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Decoys?
#7417518
01/29/19 01:33 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 9,154
KWood_TSU
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
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OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 9,154 |
I take it that most companies are about to start offering discounts, any recommendations? I passed g&h decoys in Oklahoma on my way home yesterday, and they look like decent decoys. I'm thinking maybe higdon foam filled if no one can vouch for g&h.
Amat Victoria Curam - Victory Loves Preparation
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Re: Decoys?
[Re: KWood_TSU]
#7417526
01/29/19 01:38 AM
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Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 33
pintail_ag
Light Foot
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Light Foot
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 33 |
I don’t have any yet, but all I’ve heard is that you only buy G&H decoys once and they last you a lifetime. They sell foam filled decoys as well
Last edited by pintail_ag; 01/29/19 01:44 AM.
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Re: Decoys?
[Re: KWood_TSU]
#7417573
01/29/19 02:33 AM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,483
BOBO the Clown
kind of a big deal
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kind of a big deal
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,483 |
I take it that most companies are about to start offering discounts, any recommendations? I passed g&h decoys in Oklahoma on my way home yesterday, and they look like decent decoys. I'm thinking maybe higdon foam filled if no one can vouch for g&h. Go back to G&H unless you hunt the coast then do to academy and buy a could dozen close outs
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Re: Decoys?
[Re: BOBO the Clown]
#7417582
01/29/19 02:46 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 9,154
KWood_TSU
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
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OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 9,154 |
I take it that most companies are about to start offering discounts, any recommendations? I passed g&h decoys in Oklahoma on my way home yesterday, and they look like decent decoys. I'm thinking maybe higdon foam filled if no one can vouch for g&h. Go back to G&H unless you hunt the coast then do to academy and buy a could dozen close outs I'll buy online, I just saw the place and was curious if what they produced was good or not. I would of stopped if they would of been open.
Amat Victoria Curam - Victory Loves Preparation
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Re: Decoys?
[Re: KWood_TSU]
#7417585
01/29/19 02:53 AM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,478
4Weight
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,478 |
I have all sorts but bought 6 canvasback decoys from Higdon last month the Cans rolled into them. I am sold.
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Re: Decoys?
[Re: KWood_TSU]
#7417752
01/29/19 12:47 PM
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Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,439
BDB
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,439 |
G&H, AvianX, Dakota and Higdon....close your eyes and pick one....but I'd take money into account also.
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Re: Decoys?
[Re: KWood_TSU]
#7417771
01/29/19 01:15 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,804
mohunter
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,804 |
The Higdon magnum foam filled are nice and hold up well but they are really heavy, if you have to carry them at all I would not recommend them. For weight purposes in a boat or even walking the new Dakota packables with flocked heads are really nice, I have a dozen and they look really nice on the water, way better than G&H.
Just remember, the ducks could care less what kind you buy.
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Re: Decoys?
[Re: mohunter]
#7417777
01/29/19 01:24 PM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,648
thomas_z71
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,648 |
The Higdon magnum foam filled are nice and hold up well but they are really heavy, if you have to carry them at all I would not recommend them. For weight purposes in a boat or even walking the new Dakota packables with flocked heads are really nice, I have a dozen and they look really nice on the water, way better than G&H.
Just remember, the ducks could care less what kind you buy. How long have you had the Dakota packables? We've talked about getting some sort of inflatable not so much for carry purposes but movement on the water. Do you have to inflate the packables? Seems like the rubber would crease over a long storage time.
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Re: Decoys?
[Re: KWood_TSU]
#7417791
01/29/19 01:38 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,804
mohunter
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,804 |
Only had them for a month, once you take them out of the box, they self inflate, you just plug them and they stay inflated just like any other decoy. IF you want to actually blow air in them to make them a little full you can so they blow around better but not needed at all.
Not sure if they would crease if you tried to deflate them and collapse them but even if you remove the plug they do not deflate, you would have to push them together to remove the air then put the plug back in, once you remove the plug they will return to normal shape. They are large decoys as well, like magnums.
They are soft rubber and really blow around well with a light breeze, I would think they would last a long time.
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Re: Decoys?
[Re: KWood_TSU]
#7417801
01/29/19 01:51 PM
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Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 920
DUKFVR
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 920 |
You can't go wrong with G&H.
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Re: Decoys?
[Re: mohunter]
#7417850
01/29/19 02:28 PM
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,648
thomas_z71
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 1,648 |
Only had them for a month, once you take them out of the box, they self inflate, you just plug them and they stay inflated just like any other decoy. IF you want to actually blow air in them to make them a little full you can so they blow around better but not needed at all.
Not sure if they would crease if you tried to deflate them and collapse them but even if you remove the plug they do not deflate, you would have to push them together to remove the air then put the plug back in, once you remove the plug they will return to normal shape. They are large decoys as well, like magnums.
They are soft rubber and really blow around well with a light breeze, I would think they would last a long time. Cool thanks a lot. Will keep an eye on them.
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Re: Decoys?
[Re: KWood_TSU]
#7417867
01/29/19 02:42 PM
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Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 23,830
beaversnipe
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 23,830 |
Also buy 3 pulsators and 3 swimmers
Thats another $1000
Go BIG or go home
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Re: Decoys?
