They'll work in the field, but if it gets to windy they might blow around. They also don't have a lot of head positions, so if you're trying to fill a big field spread it may come up.
100% agree - I have 4 dozen of them. (2x mallard, 2x wigeon) They aren't the most realistic decoy out there, especially the wigeon. But past a certain point I don't think realism matters. Visibility & contrast are far more important. The only thing I disagree with is the jerk string. Their drops are too long. They're roughly 6-8" long, which means you have 12-16" of hand movement that is effectively 'slop' where the decoy isn't really moving. Using the coated steel mainline is great though.
Yeah, you’re probably right on the drop length. I kinda yank the string hard so I never think about it. I appreciate you checking out my video! Thank you.
genuinely great video. i just found your channel and went to go binge a bunch all of your videos but there were sadly only a couple. I’m excited to see where this goes in the future!
Koby, if you knew how much that means to me, you’d be blown away. Thank you. I’m gonna try to make some more. Btw- send me some ideas of things you’d like to talk about.
I have 2 dozen of them, I like them for the weight but ended up putting the weights in mine because they flip over in higher winds. That is less then helpful. If I had to chose again. Ide still buy divebombs. Look better and the paint on almost all 2 dozen of my mallards from lifetime - each one is missing a spot of paint. But not bad for China decoys.
Lol.. I’d say so! Appreciate the comment and hadn’t hunted in high enough winds to see them flip over, but I could definitely see that happening and being a problem
I have actually. The only thing I didn’t care for was they seemed to have a funny shape when they needed more air and I was worried about some goober shooting them. I appreciate the comment
It's the double keel that bothers me about them. I have some Herter's that are flat bottoms without keels and they swim circles around my decoys that have keels. How well do these move on water when there isn't much wind?
That’s a great question. So far, I’ve had wind in most situations. However, because they are so light weight, I anticipate that they will move well, especially when a jerk string is used. I almost never hunt without a jerk string.
I have used them for a few years now…….I had some of the old herters and I think 5hey are about the same with very little wind…..they move with the slightest breeze.
I haven’t that I’m aware of. I can see where that would be an issue for sure though. I’d be curious to see exactly what you’re referring to so I can look for it and watch out for if it happens!
I don’t really care for the lifetime decoys, the paint and material on them don’t last. In addition to… they don’t have keels but hollow cavities. Aggravating for packing up decoys and putting them into slotted bags. There is nothing lifetime about a decoy you have to repaint after a season or two of use… the mallards are also very light in color… I’ve killed ducks over them, but won’t waste anymore money on them. I’ll stick with the fully flocked Dakota decoys and keep smashing.
@@stephentheduckhunter well unfortunately I’m in the unfortunate flyway they call the Atlantic flyway lol. More of the unfortunate part being that it’s South Carolina. We go out west to hunt though. Arkansas and Mississippi. More of Mississippi now than anything due to Arkansas strongly discouraging out of state hunters.
Pretty much it seems like you pay a ton of money built off the fact that they are the lightweight decoy and they last but if you don't ad the weights that make it the same weight as every other decoy it won't right itself and once you have it outfitted the way you need it to actually hunt smoothly between the heavy string and weights it'll weigh the same as any other and it's not as realistic as other decoys. Hmmm I'm not sure what the deal is. Maybe they should just say it lasts forever and not mention the weight. I see a lot of guides using these, and I can't imagine a guide is gonna want to go hand place ever decoy every trip. Idk for some reason I got excited about them but I think I'll just stick to the ones I'm using also I see they don't have any different head positions they are mostly high head all looking the same direction and unless you string half from the rear they are gonna look like a spooky flock of ducks facing the wind ready to lift off which I learned early on isn't good so I like to use a bunch of relaxed natural head positions. Watching wild ducks the only time they are all facing the same direction with a high head is when they are about to check out. Anyways you did a great video on them and are very knowledgeable I was looking for reviews to see what all the fuss was about with these deeks after I seen the price. You would think making that kind of money they could afford some different molds. Or have swivel heads. Or at least some feeders but they probably all gotta be centered and low so they aren't doing the back stroke all morning. Lol. The only reason I'm so picky is I gotta be in at the bottom of the flyway and we're the last ones to hunt these birds they got a doctors in busting people and at least a masters in decoy spreads so I gotta keep mine very realistic and natural to convince em it ain't a set up. If I were up north on the front lines, I could probably get away with a spread of painted 2 liter bottles and crab pot buoys for decoys and still slay em but sadly I'm not and you just about how have pet ducks for decoys to convince em to finish if you want to do it right. I'm not big on sky blasting and dove hunt style duck hunts lolol. But anyways good luck out there and I'll be sure to subscribe to see your adventures and get a good look at what real waterfowling looks like!
@stephentheduckhunter they certainly do. I live at the literal end of the flyway and if we aren't invisible with a 100% realistic spread it's just wizzing in the wind
Was thinking of these for hunting over water and also field hunting instead of buying 2 sets of deeks since they have a more stable bottom
They'll work in the field, but if it gets to windy they might blow around.
They also don't have a lot of head positions, so if you're trying to fill a big field spread it may come up.
100% agree - I have 4 dozen of them. (2x mallard, 2x wigeon)
They aren't the most realistic decoy out there, especially the wigeon. But past a certain point I don't think realism matters. Visibility & contrast are far more important.
The only thing I disagree with is the jerk string. Their drops are too long. They're roughly 6-8" long, which means you have 12-16" of hand movement that is effectively 'slop' where the decoy isn't really moving. Using the coated steel mainline is great though.
