Bunched to close together?

[Sir-diealot]

Are these to bunched together? Have not used a jake a lot, should he be set differently? Thanks. They tilled the field yesterday afternoon after I left,not much going on today, if they seed it today tomorrow should be hopping I would think.

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[Turkeybutt]

Steve they look a little close from the photo.
They should be out feeding in the field today but.....
if they seed it, they will come!
Good luck and send some photos!

[guesswho]

I don't hunt decoys so consider the source, but I would probably have the Jake farther away from the hens maybe 10-15 yards.   Good luck.

[Sir-diealot]

I don't hunt decoys so consider the source, but I would probably have the Jake farther away from the hens maybe 10-15 yards.   Good luck.

Okay thanks

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[Sir-diealot]

Steve they look a little close from the photo.
They should be out feeding in the field today but.....
if they seed it, they will come!
Good luck and send some photos!

I thought so after the sun came out, I put the Jake closer thinking the tom would pay more attention to it and offer a better shot. First time I have used it this year.

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[Yoder409]

I'm not much of a deke guy.  But I see a couple things that stand out to me.

Pic could be deceiving...........but, unless you're using a bow, they look awfully close to your blind.  And I think there needs to be more spacing between the dekes.  From a distance they'd appear as one "lump" from certain angles.  Were it me........ I'd have the hens out about 20 yards and off to one side and 10-15 feet apart.  And I'd push the stakes in to make them noticeably lower than the jake.  Then I'd put the jake at about 30 yards straight out from your window.  Id make sure he couldn't rotate so he's always facing the hen dekes.

I may be overthinking it.  But just from how I've watched real birds interact..................

[davisd9]

If you are going to use decoys then set them out like you see real turkeys. Also take into the behavior of turkeys.

Male is usually following the decoys and none the birds are using right beside each other much. Next the jake should be between the hens and where you think the gobbler will come from as you want him to feel that the jake is blocking him. Next have the jake closest to you and remember the turkey will come to the front of the decoy.

If you are going to use them then mimic real life.

[Sir-diealot]

I'm not much of a deke guy.  But I see a couple things that stand out to me.

Pic could be deceiving...........but, unless you're using a bow, they look awfully close to your blind.  And I think there needs to be more spacing between the dekes.  From a distance they'd appear as one "lump" from certain angles.  Were it me........ I'd have the hens out about 20 yards and off to one side and 10-15 feet apart.  And I'd push the stakes in to make them noticeably lower than the jake.  Then I'd put the jake at about 30 yards straight out from your window.  Id make sure he couldn't rotate so he's always facing the hen dekes.

I may be overthinking it.  But just from how I've watched real birds interact..................

Thanks, they are closer than they have been but the pics make them look much closer, I thought the exact same thing in previous setups using just the hens, it is just the way the window and the drop in the field is behind them. That said I do agree they could be further out. I thank you much for the advise and will try it tomorrow. If I do not get action with the jake I will go back to just using the hens, all I saw today was a lone hen but that may be because they tilled the field.

If you are going to use decoys then set them out like you see real turkeys. Also take into the behavior of turkeys.

Male is usually following the decoys and none the birds are using right beside each other much. Next the jake should be between the hens and where you think the gobbler will come from as you want him to feel that the jake is blocking him. Next have the jake closest to you and remember the turkey will come to the front of the decoy.

If you are going to use them then mimic real life.

Thanks for the advise, I have not seen the scenario in real life so I don't know, things have been pretty bad around here the last several years, I normally only see jake groups, hens on their own or toms on their own. You can't tell much on shows because the video angles are never the same.

[TRG3]

I've been hunting turkeys since the mid-1980s and have taken many over the years. From my experience, often a gobbler is "herding" several hens. Usually, the hens are feeding about 10'-20' randomly apart and headed in the same general direction with the gobbler 30'-50' behind and "above" them, keeping them between him and the edge of a field, woods, etc. I have had little success in calling a gobbler in this situation away from his hens to my decoys; however, I have had limited success in irritating one of the real hens with my yelping and have had her drag in the gobbler to within shotgun range. Sometimes my gobble tube will initiate the peck order and he will challenge my jake or strutter decoy; however, most of the time my success in these situations comes from a lower-ranked gobbler on the peck order deciding to try to challenge my decoy and take his place with the hen decoys. Over the years, I've had little luck in calling a dominate tom away from his hens until the end of the spring season when he's still looking for willing hens but they are on the nest, making him vulnerable to calling. I've had them come from a long way off in these situations. Best of luck in your turkey hunting!

[Dtrkyman]

I would set the jake over the hen like he is breeding her, then set other hen 10 yards or so away.  I really think it makes no difference though.

Turkeys love fresh plowed dirt!

[captpete]

Pretty much what everybody else has said...lots of good info. I will add this: When I use decoys I usually set out one hen & one Jake. I set the hen between 15- 20 yards away with the Jake about 5 yards behind and 5 yards to the side. I always try place the hen so she is facing away from the direction I think the Tom is going to come. From my limited experience I have noticed that if the Tom thinks the hen can see him, he will hang up or will position himself so she can see him...wanting her to come him. I've seen this happen several times...especially when using just a hen decoy. 

Good luck and be sure to post some pics!!

[Sir-diealot]

I've been hunting turkeys since the mid-1980s and have taken many over the years. From my experience, often a gobbler is "herding" several hens. Usually, the hens are feeding about 10'-20' randomly apart and headed in the same general direction with the gobbler 30'-50' behind and "above" them, keeping them between him and the edge of a field, woods, etc. I have had little success in calling a gobbler in this situation away from his hens to my decoys; however, I have had limited success in irritating one of the real hens with my yelping and have had her drag in the gobbler to within shotgun range. Sometimes my gobble tube will initiate the peck order and he will challenge my jake or strutter decoy; however, most of the time my success in these situations comes from a lower-ranked gobbler on the peck order deciding to try to challenge my decoy and take his place with the hen decoys. Over the years, I've had little luck in calling a dominate tom away from his hens until the end of the spring season when he's still looking for willing hens but they are on the nest, making him vulnerable to calling. I've had them come from a long way off in these situations. Best of luck in your turkey hunting!

Pretty much what everybody else has said...lots of good info. I will add this: When I use decoys I usually set out one hen & one Jake. I set the hen between 15- 20 yards away with the Jake about 5 yards behind and 5 yards to the side. I always try place the hen so she is facing away from the direction I think the Tom is going to come. From my limited experience I have noticed that if the Tom thinks the hen can see him, he will hang up or will position himself so she can see him...wanting her to come him. I've seen this happen several times...especially when using just a hen decoy. 

Good luck and be sure to post some pics!!

Thank you both for the replies. I will try both. I ended up turning around part way there this morning because my driving was not good, I was weaving into the other lane and kept thinking I was seeing deer where there were none. I am fine just the lack of sleep catching up with me. I just did not want to keep going and hurt somebody else the way I am hurt.

[bonasa]

They look a little close to you, also your blind. I'd put them about 20 yards and all going the same direction, put the two hens 10-15 yards from the jake that's bringing ho the rear.

[Sir-diealot]

They look a little close to you, also your blind. I'd put them about 20 yards and all going the same direction, put the two hens 10-15 yards from the jake that's bringing ho the rear.

Yea it really is an optical illusion, they are at least 20 to 25 yards out, one slightly closer than the other. I do not shoot any further than 30 on a good day. Thank you by the way.