Best Turkey Decoys of 2021 – Top Review

Turkeys are widely considered to be one of the most difficult animals to hunt; they’re fast and skittish due to their great eyesight and hearing.

One way to lure a turkey into a kill zone would be to use a decoy, which instills a false sense of security in your quarry long enough to deliver a lethal shot. You won’t be bringing home the bacon; you’ll be bringing home a big fat turkey.

In this article, we will discuss the various turkey decoys on the market, as well as what to look for when buying.

Comparison of the Best Turkey Decoys

What Makes a Great Turkey Decoy?

There are certain features that might be unique to your decoy that makes it the best on the market. This section will discuss exactly that; what makes one the best? There are some particular features or qualities that you should look out for when buying.

Is It Realistic Enough?

One of your main priorities should be finding one that looks exactly like the real deal. Turkeys are smart animals and won’t be fooled by a cheap cartoon-like designs. You want something that, at a glance, looks like the real thing.

Adjustability

You should also look out for one that can be adjusted into different positions in order to make it look more real. Turkeys will adapt to different situations constantly.

 If you can replicate convincing poses, like how they lift their feathers to attract a mate, you might have a greater chance of luring more.

Portability

You don’t want a heavy decoy. If you can find one that can easily collapse and be stored away in a bag, which many of them come with, this is a great advantage. You should make sure you have something lightweight and compact enough for your hunting trip.

What Are The Benefits of Having a Great Turkey Decoy?

Having a great turkey decoy will ensure that you don’t come back empty-handed from your hunting trips. But that’s not all. There are many other benefits that a great turkey decoy can offer. Some of them are listed below.

Durability

A turkey decoy is used in harsh conditions. It must survive fights with gobblers, and it may have to resist hitting different things like trees, stones, etc. Hence, it must be made from durable materials that won’t let dents form on them. Otherwise, you will not be able to use the same decoy more than a couple of times.

Level of Realism

Realism is the single most important thing about a decoy. Turkeys are smart when discerning a decoy. Hence, if you don’t have a real-looking enough decoy, then they won’t even consider coming close to it. However, one made from high-quality materials can easily attract them. The paint used and the feather details are always on point.

Portability

Carrying the decoy on and off-site can be a challenge if your decoy is large and not collapsible. However, if you have a high-quality model, then this won’t be a problem. You will be easily able to inflate and deflate it.

Key Terms to Know

To help compare products in this review, we have included a few key specifications for each. Here is a quick summary of what they mean.

• Decoy Type: Refers to whether the decoy is a tom, hen, or both. 

• Material: This is what the decoy is made of and will give you an idea of how durable it is likely to be. 

• Adjustability: This refers to the positions the decoy can be adjusted to. Examples include breeder, feeder, looker.

• Portability: The manner in which the decoy can be broken down for transport. This includes being inflatable, multi-piece decoys, collapsible, etc. 

Review of the Best Turkey Decoys

The review section is one of the more important areas of our article; this is where we will describe several products on the market that are known to be the best. They all have different benefits and some downsides.

Types of Turkey Decoys

There are a few different types that are used in certain situations. This section will discuss the situations you might use certain options and just a few general types of decoys that hunters use.

Inflatable

Inflatable models are the most compact and portable, as it acts just like a balloon. You do need to be careful when carrying these around as they can be easily punctured. They also take a little longer to set up as you need to blow them up, which some hunters might find easier than others.

Collapsible

Collapsible models are far more life-like and can still be stored fairly easy thanks to their compact design. This is the most popular type to buy. Be sure not to have it stored away compactly for too long as they might become deformed. You could fix this by using a hair dryer to reform it.

Tom Decoy

Toms mimic these mature birds in a full or half strut position. This is an aggressive stance towards any dominant toms in the area which could result in other toms wanting to fight. These will attract aggressive and dominant toms but scare away any subordinate Toms or Jakes.

Hen Decoy

If you’re using a hen, you’ll be wise to use it during the springtime to attract any Toms looking to mate. Jakes and subordinate Toms will likely come in droves to a single hen, you could easily use a flock to attract even more.

