Carry Lite Decoys

[peewee]

Pintail posted that Simmons was out of Flambeau decoys [img]images/smiles/icon_sad.gif[/img] but were supposed to be getting some carry lites [img]images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]. Any of yall had any experience with them.

Looking through the Macks catalog I see some feather flex, anybody have any of these also and are they worth having. [img]images/smiles/icon_eek.gif[/img]

[Wildfowler]

I think you ought to stick with G&H's. They'll outlast anything on else on the market. Otherwise you'll eventually be hunting over a spread of "black" decoys like Hambone.

[img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[peewee]

Wildfowler, G&H's are out of the question, I'm married.
[img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]

[Hambone]

Wildfowler, what are you thinking, talking about my decoys? You're giving away my tactics! Haven't you ever noticed that silhouetted ducks look black? Obviously, they put paint on the decoys to lure the hunters, because if you needed painted decoys to kill ducks, I would be in trouble. Yeah, buy those Carry Lites, so you can get rid of the color quicker!

[vicksburg]

peewee

Those feather flex decoys are a pain in the butt. The color flaked off the ones i got two years ago, and the weights are connected to the heads leaving the cords dangling. Last time i got them out it looked like a robin nest and they have "tangle free" line on them. Tangle free my booty.
If your walkin a couple of miles in timber theyre okay. a dozen only weighs about 5 pounds, that's weights and all.

[mississippi_duc_htr]

I have got 2 dozen or so carry lites and only use them too add a bunch too a spread. I dont know if it me or the dekes but I cant throw them. Then you ave to turn about 90% of them upright by hand. I dont have 1/10 of he trouble with the flambeau's. [img]images/smiles/icon_razz.gif[/img]

[ August 10, 2002: Message edited by: mississippi_duc_htr ]

[jebster]

I have bought over a 1,000 decoys over the past 7 years. Here's my experience with the different brands:

Carry Light: Nice looking dekes, but the paint does not last, at all.

G&H: Good decoys, but very overpriced. I had 3 dozen defective (paint came off after 3 uses), Magnum decoys and they made me go through hell to get them replaced, a real hassle. Will never buy from them again.

Flambeau: The best of the bunch. Great value for money and the most durable paint of all. We use lots of decoys and leave them out. Price is key for us. So, Flambeau's are best for our needs.

Of course, each person will have varying experience.

[Anatidae]

I had a little experience with Flambeau 'econo's (19.95/dz), last year.....the club 'manager' bought 30 doz for the club. By the end of the season, we had a 'pile' of around 60 decoys that developed leaks on their own (not counting the 2 I ran over with the 4-'willie', trying to break ice).

The main thing I didn't care for on the Flambeau std-sized aqua keel was that HUGE keel.....it takes more water to float'em and a heap lot more wind to move'em around.

By contrast, the Std sized Carry-Lite (with the rectagular cross-section aqua keel) required less water and very little wind......and the wind had to approach 35 knots to roll'em over. You're right...you almost have to drop'em straight down to get'em to 'right' themselves, but the trade-off is more motion. In a 30-knot wind those babies would tether one way, almost roll over, then plop back down and tether to the other side.....back and forth.

I admit, I don't have much experience with field hunting and maybe there are some tricks some of the other fellas on here know about. But motion is motion and we didn't get much from the Flambeau 'cheapies', last year. 'Guess you get what you pay for.....if you're lucky.

Now, Flambeau Magnum water keels are a whole different story. If you're interested in a good medium price-range decoy, I'd buy some o' those, especially for open water hunting......even if they DON'T right themselves......just for the motion. Excellent decoy for the money, IMO.

BTW, tossing decoys so they land upright, IS an 'art'. 'Takes lots o' practice. Maybe I'll perfect it, this season. [img]images/smiles/icon_sad.gif[/img]

[GulfCoast]

Only carry lights that I have ever had the paint peeled off of 'em in sheets. No mas.

[pushpole]

Deke options!! I recommend using several brands of decoys with varying species. If yopu one kind (without moveable head, all the birds are looking the sme. I have mixed carry lites with Flam's.

I have not experience the paint issues some of have. However, I do not like the cheapest Flam's as teh color on them doesn't look right to me. i had to redo all mine before i haynted with them. I use betwee 2 and 16 dozen dekes at a time--take sometime to setup and pickup--but whatever it takes.

Let the hens fly, boys!
pushpole

[JPII]

Have you looked at the "new" RedHead Equalizer deeks in BassPro's catalog @$29.95/dozen?

Was in Springfield, MO a couple weeks ago and checked them over...look an awful lot like Flambeau's...paint looked good...durability?...only time/use would tell.

[comeback]

Hey Hambone, i got some dekes that need re-painting. thinking about trying flat black. we tried it on some liter coke bottles last year and it seemed to work okay. anybody else try this?

[Hambone]

Hey Comeback, that flat black will work, but why waste the paint? Most decoys are almost black anyway once the factory paint job wears off!

[Bent Barrell]

My Dad grew up hunting in South Louisiana and he said all the old hunters had were flat black wood blocks the size of teal. Very rarely would you see painted dekes down there. They used newspaper crumbled up for geese.

[wngrog]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Wildfowler:
<STRONG>I think you ought to stick with G&H's. They'll outlast anything on else on the market. Otherwise you'll eventually be hunting over a spread of "black" decoys like Hambone.

[img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]</STRONG><HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

That's so true and funny as hell!!!

G and H get my vote...they are the very best! Worth the extra money because they last (unless someone shoots them....JACK!)