Was sitting here contemplating. I've been reading here and there about the avian x decoys leaking. My question, if we knew we were gonna leave em blown up, could we fill them with an expandable foam? It wouldn't matter if you shot it , kicked it, etc. thoughts ???
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I have a hen that has been leaking. I was thinking about trying to put a can of fix-a-flat in it. Anybody else done anything to try and fix leaks?
Spurs that's a good idea too. If you want to be able to do that
What I am really thinking I guess is permaeyly foam filling the decoy. I love how they look and kind of wish tey were a hard body. ?? I' don't know. It might work. Have done it with waterfowl decoys and it makes them battle proof. They never sink, leak etc. you ca beat the crap out of em and you don't have to worry. I was just thinking like I always do about incorporating that "beat to crap" mentality into some turkey decoys. If you filled them, they would always have there shape, never have to worry about air, and it would add basically no physical weight.
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Wait. Avian x decoys are blow up?? I was thinking about getting some until reading this. Not fond of having to air up decoys everytime I get set up. Guess I'll stick with the dsd
I've thought about the same thing. Interested if anyone has done it.
I have used "Great stuff" expandable foam I got at lowes it works good hardly any weight added...just be careful to not over expand it
Should work... be careful what type of foam you put in. The very expandable type may split the seams.
Quote from: Tomfoolery on April 27, 2016, 10:13:10 AM
Wait. Avian x decoys are blow up?? I was thinking about getting some until reading this. Not fond of having to air up decoys everytime I get set up. Guess I'll stick with the dsd
I've used these decoys for over 2 years and i've never had to add much air after blowing them up the first time. But i leave mine blow up all the time..
Probably a stupid question. But will they fold up while aired up?
Quote from: Tomfoolery on April 27, 2016, 01:27:28 PM
Probably a stupid question. But will they fold up while aired up?
Not really..
My breeder is leaking... Has anyone fixed them without filling them with foam and what seems to be be the best way to go about doing it ?
Personally I don't understand why anyone would want to lug a full size decoy around. I prefer one I can slip in the back of my vest for the odd occasion I use it.
Quote from: Happy on April 27, 2016, 04:17:49 PM
Personally I don't understand why anyone would want to lug a full size decoy around. I prefer one I can slip in the back of my vest for the odd occasion I use it.
Happy all of us don't hunt the same way.. that's what makes hunting great..remember...Have you got that bird yet ?
The potential issues I see with permanent foam filling are:
1) Expansion and contraction with altitude changes... I have to under-inflate mine when hunting the foothills, cause the decoy expands as I increase in altitude.
2) Expansion and contraction with temperature changes. As soon as the season is done, I pull the valve so that the decoy will not pop in the heat of the summer. On cold spring days, I have to add more air...
3) Weight... I would think that any foam that would be a permanent solution would add considerable weight (and the light weight was a primary consideration in my purchase of the decoys).
4) The foam itself contracting or losing shape over time, and then not being able to add more due to blocking the valve system.
Oh I agree that we don't hunt the same way. This wasn't a bash on decoys at all. I just don't understand why people would want the pain of lugging around full sized decoys. And negative on the bird. Haven't hunted this week at all yet.
Seems like alot of money spent on something that has a tendency to leak air. I have cherokee sports dekes with the taxidermy heads and leaking has never been an issue. Much more affordable and really compact.
Quote from: Happy on April 27, 2016, 04:31:00 PM
Oh I agree that we don't hunt the same way. This wasn't a bash on decoys at all. I just don't understand why people would want the pain of lugging around full sized decoys. And negative on the bird. Haven't hunted this week at all yet.
Happy, I have always enjoyed your posts...
Speaking for myself, I am often hunting close to the truck in the morning, and frequently hunting a more open area... I have no issue carrying a couple decoys a couple hundred yards for a more realistic setup... A good jake and hen (as I have often had birds hang up on just a hen). The birds are getting a good look at these decoys from a long ways off, and I do believe that realism probably helps and at worst does not hurt.
If/when I do not kill that bird with my initial setup, I head back to the truck, and put the decoys away... When I run & gun, I generally like to set up in an area where the bird has to come looking for me... I do not want to deal with quickly trying to set up a decoy, nor carrying a decoy, and plus, I plain feel that the majority of the time looking for a love-lorn bird later in the morning, that a decoy can be counter-productive... Once they see that single hen decoy they strut around and wait for her instead of continuing forward motion looking for her...
I gotcha. I guess I just haven't been convinced that turkeys are that particular on decoys myself. From my limited experience it doesn't take much to impress them. By all means if it's what you like then go with it. This wasn't meant at all as an attack on decoys. I just would sacrifice detail for portability all day long myself.
Quote from: Happy on April 27, 2016, 05:21:12 PM
I gotcha. I guess I just haven't been convinced that turkeys are that particular on decoys myself. From my limited experience it doesn't take much to impress them. By all means if it's what you like then go with it. This wasn't meant at all as an attack on decoys. I just would sacrifice detail for portability all day long myself.
this right here. you don't have to have a ultra real looking decoy to fool these birds. the old feather flex foam decoys doesn't look to great to me but they are effective. remember they have a walnut size brain and they don't compute that a decoy looks fake. watch them strut around a motionless jake decoy that does not move and then they attack it. still the decoy doesn't do anything , but yet they are still convinced that they are whipping a real jake lol. they have no reasoning skills.
