I' m new to hunting and even newer to turkey hunting. I' ll be hunting in PA, and want to know if its worth using decoys. What set-ups work good for you? Thanks
in my opinion there not needed but in some cases are priceless...like field hunting...and some setups when the bird sneaks around and wont come in the open or in gun range.....in 4 yrs ive needed them a few times.....just never had one...this year i might buy one.....i wull proball just buy 1 hen and set her out when i think she might be needed.....i cant help with a setup being i dont use decoys yet.....someone will help.....good luck.......i also live and hunt in PA
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Location: The Wild Turkey Capitol of the World......Missouri
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RE: Decoys - ?
The first turkey I ever killed came in to a single hen decoy, it was an old hard plastic body decoy. I have used Feather Flex decoys on and off over the last few years but don' t rely on them too heavily. I find they don' t suit my style of hunting well, because I like to move around a lot and I don' t like setting out and picking up decoys every little bit. I use them the most on the first setup of the morning. If I don' t score then, they usually get tossed aside for the day. I would say go ahead and get a decoy or two and try them but they are by far no guarantee that the turkeys will pay any attention to them, sometimes they will, sometimes they won' t!
I guess it depends on where you set up. If a gobbler comes in and can see a long way off, like fields and open timber, etc, he expects to see a hen and then they' re very usefull. If he has to pick his way around lots of cover or come over a ridge where he' ll be in range while still searching for the " hen" , you won' t need one.
Different scenarios, different schools of thought, different birds. That' s turkey huntin' .
If you go up to the SEARCH menu and type in Decoys it will give you tons of information relating to past questions related to this. I have been using decoys off and on for the past 20 years and have settled on using 2 hens and a small jake placed about 15 to 20 yards from my setup. I would avoid the shinier models. Decoys arnt necessary alot of the time, maybe even most of the time. But there are some situations where having them can make the difference. I use them in field situations.
I have a hen and jake decoy combo set from Buckwing (the expanding " umbrella" type of decoys). Never used them before, as they are brand new out of the box. What would be a good setup for them? Put the jake about 10 yards away from the hen, like he' s coming towards her?
I always use decoys, got me 2 hens a jake, and a jake fantail. I keep a jake in the hens and then one bout 15 yards away. Good huntin, and tell me how it works if ya decide to do it.
Decoys - ?
