decoy? no decoy?

[james_walleye]

I got drawn for this first season but can only hunt the weekend.2 years ago on my first hunt I shot a nice tom over a hen and Jake setup. Just curious what the more expierienced hunters do in the early seasons? Or maybe you use no decoy?

[Borch]

Early season dedcoys are quite effective. Hens aren't ready to breed yet so toms are actively checking them out. Use a jake, and if you have one in a strut or half strut as Toms are still establishing dominance.

This changes significantly once the actual breeding starts. Then decoys are a bit more of a risk.

[bluehat28]

Today I had 2 toms RUN and (tackle) my hen decoy.I hardly had time to put my call down and pick up my gun.So use your decoys.I had 3 hens and 1 jake out.But the 2 toms could not see the jake decoy and the other 2 hen decoys were on the other side of my blind.This is my 1st A season hunt at least today they where not decoy shy.blue

[Archerysniper]

Killed mine over a single hen decoy, called the hens in and the boys followed they were gobbling to the purrs and leave scratching hard.

[surewood]

I would'nt call myself experienced, but I've had success with a single hen decoy on a few occasions. I bought a cheap hen decoy and put the A-Way tukey skins on it. Seems to work as it looks real to me.

[870Express]

Set up single hen decoy in woods tonight. Heard some distant gobbles but ended up getting a Tom that was crusing through and saw my decoy. He came totally silent and I hadn't called in 15 minutes when he showed up. He didn't sprint towards the decoy but it definetily was what drew him in closer. Saw him at 35 yds, nailed him at 35 yds. Didn't strut or anything, just passing through and got a little curious.

[gador2]

I've heard this many times (regarding the not calling in the previous 15 min). A lot of people think turkeys have a good memory when it comes to hearing where they previously heard a hen. So, although they might not come that instant, they will probably come later in the day.

[Hoyt4]

No decoys.

this spring I've shot 3 birds on fields without. Two shot with bow and one shotgun.Called in another for a buddy who hunts with us in SD. He is always the shooter first until he bags one then I start to hunt. Had a flock in roost gave a couple soft yelps and they landed 15 yds from us.He put down a great Merriam.No decoy. Decoys do work but it's the last thing I will use now of the bag of tricks.

[11-87]

this weekend we had 3 birds come in without decoys.they were looking for the call, and we dropped a 21# Jake.

[Borch]

I had a 2 year old bird literally run away when he saw a jake decoy last thursday. Like I said earlier I used then 1st or 2nd season and leave them at home unless I'm targeting a bigger dominate bird. Then I will use a jake in strut decoy.

Over the years decoys have cost me far more birds than they have pulled in. Your experience may vary.

[Fishman11]

Borch,

Just curious, but what did you mean by more of a risk?

[Fishman11]

Killed mine over a single hen decoy, called the hens in and the boys followed they were gobbling to the purrs and leave scratching hard.

How do you call the hens in, meaning what sounds?

[Fishman11]

Called in a tom two separate days. First day didn't have the decoy out but the tom was in range. Couldn't get a shot because he was behind some smaller trees. Tried soft purrs but he wouldn't come closer.

On sat. called in a tom and jake. This time had the decoys setup(hen and jake). They flew over a stream to get to the decoys but when they saw them they hung up about 20 yds. away leaving me a 40 yd shot. I'm not too comfortable with that shot, so how do I get them to come in closer next time!

[Sorgy]

Fisherman,

You can try to set them up within 10 yards of your location so that if they hang up they will be in your range. Most of my setups had my B-mobile and a feeding hen within 5-7 yards of my setup.

I took my jake on Friday with the setup. He was eyeing up my decoys from 50-60 yards away when my full fan moved up and into the full stut position- he quickly closed to 10 yards out-then got nervouse and putted his way away into the woods where he took on a load of # 5 heavishot

Every day and setup is different- I like to setup in open woods or on field edges where I can see better and hopefully the visibility of the decoy will help. However if you are set up close to the decoys you are pinned down as well

I don't feel that completly motionless decoys are very effective- unless you are ready to spend some money. The real fans help because you can loosly attatch them and glue extra feathers that move in the breeze(or stiff winds almost all season).

I don't use decoys in real heavy cover- birds will come right to you and search for the hen.

But what do I know I am fairly new to the game as well I like to buy and mess with gadgets

Good Luck

Steve

[Borch]

Borch,

Just curious, but what did you mean by more of a risk?

With turkeys we're trying to reverse the way this courtship naturally occurs. The toms gobble, strut and hens come to them. The main reason toms gobble on the roost is to gather hens. So when he sees the decoys he'll frequently hang up 60 plus yards out and gobble and strut until the real hens show up and take him away. Early in the season hens don't come because they dictate when the breeding will start and they are simply not ready. So toms go to them because they're always ready. Not using decoys and calling only when you you can't see the toms will keep the tom looking for the hen so they will work closer until they find her. I only call if I need to move the tom one way or the other when he is in sight.

So the risk is that once breeding starts when a mature toms sees the decoys he'll hang up until the real hens come to play as he gobbles his head off. You can use a jake to help but I still see a lot of hang ups with a standard alert jake decoy. The strutting jake can trigger that dominance factor. But it can also spook toms that are less dominant or have been beat up through out the season with lots of fighting.

[Archerysniper]

How do you call the hens in, meaning what sounds?

I try to sound like a relaxed feeding hen or group of hens with really soft purrs a putt every once and awhile and more leave scratching than calling.

[Borch]

Just a little additional info to what AS posted about calling in hens.

If you get a boss hen that is very vocal I imitate her with the same volume and intensity. She will often come in to check you out.

[james_walleye]

I've also heard if you overrun her calls she will come in and check the situation out.

[trolloni]

yep mimic every sound she makes at the end of youre rythym put a little smart alec tone to it, she will get p.od and come lookin to kick butt, ever heard the old cliche madder than old wet hen ? when she comes guess who will be behind her struttin bumblin trying to keep up with her,real good in early season when there still in winter flocks.if that dont work go for the fighting purr another good one for early season. decoys seem better on rainey days and later in the season not so great for early season unless you put about 6 or 8 of em make it look like a bunch a new kids on the block the resident crew will come over to show whos boss in this neck a the wooods turkeys fight there whole lives they seem to thrive on it always keep that in mind !

[Fishman11]

great input everyone, i will try to remember them for next year.