Benefits of Investing in a Great Turkey Decoy

There are several benefits to investing in a great option; after purchasing a decoy you’ll never look back. Here are a few reasons why it’s a great idea.

Inexpensive

How many times have you bought some expensive bait or lure and it hasn’t worked at all or not as well as you hoped? Too many times! What better way to lure a turkey in by using its own instinct to reproduce or stick to flocks. A group will offer a cheap solution to this rather than those more expensive techniques or products.

Fast Results

Often when you are using the correct turkey decoy and it offers a realistic appearance, you won’t have to wait long for your chance at a big fat turkey dinner. Most hunters mix these with wild turkey callings for the best results.

Easy to Use

A great design will be simple to use and set up. It’ll offer plenty of different positions to be adjusted into as well as having the most realistic look. It should be able to offer you some really good opportunities to take a shot.

Turkey Decoy Tips, Tricks, and Hacks For Success

Having a realistic-looking decoy is the first step to successfully hunting turkeys. However, there are a lot of tactical tricks that you must understand and employ in order to actually hunt a turkey. We have listed some such tips and tricks as follows.

Increase the Number of Decoys

If you hunt in a public area, then the chances are that the turkeys there are already used to decoys, and hence attracting them with one can be difficult. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t hunt them at all. All you need to do is set-up multiple decoys in the area, and this will help attract turkeys easily.

Check the Decoy Features and Details

For a decoy, looking realistic is not enough. It should also look welcoming as it is meant to attract turkeys. If your decoy has a long beard, then even if it is realistic, it will end up scaring them. Furthermore, the eye and posture of the decoy are also very important. It must be set in a way that attracts turkeys.

Set It Up on High Ground

It is smart to set your decoy on higher ground, so you have some area to aim and shoot without the turkey hiding behind anything.

How to Set Up Turkey Decoy

There are various ways you can set up your turkey decoys. It all depends on the environment and time of year, and there are several variables to consider. However, the following guide should help you.

1. Most of the time, you’ll be using a blind or camouflaged area where you have a decent view; make sure you do this a few days ahead of time to allow nearby turkeys to get used to the new addition to the environment.
   
   
2. Place them in plain sight (around 15 yards away) of where you’ll be hiding, in order to get a clear shot at unsuspecting turkeys.
   
   
3. You’d be best using a three decoy setup with two hens and a Jake. The more hens the better, as you’ll find toms being fairly attracted to this setup.
   
   
4. When placing them, don’t have them too close or too far apart; 5 feet apart should do perfectly. If the decoys are moving around too fast due to the wind you can stop this by sticking a peg or stick into the ground next to them.

If you want more information or a video demonstration, please have a look at this YouTube video: 

Conclusion

Any novice hunter might be surprised by the variations of turkey decoy and the need for multiple strategies for different times of year. We hope that we’ve helped to increase your knowledge with all the information we’ve provided and the products we’ve listed in this article.

People Also Ask

Are you passionate about turkey hunting? If you are, then you must get yourself a high-quality, realistic turkey decoy that will help you attract turkeys and gobblers. And feel free to read the following frequently asked questions to ease your mind regarding any concern that you might have.

How Many Turkey Decoys to Use?

Normally it’s suggested to use two turkey decoys at a time along with a few additional props like a hen. These are expected to produce better results than just using a single decoy. However, if you can afford only one, then try to choose one that can be set-up in at least three poses.

How Much Does Turkey Decoy Quality Matter?

It matters a lot if the turkey decoy you have is made from good quality materials or not. If it’s not, you won’t be able to use it for more than a couple of times since it will easily get damaged in the field, and then it won’t be able to attract anything.

How High Off Ground to Set Turkey Decoys?

It depends on your weapon. If you use a bow to hunt, then an ideal height will be seven to ten yards. However, if you hunt using a shotgun or so, then you should double that height. This will help you get some area to shoot even if the target doesn’t engage with the decoy.

How to Set Up Turkey Decoys?

One thing you need to keep in mind while setting a decoy is the posture. If it is not real, then it will scare off the turkey. You should also consider the hunting season. If it is spring, then a turkey ready for courting is good. If it is fall, then a few turkeys gathered together will work.

