Looking to tap into your thoughts on some turkey decoys fellas. This will be the first year i am going all trad on turkeys, and naturally the closer the better. I am a very experienced turkey hunter having tagged out every year since i was 7 years old, (i am 22)- but never with trad gear. I am going to try it this year, and know that upgrading my dekes will be a great help so i have a question or two.
1. I have narrowed the search down to Avainx or DSD. Of those two which do you prefer? The DSDs look a little better but good lordy how pricey, i want a jake and hen so its either $150 for the avian pair or $250. What do you think?
2. Setting up in the mornings, i will be in a ground blind, but running and gunning will make that difficult during the day, any ideas on how to get my bow back out of a blind? i was thinking maybe one of those stake up blinds?
Any help will be much appreciated!
Dalton
Just looked at both yesterday. They both are excellent dekes. IMO the Avain has a better looking head. The DSD a better looking body.
Neither one are what I would call packable. Yes you can carry them but neither are very collapsible.
I would have no problem using either one. Yet I will probably buy the Avian's because of the price.
They are both light years ahead of the foam and inflatable decoys that are out there already.
bretto
Been using Avian X dekes for the past 3 seasons with excellent results. Had to shoot one big tom to save the jake after he attacked and broke the stake. Also, I run a length of fishing line to the jake deke leg so I can impart a little motion from inside the blind. Good hunting!
I was in your shoes about 2 months ago, as I like to plan way ahead of time.
I went with the DSD's I personally think they look more like a real turkey than an Avian. Also, the DSD is virtually indestructible.
The DSD's are pricey, but If I'm gonna spend $80.00 on a decoy I'm gonna spend the extra 40.00 and get the one I really want, but that's just me.
I'm Not sure what you mean by " get my bow back out of my blind"? I want be doing any running and gunning. I'll be doing the ol' waiting and praying method, even if it takes all day.
The ground blind I bought was the barronet big mike extra tough blind. It's very roomy and the windows zip down plenty low. They were hard to find 2 months ago probably even harder now. Good luck to ya!
The new Avian X hens are amazingly lifelike. I use the avian X hens ( a breeder and a feeder ) with a DSD half strut jake.
Been hunting turkeys for nearly 40 years and have.never been more confident in a decoy spread.
As for running and gunning outside the blind a ghillie suit and that same decoy spread is what I would do.
Me, I stay in the blind. I'd love to run and gun more but my available acres to hunt and decreased number of birds dictate staying put and not risk spooking birds.
DSD. That is all.
lol
Set them close and get READY
I have two Avian X hens that I use. And just purchased a DSD strutter I plan on using this year. You won't be disappointed with either one. One thing about the DSD is that it's made in the USA. But both are great.
DSD ... made in the U.S.A. by Oregon hunters!
Dakota Extreme is another great very realistic decoy to take into consideration.
Another vote for DSD
I own a pair of Avians and the 1 thing I like about them better Than the DSD is that they compress down to make them a little easier to pack which might make them a better choice for run and gun tactics!
Steve
I use Avian-X, but either would serve you well.
Now, I look at decoys the same that I look at camo and como and clothing. an inexpensive decoy will work just as good as a higher priced one. as with everything else in the hunting industry, "more realistic is the thing you need to kill a turkey...." Its marketing. I've killed well over 100 turkeys with both gun and bow in over 30 years of hunting them. I've been using the same flambue decoys for 20 years. They work public and private land birds.
You're set up is what is going to make the difference. this is my set up that I used for Osceola's. two hens walking toward my blind with the jake in the rear. A Tom will try to get between the jake and the hen facing the jake. This set up worked like a charm on the spookiest of turkeys I've ever hunted!!
(http://i1225.photobucket.com/albums/ee393/seanb45/IMG_0351_zps50b6f34e.jpg) (http://s1225.photobucket.com/user/seanb45/media/IMG_0351_zps50b6f34e.jpg.html)
I love my dsd's! Some other decoys are nice and will do the job but for my money it is dsd's.
I hunted for two years before taking a mature tom with a bow. I killed and guided a lot of hunters to birds before that. Most were killed just inside 20 yards, but when they got a little suspicious at the that range they were dead. With the bow I wanted them 15 or under, and my old decoys just did not seal the deal. I invested in the DSD half strut and killed a bird the first time out. I never had a tom attack one of my other jake decoys ( and I tried several), but they always attack the DSD. I use a small half circle blind I got at LL Beans. I really like it, packs small (would fit in the DSD decoy). But on my last couple hunts did not even set it up. Just knelt in brush or in front of a bush with a leafy camo top and the birds did not notice me or my drawing they were so focused on the deke.
