Guys:
Have been hunting with Delta decoys, which are now 10 yr +/- old and pretty outdated.
Looking at Avion-X or Montana brands for a new standing hen. Is there a consensus on OG on which is best, most lifelike for most situations ?? Hunt a lot of small food plots, small clearings in the woods, woods roads, etc. Let's hear it...............
(Don't see a thread on this in last 3 months on this) THKS
NB
It's more for you than the turkey. Turkeys seem to decoy to anything when they're in the mood. Won't come to a live hen if they don't want to. Question is what do you want to watch while you're waiting for Tommy? I use AvianX because I like them. And because they work. I really don't think I could do any better with the famous DSD!
I love my Montana Miss-Purrfect.
Check out deception decoys. Better than an Avian-x and not quite as expensive as DSD but just as good or even better. Have had the Avian and every one of em has broke that thin membrane where stake holds the decoy up, thus they wont hold air.
I have never used or seen in person the montana decoys. I did have the hen & jake Avian-X decoys. I didn't like them, because it felt like a was carrying over sized basketballs. Mine were when they first came out...I think they have changed some since then, but not sure. You do have the ability to deflate them, but it was a pain in the rear to blow them up when it was time to hunt. I ended up getting DSD's. They don't seem to be as bulky/heavy as the Avian's.
Quote from: captpete on April 20, 2017, 10:58:34 AM
I have never used or seen in person the montana decoys. I did have the hen & jake Avian-X decoys. I didn't like them, because it felt like a was carrying over sized basketballs. Mine were when they first came out...I think they have changed some since then, but not sure. You do have the ability to deflate them, but it was a pain in the rear to blow them up when it was time to hunt. I ended up getting DSD's. They don't seem to be as bulky/heavy as the Avian's.
The new Avians are nothing like the old ones. They are smaller and if deflated, can be blown back up with one or two puffs of air. Yeah, we all know you need DSD to kill turkeys. Lol
Quote from: 2eagles on April 20, 2017, 11:40:35 AM
Quote from: captpete on April 20, 2017, 10:58:34 AM
I have never used or seen in person the montana decoys. I did have the hen & jake Avian-X decoys. I didn't like them, because it felt like a was carrying over sized basketballs. Mine were when they first came out...I think they have changed some since then, but not sure. You do have the ability to deflate them, but it was a pain in the rear to blow them up when it was time to hunt. I ended up getting DSD's. They don't seem to be as bulky/heavy as the Avian's.
The new Avians are nothing like the old ones. They are smaller and if deflated, can be blown back up with one or two puffs of air. Yeah, we all know you need DSD to kill turkeys. Lol
Never said you needed DSD's to kill a turkey. I just prefer them over what I experienced with Avian-X and that is what I shared.
THANKS for the replies. Helpful, for sure.
NB :thanks:
Quote from: captpete on April 20, 2017, 01:37:45 PM
Quote from: 2eagles on April 20, 2017, 11:40:35 AM
Quote from: captpete on April 20, 2017, 10:58:34 AM
I have never used or seen in person the montana decoys. I did have the hen & jake Avian-X decoys. I didn't like them, because it felt like a was carrying over sized basketballs. Mine were when they first came out...I think they have changed some since then, but not sure. You do have the ability to deflate them, but it was a pain in the rear to blow them up when it was time to hunt. I ended up getting DSD's. They don't seem to be as bulky/heavy as the Avian's.
The new Avians are nothing like the old ones. They are smaller and if deflated, can be blown back up with one or two puffs of air. Yeah, we all know you need DSD to kill turkeys. Lol
Never said you needed DSD's to kill a turkey. I just prefer them over what I experienced with Avian-X and that is what I shared.
Nope just having a little fun! It's a Chevy / Ford kinda thing. Happy hunting.
I have a DSD leading hen, and an Avain X 1/4 strutt jake...
The DSD is a better decoy no doubt. More durable, and the stake system (with the stake stored quietly in the decoy) cannot be beat.
The Avain is a very realistic decoy, but the valve on mine keeps going south. They have replaced them, but it is a pain. Customer service with Avian X is very good...
I'd also take a hard look at Deception decoys (I believe American made):
http://www.deceptionoutdoors.com/decoys/
And another premium decoy in the waterfowl world that also makes turkey decoys is RCD (I have no idea on the cost here):
https://www.facebook.com/Replica-Decoy-Company-579791938799443/
I have some RCD goose decoys, and they are the most realist goose decoy I have seen (including DSD). I cannot speak to the realism of their turkey decoys though... They are American made
Personally, I prefer a more realistic decoy... I also have no doubt that that realism is more important to my own confidence than it is to the turkey.
DSD decoys are the best only second to a taxidermy bird decoy.
I only run DSD decoys
I have a whole thread dedicated to DSD, all kinds of things I could explain about decoys, body position and setting them up "Right"
For a first "hen" I would have a DSD Upright.
You can read some here...
http://oldgobbler.com/Forum/index.php/topic,70971.0.html
MK M GOBL
I personally own two Avian X decoys and will begin replacing them this off season with DSD decoys.
DSD decoys are so much lighter and easier to carry to me...
If it were me I would spend the extra $30 and get DSD...
I have been a an avian x fan for a while but I'm tired of them falling apart .my avian x full strut gobbler fell apart the whole tail section that clamp the fan on just fell off .all three of my hens leak down .finally bought a DSD jake and will be purchasing the entire flock this season .DSD is easily worth the $$$ over avian x
DSD. Really is the most lifelike and they aren't made in China nor do they need to be blown up like Avian. Avian is decent I will say but the whole air leaks thing worries me. Idk why they blow up no one ever deflated them on purpose so why not make em hard
I've used Avian X for years....no problem. It's somewhat nice being able to deflate them so they are less bulky for packing. It takes about a minute to inflate and set them up. If I'm doing much hiking I prefer a couple miss perfect. They hardly weigh anything, set up in a flash, and can fit inside a small daypack. It's also possible to adjust the head to either feeding, upright, or laying down in front of a jake (breeding hen). I like upright hen for most situations since they are easier for turkeys to see in tall grass.
Quote from: 2eagles on April 20, 2017, 07:57:49 AM
It's more for you than the turkey. Turkeys seem to decoy to anything when they're in the mood. Won't come to a live hen if they don't want to. Question is what do you want to watch while you're waiting for Tommy? I use AvianX because I like them. And because they work. I really don't think I could do any better with the famous DSD!
Amen to that. Y'all should see the first decoy I ever bought back in the mid-80's. It looked like a cheap plastic toy-- a hard plastic shell on a stick. It worked. Now I see all these life-like decoys, handpainted by Italian midgets, and I have to laugh.
I use a miss purrfect and a primos PHD hen. The primos hen is blow up but has a fabric material around it. I love it but unfortunately they don't make it anymore. Have any of you tried the Cherokee brand? They are dirt cheap but I'm concerned about shine/glare from the sun.
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The turkeys are starting to get smarter. I hear they are starting to count legs.