How Far Should You Stay Away From your Decoy Setup?

It’s recommended that you stay around 15 yards away from your decoy setup. However, you can be as close as 5 feet away if you really want. Turkeys don’t sense you until you start moving, kind of like the T. Rex from Jurassic Park.

How Many Decoys Do You Need?

You can have as few as one or numerous decoys; as long as they’re placed strategically it doesn’t really matter. We recommend a setup of three decoys, including two hens and a jake to attract those larger toms towards your setup.

As wild-turkey hunting becomes more and more popular (wild turkey populations are exploding), the turkeys are becoming smarter and smarter. Savvy hunters need to employ all attractants to get a big gobbler within shooting range—be it gun or bow. One critical component is the use of turkey decoys. What kind? How many? Here are some things that have worked for many successful hunters.

Many hunters opt for the simplest and lightest available. That way they don't have to carry loads of weight through brush, timber, and big areas—and that's a real consideration. With all of the equipment a hunter has to carry, every extra pound becomes a burden—literally. We'll mention some specific brands, but that isn't an endorsement of any of them—just something that you can look-at while shopping for decoys. There are wide choices of manufacturers and brands within a particular style. So do some comparison shopping, and pick up the decoy that you like best. Experienced turkey hunters and the staff at the stores carrying these decoys will be able to help.

There's what is called Carry Lite decoys. They're made of real thin Styrofoam, which you can roll up and put in your pocket. Once in the woods you unroll them and set them up. This type is particularly useful when heading into deep timber, with limited carrying capacity. And they work.

There are many varieties of hard plastic models that closely resemble a turkey and imitate their look and expression very well. A personal favorite of guide Phil Schweik is called a B-Mobile. It's very realistic, looking like a classic strutting gobbler. It has a fully erected fan in the back.

What some real serious and savvy turkey hunters do, however, is to replace the fan that comes with the decoy, and put on a REAL turkey fan which makes the B-Mobile look ever more realistic. Using this particular type has proven extremely successful. It seems that the Toms—be it a younger bird or an old wily gobbler—can't resist approaching the decoy. The presence of another big Tom in their breeding area and territory is of course unacceptable. These wild turkeys will peck, fight, attack the decoy—challenging it—and often jumping right on it. It's that "real" to them.

A relatively new type is called a Turkey Skin. They are actual turkey feathers that are made into a type of "wig" that fits over hard plastic turkey decoys, and make them look so realistic that even some hunters find it difficult to differentiate the decoy from the real thing. These particular decoys can be relatively expensive, but they work real well.

As for "numbers" of decoys to set out, Phil Schweik suggests to usually put out a Tom and two hens—maybe a couple of Jakes (younger birds); a Tom and a hen—the combination possibilities are endless. But you don't need a lot of them. You can also use ones that have different types of mounting apparatuses. Some decoys are mounted on solid stakes, some have mobile bases that spin around or have head movement, or "feather flutters."

Others have adaptive strings that run back to your blind, whose movement and stance can be controlled by you as an even greater attractant, and bring a bird in. Turkey hunters have many different scenarios to work with, and try—some will work better than others depending on the variables present on the day you're hunting, and after a few hunts you'll be able to know which decoy and set up will work best for a particular situation.

Now—while not meaning to "rain on your parade," don't think that because you've got some truly "neat" decoys with all the bells and whistles, that that, in and of itself, is going insure that you'll get that 25-pounder you've been wanting to brag about at your neighborhood bar for the past ten years. "Ain't gonna happen!" What determines a successful hunt is the use of a proper combination of concealment, set up, weather considerations, hunting area, decoy use, weaponry, camo, and proper calling! They all work together. So, do your homework, make "friends" with, and listen to experienced hunters, go to a seminar, watch some videos, read our own and other previously-written articles which are on this excellent website on proper calling, blind set up, weaponry, weather, equipment, concealment and camo etc. In the end using all of the information available to you, and, with practice, and yes, some "failures," you're going to end up with that "big bird."

