New decoy set... Now what?

[VTbowman]

Ok I am out of control.. LOL
I just got back from lunch at Walmarts and a FeatherFlex decoy set followed me back.

Its the "Flock of 3" set. One aggressive jake and 2 hens. I was looking for an aggressive jake, passive jake and a hen, but wally world did not have it and time was short.
I assume the set I got works well enough and looks good to me.
However I am brand spankin new and would not know the bad from the good set when it comes to turkeys.

Ok so what is my game plan once the spring season opens with these decoys?
Assume I know nothing about using turkey decoys, because I dont, what would be a typical set up?
Distance from hunter, wind direction, etc?????
Thanks

[Rhino]

VTbowman I don't use decoys too much anymore but I still have about 7 or 8 hanging around.

There's really no set rule on how to use them but generally a gobbler will approach a jake from the front and a hen from the rear. Keep that in mind if you're bowhunting and want to try to get the bird facing away from you so you can draw your bow.

I've put decoys out on my front left side (I'm right handed) to get their attention and hopefully movement in the direction that's easiest for me to shoot from. I've also put them directly off to my left and behind me to my left too when I start getting concerned about them getting shy to decoys. If you put decoys in front of you keep them inside the 20 yard mark just in case a bird gets wary about the decs.

BTW, you're right. You're outa control buddy. It could be worse though. They could start selling a herd of 3 deer decoys for you to buy. Remember that if the wife says anything.

[VTbowman]

Thanks Rhino!

Anyone else have a set up they would like to share?

[paul23]

I only use decoys when hunting fields, not in woods. And I try to set the decoys out in front of me but past me in the opposite direction I think they'll come in from. Last year I limited out with two big daddys the first 2 days. And had gobblers coming in after both shots and jumping on my dead birds. I think NY should up there tags for turkeys instead of deer. Saw a flock of 45-50 waiting in the same spot yesterday as I sat last year.

[maytom]

I use three decoys as well. A jake and two hens, but I like the looks of the feeding position hen decoys much better. It adds to the illusion!!
This is one put out by Delta, which looks awesome!!

[lil hunter]

VT, since your on my team, i'll help you.(some) Gobblers usually come in when theres a jake. If theres hens, they will stand back a good distance, and try to get the hen to go to it. So make sure you get that jake out any time you put dekes out there. You might want to put the jake facing you. Then the gobbler will more than likely come around to the front of the deke, allowing you a clearer shot. I would put more, but I gotta do dishes.lol. good luck.

[VTbowman]

I was thinking of doing a breeding pair and then another hen in a feeding position close by. Since I am new I will need to figure out what calls to make and when. I pretty much can make any of my calls sound real good but still dont know when to use each sound, especially with a breeding pair decoy set up.

[buckbuster11]

I dont put a whole lot of thought into where I put the decoys. I usually just put them in between me and where I think the gobbler will come from. Sometimes that changes though. For example, say you are hunting a field edge. You are facing the field and you are trying to call a gobbler across the field from your left side. In that case I would put the decoys behind me to my right so he would have to walk right by me to get to the decoys.

I personally dont like doing that to much though. If you are hunting where there is a lot of other hunters like I do, you have to be careful of putting decoys to close or off to the sides and behind you. You never know when some yahoo will get the bright idea they are real birds. Good luck.

[VtBowhunter]

How soon they forget......oh that's right, we never had time to get the decoys out last year, LMAO.

I like to set them up on the opposite of me from where I think they'll be coming from to draw the birds past me to the decoys. With the DoubleBull, I set them about 10 yards out in front of the blind. The hens facing away from me (gobblers want to breed the hens so they approach from behind), and the jake facing me (gobbler wants to intimidate the jake so he approaches from the front). This gets the gobbler's attention and lets me draw undetected......not that they would ever see my in that blind.