Interesting conversation on another site that leads me to ask, "anybody got these very pricey decoy's and if so, how good are they in bringing birds in?".

I know dec uses em, I know from seein them they look amazing.

One thing for sure, if a decoy is going to work in a bird, one that looks less realistic than a DSD is not going to work better. Might as well spend a some extra cash and get a good looking made in the USA decoy from a fine company. I have a hen and jake and like them a lot.

Down side is they are bigger than most to carry and a $15 decoy from Walmart works sometimes too.

Not sure if this works both ways, but last year I had a group of geese land on the 3 turkey decoys I had in the field. I couldnt do anything but laugh.

It works both ways! I saw a gobbler leave another gobbler and some hens to walk across the field and strut for two geese.

Turkeys are so dumb.

They can be dumb, but then again ive had em hand it to on occasion also. Thats what makes it so much fun.

DSDs are great, I love the look of this jake for half the price though... DSD quality.

http://bestturkeydecoy.com/shop/best-turkey-decoy-dakota-xtreme-jake/

DSD quality? How ya figure?

Where's it made?

I wouldn't give a $1 for one if them.

DSD's are awesome, but $160 for basically the same decoy that dakota sells for $90??

read the comparison here

http://bestturkeydecoy.com/2013/01/20/dave-smith-
turkey-decoys-89-2/

Look at them side by side here and decide for yourself


Made overseas, that's where the cost savings is over the DSD...

I have a problem buying a decoy designed by, or copied by (whichever you want to call it) a man that threw a fit that his call was being replicated by the NWTF by a Chinese company when he knew full well it was going to happen. Then copies an American product (as you pointed out, pretty well) for a company that has it produced in china? I'll send my money to an American company or do without before I support anything Dave Constantine is involved with.

And that's only part of it.

I have hunted with the DSD's since their first turkey decoy hit the market back in 2008 (I believe). I've hunted over every DSD except the strutter. In fact every decoy that I own, goose, turkey, and deer is a DSD. I own them for several reasons. 1) American made, 2) Realism ... I'm just a decoy junkie and like realistic decoys if for no other reason then, well, they look real, 3) Drawing power ... I want my birds (turkeys, geese) and deer close. Like stupid close and I want to hold them. I just like like shooting geese landing at my foot bag or holding a turkey at 5 yards for as long as I want him there. Just the way I like to hunt, not saying it is a better way to hunt than the way others do, but it is the way I get enjoyment out of my hunts. Finally 4) A 100% commitment to the product by the owners who will stand behind their product regardless of the situation. Over the years I have become personal friends with both Dave and Brad. There is not a decoy that they make that they will not bend over backwards for the customer should there be any issue what so ever.

Are they expensive? Heck yes. Between all of my goose decoys, deer decoy, and turkey decoys, I have over $5,000 just in DSD decoys. Do I need them to kill turkeys or geese or deer? No. I have killed turkeys over every conceivable decoy made and even no decoys. I have killed geese over almost every brand and style of decoy out there. I've killed deer over 2D Renzo decoys even. I don't need DSD decoys to kill an animal. But I do like the drawing and holding power of these ultra-realistic decoys. When I am bow hunting turkeys I want them at 5-10 yards and I want them to engage the decoy. I want them to stomp the decoy in the dirt. I want to hold a bird there for a kid to shoot. I want to hold the bird there for a kid just to watch birds up close. I just enjoy having and holding birds that close. And to do that on a day in and day out consistent basis then an ultra-realistic decoy is the tool for the job, whether that is turkeys, geese, or deer.

There are three decoy brands that in my opinion meet that criteria when it comes to turkey decoys. 1) DSD obviously. 2) Freddy's Avian X, which while not quite the detail as a DSD it is a unique carving and well built decoy at a reasonable price point. Very nice looking decoy. 3) the BTD or Dakota X-treme Jake (same decoy marketed under two names but all made and forwards. Good products. I hunted over their goose decoys for a few years. I will tell you that they have been known for their "reverse engineering" on other companies products in a few cases. I will tell you that every decoy is made in China. A goose decoy costs about $8.00 to make and ship from China to the USA. They sell them for about $40 each. You do the math on who is getting rich. I won't go into the legal stuff that I know about the jake decoy, but I will tell you that it is a direct knock off of the DSD. That being said, it fills a nitch at a price point, and is a good looking well built decoy. It will pull in and hold birds.

