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The cheapies i have look like crap compared to the avian x ones, but they are pricey. Looking my old ones over, i have some cracked keels, chipped paint, and just wear and tear, that seems excessive for how i took care of them. What are you guys using? Looking to buy just a dozen of some good, life like, durable, mallard decoy. Spend the money on the avians? Looked at dakotas, and was not impressed. Colors are wrong, and body dimensions, and pose's just didn't look right.
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 860
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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I have a hodgepodge right now. Most of my mallards are older Foiles decoys (this was before his whole ordeal, I'd never give Foiles a cent of my money now). I have a GHG puddler pack, GHG green wings and GHG blue bills too. My divers have held up really well over the last 3-4 years or so. I've only had the puddler pack a year and a half and they're already losing paint. My next set of decoys will be from Dakota or Avian, or if I can't quite spring for them, G&H...you really get what you pay for with decoys
Last edited by ajmorell; 03/08/13.
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Joined: Jun 2008
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2008
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Quack Decoys have the best of everything. Durable, ride like a duck, light enough, and look as good as you need them to.
But I still love hunting over hand carved cork decoys.
Eat Fish, Wear Grundens, Drink Alaskan.
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,152
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Most of mine are GHG right now they seem to be holding up well
To play the game, you first gotta have game. - Ike Turner
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 190
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Campfire Member
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My decoy spread is a hodge podge of various manufacturers; I started with Carry-lite back in the late 70's when their quality control and paint didn't suck. When they started going south, I started buying Flambeau and have been generally pleased...my only complaint is that the plastic they use is somewhat stiff and becomes brittle and cracks if it gets too cold. Lately, I've been making my own out of scraps and garbage(left over 2x4 scaps, styrofoam packing sheets, old surgical gauze, ect). These dekes are great in that they are light, float well, continue to float when hit by stray shot, and were made by ME! Here are some mallards & blacks that I made a few years back: Some green wing teal: One of my home made hens on a pond: My spread with some of my fakes added; the hen and drake in the front are ones I made:
"If you dog thinks you're the greatest, don't go seeking a second opinion!"
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Joined: Jun 2012
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Campfire Tracker
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Joined: Jun 2008
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Eat Fish, Wear Grundens, Drink Alaskan.
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Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 8,517
Campfire Outfitter
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Wow! very nice. How much for one with a hollowed out center that can be resealed so when the day comes I have to put my buddy down I can put his ashes in it and have him still hunting with me?
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 4,517
Campfire Tracker
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Urns are very popular... I hope you have many more years with he/she before you have to worry about it. Wouldnt be any more than a standard hollowed wood gunner though.
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Joined: Jul 2008
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I am hoping i have many, many years ahead. Both of us! Shoot me a pm with a price for a drake mallard. Id like to use it, so it would be a part of us over the years. Yes i love my dog, but also know i may live longer than him. See my thread in gun dogs.
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 5,499
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There is no way to coexist no matter how many bumper stickers there are on Subaru bumpers!
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 57,474 |
I still use mostly flambeau. A lot of areas I hunt we need to put out 8-12 dozen dekes to run a chance.
If I could get by with 1-2 dozen I'd spend the money on the expensive ones...
BUT then again, we kill ducks over our cheap ones all the time. Limit out most times too if birds are in the area.
So I'm not so sure that its all that important...
Jeff
We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
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Joined: Sep 2006
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I have been using Flambeau dekes for the last few years, but just this AM I scored a great deal on a box of FA Mallards so this year will have a mix of dekes. The FA's sure look good.
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 1,218
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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For ducks, FA brand and Flambeau. For geese, Dave smiths and avery pro-series.
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 457
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Campfire Member
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G&H's that are now probably 20 years old. A good cleaning and some touch up paint every few years and they still look great. For newer ones the GHG with a clear coat sprayed on top are hard to beat. Plus when it floods you don't get as upset losing a $40/dozen decoy.
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Joined: Mar 2010
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Campfire Outfitter
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Joined: Mar 2010
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Still use the older G+H and Carrylite but all our new purchases lately have been GHG..the company has been great with replacement heads and stands.
You better be afraid of a ghost!!
"Woody you were baptized in prop wash"..crossfireoops
Woody
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 457
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The only thing I really don't like about older G&H is the removable heads that end up breaking off anyways. The mallard ones especially.
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 17,098
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
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GHG pro grades and oversize. Their paint seems to hold up very well Early season i use mostky hens and most of them are F/A brand.
Goose decoys i use mostly are bigfoots. I have some GHG goose decoys but thier paints are the worst I have ever seenand seem to flake off just from opening the box. I also use about 6 dozen sillo socks and a couple dozen sillouettes. We also use a few reel wings flyers. And I love em
The government plans these shootings by targeting kids from kindergarten that the government thinks they can control with drugs until the appropriate time--DerbyDude
Whatever. Tell the oompa loompa's hey for me. [/quote]. LtPPowell
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Joined: Aug 2009
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Mostly herters for me mallards, and divers. For the walk in hunts the rest are G&H with rig em rights. Those burlapped herters get heavy on those walk in hunts
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