Decoy Setup for NY youth season

[NYGobblergetter]

I know it is a couple weeks away, but I was wondering ya'lls thoughts on decoy setup for NY youth season on April 20th? The property I am hunting has a lot of birds on it. My step-daughter was the only person to harvest a bird on it last year and it was a jake. I personally 4 gobblers that morning, but they did not want to come into the strutting jake deke. I am torn between a strutter with a zinks breeder and feeder or a semi-strut jake and the same two hens. We are hunting 500 acres and will likely be hunting a very large alfalfa field next to cut corn (not far from roost and next to woods turkeys typically use). Thanks

[TauntoHawk]

I will probably run a jake hen combo, I don't really like to break out strutting decoys as my first option especially on youth hunts. I don't want to risk running off a 2yr old if the kid would be happy with anything.

[frank1969]

hens to the front and a jake at the wood line keep 15 to 20 yards from the hens with the jake

[VaTuRkStOmPeR]

Can't you just pattern them, watch the flock dynamics and determine what will be most effective when youth day arrives?

What will work one week may not the next as separation occurs and the breeding cycle evolves.

Additionally, have you entertained taking her without decoys? It seems in this era of turkey hunting that kids and new hunters are becoming increasingly reliant on decoys and blinds to kill birds.  The art of calling and really having a conversation with turkeys is sadly becoming a lost art.  Maybe consider teaching her what clucks, purrs, yelps and flydown cackles mean and start to teach her the tactical, strategic side of call selection. Just some food for a thought.

[NYGobblergetter]

I am going to set up two cameras on time lapse mode for 5 days before we hunt and hopefully I can get out there the ngiht before youth season to observe where birds are roosting. The cameras should help tell if the birds are using of walking through a couple big fields. The property is 45 min from my house so i cannot get out there often with a 15 month old to take care of.

I truly never considered not using decoys since we will be sitting in a popup blind. I do not always use dekes when I am hunting, but i think it is necessary to allow the birds to get close since he shot is limited to 25 yards because I ony have an old 1100 20 gauge with a modified  barrel that only taks 2 3/4" shells. Maybe next year I can have a gunsmith install a choke on it.