Decoy Querstion

[fieldt76]

Looking to replace some of my decoys and, as always, am looking for the best value. I would like some opinions on the best look, quality, and durability.

I can read reviews on the internet all day long, but value the opinions/views of this board much more than others.

Probably looking to get about 1 1/2 to 2 dozen new by the beginning of the season.

Thanks!

[arduckslayer]

Buying that small a quantity of decoys, I would go as high quality as possible. GHG decoys look awesome, and the paint is getting better and better. We use a bunch of GHG decoys and they stay out all season. The only paint problem we've seen is the bills on the greenheads fade a little, but they're out in the weather for aobut 70-80 days (season plus splits and a few days before we can pick them up at the end of the season). If you get a chance, stop in the Avery store in Memphis. Sometimes you can catch deals on brand new decoys for a few bucks a piece.

[lipsplitter39654]

i used my first dozen of dakota decoys this past year and have tried nearly all of the others. they are by far the most realistic i have ever used and survived a season of being bounced around all over the place on texas rigs. i am sold on them and will be adding some more this year. I have several dozen GHG decoys as well and they have held up very well some of them are on their 8th season.

[Rice]

GHG

[ScottyLee]

GHG

and that don't mean hot buys

[RNT]

G and H i know are good or at least used to be not sure why anyone hasnt mentioned them.. my dad has had his for over 15 years but ghg and dakota are awesome too.

[GET-N-RITE]

Piss on GHG. They look good but they don’t hold up worth a fork. I have bought 4 dozen of their full body geese, all have started flaking or were flaking upon arrival. The ducks are chipping and I am not crazy about the necks on them either. So with all that said if you want great decoys get Dakota. Hunted with them for two years now and haven’t had the 1st problem other than the heads on some of their goose decoys were a little tough to get on. I have beat the absolute hel out of their duck decoys and they still look band new and the most realistic out the 300-500 I put out. .

[Agua]

Piss on GHG. They look good but they don’t hold up worth a fork. I have bought 4 dozen of their full body geese, all have started flaking or were flaking upon arrival. The ducks are chipping and I am not crazy about the necks on them either. So with all that said if you want great decoys get Dakota. Hunted with them for two years now and haven’t had the 1st problem other than the heads on some of their goose decoys were a little tough to get on. I have beat the absolute hel out of their duck decoys and they still look band new and the most realistic out the 300-500 I put out. .

You can spray GHG with 2-3 coats of Krylon 3530 clear acrylic flat and the paint will hold up. You shouldn't have to do that, but if you want them to last, that's what ya gotta to do.

[Dux Be Us]

Hot Buys...cheap, and they work

[fieldt76]

Thanks for the input guys, keep it coming. Do the flocked heads on Dakota decoys really make that much of a difference? There's about a $20 difference between flocked and painted (per dozen).

[Dux Be Us]

Thanks for the input guys, keep it coming. Do the flocked heads on Dakota decoys really make that much of a difference? There's about a $20 difference between flocked and painted (per dozen).

I think the flocked heads look awsome...dont know if the dux care...you can buy a flocking kit and do it yourself ifn your into that kinda thing

[Anatidae]

G and H i know are good or at least used to be not sure why anyone hasnt mentioned them.. my dad has had his for over 15 years but ghg and dakota are awesome too.

I was going to say G&H........but I've come to the conclusion that the only way to really form a strong personal opinion about decoys is to try different ones until you find the ones that work best for your particular style(s) of hunting. This is too broad a subject with a wide range of prices, quality, durability, function, realism......too many variables to attempt a unequivocal evaluation.

We've considered 'bout every plastic and styrofoam decoy put on the market since Herters and Victor decoys were introduced in the 60's. When I was getting into the game, I used my brother's Herter's foam flat-bottom blocks with sparkplugs for weights on cottom crab lines. My other brother had some Victor deeks with the same weight/line set-up. They were heavy.....so I used Herter's foam decoys. They held-up fairly well but durability was an issue for walk-in hunting. So I switched to G&H in the 80's - been using G&H ever since. Guess I got lucky and didn't have to research and try but 3 different makes of decoys over the first 20 years of hunting to finally settle into one that works (for us) - G&H.

We tried a dozen GHG magnum mallards (Life-sized) just to see what the hoopla was about - didn't care for the bulk/weight and keel design......plus they are too 'tear-drop' shaped when viewed from above. I don't care whether a decoy looks hand-carved or not......all I want is something that looks like a real duck (correct profiles)....not a decoy. 'Got sucked into clever marketing.

Dakota mallard drake decoys look great 'cause of flocked heads.......but they're in another price range, altogether. If that's your bag, go for it. My wife bought some last year and she likes'em. I don't care for the 'snake'-head pose, the tie-off hook, the hen feather/paint scheme......and the fact that you have to pamper them a little (slotted bags). But 2 on a jerk string in a small timber hole is about as deadly a set-up as we've ever used.

So, to answer the original poster's question - IMO, G&H decoys offer the best value and versatility. If you're only looking to get 1-2 dozen decoys and don't mind an extra $20-30 / dozen, I'd look at the Dakotas.

[fieldt76]

This is too broad a subject with a wide range of prices, quality, durability, function, realism......too many variables to attempt a unequivocal evaluation.

Good point. Kicking around the idea of getting a dozen G&H and a dozen Dakotas and comparing them at the end of the season.

Right now, all of my decoys are standards. Probably going to step up to magnums or super-magnums. Thoughts?

[Dux Be Us]

I like a little of this and a little of that...too much of the same thing just dont look right to me. Just my opinion...not sure if the dux really care. My decoys are a collection of stuff, and, I will change up what's in the bag on occasion. I rarely use more than a coupla dozen, and, that would be late in the season...have fun with it

[GET-N-RITE]

I am not using the flocked heads on the dakota ducks. I like them but I think as much mud and abuse as I give out that they would not last in the long run