Best Turkey Decoys For 2026

Turkeys, with their elusive nature, pose a significant challenge to hunters. To overcome this, hunters employ a range of tactics, from natural camouflage to cutting-edge calling devices and decoys, all to increase their chances of a successful hunt before the season's end. 

If you need to update your decoys for the upcoming season or are starting to expand your kit and add some new decoys to your repertoire, look at our breakdown of the best turkey decoys for 2026. 

Updated February 17, 2026

What are the Types of Turkey Decoys?

The range of turkey decoys allows hunters to create realistic turkey scenes based on the behavior of the birds during that period in the season.

Here are some of the most common decoys used by hunters of all skill levels: 
 

• Mature Tom: These decoys are often available in full and half strut positions and are used to challenge and lure in other toms.  
• Hens: Perhaps the most common decoy type, hens are a popular go-to option for drawing in jakes and toms that are conflict-averse if they can't see any dominant birds nearby when mating.  
• Hen and Jake: This combination triggers a dominant tom into action. Seeing a younger bird (a jake decoy) with one of his ladies can create a swift, aggressive response. 
   

Regarding the construction of decoys, you can have differing designs, including collapsible, solid, motion, or inflatable. 

When To Use Turkey Decoys

Seasonality impacts turkey habits. As you move through the season, different decoys and decoy combinations should be deployed for the greatest impact. There's no one best turkey decoy but the right combination for the right moment. 

As much as you think about what to wear for a turkey hunt, also think about the time of year and your turkey decoy setup. Here are some season considerations to help you set up your decoy placement for a winning season. 

Early Season

Early-season male gobblers are combative and testosterone-driven, meaning jealousy over mating and the desire to establish dominance drive much of their interactions.

Setting up a jake near a hen to provoke jealousy or placing a single jake in an aggressive posture can both have a high response rate. 

Mid-Season

During the mid-season, mating is in full swing, and social hierarchies are being formed based on dominance.

A lone hen can draw in a tom who struggled to mate earlier in the season and is looking for a non-confrontational interaction. Similarly, a small flock of hens can draw a more confident bird closer–just remember spacing, movement, and naturalism when placing more than one decoy. 

Late Season

Late season means the birds are less combative, as hierarchies have been formed, and breeding is coming to an end.

Consider a solo hen or jake to target mature gobblers, and remember that hens will most likely be resting during this time. Less is more in the late season. 

Hunter Tips and Advice for Using Decoys

We asked our friend and HuntWise Field Team hunter, Travis Hawkins, about using turkey decoys successfully when he hunts. Here's what he recommends, including some decoy placement tips:

"Turkey decoys come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and prices. Most hunters use hen decoys, but you can also toss in a jake or even a strutting tom, depending on what you observe in the field.  I've also taken note of companies making a breeding pair decoy.

While we've recommended some good decoys to consider (below), in my opinion, any decoy can fool a turkey if used correctly. I'm a minimalist hunter; the less bulk and weight, the better.

Personally, I love the inflatable Cherokee Sports decoys. They are reasonably priced, very realistic, fit into your cargo pants pockets, and have lasted me a good 3-4 seasons. Another favorite of mine is the Strutting Tom made by Flextime. I've combined a real Tom tail fan and wings to mine for that added realism."

Using Decoys Can Be Tricky

Travis continues:

"Using decoys can be tricky and may require a bit of skill to entice that big tom to close the distance. For relatively thick timber hunting, I never use a decoy. However, if I find myself in more open timber, I'll normally use a single hen decoy.

For fields, you can use a single hen or bring out the whole army! If I know there is a single tom looking for some magic, then a single hen is usually my pick. If more than one Tom and several hens are there, I like to deploy the whole army. 

When setting up several decoys, a bit of skill is required. I've found that a sole tom/strutter decoy with a few hens works great; placing a few jake decoys off to the side works even better. You can also replace the tom/strutter with a Jake decoy. That has proven to make those old toms angry enough to come in looking for a fight.

Reaping turkeys is known as hiding behind a strutting tom decoy to deceive a tom into believing that you're a real bird. A person can get extremely close to turkeys if done properly, but it requires some patience and proper concealment. I have used this trick in the past to get around groups of jakes and hens that were in a field. I also harvested a mature Tom a few years ago using this technique. 

