This morning I read an article by a couple of local trad hunters who had just returned from a Nebraska turkey hunt.
They both scored and seemed to have numerous encounters with gobblers. What caught my attention was that they used only a jake decoy. I hadn't heard of that before.
Have any of you had experience with just one jake?
Bernie
Turkeys are as thick as hair on a dog's back in Nebreska so not surprising that they connected. I've been using a single jake decoy for about 20 years. Most times that's all I use. Very rarely, I'll put a hen out with it. Works for me.
I relayed your question to my turkey-hunting Tennessee cousin, and got this reply:
"I think turkeys have been fooled with just about every set-up you can think of, but the lone jake is a good one. First of all, you can travel light with a lone jake. Many times a gobbler will hang up when responding to your call with a hen/jake set-up, however, the lone jake and your calling may tempt the tom to come in quickly looking for the hen. If not, then maybe a few soft calls can bring him within range."
I agree with the guys above. I've used 1 jake deke successfully several times - the tom's ears tell him there are hens there and his eyes tell him the competition is on scene.
Great comments guys, and they make sense. I may just mix it up a little this spring and try this.
Bernie
I use just a single jake, with a short stake and make it lean forward.