Turkey decoys can be an extremely effective tool for hunters, but only if used properly. Knowing when and how to deploy decoys is critical to luring in wary gobblers during the spring turkey season. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll cover everything you need to know about maximizing your decoy setups throughout the season based on real turkey behavior.
Why Use Decoys for Turkeys?
Turkey decoys serve two key purposes:
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Attracting gobblers from a distance – The sight of what appears to be real hens or strutting toms grabs the attention of turkeys and pulls them in to investigate
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Providing a focal point – Rather than looking for the source of your calls everywhere, the decoys focus a gobbler’s approach and attention to one place – right in front of your setup
When gobblers have hens on their mind, decoys that mimic the real thing can be hard for them to resist. Making your setup look as natural as possible is key.
Decoy Considerations by Season Phase
To deploy turkey decoys effectively, it’s critical to tailor your spread to the time of year. Here’s how decoy strategies evolve over the course of spring:
Early Season
During early spring when flocks are still intact, multiple decoys work best. Try combining:
- Full strutting tom – Dominant gobblers will be drawn in to defend their turf
- 2-3 hens in various poses – Mimics a flock and provides context for the strutter
Avoid overusing decoys though, as huge flocks are beginning to break up. Setting up 10+ decoys in April will look totally unnatural.
Peak Breeding
As flocks continue to dissolve, tone down your spread to reflect smaller groups:
- Strutting jake – Incites aggressive responses from all gobblers
- 1-2 hens – A jake who’s found ladies is irresistible to most toms
Late Season
By May, most turkeys have gone their separate ways. Single birds and pairs are the norm. Simple, minimal spreads work best:
- 1-2 hens – A lonely hen or pair will appeal to amorous gobblers covering ground in search of love
- Jake decoy – Still enticing for territorial late-season toms
Stick with setups of 1-3 decoys maximum in late spring. More will look highly suspicious.
Field vs. Woods Setups
Your decoy strategy should also change based on the terrain:
In fields, a spread with a fully strutting boss tom and multiple hens is extremely effective for pulling in distant gobblers. The open terrain lets them spot your decoys from afar.
In the woods, hunters should opt for low-profile setups with minimal movement that won’t spook warier birds at close range. A single hen or jake paired with a laying hen work beautifully in timber.
Adjust your decoy choices accordingly based on where you’re hunting.
Realistic Decoy Selection
The most realistic, high-quality decoys generate the best responses from turkeys. A few pointers:
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Lifelike materials – Choose feathered, taxidermy, or molded decoys over inflatables.
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Motion – Decoys with movable parts like fanned tails lend critical realism.
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Correct postures – Make sure hens are feeding, loafing, or looking submissive.
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Proper proportions – Overly large or small decoys can spook birds.
Take time to scout and learn exactly what real turkeys in your area look like this season. Then mimic them with your decoys.
Decoy Placement Tips
Careful decoy positioning and setup is also critical:
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Angle decoys toward your hidden setup so approaching birds don’t spot you.
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Avoid placing decoys on top of hills or ridges where they’ll silhouette unnaturally.
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Put outdecoys overnight to allow birds to get accustomed to seeing them.
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Make sure decoys are visible at 40+ yards to gobblers hanging up.
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Use decoys to steer approaching gobblers away from hazards like fences or roads.
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Pick spots 20-30 yards from your setup for the best shot opportunities.
Take the time to put out decoys in optimal, natural-looking placements to maximize success.
When Not to Use Decoys
While extremely effective when used properly, there are some instances when it’s best to leave decoys packed away:
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During the early weeks of the season when huge flocks make even 3-4 decoys look suspicious.
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In areas with extremely wary and call-shy late-season gobblers where decoys may alarm them.
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When hunting with a large group of hunters in an area. Decoys can draw birds away from callers.
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On small parcels of land where you worry about drawing birds away from other hunters.
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In windy conditions where decoy movement seems unnatural.
If the circumstances of a particular hunt aren’t right, don’t feel compelled to put out decoys. Follow your instincts.
Key Takeaways
To summarize how to make the most of turkey decoys:
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Use multiple decoys early in the season when flocks are large. Go with fewer, smaller spreads as spring progresses.