[Re: DUKFVR]
#7417881
01/29/19 02:52 PM
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Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,498
Guy
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 35,498 |
You can't go wrong with G&H. It’s what I have been using for years now and happy the way they hold up and look. I have their mallards, pintails and canvasback, they look great.
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Re: Decoys?
[Re: beaversnipe]
#7418044
01/29/19 04:59 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 9,154
KWood_TSU
OP
THF Trophy Hunter
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OP
THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 9,154 |
Also buy 3 pulsators and 3 swimmers
Thats another $1000
Go BIG or go home Why not right
Amat Victoria Curam - Victory Loves Preparation
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Re: Decoys?
[Re: KWood_TSU]
#7418049
01/29/19 05:05 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,478
4Weight
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,478 |
The pulsators and dang nice but pricey like Guy said. If budget conscious look at the Mojo ripplers. The butt ups are nice and work better than the Mallard rippler.
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Re: Decoys?
[Re: KWood_TSU]
#7418135
01/29/19 06:52 PM
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,428
cannon88
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,428 |
I still think the best bang for your buck on motion decoys is TheRealDecoy.com
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Re: Decoys?
[Re: KWood_TSU]
#7418139
01/29/19 07:02 PM
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Joined: May 2017
Posts: 5,198
Smokey Bear
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: May 2017
Posts: 5,198 |
For durability G&H is the standard and they still look pretty good. I don't like having to baby my gear so I rate them as the first choice for duck decoys for my water spread. Field decoys don't take near the beating and tend to hold up better. If you buy into decoys needing extreme realism, field spreads will hold up better over time. The only decoys that I want flocked are full body geese.
Smokey Bear---Lone Star State.
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Re: Decoys?
[Re: cannon88]
#7418302
01/29/19 09:10 PM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,478
4Weight
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,478 |
I still think the best bang for your buck on motion decoys is TheRealDecoy.com Will check those out. Thanks.
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Re: Decoys?
[Re: cannon88]
#7418317
01/29/19 09:25 PM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 4,011
68A
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 4,011 |
I still think the best bang for your buck on motion decoys is TheRealDecoy.com After research, my money went with the higdon xs swimmer. It’s more expensive but I prefer the bilge system over a prop.
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Re: Decoys?
[Re: 68A]
#7418367
01/29/19 09:58 PM
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 11,536
rickym
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 11,536 |
I still think the best bang for your buck on motion decoys is TheRealDecoy.com After research, my money went with the higdon xs swimmer. It’s more expensive but I prefer the bilge system over a prop. The real decoy is selling for $55 right now. I’d buy one for the hell of it...opps, I ordered it.
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Re: Decoys?
[Re: 68A]
#7418395
01/29/19 10:30 PM
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,428
cannon88
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,428 |
I still think the best bang for your buck on motion decoys is TheRealDecoy.com After research, my money went with the higdon xs swimmer. It’s more expensive but I prefer the bilge system over a prop. It's really bulky, and currently about 3x the price. Yikes! I would like to see how it does in the field though. Does the battery keep a charge very long?
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Re: Decoys?
[Re: cannon88]
#7418439
01/29/19 11:10 PM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 879
WalkSoftly
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 879 |
I still think the best bang for your buck on motion decoys is TheRealDecoy.com After research, my money went with the higdon xs swimmer. It’s more expensive but I prefer the bilge system over a prop. It's really bulky, and currently about 3x the price. Yikes! I would like to see how it does in the field though. Does the battery keep a charge very long? I'd be curious to know what the actual battery life is on the the Higdon xs. I did purchase one of the TheRealDecoy "Natural Drake Mallard Swimmers" earlier this year and it does look great on nice calm water! However, the battery life on them is terrible. They are advertised to run for up to 5 hrs on a set of batteries, but the most I got was about 2 hours, regardless of which battery I used (tried Duracell, Energizer, Interstate as well as rechargeables).
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Re: Decoys?
[Re: cannon88]
#7418489
01/30/19 12:06 AM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 4,011
68A
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 4,011 |
I still think the best bang for your buck on motion decoys is TheRealDecoy.com After research, my money went with the higdon xs swimmer. It’s more expensive but I prefer the bilge system over a prop. It's really bulky, and currently about 3x the price. Yikes! I would like to see how it does in the field though. Does the battery keep a charge very long? Mine ran $150, compared to 80-90 for the real decoy. Battery life is claimed at 7 hrs, never ran for that long. Ran for 4 hrs without issue. Lithium battery.
Last edited by 68A; 01/30/19 12:07 AM.
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Re: Decoys?
[Re: WalkSoftly]
#7418569
01/30/19 01:20 AM
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Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,428
cannon88
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,428 |
I I did purchase one of the TheRealDecoy "Natural Drake Mallard Swimmers" earlier this year and it does look great on nice calm water! However, the battery life on them is terrible. They are advertised to run for up to 5 hrs on a set of batteries, but the most I got was about 2 hours, regardless of which battery I used (tried Duracell, Energizer, Interstate as well as rechargeables). That sucks. Maybe you got a dud? They do have good customer service, bet they’d swap it for you. I haven’t experienced that, most of mine last around the 5 hour mark at least. The flutters I usually don’t have to change all season. Some swimmers Ive had go longer than 5 hours. I do take the batteries out after each hunt though (and put back in the same ones on the next hunt.) I run Duracell.
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