Spring Turkey Hunting

[Hunterdad]

I plan on giving turkey hunting a try this spring for the first time here in NY. Just wondering what decoy would be better....hen, tom etc...? Any other tips are greatly apprecitaed.

Thanks
Adam

 

[jbkebert]

I use hen and a jake decoy. Set the hen at about the distance you want to shoot. Set her up facing your position. This way the tom with any luck will move between you and the decoy and focus his attention directly away from you. Sure helps when trying to draw a bow on a big tom.

Other than that don't over use calls and watch your movement. Set up in front of cover not behind it. Have fun hunting the smartest dumb arse bird in the woods. You will see them do things that make think they are to stupid to hunt. Just when your convienced that it will be easy. One will see a nose hair twitch and they will be gone.

 

[Husker_Fan]

Good luck. I think spring turkey hunting is just about as good as it gets.

 

[Skyshot]

I use two hens and one jake, I put the jake where I want to shoot and put the hens on boths sides. A dominate bird will usually bypass the hens and go straight to the jake and try to whip him. Having said that I don't use the decoy's that much the early part of the season. I prefer to use them when most of the hens are nesting and everthing is greened up good. I would tell you to learn the area you plan to hunt good. Do a little scouting and try to find an area that's holding some birds. Look for fresh scratchings and droppings. Gobbler droppings are kind of a J shape and hens are more of a spiral shape. Just learn the basics in calling, don't over call. Set up is paramount!

 

[jbkebert]

Try and set up in a area with a fair amount of cover surrounding a small opening. Gobblers will feel secure in approaching with the cover. The open area with short vegitation allows them to dance and strut in full veiw of the ladies.

Sometimes setting up in an area that does not allow the tom to strut and show off. Will result in a calling match the tom expecting the hen to come to his location.