Having played w/ the decoy at a friends house, I wonder how many of the DSD Strutting Gobblers never made it into the field. I'm at a loss to know how you could transport the thing if you couldn't drive to your hunting spot. I routinely carry a fully body hen on my back, but by mid-season it usually stays in the vehicle.
I'm betting not many stayed at home all season, you don't pay $200 for a piece of perfect to leave it for the kids to play with....
The are huge, but the ones I know of were used ALOT. My two buddies ordered a couple before season started this spring, and they hunted with them almost every time they went. They did have a couple subordinate birds shy away from it, but for the most part they killed all their birds floggin the DSD. I won't ever be carrying one around because I rarely use the decoys I have stuffed in my vest, much less one as big as I am. But, from video evidence, they flat kill some turkeys.
I bought one and it never left my house. Just never felt like lugging it around. I plan to use it on a couple birds next year though.
Just like everything, you get what you put into it.
Is it trouble carrying the extra weight, YES.
Does it pay off in the end, YES.
God Bless,
David B.
It is larger than a hen that's for sure - In certain situations they prove to be effective, I have found that they work best on the local boss gobblers- best to safely place them way out in the open where it can be seen by the gobbler-
(http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh220/OldGobbler1/Picture248.jpg)
(http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh220/OldGobbler1/Picture251.jpg)