How to Use Turkey Decoys for Bowhunting Deer

by Charles Dodd White

Overview

Turkey hunting is challenging enough. Throw in hunting with a bow and arrow, and you have your work cut out for you. However, it is possible to give yourself an edge by using turkey decoys. By pairing decoys with turkey-calling techniques, you can have a great chance of setting up a shot on that elusive tom. Before you go in the woods, you need to be aware of some of the strategies and limitations of using decoys.

Step 1

Place the decoys in a soft cloth sack the night before the hunt. You must be able to grab the decoys quickly and move through the woods as quietly as possible to put yourself in position with adequate time to set the decoys and establish your hunting position. You will not know where this is until you have used your turkey call and heard a tom gobble, so remain as ready to go as you can.
Step 2

Plant the decoys within several feet of one another. Putting them too far apart may cause the tom to circle around to a position where he could spot you.
Step 3

Exploit the advantage of higher ground for your hunting position if possible. Shooting down from a slightly elevated position with your bow will increase your chances of accuracy as well as enhance your chances for arrow recovery.
Step 4

Remove any overhanging vine or twigs that may obscure a clean shot to the area where the decoys are located. Unlike gun hunting, bow hunting requires an uncluttered lane of fire between you and the game you are hunting.
Step 5

Use your box call to draw the turkey into sight. Once he is within visual contact, switch to a mouth-diaphragm call so that your hands are free for the draw and sighting in once the bird steps into range.
Step 6

Take the shot before the tom steps within about a dozen feet of the decoys. Turkeys have remarkably sharp eyesight and may become spooked if they get close enough to see that the decoys aren't real turkeys.