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Kevin
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« on: April 09, 2009, 01:22:05 PM » |
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Continued from front page
Turkey Decoy Setup Tips
1. To keep a big gobbler from "hanging up on you," don't position your decoys in wide open areas. If you do, the gobbler has plenty of time to study your decoys on his approach and this is exactly what causes big toms to stop out of range and never come any closer. If you are hunting an open area, such as a field, simply place your decoys on the woodline, or even a few feet into the edge of the woods, that way the tom cannot fully make them out until he is within shooting range.
2. Since turkeys are birds that hang together in flocks, it makes sense that you would always carry at least a few decoys with you while hunting. When a tom sees a single hen, he is more likely to wait for that hen to come to him.The use of multiple decoys is especially helpful later in the season when hunting pressure has been heavier than usual. A bigger flock will make a big tom feel just that much more secure. Placing multiple decoys is naturally more realistic in the turkeys eyes.
3. So what sex of turkey decoys should you use? Early in the season, it's OK to go with only a couple of hens, but later, a 2 hen/1 jake spread works well, especially late in the season when breeding is at its peak. Placing a jake in the spread creates a dominance issue with the tom. Since the tom wants to be the one to breed the hens, the jake can infuriate him just enough that he'll come running. Make sure to place the jake in the area where you have the best shot, as the gobbler will head for the jake decoy over the hens almost every time.
4. Another tactic to use when turkey are hot: place decoys that feature other toms in full and half strut, as well as using breeding decoys.
Also, try placing a jake decoy on top of a hen decoy to imitate breeding, because just like deer in rut, you can turn on a turkey too.
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