The best advice that I can give is to take these tips and put them to use. It's often about trial and error. Find out what went right and what went wrong in each situation, and use that to your advantage on your next hunt. "

The 10 Best Turkey Decoys for 2026

So, which decoys should you add to your turkey hunting gear? We've rounded up the top ten turkey decoys this season to help you bag a big one. 

1. Best Overall: Avian-X HDR Jake and Hen Combo Price: $249.98 Fire up dominant toms with the rugged realism of the Avian-X HDR Jake and Hen Turkey Decoy Combo. Built from durable blow-molded construction and inspired by hand-carved originals, this two-decoy set delivers impressive detail and toughness designed to fool even pressured gobblers. With lifelike feather sculpting, carefully layered paint schemes, and strategic flocking in high-visibility areas, both the HDR Jake and HDR Hen create a convincing, true-to-life presentation that draws in territorial birds looking to assert dominance. The slightly undersized HDR Jake features a quarter-strut posture with subdominant feather positioning to provoke nearby toms. Both decoys include two interchangeable heads for added versatility. The Jake comes with a curled, aggressive head and a straight, submissive head, allowing you to adjust your setup to match the mood of the moment.
2. Best Lightweight: Montana Decoy Wiley Tom 3D Price: $129.99 This hybrid strutter is our best overall turkey decoy for the 2026 season. With stunning realism and a collapsible design, it's both convenient and effective in the field.  This decoy is customizable from a 2D to a 3D design, meaning quick setup on those late mornings and attention to detail in the natural tail, feathers, and eye design. You'll also have the option to attach real feathers and wings to the rear for an extra touch of realism.
3. Most Realistic: Final Approach Live Breeder Hen Price: $120-140.00 Meet the Live Breeder Hen from Final Approach: a turkey decoy built to deliver unmatched realism in the field. Designed by six-time world decoy carving champion Tom Christie, this decoy raises the bar with painstaking attention to detail. From its true-to-life paint scheme and natural breeding posture to its advanced motion technology, every element is engineered to replicate the look and behavior of a real hen. The result is a decoy with undeniable lifelike appeal that commands attention from approaching gobblers. Made from lightweight yet rugged EVA material, the Live Breeder Hen is built for durability season after season without weighing down your setup.
4. Best Motion: Higdon Outdoors TruMotion TruStrutter XS Motion $251.99 The Higdon Outdoors Tru-Strutter Motion Turkey Decoy is a true game changer in the turkey woods. Jealous gobblers can’t resist the sight of a strutting intruder—especially when that intruder moves. By pairing realistic motion with a highly detailed, full-strut body and bold, natural coloring, this decoy creates a combination that’s tough for territorial toms to ignore. Its aggressive posture throws down the challenge, while the slightly smaller profile gives dominant birds the confidence to close the distance. Built as a premium hard-body decoy, the Tru-Strutter was carefully developed by experienced turkey hunters, engineers, and motion-decoy designers. Higdon’s XHD Hyper Feathering technique uses deep carving and ultra-realistic paint to highlight each individual feather, accented by bright whites, vivid blues, and rich reds that bring the strut to life. Natural-looking black flocking across the back adds depth and realism.
5. Best For Your Budget: RedHead Reality Series Remote Crazy Jake and Mating Hen Turkey Decoy Combo Price: $74.98 Ignite every territorial instinct in a mature tom with the RedHead Reality Series Remote Crazy Jake and Mating Hen Turkey Decoy Combo. Built to provoke dominant gobblers and pull them in fast, this setup pairs a receptive hen with a young, uneasy jake in a 3/4-strut pose, an irresistible challenge during the heat of the season. The Crazy Jake measures roughly 70% the size of a full strutter, giving it an adolescent profile that dares mature toms to step in and assert control. Its head, body, and wing positioning create a tense, confrontational look that nearby gobblers struggle to ignore. Engineered for realism, this combo features a taxidermy-quality head and eyes, detailed feather sculpting with intricate paintwork, a 4-inch taxidermy-grade beard (trimmable to your preferred length), and a fabric fan that can be swapped out for a real turkey fan to elevate authenticity even further.
6. MOJO Feeder/Breeder Hen Decoy for Turkeys $99.99 Meet the MOJO Feeder/Breeder Hen Decoy, a high-detail, multi-position decoy built for maximum versatility in the field. Featuring a patent-pending mounting system, this innovative design allows a single decoy to be deployed in three realistic positions: upright, feeding, or on the ground in a breeding posture. No need to carry multiple hens to create different looks. The unique triangular housing mounted inside the body lets you quickly rotate the decoy between upright and feeding positions, while its balanced design allows it to rest naturally on the ground when set in the breeding position. Blow-molded from a highly detailed original carving and crafted with a durable EV/PE material blend, this decoy is tough, flexible, and UV-protected. The result is a rugged yet lifelike hen featuring crisp feather detail and rich, realistic color that stands out and holds up season after season.
7. Best for Hunters on the Move: Lucky HD Collapsible Hen $59.99 The Lucky HD Collapsible Hen is a versatile, multi-purpose decoy designed to adapt to your setup. Use it as an upright hen, or partially collapse it to create a realistic breeding posture—giving you two effective presentations in one compact design. Molded from 100% EVA plastic with exceptional feather detail, this decoy weighs just one pound, delivering the ideal balance of durability and lightweight performance. When it’s time to move, simply collapse it to fit neatly into your vest for long hikes, then redeploy quickly when you’re ready to set up. Includes a two-piece folding metal stake for easy packing and secure placement in the field.
8. Best Jake: Avian-X LCD 1/2 Strut Jake Turkey Decoy Price: 139.99 Don't let the futuristic name fool you; this jake decoy is as natural as they come. With special attention given to the coloration, posturing, head positioning, and feather detailing, it's expertly crafted to fool even the most weary of toms.  It's collapsible and made with dura rubber, so it won't crease or bend in your vest or backpack when you're packing.
9. Best Hen: Montana Decoy MissPurrfect XS Turkey Hen Price: 99.99 Hens are the most commonly used decoys, so you want to make sure you choose a good one! The MissPurrfect XS is everything you want in a hen decoy. It's customizable, with strong attention to detail in the feather cuts. The stake and strap design reduces wind movement, creating a stronger sense of realism.
10. Best Use of Motion Pair: DSD Mating Motion Pair $339.95 This innovative decoy set captures a young jake attempting to mount a receptive hen—an intense scene that territorial gobblers find nearly impossible to ignore. With a simple pull of the jerk cord, the hand-operated system creates lifelike movement that brings the interaction to life and can trigger aggressive responses from nearby longbeards. Designed to replicate a jake trying to steady himself atop a breeding-ready hen, the setup sends a clear message to dominant toms: act now or lose the opportunity. The manual motion system is straightforward, effective, and legal in most states, making it a powerful addition to your turkey spread.

