how many decoys should I use in spring gobbler and why? Also what brand do you prefer?

Bear, one decoy would work fine. I just happen to like the &quot;idea&quot; of having three decoys set-up, personal preference here all the way. The same thing goes for brand as well. I guess which ever one looks good to your eye. I just happen to like the &quot;looks&quot; of the Carry-Lite brand, but that's just me. There are many brands of decoy's now out on the market, the blow up variety, foam, and rubberized plastic ones. Good luck in your decoy quest.<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

&quot;Spring Season....the Best&quot;!!!

What type of decoy do you use? Jake? Feeding Hen?...

Through trial and error over the last twenty years
i finally settled on using three. Two hens and one small
jake. I place the jake one foot behind one of the hens and place
the other hen about 10 ft off to the side facing the other two.
The two hens are Delta foam decoys and the jake is a Feather Flex.
My jake has been beat up so much Im just hoping he'll make it
another season. Ive tried larger jake decoys but they seem
to cause the toms to lock up just out of gun range. They often
run right in and hammer the small jake.
I havent used the feeding hen decoy but it would be a good
idea. Anything to make that gobbler feel at ease.
In some situations i will attach fishing line to one of the hens to give it a little wiggle to catch the gobblers attention when
hes 100 yards across the field.

I usually just use one hen when gun huntin.
but i like to use a hen with a jake on top, when bowhuntin.

but, one lone hen(or jake) is sufficent.

I use feather flex. their light and fold flat.
but i do think the carry-lite are colored better.

Ward Burton-- Daytona 500 winner--
go Cat-22

Edited by - bogobble on 01/21/2003 09:11:02

When I hunt with decoys, I only use one hen. I've used 2-3 before, but it's sure a pain carrying 3 decoys, and guns in the dark, when you're locating birds and going to your set-up. I like carry-lite decoys are my fav.
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I have been using a small jake (not strutting) and a hen decoy (not feeding). That setup is suppose to give the Tom a reason to come closer (steal the hen away from the jake) and keep it from hanging up. I try to position the jake so it appears to be blocking the hen from going to an incoming Tom, but of course, you cannot always predict exactly where the Tom will come from.

It wouldn't be hunting if it worked every time, but that setup has been fairly sucessful for me.

1950kid, I use two feeding hens and a jake decoy. The easiest way to carry these things is in a decoy bag. Look in the front of the Midwest Turkey Call Supply catalog for the decoy bags made by &quot;AW&quot;. They make different sized bags for different brands of decoys. This is so much easier than trying to pull them out of the back of your vest!! There is also a pocket for the decoy stakes as well. This shoulder bag is a great way to carry your deeks in the woods. Very well made and not to expensive!! I can highly recommend them.<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

&quot;Spring Season....the Best&quot;!!!

I've never used a decoy......for one, walking into places that I hunt, I felt a decoy would be cumbersome....second, is the fear of other hunters....especially those that aren't selective, or hunting with rifles......so, I've never used em....I've had good luck without them.....a good benefit I see to using decoys would be that you could watch the gobbler longer.....instead of call it up and shoot at the first opportunity, so he don't get uncormfortable......

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