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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,993
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,993 |
I have used mainly Herter's decoys since the 1960's and have only had to retire the few that got soaked in gasoline spraying out of a leak in an old two hose pressurized portable gasoline tank. That was a bad morning. The rest of the Herter's decoys I have seem to be quite durable with reasonable care.
Some of their largest goose decoys painted as swans work wonders on those big birds.
I have used some G&H duck and goose decoys with good success but have had a few of them crumble. I made several dozen out of a Decoys Unlimited mold that will still be around after all the roaches die.
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 569
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 569 |
Don't be such a wuss phoneman..
"A man may not care for golf and still be human, but the man who does not like to see, hunt, photograph or otherwise outwit birds or animals is hardly normal. He is supercivilized, and I for one do not know how to deal with him." ~ Aldo Leopold
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,579
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 4,579 |
I've used Carry-Lite, Flambeau, Herters, G&H, and GHG. Of these the GHG are by far the nicest. There will always be pros and cons to any decoy that you choose, but for the money, GHG is my hands down favorite. I haven't had any trouble with the paint on mine, I have had a couple of heads break on my full body geese, however. A little Gorilla Glue and they were back in action the next day.
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,111
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 1,111 |
none float like the herters.
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 17,101
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 17,101 |
Got a chance to lok at the avian X mallards today. By far the best looking decoy i have seen
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: Mar 2013
Posts: 190
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 190 |
Currently, I make my own.....in the past I have used Flambeau and Carry-lite. Would recommend Flambeau; carrylites I've used have had paint problems. I have a friend that uses GHG....they seem like a good decoy.
"If you dog thinks you're the greatest, don't go seeking a second opinion!"
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Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 16
New Member
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New Member
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 16 |
I have a dozen of the "body language" fully flocked mallards and a dozen "drake" branded mallards that body language repainted for me. they look amazing! If I went to cabelas to buy decoys, i'd get the avian X - dakota - ghg pro series, in that order. http://www.bodylanguagedecoys.com/decoys.htmlI've used cheap ones and killed ducks, do I think these decoys will help me kill 2x as many? probably not but it can't hurt!
Last edited by beretta_man11; 08/13/13.
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Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 30
Campfire Greenhorn
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Campfire Greenhorn
Joined: Jan 2021
Posts: 30 |
Dakota ducks, look amazing. only downfall is weight in my opinion
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 3,657 Likes: 2
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 3,657 Likes: 2 |
Anything with flat or no keel, unless I hunt big water. Movement trumps artistry, any day.
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Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 9,180 Likes: 11
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 9,180 Likes: 11 |
Seems to be a resurrection.
We've got 40+ dozen in our club. Favorites are avian X and Higdon. Your mileage may vary.
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Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 4,350
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 4,350 |
Bunch of old threads up tonight, breathing life into this sub forum. Good stuff.
I frequently brought but never once deployed a dozen or more mallard decoys and a half dozen wood duck decoys. All my shooting this season was jump shooting. Never got the dekes wet.
For geese I've been having pretty good luck with a few dozen Divebomb silhouettes. Easy to pack, inexpensive, and they work... particularly if you know where the geese want to be.
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 11,410 Likes: 2
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 11,410 Likes: 2 |
I don't know the answer, I'm a rookie duck hunter so to speak, but have always wondered.....
Is the ultra-realistic decoy, the paint, the flocking, the ride on the water, does that really bring in more ducks, or is that just to bring in more dollars for the manufacturer?
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Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 4,432
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 4,432 |
I don't know much about duck hunting but used second-hand this year. Left them on the lake for a 8-10 weeks. A few ended upside down. Ducks still consistently came in the last weekend of the season. Not sure of the brand.
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Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,776
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 2,776 |
Thirty five years ago Cabela's used to sell a Cabela's branded foam filled decoy. They were terrific. I have a few mallards and a few pintails left of those. I also have those cheap Flambeaus and a few odds and ends accumulated over the last fifty years.
I am done waterfowl hunting and ought to sell my duck decoys and goose shells some time.
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Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,693 Likes: 1
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 2,693 Likes: 1 |
Anything with flat or no keel, unless I hunt big water. Movement trumps artistry, any day. You'd probably like the 50 year old Victors that I have. A very shallow x-shaped "keel" that won't hold much line. I drilled some holes in them and filled them up with Great Stuff foam, then epoxied the cracks and re-painted. Am not going to spend money on new decoys until Biden reverses the climate and more ducks start showing up here than I've been seeing in the last decade or two. My buddy has some G & H decoys that have held up well for him.
The biggest problem our country has is not systemic racism, it's systemic stupidity.
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Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 13,357
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 13,357 |
https://lifetimedecoys.comNone better! I use them in water, on ice, and on Land. Try them I guarantee you won't be disappointed.
Eat Fish, Wear Grundens, Drink Alaskan.
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 2,457
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 2,457 |
I run G&H ducks. Probably 2 dozen puddlers and 3 dozen divers. I do admit there are more realistic puddlers on the market but the G&H still work for me. Their divers are top notch IMHO.
Just sold my old Bigfoot goose floaters. Looking at the Dakota and Hard Core lessers to replace them.
Semper Fi
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 860
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 860 |
Currently a mix. I bought some flocked head Higdon foam filled that I really like. My full body dekes are Dakota fully flocked. I have a few older GHG and FA decoys but will probably replace them next year. The Lifetime decoys mentioned above look very nice.
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,239
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,239 |
Higdon foam filled. We put them out and leave them out all season. The flocked head mallards look great and hold up. Plus if there are cripples in the decoys...... BLAZE AWAY because they are literally unsinkable. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VZhPzi0TEUw&ab_channel=EmergingMediaProductions
The lion and tiger might be stronger, but the wolf does not perform in the circus.
NRA Life Member
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 17,101
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 17,101 |
for Geese im a big fan of Bigfoot and DOA decoys. for mos ducks I realy like Higdon and avian x. my diver spread is a mix and match of Avery, Higdon,Final Flight, and a local custom maker that i am friends with. all of my closest divers are Foamers our snowgoos rig is a ix of everything including texas rags. keep in mind my diver rig is 150 decoys. with our entire snow goose rig out we are somewhere around 3000 decoys
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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