I have been "guiding "my 78 year old father for the past three seasons . He has hunted his entire life just never turkey hunted until I talked him into it. Now he loves it as much as deer hunting in the fall!
Every year he insists on buying or upgrading something in my arsenal. This year he insists that he wants to hunt over a full strut decoy. Now I'm not to keen on the idea but will go along with it as it will make him happy.
Let me describe our hunting setup. When you are guiding a 78 year old with bad knees, you have to find spots that are easily accessibly by vehicle and them a short walk and I mean short, about a block is the farthest he can walk. This means we are in a blind and typical set up on field edges or timber edges. We will set from before sunrise until about 10 am as that's about as long as he can sit without standing. What Full strut Decoy would you buy? Yes the DSD strutter is a dream but I don't want him spending 200.00 on something we will use for 5 days out of the year. I'd like to keep it under 80.00 if possible. I have been looking at the Bob'n tail by carrylite or Killer B by Primos. Any other ideas?? Thanks in advance for your suggestions!!! :thanks:
I had B-Mobile before my DSD. With the real fan it was a great decoy, never disappointed me.
Check this link out. This decoy is $100. I know you said $80 but for another $20 you can get this jake! Very nice decoy! DSD Jake is $149.
http://bestturkeydecoy.com/2012/01/13/new-turkey-decoys/
Full strutter under $80...Killer B. If you're willing to go the price, nothing beats the DSD strutter. Or go a little less and get the DSD jake.
You will repel a large percentage of 2 year old gobblers with a strutter.
I'd run a dsd Jake. The value of the behavioral displays you will see while hunting over that decoy will far exceed the 150 you pay for it.
Quote from: VaTuRkStOmPeR on February 15, 2012, 07:12:22 AM
You will repel a large percentage of 2 year old gobblers with a strutter.
I'd run a dsd Jake. The value of the behavioral displays you will see while hunting over that decoy will far exceed the 150 you pay for it.
I have never seen a gobbler avoid one of my strutting decoys. I did get the DSD jake for this season so I'm excited to see how the gobbler will react towards it.
In case you are not made out of money, Carrylite makes a decoy called "Pretty Boy Junior Semi-Strutting Jake". You can find it online for around $40.00 and it is very realistic. It has the same posture and head position as the MUCH more expensive 1/2 struts on the market. I changed the head coloration a little to better match what I wanted it to look like. It is made from a tough rubber-like material that can be folded up for sticking in your vest.
Check it out. :anim_25:
FullChoke
DSD are nice but the strutter weighs 1 lb. for every 10.00$ you pay.I had one in my had and said no.My buddy sent his back.
If you are set of a full strut decoy, get one you can put a real fan in and run a jake fan...
I'm not sure they still make them, but my Primos Jake Mobile with a real jake fan is the only decoy I have had consistent luck with. I think I paid $45 or so.
If you are going to go with a semi-strut jake I would go with the DSD or the new Dakota decoys jake. I was disappointed in the Carry-lite jake personally. It just doesn't hold birds in the decoys that long, but I also bow hunt turkeys so take it for what its worth. I am not a fan of full strut decoys. I have a B-Moblie and it just collects dust now.
I like the King Strut by MAD. I Have a pretty boy that I was lucky enough to have Harold Knight hand paint the head for me and I had alot of success with P.B. but he was bundlesome to carry , with king strut he folds up like any foam hen decoy and I carry him in my vest everywhere I go . Good luck to you and your dad this spring!
My dad and I use a Pretty Boy and we have had great success with it. It is a bit of a hassle to carry, but it's not bad with the included carry bag.
I have a Bmobile that I love, but I only use it when i know i am going to set up and stay a while, i have a real fan and a jake fan that i can use also, come with a carry bag that i just put my hen decoys in also to put out with him, don't use it much, but i would probably buy another one if i had to get another, if not a DSD