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My decoys were some cheap ones I bought and do not seem to have much of a realistic look to them.
So I am thinking of getting a better set of decoys that look somewhat real.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated and thank you !

Well it depends on your budget, just my opinion but three options I would go with starting from cheapest to most expensive in what I have used in the past.

1. Flextone decoys are very good especially for the price. They are hard bodies though as the color comes off a little easier but still quality decoy

2. Avian X. I currently have and use these , they are very good and they are inflatable and deflatable. They are very very lifelike. Only downside is since they are inflatable they can spring a leak and you have to be careful you don't hit the decoy when you shoot. I had a laydown hen that sprung a leak on me for no reason and fixed it with show goo.

3. Dave Smith Decoys. I currently have two of them and are the most realistic decoys and the paint stays on the best. They are great decoys and can take some use. They are also hard bodied and the most expensive.

If you have any more questions feel free to ask. Hope this helped brother and stay safe.

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The ones already mentioned and i will add the Higdon decoys ...

Roger's has the three pack Photoform dekes 77% off right now.  They work ok amd look pretty good. 

Deception Decoys have worked well for us when we decide to carry some.

I use Avian X and they work well.  Have not tried Dave Smith.  The question is how realistic do they need to be once you get a quality decoy.  Are they critically evaluating the decoy or are they just looking for a realistic turkey imitation that would make the sound they are hearing.  Look forward to personal input from the group.

It's the silhouette and posture of the decoys that attract the gobblers / hens .... I've seen them work with very little calling ....

I don't use them, but If I was going to I'd probably use The Primos Lil'gobstopper combo.   I like the idea that they are smaller in size than other decoys, something like 20-30% smaller.   But my advice on
decoys is worth about what you paid for it.

Dave Smith are good decoys but are cumbersome and a little heavy to carry especially if you run and gun. S

DSD, pay once cry once and be done with it.  I hunt a lot of field birds and have a DSD upright hen that I have had for 12 years, I also have a 3/4 strut jake that I have had for 9 years.  Neither has been repainted and they look damn near as good as the day I bought them

Another vote for DSD decoys here. They are second to none and the detail is unreal.  I purchased mine back in 2017 and they still look as good as the day I purchased them. I don't always use them but the times I have ,I have had some fun hunts.

Quote from: 310 gauge on May 06, 2023, 06:26:22 PM
Deception Decoys have worked well for us when we decide to carry some.

For us also. Normally only use when hunting with the kids. Had one for 4-5 years now and still looking great!

I like how my Flextone Combo has attached stakes that fold into the decoys for storage. Never have to worry about losing them.


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For what its worth, heres my opinion. Short of a taxidermy bird in a field the DSD is about as close as it gets. If I hunted blinds on a field edge and just carried them once, thats what I would do. The collapsible Montana decoys is what my buddy carries in his vest and for a running and gunning decoy set up, it think its the best option. Take it with a grain of salt from a guy that doesn't carry decoys.

I agree with the DSD. Even running and gunning I can still carry a hen with a stake and it's not that bad. Would a collapsible work better that was as realistic looking as the DSD? You bet, but haven't found that yet. I still use a vest with a bigger pouch in the rear, so I could put a hen and stake in there for running if need be.

I've got an Avian X jake and a couple of hens I've used for 7 years.  The jakes been hit several times (he rattles) but I shoot some fix-a-flat in him and he's good to go.  Honestly I don't think decoys need to be super lifelike to be effective.

Buy once, cry once. Avian-X HDR or DSD's are the only way to go.

I run Avian-X HDR series, they're lighter weight and a hard body that can't deflate like the LCD series decoys. The DSD have a "self-healing" A.C.E material and can take a broad head or flyer pellets. Both are very good options, and while they're expensive, they'll likely be the last turkey decoys you ever have to buy.

Quote from: guesswho on May 06, 2023, 06:51:01 PM
I don't use them, but If I was going to I'd probably use The Primos Lil'gobstopper combo.   I like the idea that they are smaller in size than other decoys, something like 20-30% smaller.   But my advice on
decoys is worth about what you paid for it.

I 2nd this. Very seldom use decoys because they have hurt me more than helped. But I just purchased this Hen and Jake combo for around $50. I also like the idea of smaller. The jake looks very good and the hen looks good enough. Bought them for field use at the house. Probably end up collecting dust but for 50 bucks it will be fun to try with.