We'll fellers I would agree with all your points.
Do I need real good lookin decoys? Heck no.
I don't use em Much , but I like to have some
I still have some old foam feather flex and gen 1 Cherokee sports. They all work. I agree.
Midway usa has all avian x on sale for 55 bucks ad free shipping. I love the stake ad bag they come with, so in my mind I justified them as costing 30 bucks, because the bag and stake are worth it to me
I have access to some taxidermy foam that is use for making forms. Also though about some great stuff
Doubt I do either. I was just curious if y'all had done so.
Goo luck to Everbody this year
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If you use the great stuff brand foam be sure to get the type that is specified for doors and windows, it has minimal expansion properties. The regular may blow your seams out.
2015 Old Gobbler contest Champions
If it's leaking from an actual hole like mine was, I used shoe goo. Sealed up great.
very interested in this. mine has started leaking very fast. it wasn't doing it a couple of weeks ago. noticed it this weekend, so it has just happened. not very happy as I just bought it last year. when season goes out, I will try and figure something out to keep the air in. I had already thought about the great stuff foam. need to find out were it is leaking first? jesse
Quote from: highcj5 on April 27, 2016, 09:03:08 PM
very interested in this. mine has started leaking very fast. it wasn't doing it a couple of weeks ago. noticed it this weekend, so it has just happened. not very happy as I just bought it last year. when season goes out, I will try and figure something out to keep the air in. I had already thought about the great stuff foam. need to find out were it is leaking first? jesse
I bought one last season and it leaked... I forgot to return it before the warranty, but I emailed them anyways... They sent me a letter of apology for my inconvenience and a return shipping label with a new decoy, and told me to keep the extra bag and stake for my inconvenience...
I would email them and tell them of your dilemma. They might just send you a new decoy with no questions asked.
My feeder had a slow leak and I put some Slime in it, blew it up, shook it and no more leak.
Alot of hassel for a decoy that costs what they do. Wonder when my Dave Smiths will start leaking.
Quote from: snapper1982 on April 28, 2016, 01:16:48 PM
Alot of hassel for a decoy that costs what they do. Wonder when my Dave Smiths will start leaking.
i agree. I'm not knocking dsd. I personally just do not use decoys enough to spend 120 bucks on a hen decoy. They look amazing and I congratulate on your terrific purchase. Like I said. I found the avians for 55 bucks with free shipping. That is les than half of that dsd, so I got 2 for 1. I was jst wandering if I used my imagination a little, if I couldn't just put some foam in one and have 2 permanent "hard body" decoys that I paid the same price for 2 as compared to 1 dsd.
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Quote from: snapper1982 on April 28, 2016, 01:16:48 PM
Alot of hassel for a decoy that costs what they do. Wonder when my Dave Smiths will start leaking.
I'll take them off your hands before they do brother. :TooFunny:
Actually, soon as season is over, I'm getting rid of all my decoys and getting a set of the Montana 3D decoys.
I fixed mine by inflating them and searching for the leak with soapy water. Once I found the leak just put a dab of gasket maker, or some type of sealant and letting it dry. Seems to be working, might not last forever though.
Quote from: Happy on April 27, 2016, 04:17:49 PM
Personally I don't understand why anyone would want to lug a full size decoy around. I prefer one I can slip in the back of my vest for the odd occasion I use it.
I have had both and have finally come to the same conclusion. Same feather flex that I got in the '90's still works. Doesn't look as pretty but works.
I have avian x dekes and love them. I had a leak about a week ago in one of mine and I could not even blow it up. I immediately realized that the white "pvc looking" valve had come unglued. I just took some primer and put it around the circle on the bottom of the decoy to reconnect and it works fine now.
thanks for the info Marc. when season goes out I will give it a try.
I don't use dekes, but I had a pinhole on the side of a pair of muck boots that I patched with a dab of Goop. So far it's held through a deer season, rabbit season, and now turkey season. If it held through the stuff I stomp through in rabbit season, I would think it would plug a small leak in your decoy. Just trying to offer a cheap option that you may have on hand.
I use both DSD & AX...I find the AX jake easier to travel with...DSD hens travel fine, just remember to pack the metal stake in checked luggage...
I like AX, but if/when my AX jake starts leaking, I might just go all DSD...
I will give AX every chance to remedy though...
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Quote from: trkehunr93 on April 27, 2016, 04:49:23 PM
Seems like alot of money spent on something that has a tendency to leak air. I have cherokee sports dekes with the taxidermy heads and leaking has never been an issue. Much more affordable and really compact.
I am almost scared to use the gobbler because it looks so lifelike.
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My Cherokees are 5-6 years old, but I only use them 1-2 times per season. Its not my style. Mike