| Turkey hunting is an old tradition in the United | | | | the hunter. |
| States. Many of the Americans love turkey in | | | | When setting up the decoy there, are several |
| their Thanksgiving feast. The Thanksgiving feast is | | | | things that should be kept in mind. First of all, here |
| even better if a turkey is dished up that is | | | | are a few tips on safety when it comes to |
| actually hunted by the head of the household. To | | | | hunting with decoys. Before going out hunting for |
| make such a wonderful sport safe and fun for | | | | turkeys with a decoy, local regulations need to be |
| everybody, there are many things that have to | | | | checked. Not every state allows decoys and |
| be considered before going out hunting for | | | | therefore it might be illegal to use decoys. Also |
| turkeys. | | | | very important is to remember to never to carry |
| One of the decisions that have to be made is | | | | a decoy that is not covered. Even the smallest |
| whether or not a decoy is used for hunting these | | | | distance walked with an uncovered decoy bears a |
| wonderful birds. Not every hunter likes to use | | | | risk of being shot accidentally. When setting up |
| decoys, but decoys do have their advantages | | | | decoys, it is important to make sure that from |
| when it comes to turkey hunting. A decoy | | | | the hunter’s seat, there is approximately 100 |
| arouses the suspicion of other turkeys and | | | | yards of sight available. The decoy needs to be |
| therefore if set in an open area, such as the edge | | | | placed somewhere around 25 yards from the |
| of a field or beneath a mature oak forest, these | | | | hunting position. Additionally, it is also important to |
| decoys essentially are a visual call for other birds. | | | | always make sure that no one else is staking out |
| Decoys are especially effective when calling the | | | | the turkey decoy and that no one else is close to |
| birds with turkey calls every once in a while. | | | | the position of the decoy. Should somebody even |
| Even though some of the more experienced | | | | be remotely close, the hunter needs to go ahead |
| hunters prefer not to use decoys, they are great | | | | and shout out to the person in a loud clear voice |
| assets when dealing with young inexperienced | | | | for the safety of both persons. |
| hunters such as children or a person with a | | | | Another aspect to remember is that even though |
| disability. The decoy draws the attention on itself | | | | turkeys are sometimes seen in a flock, to attract |
| and therefore less attention to the hunter and the | | | | them it is not necessary to set up a whole flock |
| set up of the hunting gear. | | | | of birds. Generally one to three birds are plenty to |
| Decoys come in a great variety of styles, such | | | | attract another turkey and actually are proven to |
| as picture boards, which are a mere silhouette of | | | | be better for decoying wild turkeys. Turkeys |
| the bird all the way to stuffed and inflatable ones. | | | | aren’t like geese, so therefore a good choice |
| Some of the inflatable decoy turkeys have a | | | | for a decoy arrangement would be two hens and |
| string attached so they can make small | | | | a single jake. Some of the hunting stores already |
| movements. In recent years, the trend has | | | | sell sets of turkey decoys just like the one |
| shown that inflatable decoys are a new hit with | | | | mentioned here. The best way to place the jake |
| hunters, since they are fast to set up, easy to | | | | is facing towards the hunter. When the opponent |
| take down and even easier to store when | | | | comes in, to face the jake, the wild turkey will |
| deflated. Hunters that use decoys will be able to | | | | show its back to the hunter, which gives the |
| testify that many of the commonly available | | | | hunter time for any last minute adjustments that |
| decoys have been successfully used in the field | | | | might be necessary. |
| and are a good tool to bring the turkeys closer to | | | | |