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230509/709c5074e1c75a615c656e4e73977938.jpg)
DSD. Yes they may be pricey but this Jake mounted this DSD for over 2 hours and no damage.


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I'm an Avian X guy.  A little heavy but very realistic and they work period!  I've been looking at the Higdon Decoys.  They aren't as pricey and realistic as well but hard bodied (not collapsible if you want to run and gun).  Flextone maybe.  DSD Pricey.  Plenty of REAL Decoys out there, the question is how much do you want to Shell out. 

The wife got into turkey hunting last year and bought the Higdon's and I must say that they look really good in the fields.

Primos Photoform, proven killers.....super light, easiest to carry....

I'll cast a vote for DSD. They are a little cumbersome but they're the best looking decoy out there. I won't lie. There's been a few times I've taken a little nap and when I wake up a get a start thinking there's a bird standing in front of me when I see my dsd.

Quote from: rakkin6 on May 06, 2023, 12:42:12 PM
Dave Smith Decoys. I currently have two of them and are the most realistic decoys and the paint stays on the best. They are great decoys and can take some use. They are also hard bodied and the most expensive.

Agreed. I use them when I hunt with decoys, and the gobblers love them. Well worth the money.

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Quote from: Will on May 08, 2023, 08:52:49 PM
DSD. Yes they may be pricey but this Jake mounted this DSD for over 2 hours and no damage.

Funny you mention that. My best friend came up to hunt with me. I let him borrow my DSD leading hen. He had a jake come in, strutted for the deke, mounted it, then hung around the decoy for the next 2 hours.

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DSD are the best in my opinion, but there are always drawbacks. They are heavier and more expensive. I am ordering a couple more, lol. I want what works. The 3/4 strut Jake has thinned a few gobblers out in my area. Z

The Avian X have been good for me, whenever I use them. I do use the cheap foam ones in the woods sometimes before it greens up just to hold a tom's attention long enough for me to get on him. I like the light weight.  In open space, I use a Avian hen and an old B Mobile from Primos.  They have aided in some outstanding "shows" and hunts through the years. Been the death of several big toms

Avian x aren't what they used to be since their manufacturing went over seas. Had another one break this spring. The tube came loose inside. I'll stick with quality made in the USA dsd decoys myself.

A DSD jake will work great by itself.  Carrying two or more of those dekes might be a pain, but hauling one around ain't too bad.

 Save your money and further your craft. Decoys are not needed.

I rarely use decoys but use Photoform when I do. I hate heavy decoys. I did buy and Avian last year and thought it was garbage. Super heavy and wouldn't hold air. Sounds like a common defect with them.

Love my DSD Jake and pretty much always know where the Tom will end up when coming in. They ignore my cheaper hen decoy and go right to the jake. My wife is buying my the upright hen for Father's Day so I'm looking forward to using that as well. Sometimes a blind on a field edge with decoys is fun. When I'm moving I'll leave them behind.

Quote from: WV Flopper on May 31, 2023, 10:49:18 PM
Save your money and further your craft. Decoys are not needed.

I hear this a lot.  On my home turf, it's mostly true.  But this is a big country with lots of different terrain.  You go out west in particular, and it's wide open.  Decoys can be a tremendous help.  And in the big ag lands of the midwest, they probably get used a lot more than in a hardwood forest.

Grind decoys are really good, buddy on here tipped me off too them. They are typically 50-60 bucks a pop, Dicks had them for 29.99 earlier in the week!

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Quote from: Beards and Hooks on June 03, 2023, 10:30:10 AM
Grind decoys are really good, buddy on here tipped me off too them. They are typically 50-60 bucks a pop, Dicks had them for 29.99 earlier in the week!

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They're still on sale: https://www.dickssportinggoods.com/f/decoys?pageNumber=0&filterFacets=X_BRAND%3AThe%20Grind

Decoys worked great for my daughter's bird this year, but definitely cost me one. I'm not sure if I want to buy any more or really use them other than early season.

