This gobbler season is my first, and I need some advice on decoys. Since I'm limited to public land here in Virginia, I really don't want to use a jake decoy for safety reasons (I'll be doing most of my hunting in the morning alone, so I don't want to push my luck with red/white/blue colors in the field).

I'm going to roost some birds and try to pull them in the following morning. Here are two scenarios I'd like to run by you.

1. Set up the lone hen as close as possible to the roost, then try yelping/cutting to call the gobbler(s) in. If that doesn't work, then;

2. Set up a lone hen near a strut zone in mid-morning and lost yelp to bring the gobbler(s) in after losing their first hens.

I've never seen anyone use a lone hen, but then again, I'm new. What do you all think? Any and all suggestions are welcome. Thanks!

sounds like a good idea to me but most gobblers want to find a lonesome i would think another thing is im thinking of trying to make a swivle base rod so i could make the hen move around some howi dont think it should be that hard[8D] sounds like a great ider ta me

I like the feeding hen

Yeah those sound like fine ideas to me.

Thanks, guys, I appreciate the input. I'd did a little reading about decoys, and I even saw a single decoy setup on Longbeard Madness 7 last night. I'll go ahead and try it out.

I don't have the experience that the other members on the board have but, I just read an old articel from "turkey and turkey hunting" from 2000. Talking about what you asked about.

Here's what I got out of it. Great after 9:30 when the hens are off to nest. And great late in the season.

Hope it helps.