Avery Full Body mallards

**Marcus** · Feb-12-2007, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tree Doc

Actually, they don't. Just like the one's chuam was pushing, they have fixed feet and are screw mounted to a metal stake. They can only be used in the mud or a surface that you can poke the spike into. I think these are an older style hence the drastically discounted price. Aside from those 6, the rest of my full bodies have the motion stakes.

Currently in my rice blind I place 2 dozen full body GHG Pintails, 1.5 dozen Mallard full bodies, a dozen GHG Mallard shells, a dozen Hardcore Spec full bodies, and I just added a dozen full body Hardcore Canadas to the scene. That's all on the check. You'll find 396 (33 dozen) floaters in the water consisting of Mallards, Sprig, Wigeon, Teal, and even the king of ducks....the SPOONY! Then there's the 5 dozen Spec shells and the 5 dozen Snow Goose shells! I think the snows will be reduced to maybe a dozen next though. They flair ducks.

I bought these from Wing Supply too. The problem was I called the place to place the order and asked them if these had the motion stakes a and was told yes. They were willing to take them back but I would have to pay the shipping. I ended up selling them on E-bay and after the shipping to the customer and e-bay's cost I'll end up losing $5 per 6.

You have a hell of a spread up there on the decoys. I'm planning on buying another 4 full body pintails and some of the sleeper mallards also.

Tree Doc · Feb-12-2007, 06:14 PM

Thanks for the headsup on those other Full Bodies. More than anything, I need more resters and sleepers so I might jump on that deal.

Here's an early evolution Pic of my blind. Of course things were changed around quite a bit as conditions dictated.

KID CREOLE · Feb-13-2007, 12:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tree Doc

Actually, they don't. Just like the one's chuam was pushing, they have fixed feet and are screw mounted to a metal stake. They can only be used in the mud or a surface that you can poke the spike into. I think these are an older style hence the drastically discounted price. Aside from those 6, the rest of my full bodies have the motion stakes.

Currently in my rice blind I place 2 dozen full body GHG Pintails, 1.5 dozen Mallard full bodies, a dozen GHG Mallard shells, a dozen Hardcore Spec full bodies, and I just added a dozen full body Hardcore Canadas to the scene. That's all on the check. You'll find 396 (33 dozen) floaters in the water consisting of Mallards, Sprig, Wigeon, Teal, and even the king of ducks....the SPOONY! Then there's the 5 dozen Spec shells and the 5 dozen Snow Goose shells! I think the snows will be reduced to maybe a dozen next though. They flair ducks.

Hmmm, our GHG/Avery Mallards and Pintails all have motion system cones, we have several different length stakes, we use the stands for the fields and have 30" stakes for the water.

As far as the snow goose shells, I won't hunt anywhere near them if they are not on stakes, snows shells or any other shells lay flat on the ground are a bad thing.

The Hardcores are OK but they don't move like the GHG/Averys Snows which is critical with snow geese, not as critical with honkers. I ordered some Hardcore snows in October and they are the worst decoys I've seen in my life, which reminds me I still have that junk in boxs in my garage!

Tree Doc · Feb-13-2007, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KID CREOLE

Hmmm, our GHG/Avery Mallards and Pintails all have motion system cones, we have several different length stakes, we use the stands for the fields and have 30" stakes for the water.

I think these may be a first generation Full Body. I don't know that Avery is still building them like this but I'd guess not.

As far as the snow goose shells, I won't hunt anywhere near them if they are not on stakes, snows shells or any other shells lay flat on the ground are a bad thing.

All my shell are on stakes, just not motion stakes. I don't believe motion of any great scale is at all critical with Goose Decoys in a Rice Blind. We're not targeting large flights of Geese. I have thousands of Snows and Specs over my blind each day. It's the singles, pairs, and small flights of maybe 4,5, or 6 that are what I'm after. It requires good calling skills and a well setup spread. It's impossible to compete with a grind of 10,000 geese that are 1/4 mile away when hunting from a flooded rice field.

There were a lot of single and paired Specs that died 20-30 yards over the top of those Hardcore Spec Full Bodies!! They all died after being called in, circling, and craning their long necks at those decoys! Same goes for a few Snows and Ross's

The Hardcores are OK but they don't move like the GHG/Averys Snows which is critical with snow geese, not as critical with honkers. I ordered some Hardcore snows in October and they are the worst decoys I've seen in my life, which reminds me I still have that junk in boxs in my garage!

I can't speak to the Hardcore Snows, never seen them or had a use for a full body Snow but I will say that I'll take the Hardcore Specs and Canadas over the GHG. The GHG's look great and I know they have their motion system but the body detail on the Hardcore coupled with the finish work make for an even more realistic decoy. I think the Hardcores are only second to the Dave Smiths which sell at twice the price. To each his own though, that's why more than one decoy company can stay afloat.

Though my spread is almost all GHG, I don't trust their paint jobs yet, especially their goose finishes. My Spec floaters and shells have all peeled significantly. I had to repaint my floaters after just one season. Even a significant few of the myriad of full body ducks I have peeled. Most on the head but I have a couple that have some body paint flaking. This was their first season.

For my particular application, I'll stick with the Hardcores.

KID CREOLE · Feb-13-2007, 02:39 PM

TD,

Sounds good, I like the detail on the Hardcores especially the specs, I rarely ever hunt specs except when hunting in Canada so my experience with them is very limited.

As far as Dave Smith, awsome detail and quality, but fragile as crystal. I saw two decoys destroyed by geese falling on them in Canada, that's $175.00 down the drain.

I would probably run the same set up as you if I was in your position but down here it's important to have motion for the snows but it's MANDATORY in the midwest for snows. If your decoys don't cast a shadow or move you're in for a tough day!

Good info TD

Here's a pic of a spread from the past, Texas Rags and Shells

Here's a spread of Avery/GHG's, Hardcores and Dave Smiths