Here is the deke with the blind in the background
(http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/IMG_07428.JPG)
My experience is different than Sean, but he has a heck of a track record so take my comments for what they are worth.
I used to have excellent luck with a flock of Flambeau decoys and killed turkeys regularly. I don't know what changed, but my turkey hunting success took a bad turn for the worse and I couldn't seem to get a turkey close no matter what I did. I still saw birds regularly, but just couldn't get them close. Same property, same blind set ups, same calling (very little for the most part).
Two years ago I took the plunge and bought a pair of DSD's and an AvianX hen. I've bow killed 6 birds the past two years using the new dekes. Again, same private property, same set ups, same calls. Vastly different results. The only thing I've changed the past two years are the decoys. Granted, two seasons doesn't make me an expert, nor prove much of anything, but I know I won't be switching back!
One morning hunting later in the season last spring I had a group of 5 toms waltz right in. I promptly shot one and spent the next hour watching as the other four continuously assaulted my DSD jake and submissive hen decoys. They pretty much left the AvianX alone, but she is an upright hen and while she looks good she doesn't trigger the same responses. This is my all time favorite turkey hunting picture. (http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y80/Jlasch/Turkeys%202014/Turkeys20147-002.jpg) (http://s3.photobucket.com/user/Jlasch/media/Turkeys%202014/Turkeys20147-002.jpg.html)
I like the looks of the DSD decoys but when doing lots of walking I am concerned about difficulty carrying them for long distances. Has this been a problem for anyone?
Joe and Michael, that's pretty interesting. I have yet to have a bird hang up when in site of my older flambeau. That jake decoy in my pic is a Flextone Funky Chicken. Now I haven't used it here in NY, but I had an Osceola gobbler go right for it, and Kent Zocher killed two beauties over it.
Now watch....now that I've said that, they're all going to hang up on me this season!!! :knothead:
I have had an avian x hen and got the jake last year. Killed my tom last year when he was coming in to circle the jake at about 15 steps. I'd never had one that close before and it was awesome. I like the looks of the DSD better myself, but unfortunately that $100 is the difference for me. I have killed them with $5 Walmart foam hens too. Give me a few more years with the Avians and we'll see. Right now I like them and they do look MUCH better than my old decoys. Time will tell. I don't believe anyone could go wrong with either.
I have killed birds like Sean with the old foam hens but have had much better experiences since switching about five or six years ago.
I just received my DSD Jake in the mail last week. The other ones I was considering was the Dakota and Avian X. I looked at the Avian and it was nice but a little heavy for me. I like the Dakota but liked the DSD (made in America) better and went that route. Bought it from Wing Mack Prairie. I found a 10% off code plus free shipping. I plan on matching it wit my Feather Flex hen or may pick up an Avian breeding hen which I did like a lot.
Avian for me but the DSD are nice. Good luck
Thanks for the help guys. I have always used a HS hen and a killer B from P*****. It works about half the time, the other half they seem intimidated and/or not fooled at about 30-50yds. Doesnt matter with a gun, its a dead bird. BUT with a stick this year id like to see more attacks (more importantly 8yd shots)
I like the idea of the avian being more malleable than the dsd, i just wish that avian had the same pose as the dsd. A hunched up jake even makes me realize he need a butt whoopin lol.
Im leaning towards avian because it seems the best of all worlds, those of you that run them, do they attack the avian as jake as much? If that pose is going to be a game changer id just as soon go dsd. Thoughts?
I can only go by what I've read, and that is that the pose is very important in provoking attacks. It does make some sense to me. Body language in animals is a primary means of communication.
I'm not good enough to tell you which pose best provokes attacks but supposedly DSD feels that is exactly what their decoy is designed to do. Seems to be working so far for me.
I've gathered an assortment of decoys over the years. I looked at the DSDs at Cabelas last week. They are very realistic looking. I'm going to buy 1 or 2. I'm hoping to use mix in 1-2 of my older decoys as well -- don't want to spend $300-400 on a whole new set. The upright hen and a jake will probably be my choices.
I had $80 of Gander Mountain rewards coupons saved up so I went with the 1/4 strut Avian Jake decoy from them (they don't offer the DSD). We'll see how that works with the Avian hen I have this spring.
I had a buddy tell me to try a mirror.... Said he never saw a tom yet that could pass up his own reflection, or the hens either for that matter.....
Anyone out there ever try this form of decoy?
QuoteOriginally posted by Kirkll:
I had a buddy tell me to try a mirror.... Said he never saw a tom yet that could pass up his own reflection, or the hens either for that matter.....
