still killing gobblers.

My advice, though, is to buy the best you can afford. Life is too short to hunt over ugly decoys.

Do as I say, not as I do!!

[410001661]

I have two thoughts on this topic

(1) Spend what you want to spend on decoys - if you are comfortable spending $300 on decoys go ahead but it is not required. This is a hobby you enjoy, so spending money on hunting gear rarely equates to I 'need' this but rather I 'want' this. I have a dedicated turkey gun I am embarrassed to say how much $$ I have put into it, but it was all based on want not need.
(2) I shot my first turkey back in 2006 and I used one of those ugly flat foam decoys (that was really all that was available back then) and it did the job pretty good. Now I had some tricks to stop if spinning like a propeller in the wind, but it brought lots of turkeys within the range of Nelli. I since bought a set of Bobbin' Head decoys (8 years ago) because they were more robust, easier to pack and set-up, and more realistic than the foam decoys. I just do not know how easier or quicker my hunts would be if I invested in $300 in a new decoy set-up.........probably nothing will change.

If you want them buy them......and enjoy them! Life is too short to hunt with an ugly gun!Attachment 39812

[MikePal]

One DSD Hen is all you need to get started. Good Luck.

I since bought a set of Bobbin' Head decoys (8 years ago) because they were more robust, easier to pack and set-up, and more realistic than the foam decoys.

Good posts...I too only use Hens. Most of the time just one.

I also bought those bobble heads...they look real good in a slight breeze. With head moving, they look a little more realistic, never fail to attract the Tom's

[cantgetright]

Any decoy will likely work. I never had much luck with decoys but that was hunting field edges with the old foam ones. Now I go into the bush a little bit and use no decoys and have a way better success rate at calling them in. And I already have enough stuff to pack in.

[fratri]

I have one of those "Primos Chicken on a stick"..... I put or glued some real turkey feathers to the tail... It fits in my turkey vest, pull it out when needed.... Last season, I used it for the first time......... "Turkey Reaping".......... and it (to my surprise) worked well.. lol... pretty cool to have turkeys running in to me...

[STUBBLE BUM]

I'm with Bandwagon on this one - DSD's. How else are you gonna see the splatter?

SAL 2 19c.jpg

[Tacomaboy25]

Thanks for all the replies. Have lots of options now!

[tom gobble]

I have tried different decoys in the past and Avian x decoys have no paint loss so far. Like others said buy what you can afford and every decoy will work at some point. I would rather wait and hunt with no decoys, until you could buy something more realistic then hunt with those foam decoys LOL Im sure they work too but I just cant stand looking at those things.