Decoy Tricks Article-Bow Hunting

Spring gobblers either love or hate decoys depending on their mood and how the decoys are used. There are three key questions about decoy use:

Do they work?

What type to use?

How to hunt with them safely?

The following SECRETS will teach you how and when to use them safely while bow hunting.

The reason to use decoys is to draw a gobbler's attention away from you and your Blind and to entice him into close bow range (6-15 yards). Use decoys that look realistic and ones that will stand up to hard use. Collapsible decoys, both a Hen and Jake are preferred by Master Turkey Hunters because they're quick and easy to set up, lightweight, and are noiseless when carried. The newest generation of decoys are Movement Hen Decoys and Strutting Male Decoys. I have extensively tested these new models and can say without reservation that they provide added realism--something a wary gobbler is looking for...and well worth the investment. I'm convinced they are the reason I bagged many gobblers with bow that I would not have gotten otherwise.

Despite the most realistic looking and acting decoys, your experience with decoys will vary and there are a lot of tricks to keep in mind when using any decoy, especially for bow hunters. I've watched gobblers carry collapsible decoys away in their beaks! On the other hand, I've watched plenty of gobblers retreat from both hen and male decoys, watched others fight hen decoys, watched gobblers totally ignore a male decoy that was very close to a real hen or hen decoy, and watched gobblers breed jake decoys. No decoy type or tactic will work every time.

Something that has impressed me the most over the past few years is how a Movement Hen Decoy can bring a hung-up gobbler to your position or Blind. I've watched gobblers hang-up out of bow range, even with a spread of decoys visible. Then, with a couple of tugs on the decoy's string, imitating a feeding hen, watch them break loose and walk or trot into easy bow range. But, beware....activate a movement decoy very close to a gobbler and you'll spook him out of his feathers! A final tip on movement....if you are using regular decoys, any lateral movement of the decoy on the stake, such as when the winds blows, will usually spook a gobbler that is close. To prevent this, place a stick in the ground on each side of the tail so the decoy doesn't move more than about 5" laterally.

A Strutting Male Decoy can also work wonders, especially during early-and-mid season. Early season gobblers are still quite aggressive with any other male in the area, which is why male decoys work through mid-season. Later on in the season, most gobblers have lost their aggressive behavior and replaced it with great caution. Then is when a Movement Hen Decoy can really shine.

You can and will have mixed results with decoys. I've watched gobblers run the other direction when they first spotted a decoy. Younger gobblers (jakes and two-year old adults) are often quite wary of a full strut decoy, jake decoy, or a group of decoys because they have been dominated, spurred, chased and generally made to feel not-wanted by older gobblers during the spring season.

Positioning a decoy is critical. If it's too far away, say 25 yards, and a gobbler comes in on the far side, spies it at 25 yards, he may hang up. He'd then be way out of range at 50 yards and probably won't come closer. For maximum effectiveness, place your decoy(s) no more than 6-10 yards away to draw the gobbler into 10-20 yard range.

Being near a decoy can be dangerous because other hunters may mistake your calling and the sight of a decoy for what they think is a real turkey, causing them to take a shot in your direction. This is particularly true when using a male decoy, or a movement decoy awhile staying in one location for a considerable period of time in a blind. To protect yourself, set your blind in an area with flat terrain where you can see in all directions. Place your decoy(s) in one area in front of you, not on every side of your blind. Then, the danger zone has been significantly reduced to the area in front of you which you can watch. To further reduce danger, tie a small piece of blaze orange material to a decoy. If another hunter approaches, signal him/her with a human voice, not with a turkey call or by making a motion. To provide the most personal protection while using decoys, use a Ballistic Turkey Hunter Vest, which will repel a shotgun blast.

Some people claim that decoys with a portion of their body painted blaze orange may provide a bit more protection. But turkeys see color very well. Too much out-of-place color will usually cause a gobbler to retreat, especially too much blaze orange when he's very close. Setting up properly with realistic-looking and acting decoys will provide the best odds for success, keeping in mind the safety issues.

I suggest using more than one decoy. During a recent spring, I was able to bag two gobblers with bow and arrow while using Movement Hen Decoys and a Full Strut Male Decoy -- each on the first day out. I used a flock consisting of a couple of Hen decoys and either a Full Strut Male Decoy or a Movement Hen Decoy. I feel that several decoys are best when bow hunting.

DON'T USE DECOYS WHEN OTHERS MAY BE NEAR OR IN HEAVILY-HUNTED PUBLIC AREAS!! The risk may be too high regardless of the precautions you take. PLAY IT SAFE! Practice Defensive Turkey Hunting to protect yourself.