Turkey decoy?

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huntingfish

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Howdy!
With moose and deer hunting officially over for me, I'm (very) slowly starting to look towards spring and turkey season. This will be my first turkey season. Still need to pattern the shotgun and all and practice calling. But plenty of time for that...

The wife is starting to ask about Christmas gift suggestions and I want to get a turkey decoy. The avian-X looks awesome, but are pretty expensive. So I had a quick glance at the Hunter Specialty anf Flextone ones. Looks decent, but hard to tell from a box ;-)

Which company makes your turkey decoys and which model (or combination) do you use (jake and feeding hen)?

Cheers!

David
 
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I have Avian X breeder hen and full strut Tom. I use a cheap jake decoy that is flambeau I think?

Avian X does make some great decoys. Mibe ar e likely 5 years old now and hardly any paint loss or marks in them. I run n gun a lot so these decoys are not treated very nice.

They have great movement and look very realistic.

I switch up my decoys all the time, Sometimes just the hen decoy, Sometimes hen on the ground with Jake right behind her(breeding). Sometimes all 3 out, hen with Jake just behind her and Strutter about 10 feet behind that

Strutting tom decoy really isn't needed and I have spooked a lot of smaller birds as they don't want to fight my tom decoy. It does work great when you have a group of Tom's and they will come in together locked right on the tom decoy looking for a fight.
 
Avian X decoys are the best in my opinion. But I also have a couple Flextone decoys that are pretty impressive for their cost. Either of those would be excellent choices
 
Another vote for avian-x here. When I bought mine several years ago they were by far the most realistic (and expensive) readily available turkey decoys on the market but lately I’ve noticed other companies have really upped their game. They are not cheap and if you are only looking for one to start with I would suggest your wife pick you up a feeder or a breeder hen. You can have great success with a single hen decoy (or even no decoys) but if you really get into it you will find the versatility of having additional decoys enjoyable down the road.

Wild turkey hunting is so awesome, I look forward to you posting details of your first turkey hunt this spring!
 
Runningfool said:
Another vote for avian-x here. When I bought mine several years ago they were by far the most realistic (and expensive) readily available turkey decoys on the market but lately I’ve noticed other companies have really upped their game. They are not cheap and if you are only looking for one to start with I would suggest your wife pick you up a feeder or a breeder hen. You can have great success with a single hen decoy (or even no decoys) but if you really get into it you will find the versatility of having additional decoys enjoyable down the road.

Wild turkey hunting is so awesome, I look forward to you posting details of your first turkey hunt this spring!
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Last spring was supposed to be my first turkey hunt...but COVID interferred. From what I've seen, it looks like such a exciting hunt.

I was wondering...does it matter if a few shot pellets hit your decoy? Haven't patterned my shotty yet at 20 yards (distance from yourself at which you put your decoys), but the tom is pertty PO'ed and comes in to give your decoy a beating (as seen in some online videos), I guess a few shot pellets could hit it or is the pattern so tight (with turkey-choke) at 20 yards?

Thanks everyone for your replies so far!

David
 
I have Avian x stand up hen and avian x laydown hen combined with the 3/4 strut jake.

I have used that set to good success, but this spring i got my biggest turkey yet with substituting the jake with a FUNKY CHICKEN.

I painted the head white and added some of my daughters glitter glue to it to look like a pearl coat.

The thing worked AMAZING!! I had the tom so confident he walked right between the funky chicken and the stand up hen and started mounting the hen. So distracted that when i had a missfire, i was able to rack the slide and get another round in the chamber only 30 some yards from him and he just kept going. He bent the stake of my avian x but it bent back okay. I had to wait till he was done and had raised his head more so i didnt hit my decoys.

Im going to try the funky chicken again next year since it is way smaller and lighter than the bulky avian x 3/4 jake

Edit to add:

My avians are the LCD ones that are thick rubber like a tire but are inflatable, so shooting one would not be good. Although i could maybe plug it somehow since there isnt that much air pressure i would think.
 
huntingfish said:
Last spring was supposed to be my first turkey hunt...but COVID interferred. From what I've seen, it looks like such a exciting hunt.

I was wondering...does it matter if a few shot pellets hit your decoy? Haven't patterned my shotty yet at 20 yards (distance from yourself at which you put your decoys), but the tom is pertty PO'ed and comes in to give your decoy a beating (as seen in some online videos), I guess a few shot pellets could hit it or is the pattern so tight (with turkey-choke) at 20 yards?
Click to expand...

You’ll be surprised how tight the pattern is at 20 yds. Regardless I wouldn’t be concerned about accidentally shooting your decoys. If a tom is committed enough to beat on or mount the decoy, you will have plenty of time to pick your shot when he is clear of it. And if all else fails just draw a bead on him and make a little “putt-putt” sound - he will stick his head up high and clear and look right at you and then it’s lights out!
 
I have so many even an avianX for about a week and gone it went too. Get something that is easy carried. I use the Bobblin head decoy and you flold it up and put it in a vest to carry it. Hunting turkeys a decoy is not the most important item. A vest is far more important item in my eyes, but A decoy is something to have that you will use at times.
 
Adrian J Hare said:
I have so many even an avianX for about a week and gone it went too. Get something that is easy carried. I use the Bobblin head decoy and you flold it up and put it in a vest to carry it. Hunting turkeys a decoy is not the most important item. A vest is far more important item in my eyes, but A decoy is something to have that you will use at times.
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Officially intrigued! So what are the best items?

I got a few calls (3-4 diaphragms, box call and slate call with striker). Got an pouch type thing to organize my calls and have them within reach at all times.
I also got several types of turkey shots that I'm going to run through my shotty and see which patterns better.
Finally, all camo clothing, including gloves and face cover.

Anything else I'm missing? I thought I was just missing some decoys...

David
 
I borrowed some Dave Smith decoys from a friend of mine this spring. They worked excellent for me. He has been using them for the last number of years with 100% success. I know I'll be ordering up some in the new year.
 
huntingfish said:
Officially intrigued! So what are the best items?

I got a few calls (3-4 diaphragms, box call and slate call with striker). Got an pouch type thing to organize my calls and have them within reach at all times.
I also got several types of turkey shots that I'm going to run through my shotty and see which patterns better.
Finally, all camo clothing, including gloves and face cover.

Anything else I'm missing? I thought I was just missing some decoys...

David
Click to expand...

You dont need camo if using a blind. In a blind, black clothing is better because the inside wall of the blind is usually black.

As far as blinds go, the primos surroundview is amazing, although the 360 is heavy as all hell it is made tough and the see through fabric design is incredible.
 
I use flextone. I have about 6.
Every year I try a different setup...alway with success.
I know guys that use cheapy decoys with news paper filling and always get birds.
Id say it really doesn't matter which BRAND you use.
Turkey hunting is all about patience. Dont call to often...stay put...just when you think you've struck out the birds seem to come into view.
I like mouth calls...get used to one type...you need your hands for shooting
 
I use my bow to.
I wish i could hunt turkey with my .410
All my birds are shot sub 30yrds anyways...410 has lots of power in that range but regs are regs lol
 
Streamin said:
I use my bow to.
I wish i could hunt turkey with my .410
All my birds are shot sub 30yrds anyways...410 has lots of power in that range but regs are regs lol
Click to expand...

With TSS, wildlife management is going to have to re-evaluate sooner than later! So there's hope.

I do have a blind, but it's pretty heavy. I would need to pre-install it a few days in advanced. One camouflaged does the blind need to be not to spook the turkeys?

David
 
For myself Flextone Funky Chicken has been bringing in the more timid and beat-up birds looking for redemption.
 
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