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Tailor decoy postures, sex, and quantity to match what birds are doing at that point in time.
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Opt for minimal, subtle setups in timber. Use attention-grabbing spreads in open fields.
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Invest in the most realistic, durable decoys possible.
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Take time to set up decoys in optimal, natural-looking placements.
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Adapt spreads based on bird behavior and don’t use decoys at all if conditions call for it.
Learn real turkey behavior through scouting, then mimic it with purposeful decoy strategies. Doing so will put more gobblers within range this spring. Follow these turkey hunting decoy tips and you’ll find spring success for seasons to come.
Should you try a single hen, a jake and hen, or a full-strut decoy? That depends on the time of the season. Here’s your guide to using turkey decoys, from opening day to the closing bell
My nephew and I popped up a blind in a corn stubble field less than 100 yards from a turkey roost that I’d identified by listening to gobbles for the previous two mornings. We positioned an aggressive jake decoy next to a breeding hen decoy before settling in. With dim lighting hinting at dawn’s arrival, I coaxed with some tree yelps. Gobbling confirmed that the toms were in the trees right where I expected they would be.
The author’s nephew bagged this big gobbler with a jake-and-hen combo. Photo by Darron McDougal
Soon, they flew down, and rather than enter the field and come to our decoys, they headed east onto the neighboring property to court some hens. I continued coaxing with my calls, but it became obvious that the gobblers wouldn’t leave the hens.
Meanwhile, another gobbler nearly 500 yards in the opposite direction began gobbling. He was out of view, and I knew he was across a paved road. “I’m going to call a lot and then stop,” I whispered to my nephew. My ploy was to build curiosity, which would draw the bird to where he’d see the decoys. Then, it would be up to the decoys to draw him within shotgun range.
About 10 minutes after I stopped calling, my nephew noticed a turkey about 200 yards away. I glassed with my binoculars and confirmed that it was the tom and that he was beelining toward our decoys as fast as his two legs could carry him. Soon, the puffed-up bird was pushing his breast against the jake decoy 15 yards away. When he’d pushed it over, I said, “OK, shoot him!” Boom! The bird flattened out and hardly twitched.
Whether you haven’t tried hunting with decoys or you’ve experienced minimal success with decoying, you’ve come to the right place. Here, we’ll discuss several decoy setups and when they tend to be most effective, based on my 22 years of decoying turkeys. There’s just something about fooling a mature gobbler with decoys, so let’s dive in.
THE FULL-FLOCK SPREAD
- Pro: Highly effective early in the season
- Con: Hassle to carry
It might be a hassle, but lugging several decoys afield can be very productive early in the season as aggression builds and winter flocks begin dividing up. Toms that have been kicked out of the big flock are roaming and looking for other turkeys to mingle with. By setting out a handful of hens and a strutter or aggressive jake decoy, you’re inviting satellite toms to join a smaller flock with one male bird (a less intimidating scene than the flock they were just booted from).
A small flock of decoys, like a jake or gobbler with a handful of hens, can trigger curious or dominant gobblers to investigate. Photo by Bill Konway
A flock of decoys has the potential to trigger three possible responses. A lone gobbler might think he’s found other birds that will allow him in. Or, he might come in purely out of curiosity to see who these birds are and size up the ring leader. Or, he might see hens guarded by only one tom or jake (your decoy) as an opportunity to establish his dominance by fighting to intercept the flock.
Smaller flocks are common once the huge winter flocks divide and disperse, so a flock of decoys is a very realistic card to play and can be highly effective during this window.
THE JAKE AND HEN CLASSIC
- Pros: A standby that works all season long
- Cons: Can intimidate subordinate gobblers
This go-to combo works all season, and I use it more than any other decoy spread because I’ve had so much success with it. I usually pair an aggressive 3/4 strut jake with a solo hen. The hen’s pose seems to have little to no bearing on this spread’s effectiveness; I’ve used alert, feeding and breeding hen decoys with virtually the same exact results.
