What yall think? im getting a hen and a half strut jake. already have a B mobile that is fading in color.
Dave smith
What did it for me was last year before season I was in a Cabelas store and they had both brands you're talking about side-by-side. I thought the Dave Smith decoys look better, they're both a salty decoy as far as the price goes but if you watch the video of the Dave Smith decoy how strong it is. They shoot the thing with a three or 3 1/2 inch turkey shell At like 15 or 20 yards and the paint and everything holds up so good you can't even tell that it was shot, other than you can hear the shot rattling around in the decoy! I believe you will be happy with either decoy as far as looks goes, but I don't know personally how dependable a zinc decoy is versus the DSD.
Dsd
My signature shows how I feel :camohat: I've got an original up right hen in my hunting room along with the new up right hen from Santa this year. I'm now waiting for the feeder hen & Jake to arrive any day. Next year Santa is going to bring me the gobbler decoy so I can set it up like in the video link below ;)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyLAQbhYoGI (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tyLAQbhYoGI)
DSD - Wins out in every category. I have carried them all across the country and they have held up very well over the years. I will not bow hunt without them!
Dave Smith's decoys hold up very well and he is the only manufacturer that has his production facilities here in the USA!
One glance at the DSD beside the others and I think anyone would agree that this is one case where Made in the USA wins out hands down!
I've hunted behind both and they both work, but that DSD just has a little bit more realism to it.
DSD...hands down!
Gman
DSD all the way.
I think you should see if guesswho will make you one of his custom bodonka decoys. ;D
In all seriousness, for realism and durability, Dave Smith decoys are the way to go.
DSD all day everyday
DSD decoys do look good! I'm thinking of adding one in the next few years myself.
God Bless
See if you can find a store near you that has them I was skeptical about them but compare them to the avian x thiers a big difference also thier customer service is top notch glad to support a product made here in the us :smiley-patriotic-flagwaver-an
Quote from: MKMGOBL on January 14, 2014, 11:32:40 AM
Next year Santa is going to bring me the gobbler decoy so I can set it up like in the video link below
Weird, that looks just like my back yard... ;) :icon_thumright:
To be honest though, I think the jake is more effective than the strutter. Not that the strutter doesn't work, but if you put them out together the birds always go straight to the jake. I only even bothered to get the strutter out once this year when I was dealing with a flock of about 20 birds that liked to fly off the roost right into the middle of a field. I wanted the motion to get their attention.
The Avian X are a good decoy too and the 2014 versions look like a big improvement, but I still prefer the American made DSD.
i agree regarding head to head. i have 2 avian x hens and my uncle has a dsd hen. when out together really not even close. the avian is almost too big of a hen if that makes sense.
i don't use a decoy a ton but i would go w/ dsd if you don't mind the cost b/c they are legit.
Avians are nice since they deflate/fold, but they are really heavy for a decoy, IMO. I have a DSD hen that I think looks better, but it's bulky to carry around, especially if you run and gun a bit.
i picked up a couple Avian X decoys last year, used them and love them, i have had the old feather flex decoys for a long time, and will continue to tote one in my vest for running & gunning, can't do that with the DSD, you can with the Avian though, it does deflate and is fairly easy to inflate back, plus if a gobbler gets close enough to tell the difference, he should already be dead in my opinion, and yes, i know what the DSD looks like, it is also a great decoy, i also have a bmobile that is rigged up on a electronic remote control that has been the death of several old gobblers, and yes, i will hunt out of a blind, i acutally had 7 decoys set up at one time last year, it had a high field and a low field with a wind break between and yeop, they all looked good
I don't have either brand, but I have hunted over both. The Dave Smith dekes look much better.
I own the jake and two hen Avian decoys. I like that they can be deflated and folded this helps make a little more room in the vest for a couple of them. I don't like hauling decoys in a shoulder bag because I am usually carrying a camera and tripod. The DSD's look real good but that's about all I like about them. I have hit one with shot and did not put any holes in it. But it is all personal preference.
DSD for me. American made, good customer service, durable, realistic looking.
I own a pair of the new Avians, and to say the least, VERY dissapointed. Bought the jake and hen setup, jake decoy had the seals break on the bottom twice. Was replaced and continued to happen. It would not hold air for me and I have since had nothing but problems with them. Hoping I can return them for some type of credit and get the DSDs!
I use both depending on where I am hunting but I probably use the dsd's most.
DSD all the way. Most of the time I prefer to hunt without a decoy but when I do use one it is DSD all the way. I don't care about weight or bulkiness. After a while you learn how to hunt with a DSD.
If you're going to get a DSD, you better order now or buy it from some place other than them directly. I put in an order on the 25th & was told they were shipping out on last Friday. Called again today to get an update & was told they are shipping out this Friday. I'm sure if I call next Wednesday, I'll told they are shipping on Friday....again (http://www.planetsmilies.com/smilies/rolleye/rolleye0005.gif) If I knew, I would of ordered back in July ;)
I love DSD & can't see using any other decoy (when I do use one) but this getting to be ridiculous.
DSD gets slammed with orders , I'm sure if your looking this early you will be fine -
DSD no comparison!
Not sure the DSD availability is that big of an issue. I bought a jake and a hen last year two days before season last year as a gift for my daughter. Had to shop around a bit to find some but still ended up with them.
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