Turkey hunting question??

Ive heard of several decoy set ups for spring time turkeys ex..hen and drake, hen only, drake only, tom and hen, tom only and so on…My question is what are you guys using and seeing success with for SPRING time turkeys??? My good friend is a die hard turkey hunter as well as my cousin..Ive spoke to both and they both give me different set up and both make sense why their set up should work…any in put would great..I know its Jan. but gotta get ready..thanks all…Jay

Early in the season I like to use a Jake with a couple hens.On the set up I like to put the decoys faceing in my blind postions and no more than 20 yards out.I have found out that alot of times the birds will hold up about 10 yards from my set up so the closer the decoys hopefully the closer the toms.Late season I don’t use decoys as much because the birds are simply smater and become more worry.That is when I use the run and gun method, this is were I will hit several diffrent locations trying to locate a tom.Once I do I will get set up as close as I can to him and try to coax him in with some soft calling trying not to get to aggresive.With no decoys there sometimes it will bring that ol tom in searching for that hen thats making the calls.

Early in the season I like to use a Jake with a couple hens.On the set up I like to put the decoys faceing in my blind postions and no more than 20 yards out.I have found out that alot of times the birds will hold up about 10 yards from my set up so the closer the decoys hopefully the closer the toms.Late season I don’t use decoys as much because the birds are simply smater and become more worry.That is when I use the run and gun method, this is were I will hit several diffrent locations trying to locate a tom.Once I do I will get set up as close as I can to him and try to coax him in with some soft calling trying not to get to aggresive.With no decoys there sometimes it will bring that ol tom in searching for that hen thats making the calls.

Ive had my most success using decoys with a jake and hen. The tom is more interested in the jake, to his butt! Most of the time I dont use a decoy

Ive had my most success using decoys with a jake and hen. The tom is more interested in the jake, to his butt! Most of the time I dont use a decoy

I don’t consider myself an expert by any means, but I have been lucky enough to harvest turkeys two out of three seasons. I use a natural blind (fallen trees) along with camo netting. For decoys I set out one jake and two hens. You can purchase these as a set. I don’t put them in any special order, as long as they are visible and you are not is the most important part. I plan on video taping my turkey bowhunt this year. I will find out and report how this season goes, maybe decoy set up will be the key….

Good luck sir

Jesse

I don’t consider myself an expert by any means, but I have been lucky enough to harvest turkeys two out of three seasons. I use a natural blind (fallen trees) along with camo netting. For decoys I set out one jake and two hens. You can purchase these as a set. I don’t put them in any special order, as long as they are visible and you are not is the most important part. I plan on video taping my turkey bowhunt this year. I will find out and report how this season goes, maybe decoy set up will be the key….

Good luck sir

Jesse

I’ve killed a bunch of turkeys. Most with a gun…a couple with my bow. If you’re using just a gun, don’t get too hung up about your decoy setup. I’ve killed plenty without any decoys…just be good with a mouth call. For archery setups, a jake decoy is at the top of the list. A hen with the jake isn’t bad, but if I only wanted to haul around one, it’d be the jake. A tom will want to approach the jake decoy from the front and the hen from the rear. Keep this in mind when positioning decoys. For archery setups I set my decoys ultra close to the blind. No more than 10-12 yards. This allows a decent shot if the bird decides to hang up just before actually reaching the decoy. Good luck…the season will be here before you know it.

NWBuck

I’ve killed a bunch of turkeys. Most with a gun…a couple with my bow. If you’re using just a gun, don’t get too hung up about your decoy setup. I’ve killed plenty without any decoys…just be good with a mouth call. For archery setups, a jake decoy is at the top of the list. A hen with the jake isn’t bad, but if I only wanted to haul around one, it’d be the jake. A tom will want to approach the jake decoy from the front and the hen from the rear. Keep this in mind when positioning decoys. For archery setups I set my decoys ultra close to the blind. No more than 10-12 yards. This allows a decent shot if the bird decides to hang up just before actually reaching the decoy. Good luck…the season will be here before you know it.

