Decoys can help hunters tremendously when trying to bag that early or late-season bird. Gobbling tom decoys are an excellent choice to use for bringing in a mature gobbler, and hunters must change their calling tactics to mimic what kind of show they are trying to display.
When gobblers are in full strut, they are courting a hen or a group of hens, and a collection of hen calls must be included in any calling strategy. However, gobbler calls are crucial to pull approaching toms into the area, especially when using a strutter or fan. The gobbler call will ensure that any tom that sees the decoy will come on in.
Guide Skip Valentine always incorporates a gobble tube when using strutting decoys.
“Gobble three times at the first of the calling sequence, especially for the tough birds that are educated,” he said.
The gobbler call can be used as a first call and recurrent call type throughout the calling session. When a gobbler is in full strut, he is expected to have gobbled or will gobble to available hens close by.
In addition to the mating-related calling, hunters should shock-gobble to everything that a normal gobbler would respond to, including crows, owls, airplanes, peacocks and anything else that would elicit a gobble.
“Shake (the gobble tube) at anything that will usually get the birds hot,” Valentine said.
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