The Importance of a Decoy in Turkey Hunting
As an avid turkey hunter, you must have heard about the importance of using a decoy to lure turkeys into your hunting area. A decoy is simply an imitation of a turkey that is placed in the wild to attract other turkeys. The use of decoys has become increasingly popular amongst hunters as it increases their chances of success in bagging a turkey.
How Do Decoys Work?
Using a decoy mimics natural behavior and attracts both hens and gobblers by creating visual stimuli that make them feel comfortable and want to approach. Once turkeys see the imposters, they will assume it’s another bird looking for food or company and will quickly come towards them, giving you enough time for the perfect shot.
Types of Decoys
There are several types of decoys available on the market today including full body, half-body, jake (juvenile male), hen-only or gobbler only. Full body models offer more realism but can be cumbersome to transport while others like half-bodies are smaller and lighter making them easier to carry around with you while hunting.
Consider purchasing various types if possible so that you can tailor your setup each hunt day based on what works best for different scenarios.
Tips for Setting Up Your Decoy
When setting up your decoy(s), pay close attention to where you place them – depending on whether it’s early season or late season – high-traffic areas such as fields/feeding zones vs wooded terrain may work better than others. It’s always best practice not putting yourself between the birds and their most likely escape route- this way they won’t feel threatened when approaching.
In conclusion, having at least one good quality turkey decoy could mean all difference between coming home empty-handed versus bringing home a trophy. Understanding how they work and ways to use them can take your turkey hunting experience to the next level.
