decoys opinions

[Sinker]

I like a mix of brands. Some days, motion decoys suck....like real windy days. They blow over, and I wish the whole spread were bigfoots. Some days the wind is just right, and the whole spread of motion works mint.

Some motion decoys are a pain in the butt to set up and tear down. GHG with the detachable bases drive me crazy. They take forever to set up, and your always missing a base when you need it.

I really like the Dakota's. Great motion, hard to blow over, and they look great. So far, from what I've seen, they're tough as nails too.

Never used the avians, but I don't like them too much in hand. They look good close up, but I try to look at decoys from far away, that's when they count the most, and they just don't look right from a distance.

Flocked, or not, I really don't find much of a difference. If they're going to commit, your not going to stop them unless you get up and do jumping jacks in the spread. By the time they realize they're flocked decoys, they're dead in the air. They do help with frost or dew to a degree, but they still shine.

There is no one BEST decoy IMO. I like to run a mixed bag of everything to cover all the bases. We have bigfoots, higdons, GHG, and Dakota's. The foots get used every time......

If you want to talk water decoys, you need to start another thread lol

One thing for sure, you can never have too many decoys, or too many brands. I find being loyal to one brand can bite you in the butt sometimes.

S.

[GBuck]

everyone has thier favourite. I really think that it doesn't matter to the birds all that much. these birds will decoy to cut tires - rocket surgeons they ain't.


I would decide based on your personal criteria. For example, if you are going to run more than 2 dozen foots you might as well get a trailer. They are big and bulky. Do you want to lug around a trailer? Do you have space for a trailer? do you have $ for a trailer? You can fit a lot of shells/silos/lesser decoys in the back of a pickup.

[IH8ATTN]

That's a good point GBuck. I'm just using my truck so space is limited. I haven't gone the trailer route and probably won't. I think some shells and a couple dozen silo's will do the trick for me. I plan to hunt with a couple guys with similar stock so there should be more than plenty decoys to make a good spread.

[wtrfowlr]

I have 4 doz. Bigfoot, 3 doz silos, 2 doz. windsocks and 6 42" shells. This assortment allows me to hunt under any conditions. I bought and old pop up tent trailer for a case of beer, gutted it and converted it in to a decoy trailer. The trailer has doors and shelves on the front to store full bodied duck decoys. The main trailer has a top and bottom. The bottom houses all my goose decoys and the top stores my layout blinds.

[Sprite]

After my first experience hunting over the Zink decoys, I'll never buy them. Balance problem fixed or not, no thanks.

I run mostly GHG and they have always held up well, and we have no problem decoying birds. We normally run 4-6 dozen fullbodies, and a few dozen shells. That said, like Sinker, I too think the bases are a total PITA.

-Nick

[jarret]

ok good to hear all opinions and yes we have a trailer so no issues there. so ill be making a drive to Canadian waterfowl supplies for some big foots and higdon wobblers possibly some DOAs if I can find some . what would you guys recommend for a call that's fairly easy to use right no I have my flambeau flute

[skeeter1]

Thats a pretty vague question, short reed or flute? What is your budget? Preferred material? There are sooooo many call manufacturers out there and alot of quality calls are available, go somewhere with a good selection and try a few with an experienced caller.

[GBuck]

ok good to hear all opinions and yes we have a trailer so no issues there. so ill be making a drive to Canadian waterfowl supplies for some big foots and higdon wobblers possibly some DOAs if I can find some . what would you guys recommend for a call that's fairly easy to use right no I have my flambeau flute

get enough decoys, learn to flag and do a good job hiding and the call doesn't matter.

not much is easier than a flammer flute. go with a short reed if you are interested in spending lots of time learning how to work the call.

[bardern]

Nick I have always thought you had a good grasp on the sport.

After my first experience hunting over the Zink decoys, I'll never buy them. Balance problem fixed or not, no thanks.

At least until now! LOL ;-)

[Sprite]

Nick I have always thought you had a good grasp on the sport.
At least until now! LOL ;-)

I knew someone was going to say something, lol!

I like their turkey decoys still! Haha.

-Nick