SETTING UP DECOYS

[irishevox]

Hello, hunting turkey first teime this year, and i was wondering how many decoys i should have right now i have a jake and a hen... do i need more... if so which ones and what a good configuration. any help is great! please post pics if you have any of your set up relative you your blind or where your sitting thanks

[castor gitter]

never killed a bird with dekes yet. You don't absolutely need em, but they are nice to add to any arsenal.

[buglebuster]

Ive never used one either, tho last year was the first time i could have used one to seal the deal.

[Mfowl]

Put them on a visible place (not hidden by brush.) I usaully will place the jake behind the hen as if it is following or even breeding her. Keep the jake facing away from you (atleast to some degree.) When a tom approaches a jake they will typically circle behind them and approach from the back. This will keep you out of the birds field of vision. Also keep the decoys out of a direct path to your set up, just in case another hunter takes a shot at them. Never happened to me but I've heard of it several times. I've killed more birds w/out decoys but it is fun to watch them come home in to them.   

[irishevox]

ok .... hmmm alot of people killing birds with out decoys... i mean will it increase my chances at all or... is it hit or miss

[turkeydancer]

A jake and a hen is fine ... set them up 15 to 20 yards from your position with the jake facing you and the hen facing away. Usually a tom will come in face to face with the intruding jake and will have his back to you ... ie: you'll be in his blind spot for any last minute adjustments.  If he comes into the hen, he will approach her from the rear for breeding purposes and again will have his back to you.   If you know what direction the tom will approach from, put the dekes just on the other side to draw him past you.  Do not put them to close together as bunched up turkeys is a sign of danger.  If windy put sticks/stakes on either side so the dekes won't spin in the wind (a little movement is okay so they don't have to be super tight against the dekes).

That said ... early in the season when a tom has his harem, the lead hen may not want to share him with another hen and may lead him away.  I usually will wait a couple weeks before using my dekes.  But then again if they hear a turkey, they may want to see a turkey ... 

 

[irishevox]

YEAH I PLAN TO GO SCOUTING THIS WEEKEND... .. I HAVE A IDEA WHERE I AM GOING TO GO LOOK. I JUST DON'T THE AREAS THAT WELL

[Limhangerslayer]

Decoys can be great when used right..  I think the biggest problem is birds getting accustomed to a feeding hen, an alert hen and a jake in a field next to a blind.  The best I have ever seen a bird decoy was last year during the youth season he flew off the hill from over 600' above and landed in the decoys, dead bird

[irishevox]

i am hoping in turkey hunting more is better kind of like duck hunting ya know.  the biggest issue for me i guess would be how many some people say i only need 1 jake and 1 hen but is that all as far a decoys?

[HornHoarder]

I often use 4 decoys. two hens and two jakes, and have had good luck pulling in gobblers. That seems to work best in open areas, such as fields, where they can be seen from a ways off.

[turkeyfeather]

I have killed a couple birds over dekes but it has always been 2 hens. I have never had luck with a jake and definately will never use a strutter. Last year I had 2 hens fly down and walk up to my hen dekes and one of the hens sat there and bitched out my dekes for about 10 mins before deciding to walk away. I waited till she got about 50 yards away and then let out a few yelps and she came running back and started bitching again. My wife and I couldn't stand it and started laughing at her and she took off. It was one of the funniest things I have ever seen. Later that morning I killed a bird over those dekes set up in another field.

[3dvapor]

Here is my set up, never had alot of luck with decoys until dsds, and stuffer were used.  They are scary realistic.

[irishevox]

i would be afraid somone would shoot those.. i think i will get one more hen and stick with my two hens and one Jake... thanks for all the advice now i think i am getting one step close to bagging me a gollber 

[irishevox]

hey what direction do ya'll put them?  Face you or facing away?

[Muleyhunter47]

Like most people i have never killed a turkey while using a decoy. I always bring them though. When it comes to set up for decoy(s) position dose not matter a whole bunch but facing your decoys into the wind would not be a bad idea these birds don't like when the wind is at their back and the wind goes up their feathers just more realistic for if that big ol tom comes in. I think the most important part is where you are set up versus where the decoy is. I like to be calling about 30-35 yards behind the hunter and the decoy about 20-25 yards in front of him, This will help draw him in close because with my experience i have had a lot of toms "Hang up" 60-70 yards out.