Are today’s GHG decoys good? I already ordered a dozen blue wing and they seem to be nice… I need to get some wigeon, pintail, and blue bill. The Higdon pintail and wigeon are a joke IMO, so I’d be getting them all GHG


I’ve just read around on here a few people saying how GHG dekes aren’t what they used to be. Just wanna know y’all’s thoughts before I order 3 dozen more! All the ones I’ve been/am ordering are the pro grade/life size series

https://www.wingsupply.com/avery-ghg-pro-grade-wigeon-decoys-pk-6.html

https://www.wingsupply.com/avery-ghg-life-size-pintail-decoys-pk-6.html

https://www.wingsupply.com/avery-ghg-life-size-blue-bill-decoys-pk-6.html

I have some, they are a few years old (2-3 years). I like them and have had no issues with them. they get hunted about 30 days a season. I would buy more if I needed them.

No problem with them really, GHG and Avian X would be my only buys.

Right on, thanks guys

Like I said, the blue wing I got in last week seem to be nice, but I haven’t hunted them yet. Wanted to get some seasoned input on them before I start ordering multiple dozens of them

All of them are going on Heberts Custom rigs out of Louisiana. Awesome rigs, steel coated cable. Don’t gotta waste money on Lifetime anymore

I’ve got a few dozen of various species both GHG and Avian X. The paint job on the Avian X is a bit better IMO but I have no issues buying GHG, at all. Can usually find deals at the end of season.

Hell they are on Wing Supply for a good discount, that’s where I’m buying all of them

I’m retiring all my old flambeaus and cheap rigs from when I first started and outfitting with all new dekes and steel cable rigs

I think I’m gonna repaint all my old flambeau mallards to redheads though for the diver hunts, that way I’m not pulling out cash for 10 dozen redhead dekes

I do already have a dozen Higdon redheads that I bought last year on Lifetime rigs.. the Higdons are okay, but I’d rather not buy more unless I have to

Funny you mention you’re old flambeaus. I think there’s an opinion of “decoy snobbery” among some people. I have a friend that now guides for a very large operation down south. A couple years ago we were invited to hunt at this place as more or less of a “will this be a good fit” trip. We were setup to hunt with the most senior guide. With the property size, location and conditions, it’s not uncommon for them to run 10 dozen or more decoys on a given hunt. It made me chuckle a little bit as we were setting the spread for our first hunt, the vast majority of his decoys were a mixture of old, beat up game winners and flambeaus. Not saying quality decoys don’t have their place, after all we don’t all hunt the same range conditions they do but, I’m sure you get the point.

Hunting 2 seasons with my old flambeaus, I’ve killed many of birds over them.

I hunt the coast though and about 80% of them are mallards, and I feel like hurts my success to an extent considering there’s no mallards down here.

Not only that, but it’s really just peace of mind thing I guess. I like having nice stuff when it comes to things I enjoy doing. When I first started out I got all cheap old flambeaus, some were given to me, some I got for like $25 for 3-4 dozen. All rigged up with random weights I could find on fishing line thrown in a bag.

now that I know for a fact I have a passion for waterfowl hunting and plan to continue on with it for years to come, I’m fine with dishing out big money on nice quality gear. Never understood the ideology of just unloading money on all the nicest decoys and guns for someone’s first season not knowing if they’re gonna continue on with it. I’m at that point now so now it’s time to get nice chit . Already have the gun though

Understand completely. I think everyone that has the financial means goes through that phase. Anyhow, best of luck this season.

If you saw how many decoys get shot by customers every season. It’s pretty understandable why they patch them up, instead of replacing them.

GHG makes great decoys. Especially their Oversized decoys. (only ones Ill buy) They've even got into the flocked market now. Some of my decoys are going on 5+ season and still look great.

The Pro Grade XDs are fantastic. They use the soft plastic so the paint doesn't chip. I think they even have foam filled for all you "guides" who's clients shoot up decoys.

I'm a huge fan of the soft plastic/rubbery decoys. I'm on season 4 of my first Avian X deeks and they're still in great shape.

Anyone tried the Academy soft deeks? I'm probably going to give those a shot this season or next...

Would also like to know how they hold up.

If you want longevity, nothing compares to G&H.

Not so fast Smokey! G an H are tough as a anvil and American made. All other decoys are Chinese junk and I don't mean a type of boat. They can handle Hogman and GR Elliot abuse.

I think we are saying the same thing.

I stand 100 % corrected. Why I read GHG or assumed GHG is beyond my recollection. In any case I am glad to see another American made fan. I'll buy you a beer the next time we meet.

Those are the only decoys I run. I've been hunting over some of them for 15+ years and are still in good shape. They are also extremely light if you have to walk in or run one of those lawn mower engines on your boat and can barely plain out. If I can keep Guy and Gdogg from water swatting in the spread I shouldn't have to buy another decoy for a while.

Put Guy, Gdogg, Hogman and Gr Elliot in the same blind and you won't have a decoy left to pick up. Probably the only time I'd be glad to run Chinese made crap decoys.

Bought my first set of G&H 10 years ago they still look like the day I got them. You can take them to the car wash and clean them good, that paint will not come off. On about half of mine, I let the sand out of the keel and small fish weights, very light weight decoys when you do this, great for walkin hunting and also small boats.

I want to get back into walkin hunting this season.

GHG is all I run. I've got some I've had 10 years now, heavily hunting coastal marsh almost exclusively, and they still look great.

The funny thing is they'd shoot 25 decoys and only have 10 spoonies to show for it . Makes sense now why I always got decoys for Christmas as a kid.


I thought I would be safe this year and only throw out 12 decoys and 2 mojos for teal hunting. I'll give it to Gdogg he didn't shoot my decoys but he did smack my new mojo pretty well.

Second round is on me.

If you want good decoys, that can't be sunk, and are the lightest on the market, and probably move more than any other decoy, look at lifetime. I really like mine. I also have the divebomb floaters, good looking decoy too.