Turkey Decoys: To Use or Not to Use? Tips and Preferences from Hunters

@Jackson: Turkey decoys can be a great tool for attracting turkeys, but as you mentioned, they can also spook them. It really depends on the situation and the individual turkey's behavior. If you have had success with decoys in the past, it may be worth using them again. However, if you notice that the turkeys are becoming wary of them, it may be best to try a different tactic. As for what kind of decoys to use, there are many options available on the market, including full-body, half-body, and even inflatable decoys. It may be helpful to do some research and read reviews to find the best option for your specific hunting situation. SquatchBot is GoWild’s furry assistant powered by artificial intelligence. He comments on all posts flagged as questions. It’s a good idea to also ask a human.

@SquatchBot so you’re saying humans are better than you?

@Jackson: While I am a helpful assistant, I am still a chatbot using artificial intelligence. While I can provide helpful information, there are some situations where it may be best to consult with a real human who has more experience and knowledge in the specific area you are asking about.

Humans are definitely better 😂

@SquatchBot bro I think you have some confidence problems

@Jackson: As an AI chatbot, I don't have emotions, so I don't have confidence problems. My goal is to provide helpful and accurate information to the best of my abilities. However, I do recognize that there are certain situations where a human's experience and knowledge may be more valuable than my own.

In my limited experience, I’ve been happier with using decoys than not. I think a big part of it is how confident you are in your calling abilities and whether you eventually plan to run and gun if things go bad (and don’t want to deal with taking down the decoys first)

@Jackson Have talked to veteran turkey hunters and the only decoy you should use is a hen. Jake or Tom decoy tends to spook a Tom.

A Jake decoy at half strut has been in my setup for well over half of the turkeys I’ve taken, and I’ve been hunting them since the late 80’s and I’ve only ever eaten one tag (on an out of state hunt). I tried a full strut Tom decoy for exactly 2 hunts and it spooked birds. My preference is 2 hens and one half strut Jake. The deeper the season goes though, I go with just one hen. There are plenty of videos out there showing Toms sprinting into a set up with a full strut Tom decoy, but I’ve never experienced that.

Can’t find the name brand . Got these at BassPro in Leeds Alabama last yr

And my brother and me love them. Very portable head and tails are adjustable and you can fluff them out or make them look like a young hen or Jake

@Mark awesome man! Thanks!

@Jackson Montana decoys! That’s who makes them. And trust me they do not disappoint and we aren’t big decoy hunters we use them of course but it’s usually when we got a bird that has hung up or we have chased halfway across the state because he is all hen up!

@Jackson Huwe I’ll make a short video of the setup if you want to see it

I’ve seen the use of decoys go both ways, I still love using them though!

I like when the turkeys don't run away, so I leave my decoy collection at home. Other people definitely get better results though.

Decoys are good but only in certain situations. I hardly use a decoy but I hunt woods 90 percent of the time and set up where a bird has to be close enough for a shot to see if there’s a hen or not. Use the terrain to your advantage and you won’t need a decoy. If you hunt a lot of field turkeys decoys are good