Great review boys, need more people out doing videos like this, The consumer can really benefit from others expierence. I personally bought 96 Avian X AXP goose decoys and you're definitely right about durability. The fold up stand is flawed and every year i have atleast 2-3 decoys that need repair. One thing you could of touched up on though is the time saved when the stand works properly. To be able to set the decoy down right away without having to put down a stand or stake in the ground over the course of the season is a huge time saver. faster set up times is a huge deal. keep up the good work though!
Great review ! You should try Dakotas signature series. You won’t buy anything else after you try them. They are a very tough decoy we throw them in and out of the trailer with the big feet we use only difference in the durability between the two is the heads don’t fly off like the bigfeet and the base is connected by a heavy bungee cord. Nice to hear an honest decoy comparison. I would like to see more gear comparisons. Great job !
Do you guys use shells? Also, do you think it matters if the color schemes on the decoys is different? Some are more brown than others, some don’t have as much detail, we run silhouettes, shells, and full bodies. Curious what you guys think. Thanks!
Awesome review, guys! I've got 2 dozen of the Avian's and I think they look great and are durable as ever. However..... The base system blows... I wish Avian had customer service that actually gave a shit about their products in order to make them better in the future.
I had the exact same setup a bunch of random brands of decoys 40 dzn if I could go back I would of stayed with 1 brand pain in the ass IMO but this past year I sold the trailer and switched to dive bombs 80dzn silos and 20dzn socks I will never go back to fullbodys again best decision ever.
On my Avain stands that failed, I just put them at the height I like and wrap black electric tape around the stake just below the body, put a blob of plumbers goop on the part that goes into the decoy and just leave them extended. I run them with my foots, and I love my Bigfoot's.😆😆😆😆😆
just get Dakota signature series and forget about the rest of the competition, no shine, dark, good detail if ur one of those guys, good size, good motion, and goodbase and eva plastic, cant go wrong in a signature series
I’ve hunted over signature series quite a bit, I really do like them.. I just have a hard time passing on the FAs. They fit all the criteria you mentioned other than not being quite as dark. But are a better value. That being said when it comes to duck floaters, Dakota Xtremes are the only way to go!
That sucks to hear, but I guess we will see this season, the way they hang in the trailer keeps them from rubbing a ton on other decoys so hopefully that helps
Bigfoots man hands down, I have 3 doz bigfoots, 2 doz avain x 8 hidgons, all full body, then another 3 doz shells, I do like my avain x lessers nice but the full size that stake system sucks !!! I keep going back to my foots, and I would like to have 24 DSD honkers but man the money is tight lol.
I'll be curious to see what you think about those Final Approach after some time. And you can, or at least could get with flocked tails... I have some with and without flocking on the tail. They work fine, but the paint comes off pretty easy and mine have faded pretty badly. I went back to buying Bigfoots.
I've had some of the older GHGs and I absolutely hate the base system, the newer styles are definitely a lot better. I've also got a few dozen of thise same higdons and unfortunately the heads on quite a few have broken off. I plan on getting all new stuff next year and am Considering, Dakotas, Big Foots, DOAs, and Final Approach
You owe it to yourself to check out SX full size flocked decoys. A relatively new company but a solid decoy and the best customer service in the industry.
I have 7 dozen Avianx honkers and bought most in 2014 or 2015 and only have 2 bases that messed up. Alot of decoys now , GHG,FA have decent carving but the color is to light on the back IMO. Since Avianx changed ownership I will be buying SXDECOYS if and when I need more.
Great review boys, need more people out doing videos like this, The consumer can really benefit from others expierence. I personally bought 96 Avian X AXP goose decoys and you're definitely right about durability. The fold up stand is flawed and every year i have atleast 2-3 decoys that need repair. One thing you could of touched up on though is the time saved when the stand works properly. To be able to set the decoy down right away without having to put down a stand or stake in the ground over the course of the season is a huge time saver. faster set up times is a huge deal. keep up the good work though!
Yes, the pop in base is a sweet design! That’s what got me to buy them in the first place, Just would like to see them hold up a little better
@@toughhunting9370 you could definitely use wood on the bottom screwed to those feet stubs
Good video, just subscribed. We’re running dakotas and tanglefree and some hardcore fulls. Started out with Bigfoot’s too, still got some.
Great review !
You should try Dakotas signature series. You won’t buy anything else after you try them.
They are a very tough decoy we throw them in and out of the trailer with the big feet we use only difference in the durability between the two is the heads don’t fly off like the bigfeet and the base is connected by a heavy bungee cord.
Nice to hear an honest decoy comparison.
I would like to see more gear comparisons.
Great job !
All our floaters are dakotas and love them. You’re right, we need to pick us up some Dakota full bodies
Fantastic review covering many brands. Good job guys.
Thanks for watching, and good luck this hunting season!
Do you guys use shells? Also, do you think it matters if the color schemes on the decoys is different? Some are more brown than others, some don’t have as much detail, we run silhouettes, shells, and full bodies. Curious what you guys think.
Thanks!
I really like using active shells when there is snow on the ground to imitate geese sitting in snow to melt it
Variety is good since the sun hits different on geese and such I’ve never had a problem with it.
Awesome review, guys! I've got 2 dozen of the Avian's and I think they look great and are durable as ever. However..... The base system blows... I wish Avian had customer service that actually gave a shit about their products in order to make them better in the future.