As for timing, I’ve busted mature gobblers over this deadly pair as early as Nebraska’s March 25 archery opener and as late as the end of May in Wisconsin, not to mention every single week in between. If I had only one day left in my life to turkey hunt, I’d select this decoy setup, hands down, because it has produced the most consistent results.
The jake and hen decoy pair is a combination that can work all season. Photo by Darren McDougal
Now, there are some instances when it doesn’t work. Case in point: Once during mid-April in Wisconsin, I had a tom gobbling from a ridge top out of view. I also could hear hens yelping, so I got mouthy with my calling. The gobbler came straight to the pinch-point I was calling from, but when he saw the jake and hen decoys, he became skittish and skirted my setup out of range. I believe he was looking to add a hen to his flock, or perhaps he thought one of his hens had fallen behind and was coming to round her up. Regardless, he didn’t want to fight.
Most of the time, the jake and hen combo produces the highest response rate, but when I encounter a bird that becomes skittish or simply doesn’t commit, I’ll usually skip the jake on my next attempt to hunt that bird and try one or two hen decoys.
THE SOLO JAKE
- Pros: Easy to carry, still elicits dominance response
- Cons: Some satellite birds don’t want to fight, period
If you want to elicit a similar response to the jake and hen combo while reducing weight for easier transportation, a great option is to carry a solo jake decoy. The key, though, is an aggressive pose and stunning realism. Don’t use an alert jake with a moderately red head or one that looks fake. It has to look like an overconfident punk with a beaming red head.
A solo jake is easy to transport and works well early in the season. by Darron McDougal
I suggest using this one during the early season while hunting hen flocks guarded by two or more gobblers. Hunt as close to where they fly down, or where they go after they fly down, as possible. There is strength in numbers, and two or more gobblers are likely to gang up on this intruder and kick him out of the area and away from the hens, bringing a gobbler or several of them into your sights.
It can also work when you’re hunting a henned-up tom, usually during the middle of the season. If you’ve been sitting a couple hundred yards away with hen decoys or even the jake and hen combo and trying to call a tom away from his hens with zero success, try pushing the envelope by getting into his wheelhouse with an aggressive solo jake. The last thing he wants is a little punk getting near his ladies. Expect him to either come in hot or gather up his hens and push them away. The key, I’ve found, is to hunt right where they already hang out, not 50 or 60 yards away. The goal is to push his dominance button. Getting close and posing a threat can do it.
THE SOLO HEN
- Pros: Subtle presentation where gobblers have been pressured or where large jake flocks live; can trigger a dominance response from hens
- Cons: May not trigger a response from henned-up gobblers
Have you ever witnessed an all-out turkey fight? It can be a bloodbath. Some toms have lost a battle or several of them. They’ve gotten absolutely rocked by their opponents, and they need some time to shake it off. Also, subordinate gobblers or even dominant toms that have been pestered by jake flocks don’t always want to fight, especially when it’s one tom versus three or more jakes. So, if you’ve encountered loud gobblers that tuck tale and run upon seeing your jake or strutter decoy, consider a non-aggressive single-hen setup.
A solo hen decoy works well from mid to late season and is attractive to both toms and aggressive hens. by Bill Konway
A solo hen can be highly alluring to a tom that wants a hen but has no fight left in him. This is a good card to play during the middle to end of the season and especially toward the end. My favorite solo-hen setup is when I’m hunting a flock with one tom and several hens, especially when a jake decoy hasn’t triggered a response. I’ve found that live hens often become aggressive toward a solo hen that they don’t recognize. Numerous times I’ve had hens come in fast, purring and cutting the entire way to the decoy. Then, they attack it. I’ve had hens peck the head of my decoy and shove it around. And you know what? The tom can’t stand it. Often, he runs right in to see what the ruckus is about.
FANNING
- Pros: Highly effective on aggressive gobblers
- Cons: Potentially dangerous, illegal in some areas, can put added pressure on local birds
Stalking a gobbler and then challenging him with a real turkey fan or even a strutter decoy is not only a controversial tactic, but it’s also illegal in several states. Still, I occasionally use this tactic (where legal) and have outstanding success. The most effective situation is to move to within 80-100 yards of a flock guarded by one or more gobblers. When I’ve done it, I slowly present the fan, then move it to add realism. If the tom(s) don’t notice it or is (are) looking but not coming closer, I sometimes make a few tom/jake yelps with my mouth call or the spitting noise of a tom’s spitting and drumming.
