Yes, Turkey Hunting Without Decoys Can Help You Kill More Gobblers. I love decoys. I’ve got a half dozen turkey decoys in my garage and a whole basement full of duck and goose dekes. I enjoy setting decoys and trying to imitate how I think real birds would be positioned in a given landscape.
Are turkey decoys important?
Many modern hunters prefer to hunt from a pop-up blind in an open area. In such circumstances, decoys are almost a must. When you call to a turkey that’s visible from your setup, the bird instinctively knows it should be able to see the source of that calling. That is, it wants to see another turkey.
How many decoys should I use for turkey hunting?
There are times when three or four hen decoys in various poses paired with a tom or jake is a fail-safe option. However, if you bunch them together too closely, it can impair your ability to take a clean shot. If a tom approaches the setup directly, you’re now having to shoot around some unnecessary obstacles.
What decoys should I use for turkey hunting?
The single best decoy anyone can own is a submissive, half- or quarter-strut jake. If you’re into shooting any legal turkey, this type of jake will draw in anything with a beard. These dekes are effective all spring, so long as you pair them with the right birds.
What should you not wear turkey hunting?
Never wear bright colors, especially not red, white, blue or black because these are the colors of a wild turkey gobbler. Watch out for red, white or blue on your socks, t-shirts, hooded sweatshirts, hats, bandannas, etc. Wear dark undershirts and socks, and pants long enough to be tucked into boots.
Do turkey decoys make a difference?
Don’t expect decoys to be magic makers, and don’t risk being seen to put out a decoy. But when everything comes together, well-positioned decoys seem to keep turkeys coming closer and keep them hanging around longer, at least at times.
Where do you aim when hunting turkeys?
When hunting wild turkeys with a shotgun, greater success is achieved when hunters shoot at the head and neck area of the bird. The most effective firearm shot for a turkey is to the head and neck. The preferred shot angle for bowhunters is broadside, aiming for the heart or lungs.
Can you turkey hunt with one decoy?
The single hen decoy is ideal for all day hunting during the late-season. It’s important to know exactly what your decoy setup is telling other turkeys. Like always, the birds are still wild and every scenario is different.
Which is better a buck or doe decoy?
“Buck or doe — which decoy works the best?” This is a question I get asked a lot. The answer is easy — “both of them work!” The very best decoy set-up is a buck with a doe. At this time of the year, it’s November here in the Midwest, a buck, which does not have a doe, cannot stand it when he spots a buck getting lucky.
What time of day is best to hunt turkey?
first thing in the morning
Time of Day: Since Turkeys make their nest in trees and on the ground in wooded areas, one of the best times of day to hunt is first thing in the morning. Get out to your blind early and listen for the yelps, cackles, and gobbles of turkeys as they start in search for breakfast.
Where do you put the turkey decoy?
Always be on high alert on public, even private land. Set decoys up at 15 to 25 yards from your setup — in case a gobbler hangs up. Stake them slightly off to the left or the right (not directly in line with you and where you think the approaching gobbler is coming).
Are deer scared of turkey decoys?
Whatever it is about turkey decoys, a lot of deer seem to love them. Maybe they associate the presence of turkeys – fake or not – with a food source.
Can you leave turkey decoys out overnight?
Yep. Just get out there early. I have already carried decoys in all set up so all I had to do was stick them in the ground and hop in the blind.
What color should you avoid turkey hunting?
Never wear red, white, blue or black clothing while turkey hunting. Red is the color most hunters look for when distinguishing a gobbler’s head from a hen’s blue-colored head, but at times it may appear white or blue. Male turkey feathers covering most of the body are black in appearance.
What colors should a hunter avoid when turkey hunting?
Never wear red, white, blue, or black, the colors of a male wild turkey. Dress defensively, and wear hunter orange when moving in the turkey woods. Never stalk turkey sounds or attempt to sneak up on wild turkeys. Always call the turkey to you.
Is turkey hunting good all day?
Turkey hunting is unpredictable. You can kill a turkey at any time in daylight, so give yourself as many chances as possible to harvest a gobbler. All you need is patience and persistence.
Is a dozen decoys enough?
Many people use a mix of mallards, black ducks, and pintails for their visibility and good pulling power. As far as the number of decoys to use, 12 to 24 puddle duck decoys is a good range for most people, with fewer than 18 being about right for a solo hunter to set up alone.
How many decoys should I put out?
On smaller, confined waters, a spread of six to 36 decoys should be sufficient. On larger waters or dry fields, hunters should put out as many decoys as practical. I never heard of anybody scaring ducks or geese away because they used too many decoys. Typically, the more, the merrier.
How realistic do turkey decoys need to be?
Turkey Decoys and Hunter Safety
The best turkey decoys are incredibly realistic, which means that it’s possible for hunters to mistake a decoy for the real thing. You need to be ultra careful when using tom or jake decoys on public lands or even private ground where other hunters are present.
How far out should you shoot a turkey?
40 yards is the typical shot distance for most turkey hunting scenarios, and so many turkey hunters start at this distance.
How far away should you shoot a turkey?
A good rule of thumb for shotgun shooters is 40 yards. Anything further than that and there’s a good chance you might not hit the head and neck with enough pellets to kill the bird. Any closer than 20 yards and your pellet pattern may not have time to open up enough for maximum effectiveness.