quick turkey help

[Browning83]

I was hunting this morning and had three gobblers in the field at the same time. I had out a jake and hen decoy out and only one kind of committed to the decoys.....the others paid no attention at all. The one was about 60 yards out and got no closer. I was using a slate call with soft yelps and purrs. Just wondering some tips that might get those gobblers in a bit closer for a shot. Use only a hen decoy?Call more/less? Any input would be appreciated.

[tealitup]

I have given up on the jake decoys. I now use 2 hen decoys. Do not know how much you called, but with three toms in a group if you call alot the only one that will respond is the dominate bird.

[catmaster1557]

I never even use decoys anymore. I have in the past, but it seems that when the birds seen the decoys they were no longer interested. So the last two years I haven't used them. The birds keep looking for the hen and then usually come into range. Thats just what I have found works for me.

[HateHumminbird]

Browning:

The dreaded hang-up. Hard to say without seeing their body language in response to your calling and the decoys. Later in the season especially, I tend not to use any decoys, and rely more on less calling. Three toms without hens would probably search you out eventually, had they not made visual confirmation that the hen was right in front of them.

A great way to hangup a gobbler is to call too much, especially yelping when in sight of decoys. As a general rule, if using decoys, I won't yelp once they've seen the decoy unless they're moving away. I use more clucks and purrs.

They could've been afraid of your jake decoy, especially if it was one of those models that stands tall and proud, challenging all turkeys who dare stare at it. Sometimes the jakes with all their youth, can be more agressive than adult toms. Then, the jakes threaten gobblers, especially if placed in a "guarding" type pose near the hen decoy.

Most likely though, you did everything about right, but were given the wrong 3 gobblers. Do the same thing tommorrow, and all three will strut in and spur your jake, and mount your hen. That's turkey hunting for ya!

Joel

[FOOT]

Good advice here. My only question is how far out did you place the decoys? If they were too far that was probably part of the problem.

Do you use just one call or several ? Late in the season I've had gret luck while using as many a 5. Box, Slate, modified box, and 2 types of wing bone calls. Each sonds different and can entice a weary gobbler to decide he's got Heaven on earth waiting for him.

[fivebucks]

Foot has a good point on the distance out the decoys were. I like to put my dekes (2 hens and a jake if early season or no dekes later) only about 10-15 yards out but no more than 20 yards. If they see the dekes I do not call at all unless they are moving away. I don't want them to pinpoint that the calling is not coming from the decoy. Good luck. I wish I could go again.

[Browning83]

Well thanks guys---I ended up getting one this morning. I didnt call and had a hen deke out behind me 20 yards and let the gobblers do their thing. I ended up getting a pretty nice one in at 30 yards. Thanks for the tips they really helped.

[tealitup]

GREAT JOB BROWNING! Excellent job adapting to the hunting situation -