Jake Decoy

[Lake Trout]

My second ever turkey hunt starts May 8th. I'm going to be in a blind in a small field near deep woods. I plan on setting two hen decoys out with strings attached to give them some movement when needed. I am wondering if I should also set out a jake decoy? I've heard sometimes that's not a good idea in the later seasons because some birds are tired of fighting by then. I'm hunting in an area that has had no hunting pressure that I'm aware of. What do you think?

[wetaline]

Lake Trout, I'd suggest not putting out the jake decoy. Just like you said some tom's could be sick of fighting. I've seen where a bunch of jakes will really beat up on a lone or a pair of tom's. The tom may think where there's one jake there maybe more. I've had tom's also hang up just outside of shooting range because I had a jake decoy out. But as with turkey hunting anything can happen. But I think your best chance would be to use just hen decoy's especially later on in the season. Good luck.

[Scott M]

I'm starting on "E" season also, but I plan on having a jake with 3 hens. In scouting, I saw a bunch of toms following the hens around strutting the whole time. I think they are still sorting things out where I plan to hunt, so I'm not too worried about the jake.

Too each his own I guess. See what the birds tell you after a day or two.

[LOW Lover]

My son shot his first Tom yesterday at 5:50 AM. He was so pumped and excited about his experience. His Tom had a 10.5 inch bird but was so beat up. Wing tips were ground down from strutting and missing tail feathers. He only weighed 15 pounds. I think this bird was one of the dominate toms in the area and had been fighting jakes all spring. My third born son witnessed a Tom in the area a few weeks ago being attacked by a few jakes. So far we are three for three as a family!!

Go Get em!!

LOW