Hey guys, I'm wanting to buy me some new decoys. I've used the strutter decoys in the past but want to try a 1/4 strut Jake this year. So I need advice on whether to get the DSD breeder pair, the dakota breeder pair or the avians! They all look good in the magazines but have never seen any in person. I'm not worried about the cost, I want a tough decoy to last the ages and that looks like it's breathing!! Thanks !!!
DSD or dakota stay away from avians
Is there much difference between DSD and dakota. Looks and durability?
IMO DSDs are the best hands down.
Quote from: Juan Gonzales on March 27, 2015, 08:58:34 PM
Is there much difference between DSD and dakota. Looks and durability?
Looks= yes there is a big difference. DSD looks better for color and their hens look way better.
Durability= they are both supposed to be very durable.
Looking at the decoys pretty hard myself here are the pros and cons I have found:
- DSD's are far more durable. Far more durable.
- Avian X, are a bit lighter in weight (Avian Jake is 5 lbs and the DSD is about 6lbs) and collapsible. However, they are also inflatable, so a stray pellet will cause some damage.
- Avian X have better movement in a slight breeze.
- As far as realism, I think that the DSD hens look better, but the Jakes are somewhat equal (I have a slight preference for the Avian X).
- DSD's are made in the USA, Avian's in China.
- DSD's are more expensive.
- DSD has a better stake system in my opinion. The stake is one-piece and is stored in the decoy. The Avian is a collapsible stake, and I am guessing I will lose it, plus, it will rattle around as I am moving locations.
I went with a DSD leading hen for my hen decoy... I purchased it last season, cause it was the only DSD available. I actually like it, cause if I take it off the stake, it works as a breeder, and if the grass is tall, I can put it on a stake... To me, the DSD hens are a bit too light in color, but still somehow look more realistic than the Avian hens...
I went with the Avian X jake, and it looks good as well... I am a bit nervous about a stray pellet taking it out though. It moves in a slight breeze better than my hen decoy, and Avian did a very good job getting those iridescent colors.
If money were not an issue, and I was not traveling on a plane, or moving a lot with them while hunting, I would go with DSD... If you are traveling on a plane with them a lot, I would go with the Avian, simply cause they do collapse. Owning both of the, there is no doubt but that overall,the DSD's are a better made product.
Thanks a lot Marc!!
I love my Avian X dekes! But I dont think you can go wrong with a DSD. I actually prefer the looks Avian of the Jake and Hens better but the DSD strutter is second to none.
I've hunted over DSD's and Avians. When it came time to get a couple of new ones this season, I went with the DSD's.
I'm a big fan of DSD's.
I handled the avian pair at cabelas and I can't wait to buy mine
DSD jake and Deception Outdoors boss hen is about the prettiest pair of decoys I've seen....
I just can't wait to stick these in a field and watch the birds knock the paint off of them!
(http://i1099.photobucket.com/albums/g382/jlhoverkill/20150311_122115_1.jpg) (http://s1099.photobucket.com/user/jlhoverkill/media/20150311_122115_1.jpg.html)
The Primos Gobbstopper decoys seem good for the price, but if you have the money I would go with the Avian X Decoys.
Quote from: Juan Gonzales on March 27, 2015, 08:45:50 PM
Hey guys, I'm wanting to buy me some new decoys. I've used the strutter decoys in the past but want to try a 1/4 strut Jake this year. So I need advice on whether to get the DSD breeder pair, the dakota breeder pair or the avians! They all look good in the magazines but have never seen any in person. I'm not worried about the cost, I want a tough decoy to last the ages and that looks like it's breathing!! Thanks !!!
For the price I think Primos new Gobbstopper would be hard to beat.
DSD all the way. :gobble:
Bought the Avian X upright hen last Sunday. Started reading more reviews about the seams splitting and not staying inflated so I returned it and got the DSD upright hen. Great looking decoy! My dad almost fell to the ground when I told him the price though ::)
Hands down the DSD for all the reasons mentioned above but being a patriot if you are then buy the DSD as its Made in the USA!!!!! We need all the help we can get.
I prefer DSD. Quality materials, built to last, made in USA, and very realistic.
I have DSD hen. It's as realistic as they come...I may be the odd ball in the group but I'd be scared to death to put out a gobbler decoy that was as realistic as the DSD's. I'm afraid some over anxious hunter is going to get me in a spot where I find myself in line of fire with the object of his desires!
What I've done, and it's worked out phenomenally well, is use one of those stupid looking Funky Chickens. I don't think anybody is going to mistake that for the real thing...Gobblers seem to be really aggressive toward it so it does what it's meant to do. I can just stick in in the same carry bag as my DSD hen...Hey. it looks stupid but it works...Oh, and it's about 1/4 the price of a DSD ( Of course that wouldn't matter if it didn't work).
My vote is for DSDs as well for many of the reasons already listed.
I will say that before I made the switch I used primos decoys and to compare the reactions from birds is night and day. I've videoed jakes breeding my hens for minute's at a time, hens pecking and flogging the hen decoys to the point it gets annoying, and gobblers flogging the jake decoy. Never got those types of responses from a primos.
Any of those will work just fine. And if you have gobblers flogging your decoys, you're waiting too long to shoot. ;)