Hen, Gobbler, or Jake Decoy

[JWK1995]

Curious to see what everyone's opinion is on what kind of decoy to use? Do you prefer a hen, jake, or gobbler. Do you use a single decoy or multiple?

 

Thanks

Edited March 7, 2019 by JWK1995

[Mountain Goat]

Hen but I have had tons of success without a decoy too.

[vdep217]

While I've had success with a decoy I think no decoy is better..  Imo when a gobbler sees a hen he locks up as by nature the gen goes to the tom..  a Jake decoy creates competiton..  again could just be my style of run n gun that no decoy has been better but that's just me

[JWK1995]

Are you calling more often to get their attention when hunting without a decoy?

[vdep217]

1 minute ago, JWK1995 said:

Are you calling more often to get their attention when hunting without a decoy?

Honestly it's the opposite.  Once I know a bird is coming I shut up and let him look for me..  if he goes quite I may give a quote Yelp or if hes gobbling his head off and sounds hung up..  when calling for friends I've kept calling a really hot gobbler so hes gobbling in their face..  each bird will be different..  gobblergetter will have more insight

[JWK1995]

2 minutes ago, vdep217 said:

Honestly it's the opposite.  Once I know a bird is coming I shut up and let him look for me..  if he goes quite I may give a quote Yelp or if hes gobbling his head off and sounds hung up..  when calling for friends I've kept calling a really hot gobbler so hes gobbling in their face..  each bird will be different..  gobblergetter will have more insight

Got it.. appreciate the insight

[mazzgolf]

I don't call any more or less with or without decoy. (I call very little no matter what - I wait 20 or even 30 minutes between calling).

As for what decoys, I've shot turkeys over decoys and without decoys. The times when I have shot over decoys, they were over a Tom/hen pair. Well, that's not true - one fall season (in the middle of the rain), I had 4 of those cheap decoys on the edge of a field that attracted a flock of hens. I took one of them home that fall.

If I want to run-n-gun, I leave the decoys home so I don't have to worry about carrying them around all over the place. If I have a spot where I plan on sitting in a blind or being stationary for the morning, I'll bring the decoys out. 

[vdep217]

I'll also add that in open woods a decoy gives the bird somthing to focus on and not look for you..

[toxo]

I like to use corn as a decoy.

[JWK1995]

Thanks for all the advice here.. so if I'm hunting an area/zone that I'm not totally familiar with, would you guys saying run and gun (no decoy) is the best bet? 

[Pqreturn62]

All depends on where you’re hunting and how long you’re willing to wait the birds out. Where I hunt up in the mountains, I’m calling birds out of mountain laurel and over top of ridges. Decoys aren’t worth the effort to carry in. If I can see them, there is a 50/50 chance I can shoot them.

I do however like to use decoys when I’m hunting the morning roost on a set of powerlines. It just helps channel where the birds fly down.

[hammer4reel]

I’m bow hunting for turkeys .

IMO the best decoy is a jake , they have to come beat him up .

and gives me time to take a well placed shot

[Merkel]

For what it’s worth, I don’t use decoys and have had consistent success.  I hunt woods off a field.  Years ago I did use hen decoys but they seem to spook the Gobblers. 

[MGHunter66]

5 minutes ago, hammer4reel said:

I’m bow hunting for turkeys .

IMO the best decoy is a jake , they have to come beat him up .

and gives me time to take a well placed shot

I agree, they just can’t resist kicking the young guys butt

[mazzgolf]

42 minutes ago, JWK1995 said:

if I'm hunting an area/zone that I'm not totally familiar with, would you guys saying run and gun (no decoy) is the best bet? 

In my opinion, yes. If you are not familiar with the area and aren't even sure where the birds are, best bet is to run-n-gun and see if you can find them. Because if you are lucky enough to hear them, they may be hundreds of yards away and your best option is to try to get closer to them rather than waiting them out trying to get them to walk those hundreds of yards to come to you. And if there is a hen or two between you and the Tom in those hundreds of yards, he's probably going to have his attention diverted to them.

I'll use decoys if I'm familiar with the area and I know where the birds like to hang out (or where I think they might be walking through). I'll set out the decoys there and wait them out.

BTW: side note: when running-n-gunning, be careful out there! More likely to run into other hunters when you do that, so it can be less safe in an area a lot of people hunt. Do not stalk a bird when running-n-gunning - it could be another hunter you are hearing, or, even if you are onto a real bird, there could be other hunters running-n-gunning the same bird. This happened to me last year. I had a bead on a bird, I moved in closer and then sat next to a tree; couple minutes later, I caught sight of another hunter off to my right stalking the same bird. I called out to him because I felt I wasn't safe where I was, so I had to let him know I was there - that effectively ended my (and his) hunt. Oh well.