Turkey hunting can be an exciting and rewarding sport, but it also requires skill, patience, and the right gear. Using decoys is one of the most effective tactics to draw in wary toms during the spring mating season. But while you can buy turkey decoys, making your own allows you to customize it to match local birds and take pride in crafting a tool for your hunt.
In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know to make realistic, durable turkey decoys that will fool even the savviest gobblers.
Why Make Your Own Turkey Decoy
There are several advantages to constructing a homemade turkey decoy rather than purchasing one:
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Cost savings – Purchased decoys can cost over $100 each. Making your own allows you to save significantly.
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Customization – You can tailor a homemade decoy to precisely match the size, shape, colors and postures of birds in your local area.
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Durability – Commercial decoys made of materials like foam can tear easily. A homemade decoy made of rigid materials like wood or plastic will hold up better.
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Pride – There’s satisfaction that comes from harvesting a tom over a decoy you crafted yourself.
Key Design Considerations
Keep these factors in mind when planning your homemade turkey decoy
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Realism – Study photos of live turkeys to recreate details like feather patterns, proportions, and poses. The more realistic, the better.
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Movement – Decoys that sway in the breeze can help draw in warier birds. But avoid anything motorized.
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Portability – Consider weight and bulk. Folding or collapsible decoys are ideal for packing in.
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Gender – Hen or tom? Pick the gender that matches your hunting strategy.
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Durability – Select weatherproof materials resistant to moisture, UV rays, and wear.
Materials Needed
Typical materials used to make DIY turkey decoys include:
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Body – Plywood, rigid foam, plastic, hardened papier-mâché
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Feathers – Real turkey feathers, feather patterned fabric, textured paint
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Paint – Acrylic paints in appropriate turkey colors
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Adhesives – Wood glue, epoxy, multipurpose spray adhesive
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Support stake – Wooden dowel, metal rod, plastic stake
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Motion elements – Wires, pulleys, hardware (optional)
Steps to Make a Turkey Decoy
Follow these basic steps:
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Shape the body – Cut out the shape from wood, foam, or other rigid material. Hollow out interior to reduce weight.
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Add feather details – Glue, pin or paint on real feathers, feather fabrics, or textured paints. Study real feather placement.
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Paint the decoy – Use acrylics to recreate the complex colors and patterns of real turkeys.
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Insert support stake – Drill hole in bottom to insert wood, metal or plastic stake to secure in ground.
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Add motion elements (optional) – Insert wires, pulleys or hardware to allow motion.
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Weatherproof – Seal painted surfaces with polyurethane or varnish. Ensure moisture resistance.
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Transport to field – Build carrying case or stuff collapsed decoy into backpack.
Creative Turkey Decoy Design Ideas
Here are some clever homemade turkey decoy designs:
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Fanning decoy – Feathers on folding wood framework. Fanning motion attracts toms.
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Taxidermy mount – Use real tanned turkey skin over molded body form for ultimate realism.
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Collapsible 3D decoy – Foam or wood panels snap together into 3D shape but pack flat.
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Head/neck decoy – Just the turkey’s head and neck portion keeps it lightweight and portable.
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Feeding hen – Create hen in lifelike feeding pose with head down pecking at ground.
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Silhouette cutout – Simple 2D plywood or cardboard turkey profile painted to resemble real bird.
Expert Turkey Decoy Tips
Use these pro tips when deploying your homemade decoys:
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Set up near, but not right against, trees or brush where turkeys feel secure.
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Make sure the stake is sturdy. Aggressive toms may knock over flimsy stakes.
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Put multiple decoys in small flocks with dominant toms farther away.
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Add slight imperfections so decoys don’t look obviously fake.
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Shift decoy positions occasionally, especially when re-hunting the same birds.
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Get set up well before fly-down so turkeys don’t see you setting decoys.
Constructing your own turkey decoys allows you to create customized, ultra-realistic lures for stubborn toms. Follow the guidelines here on materials, design, and deployment strategies. With some effort you can build durable decoys that will convince gobblers your setup is the real deal, leading to hunting success.
How to preserve and add real wings to your decoy.
Decoy realism counts in turkey hunting, but I’m not yet ready to spend several hundred dollars on an ultra-realistic model. Instead, I make use of the spoils of a previous hunt. On a decoy that has a good-looking head and a spot to attach it, I add a fan. And when I want to go all out, I use the wings, too.
Adding real wings isn’t revolutionary, but most decoys I’ve seen don’t allow the full wing to be attached, and when it’s cut at the lower joint, you’re selling your decoy short.
Using this process, your decoy will be almost indistinguishable from the real thing, and moreover, it will appear to be in strut.
DIY Turkey Decoy
FAQ
When should you not use turkey decoys?
If I am working a bird in heavy cover, it’s probably one of the few times I will not put a decoy out. In these situations, the longbeard is searching for my calls and we are in close quarters. If he stumbles on a decoy, he may get spooked. Decoys work best when toms can see them from a distance.
Can you use a turkey fan as a decoy?
Fanning a Gobbler Safely
Be absolutely sure that the area you are hunting and using the tail fan decoy is controlled. Do not use it in fields that are visible from the road, where the risk of getting shot by some low-down poacher exists. And definitely don’t use it in areas that allow rifle hunting for turkeys.
Why won’t turkeys come to my decoys?
If a subordinate gobbler comes in, and he’s already been beat up by a dominant gobbler, there’s a very good chance that he’s won’t come in and get his head bloodied again. Many times, a turkey won’t come to a decoy, because the hunter has made a mistake in where he’s placed the decoy.
Do cheap turkey decoys work?
Turkeys have surprisingly good eyesight. A turkey can tell a low-quality decoy from a high-quality product. This means that relatively inexpensive decoys are also less effective.
How to use turkey decoys?
To use turkey decoys effectively, place them not too far away from your position. One common mistake hunters make is placing the decoy directly in front of them, which is the sight line for most approaching gobblers. It’s better to have a buddy sit back near the decoy and call to draw the bird closer.
How much does a turkey decoy cost?
One of these decoys, which costs under $50, can attract a turkey even if you notice it in a big field. It is the cheapest option on our list and is self-inflating, allowing you to give it a lifelike shape by blowing. If you need to get that bird closer to you to take the shot, this decoy will attract a 2-year-old gobbler to a strutting gobbler and make it walk around these decoys.
How do you paint a turkey decoy?
To paint a turkey decoy, use a can of Rust-Oleum Glitter spray paint. Spray it on the feathered area, avoiding the head and neck. The decoy will not turn purple, but will display the shimmery iridescence that turkeys actually have.
What is a turkey hunting decoy?
A turkey hunting decoy is a lifelike replica of a turkey used by hunters to attract live turkeys within range. It can come in different types and sizes, designed to mimic the appearance and behavior of a real turkey. A turkey hunting decoy is a crucial tool for successful hunting.
Can you use a Tom decoy for Turkey hunting?
When gobblers stop responding to a strutting tom decoy during Turkey hunting, it’s recommended to switch over to a jake decoy. Using a tom decoy may spook subordinate birds that have already been roughed up. However, a jake decoy can offer a chance for these birds to redeem themselves.
Which is the best hen turkey decoy?
The Avian-X Laydown Hen Turkey Decoy is recommended to buy and features a perfect posture for the breeding position. The body, head, and wings in the squatting position send a compelling invitation to the turkey and stimulate them for breeding.