NWBuck

Early season a jake and hen with the jake closer to the hunter. Later season on private land I like to put out 4-5 decoys from all around me because they do become call shy and won’t gobble as much, so the silent treatment is used. Many times I will see them before they will gobble. Like I said it is private land, so I know nobody else is out there. Also, I don’t know which direction they might come from.

Early season a jake and hen with the jake closer to the hunter. Later season on private land I like to put out 4-5 decoys from all around me because they do become call shy and won’t gobble as much, so the silent treatment is used. Many times I will see them before they will gobble. Like I said it is private land, so I know nobody else is out there. Also, I don’t know which direction they might come from.

Jaybird, Last year bowhunting the last seasons I had a heck of a time getting them to commit to the decoys. They were gobbling all over and when I’d get them to start coming they’d lock up after seeing them outta bow range. So the next day I bought a gobbler call and tried with no decoy. I’d never go out without it now, they reacted to the gobble almost everytime. Then the famous football team came by set up 20 ft away without seeing me and one of them actually walked right past me by ten feet to set up his tattered decoy right in front of me. Yeah, four guys, who hunts that way? Their decoy was all shot up cause they said they got bored and shot it plus they set up off of their property they have permission to hunt, on my piece Anyway try a gobble call, can’t hurt and last year it out produced for me. Good luck and I would leave the blind at home, unless you conceal it very well.

Jaybird, Last year bowhunting the last seasons I had a heck of a time getting them to commit to the decoys. They were gobbling all over and when I’d get them to start coming they’d lock up after seeing them outta bow range. So the next day I bought a gobbler call and tried with no decoy. I’d never go out without it now, they reacted to the gobble almost everytime. Then the famous football team came by set up 20 ft away without seeing me and one of them actually walked right past me by ten feet to set up his tattered decoy right in front of me. Yeah, four guys, who hunts that way? Their decoy was all shot up cause they said they got bored and shot it plus they set up off of their property they have permission to hunt, on my piece Anyway try a gobble call, can’t hurt and last year it out produced for me. Good luck and I would leave the blind at home, unless you conceal it very well.

Thanks for all the advise guys….I knew id get some info from you all….hopefully ill be postin a huge gobbler in a few months…although my goal it to get the wife a shot at one first so we will see…thanks again….and coppertop maybe we will have to go practice “punt kicks” with the football team this year when they are trespassing …jay

Thanks for all the advise guys….I knew id get some info from you all….hopefully ill be postin a huge gobbler in a few months…although my goal it to get the wife a shot at one first so we will see…thanks again….and coppertop maybe we will have to go practice “punt kicks” with the football team this year when they are trespassing …jay

Jay, i consider myself a Turkey Hunter. The 1st year was very lucky. The 2nd brought the same results. The 3rd year was the stalk of my life. And the 4th was the perfect set-up. I’m going for my 5th this year and I will tell you a tactic that has worked great for me the last 3 years, hopefully I will make it a 4th this year using this tactic and go 5 for 5.
I rarely use a decoy. I go out at least 4-5 times in the wk to wk and a half prior to my season in the morning and night to listen and watch trying to figure out where the Boss Toms are Roosting. Once season rolls around I try and set up as close as I can to where they Roost. Last year I had a hen fly straight down from above and land 5 yards away. Now, I didn’t realize that I was that close to her or I wouldn’t have done that. I typically set up 80-100 yards away 1.5-2 hours before day-break (we don’t want them to see us) and wait in my blind. I pick my spot based on where I see or hear the Gobbles coming from the night before. If for some reason the Big Boys have moved throughout the night i will leave the blind around 1.5 hrs after day-break.
This is when the fun begins. I love to cut and strutt for these big guys as the follow the ladies around trying to cut them off. What I found by doing this is that the ‘Hens more often then not return to where they came out on the field w/in a 2 hour period. So, when the guys are busy following I go over to where the hens came out on to the field and set up and wait. If you do have a decoy out at your 1st set-up, remember to grab it before you leave and tuck it away somewhere. I left mine out 2 years ago and came back to find it had been attacked. Remember, i’m a phone call away and have 4 Toms in the last 4 yrs between 19.5-21.5 lbs w/ all beards going 10.25″-11″. Hope this helps. What season are you hunting? I plan on video taping Coppertop this year and would love to get yours on video too!!

