If you had to pick one decoy brand what would it be?

I know this has been talked about multiple times. My main criteria is realism and durability.

From research I am thinking Dakota Decoys. I have heard good things on Avian X and I get a good deal on Tanglefree but no exposure to them. Opinions? Looking at floaters and full body duck decoys

G and H for durability for sure.

I like the Avian X stuff and the Tanglefree mallards

Plastic i like Flambeau, first choice is cork.

Realism is an over rated and over thought out issue for duck decoys. Geese and cranes are an entirely different game.

G&H for the longevity out of current market plastic deeks. I have some 25 year old flambeaus that are still ticking. The new breed of chinese junk is just junk

Agreed

Higdon

Why higdon?

G and H are durable and American made. I've hunted over them when I was a guest on a hunt. We hammered the birds, but I kept thinking how goofy they looked.

However, I stopped and talked to some other hunters on my walk back in one morning and they had avian x decoys out, and I couldn't stop staring at them because they looked so good, and rode perfectly in the water.

I won a bunch of Greenhead Gear decoys so that's what I use and they are ok, but I'm not sure I would recommend them

I think realism is overrated so durability is what i go for. I went with avian x. Very durable. (but they do look good also) 2 seasons slinging them around and they are fine. I do not use slot bags either. Your budget will determine what brand you go with. I know of some guides who detest the latest and greatest in decoys because of the price now days. But $60 to them for a half dozen is not the same for me or you....or maybe it is for you. Like I said, your budget is different than mine or someone's else. If price is no concern Avian or dakota will be hard to beat.

Avian X

I've got both Dakota and AvianX and without a doubt Dakotas are far more realistic in both looks and movement with wind. AvianX decoys look pretty good (not as good as Dakota) but they don't seem to react to wind as well. I'm sold on Dakotas.

G & H hands down!

In the last two years I have sold off some 300-400 decoys. Some I have had for 30 years. I am switching to all G and H. The realism part is what I don't really understand. I see a little of what your talking about in the mallards. The redheads, pintails and widgeon are outstanding looking. I think the pintails and widgeons are some of the best looking on the market. Honestly it doesn't matter. A bird coming in at 40 miles per hour will not be able to distinguish the little details.

Full Curls

Combine that with some of y'alls calling and you'll see less birds

Wooden blocks for me.

I ain't carrying no heavy wood deeks to only have to carry them back to the truck, you must be a healthy boy

For full bodys, GHG is the only way to go. IMO, motion is the most important think for full bodys. There are others that are a little more durable or realistic, but GHG is the only brand that gets any movement in less than 15 mph wind. Dakota, Avian X, and Hidgon make good looking fullbodys, but you need a tornado to get any consistent movement out of them.

As for floaters, I would go Avian X or Dakota. maybe a bird flying by at 40 can't tell the difference, but a flock circling 3 times at 60 yds sure can. Realism certainly isn't the most important thing, but it makes a little difference. Location, concealment, and motion are far more important, but all else being equal, the guy with more realistic decoys is going to shoot a few more birds.

That what Barney Who is for.

Well there you got a point.

Used to use GHG and swore by them for a lot of years. the last few years though have been noticing that the quality of the paint has gotten very poor and the durability of the decoy as well. I have switched to Avian X and love them. Yes, they are a little more expensive, but it's because they are worth it.

I cain't afford a bird boy, I am thinking of buying me some of those inflatable decoys, I could probably stuff 3-4 dozen in my pockets

Yep my 10 year old ghg's look better than my 3 month old ones as far as paint sticking.

The only decoys I have now that arent G and H are the GHG 3/4 bodies. They have held very well. When I go to the north country I consider the GHG an essential gear for where I am hunting. In the slotted bags I put a float decoy in the belly of the 3/4 decoy and then both into the slot. 2 dozen per bag, 2 bags is plenty and sometimes too much depending on the river.

You cannot be more right about this. I love me some GHG full body and the GHG shells work really well also.

I guess all of my hunts only produce STOOPID birds then. I shot these in a field on my last hunt with the keels stabbed down in the dirt. As stated, the realism on duck decoys is for the buyer. Those birds circled more than a couple times.

I never said you can't kill birds without top of the line decoys. I've shot plenty of ducks over 30 year old water keels with hardly any paint on them. I said that all things being equal, realistic decoys can make a difference.

Nice pile by the way.

pato where'd you get a whoopin crane permit?

Naw, you mis ID'ed another one. That's a Double Crested cormorant and a lesser one at that. Got a depredation tag.

I guess I been lucky with my cartoon G&H decoys all year.

Say what?

Hmmm., I've never seen a cormorant look like a sandhill.....

You clearly don't know what a Sandhill or Double Crested cormorant look like.

Dakota

I must have missed the pic.

If you say realism doesn't matter then why would durability, if the paint comes off then they aren't realistic yet you spend 4x as much on decoys that hold paint?

Well it sure looked like a Sandhill to me. What's clear is the evidence is now deleted....I guess we'll never know.

Its the stay afloat part that we are speaking of. Chinese deeks bust keels, loose chunks when strafed.

Pic was of 4 mallards, 2 pintails and a lesser sandhill. I realized that posting pics was a topwater barney move and removed it. Carry on


Edited to add: I wanna grow up to be like the Beav

Dakota are hard to beat.
They look the most realistic out there.
They look beefy.

Foam filled

Look good

American made

Great customer service if you have a problem you talk to a person on the phone and they mail you what you need.

I had a pulsator short out and they sent me a new timer and bilge pump. I lost the heads off 2
Decoys and when I called to order some more they sent me 4 replacement heads free of charge.

I run avian X and Dakotas, mallard decoys it's Dakotas and it's not even close! Now the rest of my decoys are all avian X! Def love the X's pintails an gadwalls! And I do have avian X mallards but beside the Dakotas it's huge difference! Now durability I love on the X's!

I did not know Higdon was still made in America. That's good to know.

I'm going with Dakotas next year. Realism may not matter to the ducks but it gives me a little extra confidence in my spread. Especially sine I'll be spending a lot more time in the great state of kansas.

Heck they may not be. I'm not sure, but their customer service is great.

Higdons for me, they are solid but heavy if do not boat in.

I'm sold on ghg. It's all I have and the weighted keels are awesome. They've gone through a couple years of real hard use and are still looking good. I'm sure there's others that are more realistic, but I'm on a budget and for the money, I don't think they can beat. If you're only buying a couple dozen, spend the money on something better. If you're like me and need to have a diver spread of 60 (and growing to 150 by next year) and a puddler spread of 54, spending $140 a dozen isn't doable