--- title: Why this 2-Decoy Setup Crushed Every Other Configuration description: "Turkey Hunting Decoy Strategies That Actually Work: This turkey hunt showcases various ways that turkey decoy set ups failed & those that actually worked." image: https://resources.mossberg.com/hubfs/Turkey-Decoys-Why-This-2-Decoy-Setup-Crushes-Every-Other-Configuration.jpg --- [Law Enforcement](https://lawenforcement.mossberg.com/) [Sign In](https://www.mossberg.com/customer/account/login) / [Sign Up](https://www.mossberg.com/customer/account/create/) [Firearms](https://www.mossberg.com/firearms.html) [Store](https://www.mossberg.com/store.html) [![Mossberg](https://resources.mossberg.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/mossberg-theme/images/logo.svg)](https://www.mossberg.com) [Support](https://www.mossberg.com/help/) [Journal](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal) [Dealers](https://www.mossberg.com/dealers/) [Cart](https://www.mossberg.com/checkout/cart/) [Sign In](https://www.mossberg.com/customer/account/login) / [Sign Up](https://www.mossberg.com/customer/account/create/) [Dealers](https://www.mossberg.com/dealers/) - [Firearms](https://www.mossberg.com/firearms.html) - [Store](https://www.mossberg.com/store.html) - [Support](https://www.mossberg.com/help/) - [Journal](https://resources.mossberg.com/) [Military/Law Enforcement](https://lawenforcement.mossberg.com/) - [Home](https://www.mossberg.com) - [Journal](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal) - Why this 2-Decoy Setup Crushed Every Other Configuration [Videos](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal/tag/videos) [How-To's](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal/tag/how-tos) # Why this 2-Decoy Setup Crushed Every Other Configuration 2 Min Read By [Jason Cruise](https://resources.mossberg.com/journal/author/jason-cruise) ![Why this 2-Decoy Setup Crushed Every Other Configuration](https://resources.mossberg.com/hubfs/Turkey-Decoys-Why-This-2-Decoy-Setup-Crushes-Every-Other-Configuration.jpg) Turkey Hunting Decoy Strategies That Actually Work Set in the context of an actual turkey hunt with Greg Camp, founder of Halo Waterfowl, and Jason Cruise, host of Mossberg's Rugged American Hunter series, this turkey hunt showcases various ways that turkey decoy set ups failed and those that actually worked.    Choosing the right turkey hunting decoy setup can be the single biggest variable that determines whether a gobbler commits or hangs up out of range — and most hunters are leaving birds in the field by defaulting to whatever decoy they grabbed last season. The Lone Hen A single hen decoy for turkey hunting works because it presents zero social threat while offering a simple, believable target for a lonely gobbler looking for company. In pressured areas or with subordinate birds, a solitary hen reads as low-risk and often pulls in toms that would otherwise hang up when confronted with more aggressive setups. The Jake Decoy A jake decoy turkey hunting setup triggers a gobbler's territorial instinct — a young, subordinate male near his hens is an insult a dominant tom frequently can't ignore. Mature gobblers will commit hard and fast to a jake because the social challenge demands an immediate response, closing the distance that would otherwise keep them out of range. The Strutting Tom with a Breeding Hen — The Deadliest Setup The most effective turkey decoy strategy is a full-strut tom mounted behind a breeding hen because it simultaneously attacks every dominant instinct a mature gobbler possesses.  A strutting tom signals active competition — another male is not just present but already winning — which short-circuits a gobbler's caution and replaces it with aggression. The breeding hen confirms the stakes are real, telling every approaching tom that a receptive female is already being claimed by a rival.  This combination of sexual competition and territorial threat produces the most committed, fastest-closing responses of any decoy configuration, making it the top choice for spring turkey hunting when targeting mature longbeards. Check out the full lineup of [Turkey Hunting shotguns](https://www.mossberg.com/firearms/usage/hunting-sporting/turkey-shotguns.html) from Mossberg. 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