Decoys

[soloJR26]

What is everyone using for decoys? Pros? Cons?

[DonBo]

Decoys have come a long way in just the last few years. Many are so realistic now, that "hung up" birds are ALMOST a thing of the past. (well okay, lets not get that carried away )

Shown here are the ones I carry. The jake is a "Best Turkey Decoy" and the hen is an "Avian x". There are several other brands on the market as good or better than these. They are no longer cheap, but they work so much better than the old roll up, chipped paint, deformed rubber chicken looking things of old.

Pros? They work...at least often enough that I feel I'm really missing out if I don't have them. And, WHEN they work, they get birds in close.

Cons? Sometimes they don't work, (just like everything else you bring into the spring woods) they are bulky and a hastle to cart around. But did I mention they work?

I'm a pretty patient guy and love to set these up along the edge of a field where they can be seen from a long ways away, get comfy in my blind and wait them out. Often you don't even need to call.

Thanks a lot for bringing this up, now it seems like April will never get here.

[Powerstroke]

I have the Best Turkey Decoy also. Last year we had several opportunities at less than 10yds.

There is a time and place for using decoys and sometimes having any decoy, let alone a whole flock will scare away birds. Use your dekes and study their reaction, You may need to make a change.

[surewood]

I bought a cheap hen decoy and put the a-way turkey skinz thing on it. Can't beat real feathers. Five birds shot over it, and one missed with a bow. It's lite, folds up and fits easily in my pack.

[Borch]

I rarely use decoys.... but when I do, it's a strutting jake decoy with a real fan added.

Many, many mature toms hung up with the usual decoys. They' strut and gobble until the real hens showed up and then they headed off to the love shack.

I've had better luck with no decoys and throwing my calls around to keep them looking.

[Archerysniper]

Decoys have come a long way in just the last few years. Many are so realistic now, that "hung up" birds are ALMOST a thing of the past. (well okay, lets not get that carried away

I think you just gave yourself a spring full of gobblers hung up at 65 to 70.

[rkhinrichs]

Avian x i like. Just came out with a full strut this year!

[Cheetah]

I rarely use a decoy. I own a couple but hate carrying them. I prefer a run and gun style of turkey hunting. I have packed them in my car for many hunts but never taken them out.

If you hunt from a blind or just don't like putting on the miles, you might want to invest in a nicer quality decoy.

[sticknstring]

I think this is the year I trade in Woody/Jezebel for some AvianX collapsibles! Realism AND portability!