Jay, i consider myself a Turkey Hunter. The 1st year was very lucky. The 2nd brought the same results. The 3rd year was the stalk of my life. And the 4th was the perfect set-up. I’m going for my 5th this year and I will tell you a tactic that has worked great for me the last 3 years, hopefully I will make it a 4th this year using this tactic and go 5 for 5.
I rarely use a decoy. I go out at least 4-5 times in the wk to wk and a half prior to my season in the morning and night to listen and watch trying to figure out where the Boss Toms are Roosting. Once season rolls around I try and set up as close as I can to where they Roost. Last year I had a hen fly straight down from above and land 5 yards away. Now, I didn’t realize that I was that close to her or I wouldn’t have done that. I typically set up 80-100 yards away 1.5-2 hours before day-break (we don’t want them to see us) and wait in my blind. I pick my spot based on where I see or hear the Gobbles coming from the night before. If for some reason the Big Boys have moved throughout the night i will leave the blind around 1.5 hrs after day-break.
This is when the fun begins. I love to cut and strutt for these big guys as the follow the ladies around trying to cut them off. What I found by doing this is that the ‘Hens more often then not return to where they came out on the field w/in a 2 hour period. So, when the guys are busy following I go over to where the hens came out on to the field and set up and wait. If you do have a decoy out at your 1st set-up, remember to grab it before you leave and tuck it away somewhere. I left mine out 2 years ago and came back to find it had been attacked. Remember, i’m a phone call away and have 4 Toms in the last 4 yrs between 19.5-21.5 lbs w/ all beards going 10.25″-11″. Hope this helps. What season are you hunting? I plan on video taping Coppertop this year and would love to get yours on video too!!

Oh, 1 more thing….. this isn’t duck hunting. Immature males are Jakes…lol

Oh, 1 more thing….. this isn’t duck hunting. Immature males are Jakes…lol

I’ve harvested numerous Toms over the years and 4 within the last two years. I’m no expert but I’m glad to give you my $.02.

I used to hunt with decoys (jake and a hen combo) in open field scenarios and would always attract other Jakes but usually the Toms would get hung up. Once they saw the decoys, they would strut and spin around in circles trying to lure in the hen decoy. It was so frustrating. No matter what I called with or what method they would usually not come in. Eventually, they would just give up and move on. Granted, these Toms may have been already spooked by other hunters using decoys and are a little wiser.

The last 6 Toms I’ve killed have been without a decoy. I guess I try and play the cat and mouse game with them. I want the Tom to come and find me. If your patient, they will usually come to investigate that yelp or putt your softly calling.

It doesn’t always work – especially when he’s already got some hens with him. But if he’s alone or with another Tom,

Hope this helps…

I’ve harvested numerous Toms over the years and 4 within the last two years. I’m no expert but I’m glad to give you my $.02.

I used to hunt with decoys (jake and a hen combo) in open field scenarios and would always attract other Jakes but usually the Toms would get hung up. Once they saw the decoys, they would strut and spin around in circles trying to lure in the hen decoy. It was so frustrating. No matter what I called with or what method they would usually not come in. Eventually, they would just give up and move on. Granted, these Toms may have been already spooked by other hunters using decoys and are a little wiser.

The last 6 Toms I’ve killed have been without a decoy. I guess I try and play the cat and mouse game with them. I want the Tom to come and find me. If your patient, they will usually come to investigate that yelp or putt your softly calling.

