How important is the paint job?

[deerbasshunter3]

How important is the paint job on a quarter strut jake decoy, specifically the red on its neck? Is it going to make a big difference to a gobbler if the red on the neck isn't a certain way/shade?

[Yoder409]

Get a little spray can of Farmall red and you'll be.............umm.............golden.   

[Greg Massey]

I'm not sure if it's know for sure why a gobblers head changes color from blue to blood red in just a matter of moments. I really don't think the color of your decoy head is going to make that much difference. The old saying is when a male turkeys head is blue it's excited and when it's red it's ready to fight. Also as he goes through different stages of the season or the early part his head will be more blue and as they strut and breed more the head becomes more red. I think the red just shows he's ready to fight and all of this is influence by the breeding period..I think..

[deerbasshunter3]

So, where do I stand with a crappy red paint job...?

[Greg Massey]

i would just get a small single bottle of red enamel paint like you paint model car's with and just touch it up with a small hobby brush you can get this from WalMart...

[Dr Juice]

i would just get a small single bottle of red enamel paint like you paint model car's with and just touch it up with a small hobby brush you can get this from WalMart...

X2

[tha bugman]

I agree with touching up his head with paint, but visually if the decoy has a beard and is sizeably larger, then from the standpoint of the gobbler I don't think he thinks "wait a minute....his head is not as red as mine"  In fact he is probably thinking "He better not get flush faced at me or I am about to put a stomping on him!"

[Dtrkyman]

They change for a reason and I can guarantee they know what it means, there eye sight is amazing and if the color change meant nothing then why would it happen?

When they are spooked or nervous there neck and heads are completely red, when they strut they become multi colored and it seems when they are ready to breed they get a lot more white.




"Males are polygamous, mating with as many hens as they can. Male wild turkeys display for females by puffing out their feathers, spreading out their tails and dragging their wings. This behavior is most commonly referred to as strutting. Their heads and necks are colored brilliantly with red, blue and white. The color can change with the turkey's mood, with a solid white head and neck being the most excited. They use gobbling, drumming/booming and spitting as signs of social dominance, and to attract females. Courtship begins during the months of March and April, which is when turkeys are still flocked together in winter areas."

"Males may be seen courting in groups, often with the dominant male gobbling, spreading their tail feathers (strutting), drumming/booming and spitting. In a study, the average dominant male that courted as part of a pair of males fathered six more eggs than males that courted alone. Genetic analysis of pairs of males courting together shows that they are close relatives, with half of their genetic material being identical. The theory behind the team-courtship is that the less dominant male would have a greater chance of passing along shared genetic material than if it were courting alone"

[MK M GOBL]

If I were using a Jake decoy I would want the "Red" head color scheme, this infuriates other dominant birds. This is why a flunky chicken was designed the way he was... why else would that thing look the way it does and tom's still come to it, a foot long red neck and trying to stand taller than other birds.

Once one really understands the social structure, dominance role and body language of the wild turkey and how to apply this knowledge to their hunting tactics is key to better success.

MK M GOBL