Anyone out there ever try this form of decoy?
Did he tell you this over beers:)
Thanks a bunch, guys! Now I gotta order me a DSD jake decoy! :)
I bought a DSD Standing Hen last year, and last month I got the Feeding Hen. I thought I was through for this year, but now I've gone and ordered the DSD Jake!
Love that photo, Whip! It's on my desktop now.
Great stories guys! Talk about getting a mans blood going!
QuoteOriginally posted by huskyarcher:
Great stories guys! Talk about getting a mans blood going!
No kidding! I just got my tags in the other day, and I'm itching. I hate to jump on a band wagon but I've had similar experiences with birds hanging up at 30-40 yards with my decoys. I'm leaning really hard towards a couple of DSD's now after checking them out at cabelas. I just need to figure out which hen to go with.... and which couch to sleep on when my wife finds out :help:
I just need to figure out which hen to go with.... and which couch to sleep on when my wife finds out [help]
Much better to spend a couple nights on the couch and have your decoy, than petitioning the powers that be ahead of time and have no decoy at all. After that, the couch might be your preference anyway.
Tell her you want to go sofa shopping and get a comfortable one with her. Then break the decoy news.
QuoteOriginally posted by Kirkll:
I just need to figure out which hen to go with.... and which couch to sleep on when my wife finds out [help]
Much better to spend a couple nights on the couch and have your decoy, than petitioning the powers that be ahead of time and have no decoy at all. After that, the couch might be your preference anyway.
There is either alot of wisdom, or experience in that comment! Lol!
I just got my DSD Jake decoy, and I'm really impressed!
Look hard at the Primos PHD hens. They are inflatable with a silk screened cover and a molded head. Incredible realistic look and you can carry two in a cargo pocket. If you have seen our turkey videos, they are all shot over the Avian jake and PHD hens.
QuoteOriginally posted by Kirkll:
I had a buddy tell me to try a mirror.... Said he never saw a tom yet that could pass up his own reflection, or the hens either for that matter.....
Anyone out there ever try this form of decoy?
A few years back, my uncle had a real nice dually pick up with a very expensive high gloss black paint job. In the bright sun light, it would show I reflection like a mirror. He had a nice tom that would visit on occasion. One day, that tom wandered too close to his truck, and tried to attack his own reflection! After chasing the bird away and buffing the paint, my uncle filled his tag the next time the long beard visited his house!
Had my Avians 2 years and killed 2 longbeards over them. Last year had my jake dec thrashed pretty good. Shot that bird right off his back. Anyone fold their Avians up?
Just got my Avian hen and jake yesterday. They look pretty good to me. Not sure how much that means though,lol. Now all I need is for one of you turkey experts to tell me how to best position them,lol. I tried a couple times last year, my turkey hunting time is pretty limited. I got to see a few birds but didn't get one. Mike my tags have not shown up yet. I might have to call them again.
Ed I got online and ordered mine they were here in two days. I apparently didn't ask for them when I got my license. I'm with you on the decoy position quandary, I'd love some advice.
Well i made the decision to go with the avians, mostly because of the mobility. I must say they look great. And have a great deal of confidence in them for saturday! Maybe i can just hold it together and do my part!
(http://i1205.photobucket.com/albums/bb428/huskyarcher/9A7B44E8-B35E-4DA6-9943-05EA6C10E132_zps5sbv744w.jpg) (http://s1205.photobucket.com/user/huskyarcher/media/9A7B44E8-B35E-4DA6-9943-05EA6C10E132_zps5sbv744w.jpg.html)
Just got my avian this week also, but I have to work night shift friday and want be able to hit the woods saturday. Good luck.
Just got my avian this week also, but I have to work night shift friday and want be able to hit the woods saturday. Good luck.
Thank you, ill need it!!
The DSD has a bag it came with,and I can fit my other decoys and my small blind. The strap fits over my shoulder well.It is a bit bulky, but it is worth it in my opinion.
I carry my two Feather Flex hens in the bag with the DSD Jake. Works great and is a very light setup.
I have new decoys this year. I have two avian and one DSD to go with my Jake. We shall see what happens.
Hopefully great Tim! These mountains are ringing in the mornings, should be a turkey season to remember!
The Funky Chicken don't know why but it sure does piss those gobble's off when they see it.
$25 bucks at Walmart
(http://i.imgur.com/lODEhFK.jpg)
Where's his tail???
Maybe it pisses Toms off... Cuz he aint got enough A$$ to fight back!!! :laughing: :laughing: