Hunting with Turkey Decoys-How to Use A Turkey Decoy

For hunters hunting wild turkeys in the wild, turkey decoys can be an extremely helpful and effective tool to aid them in their hunting endeavors. In terms of turkey hunting, decoys can be effective, but they can also be tricky to use, so you should learn how to use a turkey decoy in order to make your hunt as successful as possible. The following tips will help you get the most out of your turkey decoys.

First and foremost, you need to make sure that you are using the right decoy when you go out hunting.

How to choose the right turkey decoys?

Here are some factors that you should consider when choosing the right turkey decoys for your needs.

Turkey species

Firstly, you need to decide what kind of turkey you are going to hunt. Depending on the species of turkey you are hunting, different types of decoys will respond differently to them. You should pick a turkey lure that matches the size, color, and sound of the turkeys you wish to attract by using it.

Terrain and habitat

In addition, you should take into account the terrain and habitat of the area you will be hunting in before you make your decision. The effectiveness of different decoys depends on the environment in which they are placed.

Visibility

The next thing you will need to consider is the visibility of your decoy in the terrain that you will be hunting in. The decoy you choose should be able to be seen clearly from a distance, but at the same time, you don't want it to be too flashy or overly conspicuous in the background. The best decoys for hunting are ones that are natural in appearance and blend in well with their surroundings.

Durable

Also, make sure your decoy is made from durable materials so that it can withstand elements such as rain and snow, and you can keep it for a long time.

Easy to set up

Lastly, choosing a decoy that is both easy to carry and easy to set up quickly is also extremely important.

Types of turkey decoys

In the decoy collection, you will find three different kinds of turkeys: the jake, the hen, and the tom. These decoys have their own unique features, which will assist you in different hunting scenarios, and each is capable of getting you better results.

Tom Turkey Decoy

Gobbler or Tom are adult male turkeys. Tom turkey decoys are decoys that are designed to resemble male turkeys, which is the most effective decoy for attracting the largest and best turkeys in the area.

Jake Turkey Decoy

Jakes are young male turkeys. Jake turkey decoys are perfect for attracting young turkeys.

Hen Turkey Decoy

Hens are female turkeys. Hen turkey decoys are great for drawing in adult males.

How to tell the differences between a Jake and a Tom?

If you are turkey hunting, you may wonder how to tell Jack and Tom apart and whether they have any physical characteristics you can use to identify them. Here are some identifiers you can use to identify Jakes and Toms easily.

Beards

It is common for Jakes to have short beards (between two and three inches in length), whereas the beard of a Tom turkey can be up to 10 inches in length.

Fans

Jakes molt at about 4 or 5 months of age, losing their feathers besides the beard and tail feathers. This causes the central feathers to grow longer as the other feathers grow in. So Jake fans tend to have an uneven and awkward style.

Spurs

A jack has shorter spurs than a tom, typically with spurs about a half inch long. In general, toms have longer spurs, sometimes up to one and a half inches long.

Gobbles

Toms almost always give a longer, louder, better-sounding gobble than jakes.

How to set up your turkey decoys?

Once you have the right decoys, you need to set them up in the right way.

Place turkey decoys in the right locations so they can be used effectively. Grassy areas with a view of the surrounding terrain are good places to place decoys to attract turkeys.

In addition, make sure your decoys are close enough to your blind or hide to allow you to get a good shot, yet far enough away to prevent the turkeys from spooking.

There are three different types of positions for placing turkey decoys: walking/strutting, mating, and feeding.

Walking Turkey Decoy

It is best to put walking or strutting decoys within an open area in order to create the illusion that a tom is looking for a mate.

Mating Turkey Decoy

A mating setup would consist of a hen and a tom, with the tom standing behind the hen, to simulate a mating position.

Feeding Turkey Decoy

Feeding decoys should be placed in areas that resemble food sources. It will appear as if the decoys are in the process of picking up food from the ground, with their heads pointing down.

A key component of your success when you go turkey hunting is hunting with turkey decoys. After you know how to properly use your turkey decoys, you're one step closer to your successful hunt! These above tips will assist you in using and setting up your turkey decoys effectively and dramatically increase your chances of taking down a turkey.

Here is a blog that might be able to assist you if you are looking for some helpful turkey hunting tips.