Hey all. I have been turkey hunting for about 5 or 6 years now. I am only 22 and have learned everything I know on my own. The first couple of years were tough, but the past 3 years or so I've been real succesful. I own every call and decoy you can buy. LOL I was just wondering what decoy set-up you all use. Exspecially early season. I've heard everything from just hens, to hens and a jake, to a full strut tom. Some people say a jake is good, others wont bring one. Last year I bagged a tom using two hen decoys. I just want some input and advice on what I should be bringing to the field on opening morning. Any input will be greatly appreciated thankyou. (If it helps, I hunt NY, and the field I am setting up on opening morning has been having, 11 toms, a ton of hens and 5 jakes in it.) THANKS

For my season here in Minnesota, i used a hen and jake decoy. I have the intruder series decoys and they worked real well. The birds here were still very much henned up and i think they would have hung up if it was just then hen. He came right in to the intruder jake and you can see it on film where he is spittin and drummin and even throws a shoulder into my deek. I recomend a hen and jake decoy.

Thanks so much OUTDOORMAFIAKP, sounds like I def. need a jake decoy out there then, because there is alot alot of hens with these toms. Very helpful.

Now when the toms are hot and ready to fight i would use a single jake with a single or 2 hens or a Full strut tom with a lone hen. The tarditonal lone hen always works but throw in a jake or tom and you will have it made. Go for Buckwing decoys for the hen and the Primos B-Mobile for the full strut tom. Redhead and Flambeau make a nice jake decoy. the same brand of deke doesnt matter, no real turkey is the same. Color and detail is key. Try different ones and see what works best.

http://www.cabelas.com/prod-1/0031706227237a.shtml

a link to the intruder series, even tho most have seen them...

Great detail on the jakes head.

If there are a lot of hens in the field, then it may not work using just a single hen decoy...you may have to throw a jake in the mix and see what happens. If you don't have much luck, then try switching things up and see what happens.

The ONLY decoy we've seen that can and will make an early season tom or henned up Gobbler respond is a strutter. The Pretty Boy is awesome and my #1 choice!The Toms just can't seem to help themselves and must come in to check out thesubmissive hot hen and her suitor. Try one?