It doesn’t always work – especially when he’s already got some hens with him. But if he’s alone or with another Tom,

Hope this helps…

THANKS ALL AND YOU MAY BE GETTIN A CALL GOBBLER…THATS THE PROBLEM W/TYPIN POSTS AT WORK…MINDS OTHER PLACES…JAKE/DRAKE..IM SERIOUSLY NOT THAT BRAIN DEAD..BUT ANYWAY LAST YEAR I USED A JAKE AND WE HAD SEVERAL HENS COME W/IN FEET OF THE BLIND…GOT SOME COOL PICS..THE ONLY TOM WAS RESPONDING TO MY CALL AND GOBBLIN FOR ABOUT A GOOD HOUR ABOUT 50 YRDS OUT…JUST NOT CLOSE ENOUGH FOR THE WIFE TO SHOOT AT…SO IM HOPIN THIS YEAR WILL BE BETTER…ITS ALL PRIVATE LAND AND IVE SEEN 20 PLUS BIRDS AT A TIME DURING THIS DEER SEEASON…COPPERTOP HAS HUNTED IT ONE YEAR BEFORE I STARTED TURKEY HUNTING AND HE SAW BIRDS…SO WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS…THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL THE ADVICE..JAY

THANKS ALL AND YOU MAY BE GETTIN A CALL GOBBLER…THATS THE PROBLEM W/TYPIN POSTS AT WORK…MINDS OTHER PLACES…JAKE/DRAKE..IM SERIOUSLY NOT THAT BRAIN DEAD..BUT ANYWAY LAST YEAR I USED A JAKE AND WE HAD SEVERAL HENS COME W/IN FEET OF THE BLIND…GOT SOME COOL PICS..THE ONLY TOM WAS RESPONDING TO MY CALL AND GOBBLIN FOR ABOUT A GOOD HOUR ABOUT 50 YRDS OUT…JUST NOT CLOSE ENOUGH FOR THE WIFE TO SHOOT AT…SO IM HOPIN THIS YEAR WILL BE BETTER…ITS ALL PRIVATE LAND AND IVE SEEN 20 PLUS BIRDS AT A TIME DURING THIS DEER SEEASON…COPPERTOP HAS HUNTED IT ONE YEAR BEFORE I STARTED TURKEY HUNTING AND HE SAW BIRDS…SO WE WILL SEE WHAT HAPPENS…THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL THE ADVICE..JAY

Decoys suck…leave them @ home. I get my birds every year without them.

Decoys suck…leave them @ home. I get my birds every year without them.

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Decoys suck…leave them @ home. I get my birds every year without them.

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I wouldn’t go that far. I would agree certain situations call for no decoys, but I have had Tom’s come running in from 100’s of yards away to the decoys! Each situation is different! There are times they see the decoys and want nothing to do with them….other times they can put on quite a show for you with the decoys out!

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Decoys suck…leave them @ home. I get my birds every year without them.

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I wouldn’t go that far. I would agree certain situations call for no decoys, but I have had Tom’s come running in from 100’s of yards away to the decoys! Each situation is different! There are times they see the decoys and want nothing to do with them….other times they can put on quite a show for you with the decoys out!

Couldn’t agree more…..time of year I believe has a lot to do with it. Each day needs to be read on how the birds are reacting to the decoys. I’ve had toms run in and I’ve had toms see them and run, so I think you need to read the birds on any given day and go from there.

The last few years I’ve had earlier seasons and setting up in the woods when the leave cover has not come out has paid out good for me. When it’s early and the leave cover is low the birds can find many places in the woods to strut there stuff. When the leaf cover gets hard to see in the woods setting up in the field can pay off, butt if you can find that strutting area in the woods when the leaf cover is high…..that is the spots I look for. The birds always seem to be in these areas….they are hard to find though.

Whatsa

Couldn’t agree more…..time of year I believe has a lot to do with it. Each day needs to be read on how the birds are reacting to the decoys. I’ve had toms run in and I’ve had toms see them and run, so I think you need to read the birds on any given day and go from there.

The last few years I’ve had earlier seasons and setting up in the woods when the leave cover has not come out has paid out good for me. When it’s early and the leave cover is low the birds can find many places in the woods to strut there stuff. When the leaf cover gets hard to see in the woods setting up in the field can pay off, butt if you can find that strutting area in the woods when the leaf cover is high…..that is the spots I look for. The birds always seem to be in these areas….they are hard to find though.

Whatsa