Yeah, you’re probably right on the drop length. I kinda yank the string hard so I never think about it. I appreciate you checking out my video! Thank you.
genuinely great video. i just found your channel and went to go binge a bunch all of your videos but there were sadly only a couple. I’m excited to see where this goes in the future!
Koby, if you knew how much that means to me, you’d be blown away. Thank you. I’m gonna try to make some more. Btw- send me some ideas of things you’d like to talk about.
Just bought some of these today. Good video.
Awesome! Save some ducks for the rest of us!
I have 2 dozen of them, I like them for the weight but ended up putting the weights in mine because they flip over in higher winds. That is less then helpful. If I had to chose again. Ide still buy divebombs. Look better and the paint on almost all 2 dozen of my mallards from lifetime - each one is missing a spot of paint. But not bad for China decoys.
Lol.. I’d say so! Appreciate the comment and hadn’t hunted in high enough winds to see them flip over, but I could definitely see that happening and being a problem
Don’t leave them hanging outside during the season. Mine got faded really bad
The sun seems to be hard on most things.
Have you used the Dakota packables? Those r super light
I have actually. The only thing I didn’t care for was they seemed to have a funny shape when they needed more air and I was worried about some goober shooting them. I appreciate the comment
1:18 earned you a new subsciber 🤣
🙋🏻♂️🙋🏽♀️
Appreciate it Jordan.
It's the double keel that bothers me about them. I have some Herter's that are flat bottoms without keels and they swim circles around my decoys that have keels. How well do these move on water when there isn't much wind?
That’s a great question. So far, I’ve had wind in most situations. However, because they are so light weight, I anticipate that they will move well, especially when a jerk string is used. I almost never hunt without a jerk string.
I have used them for a few years now…….I had some of the old herters and I think 5hey are about the same with very little wind…..they move with the slightest breeze.
If you run them without keel weights they definitely dance around 7-10 mph, but then you have to place them.
Have you had any issues with the eye bolt grommet popping out ?
I haven’t that I’m aware of. I can see where that would be an issue for sure though. I’d be curious to see exactly what you’re referring to so I can look for it and watch out for if it happens!
Good decoys. My only complaint is if you leave your lifetime decoys out to long hens will turn pink.
I hadn’t even thought about that! Great point.
I found your channel today………I have been r7nning Lifetime decoys for a few years now love em
Awesome! I’ll be sure to check out your stuff as well! Thanks for the sub!
I don’t really care for the lifetime decoys, the paint and material on them don’t last. In addition to… they don’t have keels but hollow cavities. Aggravating for packing up decoys and putting them into slotted bags. There is nothing lifetime about a decoy you have to repaint after a season or two of use… the mallards are also very light in color… I’ve killed ducks over them, but won’t waste anymore money on them. I’ll stick with the fully flocked Dakota decoys and keep smashing.
I like your style, brother! Where do you hunt mostly?
@@stephentheduckhunter well unfortunately I’m in the unfortunate flyway they call the Atlantic flyway lol. More of the unfortunate part being that it’s South Carolina. We go out west to hunt though. Arkansas and Mississippi. More of Mississippi now than anything due to Arkansas strongly discouraging out of state hunters.
Pretty much it seems like you pay a ton of money built off the fact that they are the lightweight decoy and they last but if you don't ad the weights that make it the same weight as every other decoy it won't right itself and once you have it outfitted the way you need it to actually hunt smoothly between the heavy string and weights it'll weigh the same as any other and it's not as realistic as other decoys. Hmmm I'm not sure what the deal is. Maybe they should just say it lasts forever and not mention the weight. I see a lot of guides using these, and I can't imagine a guide is gonna want to go hand place ever decoy every trip. Idk for some reason I got excited about them but I think I'll just stick to the ones I'm using also I see they don't have any different head positions they are mostly high head all looking the same direction and unless you string half from the rear they are gonna look like a spooky flock of ducks facing the wind ready to lift off which I learned early on isn't good so I like to use a bunch of relaxed natural head positions. Watching wild ducks the only time they are all facing the same direction with a high head is when they are about to check out. Anyways you did a great video on them and are very knowledgeable I was looking for reviews to see what all the fuss was about with these deeks after I seen the price. You would think making that kind of money they could afford some different molds. Or have swivel heads. Or at least some feeders but they probably all gotta be centered and low so they aren't doing the back stroke all morning. Lol. The only reason I'm so picky is I gotta be in at the bottom of the flyway and we're the last ones to hunt these birds they got a doctors in busting people and at least a masters in decoy spreads so I gotta keep mine very realistic and natural to convince em it ain't a set up. If I were up north on the front lines, I could probably get away with a spread of painted 2 liter bottles and crab pot buoys for decoys and still slay em but sadly I'm not and you just about how have pet ducks for decoys to convince em to finish if you want to do it right. I'm not big on sky blasting and dove hunt style duck hunts lolol. But anyways good luck out there and I'll be sure to subscribe to see your adventures and get a good look at what real waterfowling looks like!
Appreciate it. Never thought about ducks having degrees on decoys spreads by the time they get south!
@stephentheduckhunter they certainly do. I live at the literal end of the flyway and if we aren't invisible with a 100% realistic spread it's just wizzing in the wind
@@PenCo91oh south Louisiana huh?
Animals can figure it out and humans can’t, subbed lol
Appreciate it!
nice video, keep it up
Appreciate it!
The biggest disappointment of these decoys is the huge “ made in china” sticker on every decoy when you open them up.
Personally, I didn’t notice that, maybe because I was both excited and distracted. However, I tend to agree with you on that.