With using decoys, it's all about your setup and your guns capability. In setting your decoys up close, you have to think, this gun and choke shoots a baseball tight pattern at 25 yards or less... So a lot of the time it's not the decoy that caused you not to kill the bird, it's how you set up the decoy to begin with and knowing the capability of your gun at further ranges.  Decoy setup is most of the problem / not the decoy fault.... but there are always a few exceptions in my opinions

Quote from: Tail Feathers on June 03, 2023, 10:01:06 AM

Quote from: WV Flopper on May 31, 2023, 10:49:18 PM
Save your money and further your craft. Decoys are not needed.

I hear this a lot.  On my home turf, it's mostly true.  But this is a big country with lots of different terrain.  You go out west in particular, and it's wide open.  Decoys can be a tremendous help.  And in the big ag lands of the midwest, they probably get used a lot more than in a hardwood forest.

I don't really use them, but they were essential in my success late season KS on the edges of crop fields.


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Quote from: Greg Massey on June 03, 2023, 11:02:05 AM
With using decoys, it's all about your setup and your guns capability. In setting your decoys up close, you have to think, this gun and choke shoots a baseball tight pattern at 25 yards or less... So a lot of the time it's not the decoy that caused you not to kill the bird, it's how you set up the decoy to begin with and knowing the capability of your gun at further ranges.  Decoy setup is most of the problem / not the decoy fault.... but there are always a few exceptions in my opinions

The one it cost me was coming until he saw my wimpy Jake decoy (funky chicken), at which point he went the opposite direction. ???????????

Quote from: bcuda on May 06, 2023, 12:33:24 PM
My decoys were some cheap ones I bought and do not seem to have much of a realistic look to them.
So I am thinking of getting a better set of decoys that look somewhat real.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated and thank you !

What type of hunting are you doing (i.e. field hunting, hunting dense woods, hunting open hills, etc.)?

I have a DSD (Leading Hen), an Avian Jake, a Funky Chicken, and several other decoys that have been sold or given away.  I choose the leading hen because it works great as a stand-up decoy or a lay-down breeder (in front of a jake).  Live hens seem seem especially aggressive towards it.

Hunting the woods, I often carry the DSD hen, but rarely use her any more...  Were I to feel I need a jake decoy in the woods, I would use the DSD hen and the Funky Chicken due to being far easier to carry and move quickly.

Were I to hunt a field or pasture, I would likely use the DSD with the Avian Jake...  Were I to hunt fields/pastures more frequently, I would likely consider investing in some more decoys...  The longer I have hunted, the less appealing field and pasture birds are to me.

As my hunting styles have evolved, I use decoys less and less...  A lot tougher to make quick decisive movements, and honestly, there is more satisfaction to fooling these birds with a call only...  And the older I get, the more lazy I am, and the less appealing carrying around a decoy is.

I have never killed a bird over the Funky Chicken...  Used it and had birds whomp on it good on multiple occasions, but for various reasons could not, or decided not to shoot.

Any time a jake decoys is used, I feel like you will get one of two reactions...  Birds coming in hard to address it, or seeing it and going the other way (Funky Chicken or Avian Jake).  It either works or anti-works.

There are currently several premium realistic decoy companies.

Avian.  Advantages are that they are collapsible, disadvantages is that they will inevitably leak.
DSD: Very realistic, self-contained stake, hen is very light and easy to carry, the jake is heavier and cumbersome (compared to Avian).

Replica Decoy Company (RDC) and Deception Decoys have come along in recent years to compete with DSD.  They appear similar in quality of durability and appearance to DSD.

I would hazard that DSD, RDC, and Deception decoys would last the rest of my hunting career, and likely my childrens'.  Avian will eventually need replacement.

I don't normally use decoys, but I guess every turkey hunter needs a set. I have a hen and Jake form lucky duck and just recently purchased a lay down hen from avian x.(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20230603/c10bbb9ba4b4e50f1b6b5c23f7608ba8.jpg)


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I've been using the avian x lcd decoys for as long as they've been out. They are great decoys.I actually prefer the original avian x hens(circa 2010) as they are bigger in size than the new lcds.  Only issue is they are prone to leak eventually, but theyve all been easy to fix. Tons of good decoy options on the market nowadays.DSD, higdon, avian x lcd & hdr,flextone, dakota, I'd use any of them.  I actually just got a higdon jake on clearance that  looks good and weighs 2 pounds less than my avianx jake. 

If you have the money Dave Smith 3/4 strut jake and lay down hen haven't been outdone in my experience