Motion Turkey Decoys

Motion decoys have been used in waterfowl hunting for quite some time now. Most waterfowl hunters either own a spinning wing decoy or have hunted with one. However, motion is generally underused when it comes to turkey hunting. A lot of hunters don’t want to be bothered with carrying larger decoy rigs or longer setups. Motion decoy manufacturers have answered these complaints with lighter, smaller, and easier to use motion decoys.

A motion decoy adds another degree of realism that could be the difference between a turkey hanging up out of range and fully committing. The range of motion these decoys create is vast. Some have bobbling heads, some spin, others bring their tails up into a strutting position.

One of the most interesting motion decoys on the market is the Reel Turkey Feeding Hen Decoy from Edge by Expedite. This decoy bobs up in down as if it were feeding. The decoy is also set up on a ski-like device that allows the hunter to literally pull turkeys in when they hang up.

The reel comes with two hundred feet of line so it’s possible to pull a gobbler in from a long way out. A hen decoy is packaged in the box, but converting the decoy to a strutting gobbler is a cinch. Just attach your decoy, like a Primos B-Mobile, and you’re ready to go.

No turkey decoy is 100% effective. There are days when toms just won’t cooperate for a variety of reasons including weather, hunting pressure, and breeding cycle. But a motion decoy could be all a wary gobbler needs to see to let his curiosity get the best of him. 

Decoy Placement

When people think of turkey hunting, decoy placement seems to get over shadowed by calling, scouting and roosting. All of these are very important parts of turkey hunting success. The methods and understanding of the placement of your decoys contribute just as much to a successful hunt as every other part of the equation.

Picking A Spot

Place decoys in an open area, like an agricultural field, power line corridor, or clearing in the woods. Decoys need to be visible to approaching turkeys. The decoys are visual tools used to give wary birds something to focus on as they approach. Sometimes the appearance of other birds in the field will give old toms just enough confidence to close the distance to your set up.

Distance To The Decoys

When it comes to placing decoys, distance is the most important part of your setup. Placing decoys too far away or too close can have adverse effects on the success of your hunt. Place decoys no further than 25 yards from your hiding spot. If the decoys are too far, the tom you pursue could hang up out of range. By sticking with the 25 yard rule, if the bird stops 15 yards from the decoys, he will still be within ethical kill range. Remember this rule changes for bow hunters and younger hunters. Decoys should be moved closer to reflect the shooting ability of the hunter and the equipment they use.

Arranging Decoys

Decoy arrangement may be seen as just random placement of decoys in the field, but there is some method to the madness. There are three basic arrangements for decoys and understanding them may give you an upper hand in the spring woods.

Walking: This arrangement involves positioning decoys in a row, like they are walking or filing off a field. When using this method place turkeys in a row facing all in the same direction, hens in the front and male decoys trailing behind. When placing decoys in this arrangement make sure that decoys appear to be leaving a field, this gives toms a sense of urgency to catch up before the hens disappear. This arrangement works well in areas that turkeys migrate through from roosting to feeding areas.

Feeding: This setup is a random pattern that most hunters use. The feeding pattern usually has birds in the feeding position, with their heads down as if they are picking seeds off the ground. When placing birds in a feeding arrangement, remember if you are using a male decoy, have it facing you and place it behind the hens in your set up. You want that bird to come in and face your male decoy giving you opportunity to get ready for your shot.

Mating: This arrangement is exactly what it sounds like. Position your decoys to simulate birds getting ready to mate. This arrangement is set up with a hen placed directly on the ground, with a tom or jake standing behind her. This decoy setup shows that the hen has become submissive and ready to breed. It will often elicit a fight or flight reaction, either birds will run in looking for a fight or will run away. Young birds will often steer clear of dominant toms, where a dominate bird will run in to fight for the submissive hen.

When hunting remember there is no magical setup that will produce birds every time in the woods, a hunter needs to adapt and learn from their days in the field. If a setup doesn’t seem to work for you the first day, change things up a little and try a different arrangement or decoy grouping. Your ability to adapt to the situation will help to ensure your success and knowledge of the game you pursue.