1/4 Strut Decoy vs. Full Strut Decoy

[ChasinTails27]

This was my first year of really getting into turkey hunting.  I am hooked!  My cousin and I were lucky enough to both bag nice birds.

My question is about decoys.  I am looking at getting a couple nice decoys for next year and need some help.  Would y'all recommend a Full Strut decoy or a 1/4 strut jake?  I am a little worried the full strut deke might scare away younger/less dominate birds and on the other hand I am worried the 1/4 strut might not bring in the big boys. 

I know DSD decoys are supposed to be the best, but are a little out of my price range.  So I am looking at the Avian-X or the Hunters Specialties, and possibly even the Knight and Hale Pretty Boy/Pretty Girl combo.

What has been y'all's experience?

[yelpertom]

I bought the dsd strutter and your correct it was very pricy but I will have it for ever, the pretty boy is the best choice for the money they will do u a good job!!!!! As for the birds being scared , birds r like people u gotta catch them in the mood!!!!! If u get a 2 year old fired up and he is coming in and sees a strutting tom with his girl he is gonna be pissed but if u Cath a tom feeding in a field he might shy away from it

[ChasinTails27]

That is very true.  They can be pretty finicky at times.  the decoys I currently have are not very nice at all, and a few different times i had birds come in and then immediately leave once they saw my decoys up close.  I am just trying to get the best bang for my buck with out spending a small fortune.

But the biggest question I have about decoys is whether to use a Full Strut or a 1/4 strut....

[DirtNap647]

ive had negative results with both

[stinkpickle]

I've had the same amount of luck with a jake decoy as I did with a strutter.  The jake is a lot easier to carry, too.

[ChasinTails27]

I've had the same amount of luck with a jake decoy as I did with a strutter.  The jake is a lot easier to carry, too.

I'm sure part of it depends on the birds and how the Tom's will react.  That is a good point about the jake being easier to carry.  Won't take up as much room.  Have y'all had big toms come in and try to attack a 1/4 strut jake decoy? 

[yelpertom]

I think there is something about a strutter with a real tail fan!!! Like the pretty boy or dsd strutter you can put a real tail fan that can be seen from far away!!!! And lets face it if a dominant bird sees that he gonna come in and show dominance!!! I seen two toms fall to my strutter this year and shot both with my bow one at 5 yard and the second at 7 yards

[stinkpickle]

I've had the same amount of luck with a jake decoy as I did with a strutter.  The jake is a lot easier to carry, too.

I'm sure part of it depends on the birds and how the Tom's will react.  That is a good point about the jake being easier to carry.  Won't take up as much room.  Have y'all had big toms come in and try to attack a 1/4 strut jake decoy?

Oh, yes.  Both toms and jakes will attack them...when they're in the mood, of course. 

[TauntoHawk]

I really like the avain jake and hens... I do not hunt often over decoys but they do their job when I put them out

[silvestris]

Do you really believe that a gobbler knows the difference between a jake quarter strut and a full strut decoy?  All they see is a turkey and if there is red on the wattles, a gobbler.

[jepcho]

I have the avian x Jake decoy and I love it. I killed two birds over it this year, and got video of 3 jakes beating it down. This was my first year with the decoy. I bought it after a lot of thinking and almost went with the dsd. I'm glad I chose the avian x. Easier to carry, just as realistic, and cheaper. I'd recommend it to anyone.

[Bigspurs68]

I don't often use decoys myself but with my girls I will use them if the situation allows it. Several times I have had a full strut dec and a 1/4 strut jake dec over a hen out in the same opening. Almost every bird has ended up going to the jake positioned over a hen.

[Marc]

Do you really believe that a gobbler knows the difference between a jake quarter strut and a full strut decoy?  All they see is a turkey and if there is red on the wattles, a gobbler.

I believe that that fanned tail while strutting creates a response from hens, toms and jakes...

That fanned tail will attract hens, and possibly cause a tom to fight to defend his territory....  I also think it could dissuade a less dominant bird from coming in...

So while I do not believe that a turkey cognitively can tell the difference, I do believe that a fanned tail does create an instinctive response...  The question which remains, does that fanned out tail cause more birds to come into gun range than that half-strutter...  I have no idea.

[ChasinTails27]

I think this is a question that could go both ways.  I just wanted to get some opinions from other hunters. 

[Gobble!]

If a turkey is decoy shy it will be decoy shy of a strutter or 1/4 strut. Saw this last year.
I have had jakes try to show my full strut DSD whos boss and long beards try to show my 1/4 strut DSD whos boss. IMO they both work equally.
I just like seeing them come into the full strut more.
If I'm field hunting its the full strut if I'm in the woods its the 1/4 strut.