how many decoys do you use?

[cut_un]

I'd have to say that I've not had any gobblers/turkey respond in a real negative way to any decoys I use(as in NOT come to the decoys). Have to say that I've had turkeys during our season "slow to respond to my jake decoy ",as opposed to laying eyes on him and marching in. The last "late season bird "I killed last year, I'd removed the "chicken" from the group had a pair of gobblers march across the field to the hen decoys only. I'll always have ...at least one hen out!

[nyturkeyhunter]

I have three upright hens, one feeding hen, one Jake and one B Mobile full strutter with a real fan.

I usually hunt with one upright hen and the jake decoy. I will adjust depending on the area hunted and the way the gobblers react. I have put out as many as five decoys and as few as one.

All of my decoys are Buckwings with the exception of the B-mobile.

[hookspur]

Granted, my decoy use Is very limited, but we've had tremendous success where I guide in Florida by using a whole flock...a strutter, a semi-fuzzed-up jake, and 8 hens. All DSD's too, so it's the most realistic-looking setup imaginable. I never use them when hunting by myself, but in those wide-open sod farms I've had toms run for 600 yards to come face-to-face with that strutter. Shame on 'em when they do.......

[Ms Turkey Hunter]

1 hen and sometimes I"ll put out a jake

[BigAL64]

If I am hunting in woods I don't use one at all. if hunting in fields I have a strutter a jake and 2 hens that I can use as I see fit.

[ICDEDTURKES]

0

[don novicki]

I know this is an old post but I'm trying to get these boards going again. Just like all the duck hunting boards people have dropped off so here goes. I use one decoy and frankly I don't know why I ever bought one. Even bought a DSD in 2010 and I'll bet not one bird has ever really showed any interest at all. In fact most of em haven't even seen it at all. Waste o money IMO.....

[cut_un]

I seem to be the opposite from some! Over the years... for the most part, have had positive responces for decoy use!

[Phil_W]

I've been turkey hunting for 35 years and have used decoys on and off the whole time. I have had all kinds of result, especially when comparing non-pressured turkeys to pressured ones. I had gobblers run in and attack both jake and mature tom decoys, I had gobblers try to mate my decoys, I've had turkeys spook and run off from decoys, and I've had turkeys walk right by them like they even didn't see them. Someone stated that you need to know what the turkey wants to see. LOL Would someone please explain to me how I'm suppose to know what a turkey wants to see? Furthermore, turkeys have different personalities and moods from day to day and can be very unpredictable. I will say this, most of the gobblers I have taken on decoys have been 2 year olds, not the long spured 3-4-5 year olds. The 2 year olds can be like high school boys, easy to trick. There have been lots of days that I wasn't in the mood to carry all that extra stuff in the woods and still carried a long beard out. Bottom line, go hunting, use the decoys and see what happens. They're no cut and dried rules to using decoys. Good luck and be SAFE!

[cut_un]

All true!!