Get Your Bird With HuntWise and the Right Turkey Decoys This Season

Choosing the right decoys is just one part of the turkey hunting puzzle. You'll want to ensure you're setting them in high-trafficked zones where birds are or are likely to be. 

With HuntWise, you can use state-of-the-art mapping technology to explore, pinpoint, and target private and public hunting zones, allowing you to pre-scout potential turkey hotspots before the season starts. You can also mark turkey signs and roosts to plot the best spots for your decoys and where to post up or place your ground blind for a successful hunt.

If you don't have the app yet, it's a great time to download it and take advantage of every feature – free for a week!

Content most recently reviewed and updated February 17, 2026. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

We have answers to your questions about the best turkey decoys!

Q: Does turkey decoy quality matter?

A: Yes, turkey decoy quality matters, especially for pressured birds. Realistic posture, accurate paint, and proper sizing can make wary gobblers commit. That said, placement and calling usually matter more than ultra-premium detail.

Q: Should you leave turkey decoys out overnight?

A: It’s not recommended to leave turkey decoys out overnight. Predators can damage them, the weather can fade them, and in some areas, it may be illegal. Plus, you lose flexibility for adjusting your setup at first light.

Q: Do turkeys prefer woods or fields?

A: Turkeys prefer both woods and fields. They typically roost in woods, travel through timber edges, and feed or strut in open fields. Look for transitions: field edges, logging roads, and clearings are prime spots.

Q: What is the best decoy brand?

A: Popular, highly rated turkey decoy options include Avian-X, DSD (Dave Smith Decoys), and Primos. DSD is known for ultra-realism (and higher cost), while Avian-X and Primos offer solid performance at more moderate prices.

Q: Do turkeys respond to decoys in the fall?

A: Yes, turkeys respond to decoys in the fall but differently than in spring. Fall birds are often in flocks and respond better to feeding hen or jake decoys rather than aggressive breeding setups.

Q: How far away should I set up my turkey decoy?

A: Setting up turkey decoys about 15–25 yards away is ideal. That keeps the bird within comfortable shooting range and focuses its attention away from your position.