Turkey Decoy suggestion

[satchamo]

I am admittedly a decoy hater and never use them for my personal hunting. That said I do think they have a place for helping youth. My son is of age now and we will be hunting the IL youth season here in late March. I own garbage decoys now so I’m looking to upgrade to a better set.

I planned to do an upright hen paired with a 3/4 strut jake. With that in mind, how do DSD decoys compare to avian hdr? They both look good to my eye but that’s about all I have to go off of. Seems like avian can be had slightly cheaper but not enough for me to outright dismiss dsd.

 

[bradb]

I do think dsd are the best and I have had the best reactions to them. But you sure can't go wrong with the avian lcd

 

[bcv]

If your kid hits the Avian with a pellet it's done. My son has been peppering the DSD since age 6 and they still look new.

 

[Irish Miner]

Yeah, there is no doubt decoys have their place. They have certainly helped me and young nephews bag a few. Kinda fun to see them birds come in close and start pounding on a jake or tom deek.

I have the Avian 1/2 strut jake combined with three DSD hens. To me, the DSD’s just look and feel a bit better. To a turkey, not so sure it really makes a difference. All I know is the combination works.

I’ve been thinking about getting a DSD full tom strutter, just because. I have a couple of fans I can use. Only thing that concerns me a bit is the bulk and weight. Something to consider when factoring in your hunting style, walking distance, etc.

 

[dtrkyman]

I rarely use a decoy anymore but when I was only bowhunting turkeys I shot more than I can remember right off the back of a DSD 1/4 Jake, if I were only using a single it would be that.

 

[Eradicator]

If your kid hits the Avian with a pellet it's done. My son has been peppering the DSD since age 6 and they still look new.

View attachment 1028400

This. DSD

 

[Skerhunter]

I use a dsd Jake with two avian x hens. All 3 fit in the dsd bag nicely!

DSD looks better but more importantly it holds up a lot better over time.

 

[Fred@Exterra]

We use Avian X and DSD… haven’t noticed a bunch of difference, but our turkeys aren’t particularly sophisticated

This year I want to call one into an owl decoy, just to see what happens. I’m really hoping the gobbler attacks the owl decoy.


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[Mustard Tiger]

“If you are not using Dave Smith’s you’re bird watching” - Someone, probably.

I’ve hunted with both Avians and DSD quite a bit, the DSD’s have a more realistic posture and paint scheme but are cumbersome on longer hikes with a blind, Avians are a nice run and gun option or to throw in the top of a blind bag on a long hike, I really don’t think it matters much to a horny bird with a brain the size of a pea.

 

[Duckhunterbrad]

I like the packability of the avian-x decoy better than the DSD. Both are a quality product however.

 

[JBrew]

I've grown to be anti decoy over the years, unless a kid or first timer is involved... but you don't have to worry with adding a hen decoy, imo. They'll come from a long ways to a single 3/4 strut jake. If you want to take the super econo route, duct tape a softball to a stake and paint it red.

 

[Tegr0429]

This is a “stuffer” I made a couple years ago. It works very well. As much as I hate decoys, it’s almost a necessary evil hunting easterns with a stick bow and no blind.

 

[rocky IV]

This is a “stuffer” I made a couple years ago. It works very well. As much as I hate decoys, it’s almost a necessary evil hunting easterns with a stick bow and no blind.View attachment 1034552View attachment 1034553View attachment 1034554

That is sweet! Good work

 

[Tegr0429]

That is sweet! Good work

Thank you, it’s time consuming but something about the iridescence of real turkey feathers is a game changer.

 

[Fowl Play]

I use Avian X HDR's (hard body) and have been very happy with them. I personally think they may be better than the DSD's, but have not had time to do an in depth comparison. Either of those brands would be top choices.

 

[satchamo]

I wound up ordering a posturing hen and 3/4 strut Jake from DSD. I got 3 kiddos so i figured I’d get some miles out of my investment!

 

[LSL57]

Interesting reading this, what makes hunting with the kids need the decoy?

I am taking my daughter out this spring and had been planning no decoys but just setting up in the blind. Do the decoys get the eyes off kid movement?

 

[dtrkyman]

Decoys will definitely keep the birds attention, and often attract birds that were not coming otherwise, the occasional bird will avoid them though, that is where a higher quality decoy comes into play, much more likely to commit to it.

I have watched dozens of clients shoot birds right off the back of a decoy!

If you don't want to pay for the DSD Higdon has a nice breeding pair for the money!

Keep in mind DSD are American made and can take being shot!