Full Body Dekes

[Colin]

So I just got my latest addition to the deke collection in the mail!!! Not a bad deal so I sprung for 1/2 dozen of the feeders to celebrate getting a new job!

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Home/Waterfowl-Sale-Duck-Decoys%7C/pc/105625080/c/157908780/Hard-Core-Full-Body-Mallards/909681.uts?destination=%2Fbrowse.cmd%3FcategoryId%3D157908780%26WTz_l%3DHome%253Bcat107364780&WTz_l=Home%3Bcat107364780%3Bcat157908780

So now I have:

1/2 dozen Big Foot B2 Mallards (these are the big ones)
8 tangle free drake pintails (I really like these. Paint held up pretty good over the past season.)
1/2 dozen Hard Core feeder Mallards (Hens are kind of painted light on the heads but idk if it will matter or not)


What do you guys think I should get next? For sure wanna get a 6 pack of decent goose dekes ($150-$200)and maybe 2X of the 4 pack tangle free widgeon dekes (waiting for these to hopefully come back to Rogers $75ish each pack).

I'm seriously missing hunting atm... Suggestions, opinions and general duck chat to distract me from work would be appreciated!

[MacAttack]

I would get more full body goose decoys.

[Kola16]

You have a quality batch of decoys, and you should definitely keep it that way. It is definitely good to have a variety of positions and breeds of ducks You could definitely spice up your variety with the wigeons. Where I hunt it is almost the most popular species. Just try to match what you see in the field. Geese can be really good because they stand out. Make sure you have decoys SLOT bags too...

You are definitely on the right track, and I wish I started how you did Now I have to stop talking and thinking about duck hunting

[hntrspud]

You need to start to figure out what kind of cart you need to haul around all of those deeks. Your spread as you sit is really good. Just figure out now what it is for gear you really need. Besides decoys

[Colin]

Spud you're prolly right. I do need to get a pair of nice HD waiters. I'm addicted to decoys!

I was looking at the other thread about carts but I don't know if any of those will work well going through the muddy fields that I end up trudging though half the time.

What brand were the skimmer mallards you have?

[Mfowl]

Look for a pack frame that you can strap multiple bags to. Dragging a cart through the mud/snow/stubble gets to be a serious pain, I know. 2 trips with a pack frame is worth 1 with a cart, IMO.

[Colin]

Like this?

[full choke]

Like this?

Yes. Sort of. But, there have been huge advancements in frame packs since WWII...

More like this

[hntrspud]

GHG Pro grade. Mine were the january version

[Snowgoose1]

Awesome way to start, I'm impressed.  Make a 5 year and ten year plan. I wished I would have only invested in the best in the beginning.  Yes it costs more, but so worth it. The old style GHG full body mallards are bigger and the paint stays on better if you can find them. We found the on the internet and got 8 dozen this year which should last for quite a while in the field. Don't forget good bags and covers.  It makes such a difference from the start.  If your going to go after snows get a rich uncle cause it takes a lot of bucks for full bodies, but very good for decoying them.

[Colin]

Can you carry two slot bags with a pack frame? Concerned that it might get too heavy. Had a big old back pack style deke bag that the straps ripped out of cause I out 3 dozen decoys in it. 3 dozen seemed to be my limit as far as how many I could physically carry.


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[Mfowl]

I've strapped 4 doz decoys, float tube, backpack and my gun to my pack frame and carried it for over a mile. Yes its heavy but the frame straps should hold up. 2 12 slot duck bags or 2 6 slot goose bags should fit with no problem. Get a bunch of bungie cords in various sizes so you can keep your load tight. If it shifts around it can be a pain. When I've hauled a big heavy load I've always had a partner there to help get it up on my back. Trying to pull it up yourself can be a futile effort. The truck tailgate works well for getting a load on your back without having to squat down. It burns while your doing it and you'll swear your going to find a better way but after its all over with and the birds start flying you'll forget all about it...until the pack out!

[liljozie495]

Depends what kind of areas you hunt, strait water, field, half and half, sheet water??? I tend to stick with all green head gear I have 2.5 dozen of the January mallards (they are kind of bright but we have no problem dropping birds over them), 2 dozen green head full bodies for field/ sheet water days or windy days they bring a lot of motion to the spread but if your hunting mostly geese then leave the full body ducks at home, mallards don't mind dropping in goose deeks what so ever, but geese rarely drop into mallard/duck deeks so save some carry weight. Then the pin tails there great later in the season iv noticed. Then a good dozen full body honkers is a good route to have also. I prefer the green head gear also with those just real life like and Rogers has the new Avery full bodies for 150$ a half dozen they look great, I'd get those an call it good for a spread for now?

Not saying much on what terrain your hunting and how far your dragging deeks. My buddy and I have usually 300-400 yard walk so we weigh down and have 2 full body bags each and a floater bag off our backs so we carry about any where from 36-48 decoys guns and shooting bags out to our blind each when were going big lol... We hate to make more walks then needed. All our deeks usually are in slotted bags unless we want a lot of deeks lol.

But decoys can never have too many or too many different species.

[Colin]

This past season was my first so I mostly stuck to the QH units in Skagit county. I don't have a dog so really only hunt over deep water when a budy s with me. I would say that I hunted mostly sheet water and fields for ducks. I took one goose with another member here this year and would like to have a chance at more in Sept.

As far as dekes go I think I'm going to add some honker FB's next. What would you guys suggest? How many should I get? Was able to set out 1/2 dozen with a buddy when duck hunting a few spots this year and I liked having them out there.

[hntrspud]

It depends on what kind of money you want to spend. The Avian X are good, you saw how the better brands do with Matt. If you are looking for a confidence addition then get a better quality half dozen. If you want to goose hunt specifically, that can be a whole nother conversation. Good half dozen and some shells to fill would be something to consider as well.