Decoy timing

[RiverRoost]

My season opens march 15 in Mississippi and of course the trees are completely bare and woods wide ope.  I have an avian x quarter strut Jake and Avian hen. I've learned from past experiences especially with the woods so bare and open right now that if you can't setup a decoy in the dark or before light it's easy to get busted putting them out. What's talks timing on using one or both or just the Jake or hen alone? If you use both, what type setup position?  Hen on stake or sitting on ground? I'm right handed so I keep them to my left.

[MK M GOBL]

So I use "DSD" and have never had an issue setting up even if pitch black out, can not give you Avian advise. But as far as setting up... The Jake/Strutter is set to the strong side of shooter at 15 yards and hen(s) are set close but not next to other dekes, I give them "elbow room" I always make it so a tom/jake can walk around any decoy, even with a breeding set the "male" is not right next to the hen. I start with a winter break-up set for the start and then I will use the "breeding" set for the first few weeks here in WI, the main of breeding occurs before seasons start here and we hunt from end of this peak through secondary peak (only when I use breeding set) and rest of season I set dekes to the nesting portion of season.

MK M GOBL

[jims]

A lot of guys seem to have great success with jakes but where I hunt jakes tend to spook toms...or they don't want anything to do with them!  There don't seem to be many jakes and the few toms that are around are with fairly large groups of hens.   I guess what I'm trying to say is to stay flexible.  If one scenario doesn't work possibly try something else.  Even with that said, what works one day may not work the next?  I always try to closely watch hens/toms... and adjust according to their reaction. Turkeys generally like movement so if you can somehow add movemet to a setup it certainly helps.  Generally speaking simpler set ups and calls tend to work just as well as anything.  If the same turkeys see the same set up time after time you may notice their dis-interest.  It's being at the right place and doing the right things (calling) at the right time...and possibly changing things up that often closes the deal!

[g8rvet]

A lot of guys seem to have great success with jakes but where I hunt jakes tend to spook toms...or they don't want anything to do with them! 

Amen for me as well.  I had a bunch of guys on that post tell me that was not their experience at all though.  I had one last year, on opening day, I had a jake and hen out. He stayed about 60 yards away.  he left the field gobbling.  I eased out and pulled the jake decoy.  He came back to the field an hour later and came right in and took a truck ride.  I know the jake decoy spooked THAT tom.  I just have not used them that often and will probably not in the future.

[MK M GOBL]

I have killed with Strutter/Jake from seasons start to seasons end. Go DSD the most realistic effective decoys made!!

There is a lot to setting decoys right, read through my posts here
http://oldgobbler.com/Forum/index.php/topic,70971.msg691675.html#msg691675

If there is ever a question just ask

MK M GOBL