Decoy advice

I need some decoy advice. (other than telling me not to leave them in the swamp) I am replacing my decoys and need some that I can carry in and out of the swamp. I have looked at the inflatables in Cabelas. Any experience with these? How does the weight system work?? Are they worth it? How about other light alternatives? Any ideas would be great here. I am in no hurry. I have all winter and summer to replace. Your thoughts are appreciated.

I have never seen the inflatable ducks in the water, but I do have a set of the inflatable geese. The geese look awesome in the water. When the water is like glass, they dance all over the place. If you are thinking of carrying them deflated and then blowing them up when you get there, you can forget about it. It took me about a half hour to blow up my dozen geese and get the anchors on them. There is no good way to wind up the anchor cord when they are deflated. I just bought another decoy bag and am leaving them inflated. At the end of the season I think I’ll deflate them for storage. They are very durable too.
They make a great a pillow when the ducks stop flying…lol.

I have never seen the inflatable ducks in the water, but I do have a set of the inflatable geese. The geese look awesome in the water. When the water is like glass, they dance all over the place. If you are thinking of carrying them deflated and then blowing them up when you get there, you can forget about it. It took me about a half hour to blow up my dozen geese and get the anchors on them. There is no good way to wind up the anchor cord when they are deflated. I just bought another decoy bag and am leaving them inflated. At the end of the season I think I’ll deflate them for storage. They are very durable too.
They make a great a pillow when the ducks stop flying…lol.

I buddy of mine bought inflatable decoys and they cracked from the cold. I would not suggest them.
Flambeau, Carrylite, and Cabelas all offer lightweight inexpensive decoys. Waterkeel decoys tend to be more work to put out but move much better in calm waters.

Gator Hunter

I buddy of mine bought inflatable decoys and they cracked from the cold. I would not suggest them.
Flambeau, Carrylite, and Cabelas all offer lightweight inexpensive decoys. Waterkeel decoys tend to be more work to put out but move much better in calm waters.

Gator Hunter

The Greenhead Gear by Avery are the nicest cheap decoys I have ever seen. They have snap on keels, and water keel are avaibale. They are pretty light.

They have a value buy series, or something like that, and a “life-size” series. The life size series look great and are 35 a dozen, and the value series look good for like 20-25 bucks.

The Greenhead Gear by Avery are the nicest cheap decoys I have ever seen. They have snap on keels, and water keel are avaibale. They are pretty light.

They have a value buy series, or something like that, and a “life-size” series. The life size series look great and are 35 a dozen, and the value series look good for like 20-25 bucks.

I have been looking at the inflatables and they are only about $40 a dozen. I can really see how they would be extremely nice to carry in and out of the swamp. Did they crack the first year or was it a few years in? Does anyone konw how you weight those inflatables? I can really see how they would be nice on a calm day. Thanks for the recommendations so far guys, keep em coming!!

I have been looking at the inflatables and they are only about $40 a dozen. I can really see how they would be extremely nice to carry in and out of the swamp. Did they crack the first year or was it a few years in? Does anyone konw how you weight those inflatables? I can really see how they would be nice on a calm day. Thanks for the recommendations so far guys, keep em coming!!

The inflatables have a molded plastic piece right under the head so you can run your anchor line through that. It looks like this piece would be hard to break or rip out.

The inflatables have a molded plastic piece right under the head so you can run your anchor line through that. It looks like this piece would be hard to break or rip out.

Thanks Bigfife! I wondered if there was anything to tie on to. I couldn’t see anything in the pictures.

Thanks Bigfife! I wondered if there was anything to tie on to. I couldn’t see anything in the pictures.

Guy`s heads up on the GreenHead Gear mallards. I ordered three dozen and made the trip to Cabelas for cord and weights. In the bargain cave I saw a box full of these with the paint all gone. I asked about them and it was the first they had in. We`ll not to discourage anybody, the first day on the water they chipped. Sent an E-mail to the company with no reply. I am going to use them the rest of the season and see how bad they get. Some will go back for sure. They are pretty though, and inexpensive. Flip

Guy`s heads up on the GreenHead Gear mallards. I ordered three dozen and made the trip to Cabelas for cord and weights. In the bargain cave I saw a box full of these with the paint all gone. I asked about them and it was the first they had in. We`ll not to discourage anybody, the first day on the water they chipped. Sent an E-mail to the company with no reply. I am going to use them the rest of the season and see how bad they get. Some will go back for sure. They are pretty though, and inexpensive. Flip

I have hunted behind some greenhead gear mallard dekes , they look great , but I have also hear many complaints on them. I hear the paint chips off, which is normal wear and tear after YEARS. I guess with a decoy that cheap, I would suspect it’s not the best decoy. Tim

I have hunted behind some greenhead gear mallard dekes , they look great , but I have also hear many complaints on them. I hear the paint chips off, which is normal wear and tear after YEARS. I guess with a decoy that cheap, I would suspect it’s not the best decoy. Tim

I heard some rumblings about the best value one’s losing their paint too. My hunting partner has a dozen of the life size series standards, and a dozen of the magnum size, and both have held up great so far this year.

Can’t say about the value ones though. I did read on the refuge that some people had problems with some, particualrly a shipment that went to Cabelas, but Avery was replacing them. Haven’t heard of any problems with the non-value series though.

I heard some rumblings about the best value one’s losing their paint too. My hunting partner has a dozen of the life size series standards, and a dozen of the magnum size, and both have held up great so far this year.

Can’t say about the value ones though. I did read on the refuge that some people had problems with some, particualrly a shipment that went to Cabelas, but Avery was replacing them. Haven’t heard of any problems with the non-value series though.

Thanks for all the info guys! Actually, a dozen of the stolen dekes were greenhead gear. They looked great in the water but very heavy when you get a few dozen together. Anyone else have any suggestions about the inflatables? They seem very handy to carry although the blowing up and rigging of them seems cumbersome. Any other experience out there?

Thanks for all the info guys! Actually, a dozen of the stolen dekes were greenhead gear. They looked great in the water but very heavy when you get a few dozen together. Anyone else have any suggestions about the inflatables? They seem very handy to carry although the blowing up and rigging of them seems cumbersome. Any other experience out there?

Bought som Ringnecks, Bluebills, and Pintails, all Greenhead Gear. Beaks on Ringnecks and Bluebills chipped after ONE hunt. Body paint chipped after FOUR hunts. Paint chipped all over the Pintails after two hunts. They haven’t even seen frozen weather yet! Sent them all back and switched to G&H. I also have some Flambeau Mallards and Bluebills. I got two good seasons from them before the paint has gotten too bad. I will repaint these. Bottom line is…if you take your waterfowling seriously…QUALITY=$$$$$$. Don’t skimp.

Bought som Ringnecks, Bluebills, and Pintails, all Greenhead Gear. Beaks on Ringnecks and Bluebills chipped after ONE hunt. Body paint chipped after FOUR hunts. Paint chipped all over the Pintails after two hunts. They haven’t even seen frozen weather yet! Sent them all back and switched to G&H. I also have some Flambeau Mallards and Bluebills. I got two good seasons from them before the paint has gotten too bad. I will repaint these. Bottom line is…if you take your waterfowling seriously…QUALITY=$$$$$$. Don’t skimp.