Couldn’t agree more!
I love this review, should do more In-depth on each one
Maybe we will do that this off season!
I had the exact same setup a bunch of random brands of decoys 40 dzn if I could go back I would of stayed with 1 brand pain in the ass IMO but this past year I sold the trailer and switched to dive bombs 80dzn silos and 20dzn socks I will never go back to fullbodys again best decision ever.
You will miss your full bodies, give it a while. Hope it works for ya. I have silos, don't run them.
@toughhunting how did the FA HD honkers do this fall??
Sorry I was late to this comment, thanks for messaging us!
No problem. I know people don’t check UA-cam often. Great convo on FB. Thanks for your time guys
Which ones are the best for the price
In my opinion, it’s got to be the Final Approach decoys
Have ya seen the new HIGDON motion Canada decoy ? Looks awesome
I haven’t seen it yet but I love some of the motion water decoys they’ve come out with for ducks!
Shell decoys are nice because of the space they take up and they also double as water decoys with modifications
Yeah I don’t mind slime shells at all! Really like them with snow on the ground to imitate geese sitting down to melt the snow before feeding
@@toughhunting9370 ya and a piece of pipe insulation makes em float
How many did you get for the big foots?
Majority of our spread is big foots!
@@toughhunting9370 nice! Thanks for responding!
No problem, sorry it was a couple days late!
@@toughhunting9370 np! Keep up the great UA-cam channel
Where do you buy your decoys from?
Anywhere we can find a good deal, but most of the recent ones have come from Rogers Sporting Goods
@@toughhunting9370 Ok thanks
Roger's and SXDECOYS.
On my Avain stands that failed, I just put them at the height I like and wrap black electric tape around the stake just below the body, put a blob of plumbers goop on the part that goes into the decoy and just leave them extended. I run them with my foots, and I love my Bigfoot's.😆😆😆😆😆
Flambeau decoys???? What u think,
Floaters,, shells whatever, geese decoys
I’ve never hunted with flambeaus so I don’t have an honest opinion but they always seem to be listed at a fair price
Higdon paint schemes on ducks too are lacking in general and tend to be darker including their flocking IMHO
Good review but ever since we switched to socks and silhouettes we'll never ho back to full bodies.
just get Dakota signature series and forget about the rest of the competition, no shine, dark, good detail if ur one of those guys, good size, good motion, and goodbase and eva plastic, cant go wrong in a signature series
I’ve hunted over signature series quite a bit, I really do like them.. I just have a hard time passing on the FAs. They fit all the criteria you mentioned other than not being quite as dark. But are a better value. That being said when it comes to duck floaters, Dakota Xtremes are the only way to go!
Yes agreed the Dakota signature series are the best decoy on the market hands down
@@toughhunting9370 the FA paint will be junk in 3 hunts. I had high hopes for them but the failed MISERABLY!!!!
That sucks to hear, but I guess we will see this season, the way they hang in the trailer keeps them from rubbing a ton on other decoys so hopefully that helps
@@toughhunting9370 yeah I'm a throw and go kinda guy. Hanging them might help
Bigfoots man hands down, I have 3 doz bigfoots, 2 doz avain x 8 hidgons, all full body, then another 3 doz shells, I do like my avain x lessers nice but the full size that stake system sucks !!! I keep going back to my foots, and I would like to have 24 DSD honkers but man the money is tight lol.
I’d love some DSDs too but I don’t want to have to take out a bank loan to purchase decoys 😂
Nothing but Big feet in my spreads,have old carry lites (reconditioned) to add #s without weight
I'll be curious to see what you think about those Final Approach after some time. And you can, or at least could get with flocked tails... I have some with and without flocking on the tail.
They work fine, but the paint comes off pretty easy and mine have faded pretty badly. I went back to buying Bigfoots.
Good to know! Only have been hunted a few times this year, field hunts will start picking up anytime now and we will see how they work!
I've had some of the older GHGs and I absolutely hate the base system, the newer styles are definitely a lot better. I've also got a few dozen of thise same higdons and unfortunately the heads on quite a few have broken off. I plan on getting all new stuff next year and am Considering, Dakotas, Big Foots, DOAs, and Final Approach
Haven’t used any DOAs but the others are all solid options
You owe it to yourself to check out SX full size flocked decoys. A relatively new company but a solid decoy and the best customer service in the industry.
I use all silhouettes. No trailer needed
#fabrand my favorite
Only good bigfoots are the originals the b2 is awful
avern x is the best decoy on the market
Best looking maybe….. they don’t hold up for crap imo
@@toughhunting9370 they hold up for me so the top brand right now avan x
Heck yeah go get em this season
How many avern x decoy u have
I have 7 dozen Avianx honkers and bought most in 2014 or 2015 and only have 2 bases that messed up. Alot of decoys now , GHG,FA have decent carving but the color is to light on the back IMO. Since Avianx changed ownership I will be buying SXDECOYS if and when I need more.
Big foots are horrible they can’t even stand up in 20mph+ wind they just fall over
Save your dollars and buy dsds
I love dsd decoys, have some of their turkey deeks. But are they really worth the extra money for the wear and tear we put honker deeks through?
Yes less decoys used easier to take care of. Mine still look new after a season and a half of extreme use.
Don’t buy full bodies. Ever.
You need to baby the avern x goose decoys I’ve have 24 of them none of my avern x do thats