Fanning can be effective at any time of the season, but you also must understand that not every tom will accept the challenge. Some will go on alert and move their hens the other way.
Where legal and safe, fanning can be a deadly way to bring in a gobbler that hangs up out of range. by Darron McDougal
Like fanning, any type of turkey decoying has risks. You’re sitting within shotgun range of what look like real turkeys. Although most hunters can tell the difference in a quick glance, accidents can happen. So, always use caution and be alert. If you see another hunter moving in on your setup, remain motionless and speak loudly, “Hunter over here!” Repeat until your warning is understood and the hunter realizes that your decoys aren’t real turkeys.
Although calling a tom in close without decoys and killing him at 30 yards is an art, nothing beats the rush of a boss gobbler storming in on a decoy setup, especially when he beats up your jake decoy before you shoot him. Although every gobbler is different and there is no guarantee how they’ll respond to decoys 100 percent of the time, these guidelines will certainly point you in the right direction this spring.
Turkey Decoy Strategies: When to use a jake decoy
FAQ
What turkey decoys to use and when?
Early Spring
Use one or two feeding hens with an upright hen. That mimics a flock of contended birds. Conversely, a spread with two or three upright hens looks like a group of alarmed turkeys. Strutting or jake decoys can provoke strong reactions from gobblers during this period.
Is it better to hunt with or without turkey decoys?
But if an approaching tom can’t see a decoy, it will often keep coming, sometimes without making a sound. More often than not, it helps to have a turkey decoy, but it’s not always necessary to fill a tag.
Will decoys scare turkeys away?
Decoys can be a turkey hunter’s greatest ally or foe. They allow a turkey to put a face to the voice they’ve heard call at them which can draw the bird in, but can also keep it away if the setup is not executed right.
Why won’t turkeys come to my decoys?
If a subordinate gobbler comes in, and he’s already been beat up by a dominant gobbler, there’s a very good chance that he’s won’t come in and get his head bloodied again. Many times, a turkey won’t come to a decoy, because the hunter has made a mistake in where he’s placed the decoy.
How to choose a suitable Turkey decoy?
To choose a suitable Turkey decoy, look for a versatile decoy that can attract both hens, toms, and jakes throughout the entire turkey hunting season. The Montana Miss purr—FECT duo is an excellent option as it allows you to tweak different poses. Additionally, ensure you select a durable decoy that can serve you for many hunting seasons without the need to replace it.
Why do you not use a decoy when hunting turkeys?
Another reason I don’t use a decoy when I’m hunting turkeys in the hills is because most of the time I have to set-up quickly to get in position to shoot the gobbler just before he tops over the hill. I don’t want to be setting up decoys when the gobbler tops the hill because he’ll see me.
What is the best decoy for a turkey hen?
Attracting a turkey hen? Use a single hen decoy. During the season’s end, it’s time for nesting. The best decoy, along with turkey calls, can help bring toms in shotgun range quickly.
Where do you put a decoy when hunting a Turkey?
Tomorrow: David Hale Tells Us about Three Crazy Turkey Hunts If I’m hunting on a piece of property I’ve never hunted before, especially in a swampy or an open timber area, I may put a decoy out in front of my stand site, slightly off to my right or left.
What decoy do you use early in the season?
Early in the season I like to use a hen and jake decoy, or a strutter decoy if I have one, says Culpepper. Mainly when it’s still early, turkeys are figuring out their pecking order and don’t seem to have established that dominance yet, so I’ve seen a strutter work really well early on. Phillip Culpepper likes to run-and-gun with decoys.
How many turkey decoys can you use?
You can use different turkey decoy setups between the first and final hunting week. For example, you can use multiple turkey decoys on the opening day and only a single decoy on the final week. A tom decoy is the best choice when trying to attract the attention of a dominant and big turkey.