My money is going to DSD every time. Made in the USA (materials and labor much higher and therefore a higher price). Quality decoys (virtually indestructible material and paint). Customer service second to none. Realistic drawing power.

Let me know if you have any questions about any of the products. I am in no way officially affiliated with DSD. I am personal friends with the owners and have been using their decoys for a long time.

I think paying that much for decoys is crazy. I have been using the same decoys for years and they help get me a bird every year so why change. It looks pretty Redneck but hey it works. I took a rubber jake decoy and put a real jake fan on him and stick it through the back of the decoy. Works like a charm and was cheap.

I did get a DSD jake and I told my wife to make sure she shoots the real bird and not the decoy. I don't buy higher priced stuff very often but decided to splurge on the jake. I'll continue to use my "cheap" hen decoys, when I use decoys which isn't very often. I am going to try to bow approach this year though and wanted to try to draw the birds within ten yards and hold them. We shall see.

Ya dont need a 160party decoy to kill a turkey .. sure it MIGHT make it easier .... but gee wizz just hunt hard for a couple days ... i use deeks now and then too but I'd. Do just as good without one i think...

But Gun, I wanna get'm close enough to hit'm with a stick! Your point is a good one though. Actually, your point can be expanded to use a cheap gun vs. an expensive gun or a cheap fishing rod compared to an expensive fishing rod or a garden worm vs. a $5 lure. Pretty much tells ya that guys have a lot more discretionary income than they sometimes like to think.

It is all in how you want to hunt them gundude. No one way is more right than another. I have lost count of the number of toms that I have killed over the years and I've killed them every legal way imaginable. Call them in with no decoys and shoot them with a gun at every thing from 10 yards to 53 paces. Decoy them to 25 yards with a $5 turkey foam and shoot them with a gun. Get out in front of them and ambush them with a gun. Bow hunt them on the ground with no blind and no decoys and put an arrow through one at 12 yards. And about every other way legally possible. They are all fun, all hunting, and all rewardable.

But my favorite way is to put them at 5-10 yards and let them beat the ever living heck out of my decoys, shoot some photos, shoot some video, enjoy the show, and then shoot them in the head with my bow. Just the way that I like to hunt. Can I get a turkey to commit to that level with just any decoy ... yea, sometimes. But can I do that 99% of the time that a turkey sees my set up ... only with an ultra-realistic jake decoy. I've hunted a lot of birds over these decoys. I've killed birds over them, I've guided youth and adults hunting over them. I can tell you that if you do your homework and know the birds, and know how to set up, that in almost EVERY instance, you will put birds in the decoys, they will engage the decoys, and you will get to see an amazing show.

Is that for everyone ... NOPE. That is why there are many ways to hunt turkeys and many tools to aid in accomplishing that goal. $160 for a jake decoy makes for some inexpensive entertainment, IMO. I don't "need" that decoy, just like I don't need a lot of the things that I own.

It isn't about the 5 yard kill shot. It is about the display that takes place up until that 5 yard kill shot. And "that" you will not get DAY IN AND DAY OUT over a $5 foamy.

Lots of decoys at lots of price points for lots of styles of hunting. The beauty of a free market.

Thus the beauty of "choice"...

Lol... just in a "fowl" mood today..

Didnt mean to diss anybody.... ive got deeks out the wazoi..

Just changing the way i hunt.. i may not even take a call this year other than my own mouth... ( that ought to send them over a county or two)........

Sorry.. nuthin against deeks..

Hunt on!!!

Great analogy "fowl"! You may be grumpy but you're on your game.

Lol ..glad you got it
... grumpy about a several things but real hunters isn't one of them...

To all
Your pal .. gundude...

20 bucks from bass pro last year, no dsd but it works for what I need!