monster decoys

[family man 49]

I googled these today after hearing about them at the local shop. Page 7 has pics on hunting pa. Looks at the price over Dakotas 150 saved. Hope this help in these hard times!

[SamnTuck]

I just read the entire 15 page thread. I'll be the first to admit on here that it I'm steaming after seeing them and hearing the owners pathetic justification of how they differ from Dakotas. I wasn't too impressed with Dakotas at first in '07, but they've really grown on me. To see those "monster decoys"(read Dakota duplicates), it really does boil my blood. The feather details on the tail are identical, the shape of the heads/where they connect to the decoy body is identical, the shape of the decoy and its detail is identical. The owner says that the base is "different," but that's ridiculous. He changed the position of the slot that locks the base and added another, more restricted cone for movement--big whoop, it operates on the same exact principle. People tried to justify these decoys by saying that all of the other decoys look like each other and these are a "good combination of all of the major brands;" bull crap, a GHG honker does not look like a Big Foot which does not look like a Final Approach which does not look like a Dakota, etc, etc... BUT, these look exactly like Dakotas. If I was Bill from Dakota Decoy, I would not tolerate this.

[SBE II]

Sam,

Thank you for the kind words.

[jlog2483]

Ive never had a problem with DD. I think they look great. My only question is why can this guy sell the same decoy for $150/dozen less? That would be the only reason for not buying Dakotas, a little out of my price range.

[corybdesign]

i think they look similar but not identical. i do get a chuckle out of the crying now that a similar product has undercut them on price. but hey, discriminating hunters will pay more for higher quality so no one has anything to worry about, right?

[h20fowler]

I googled these today after hearing about them at the local shop. Page 7 has pics on hunting pa. Looks at the price over Dakotas 150 saved. Hope this help in these hard times!

Awesome first post. Welcome to the boards! :D

[nwpahntr]

They look very similar to me, but not identicle. It makes you wonder though, if theyre identicle and they can afford to sell them at $150 less per doz. then why is DD priced so high? ... I find it hard to believe that they are identicle, because im sure DD would have already shut them down legally with patent rights. All I know is that they are good looking dekes, relatively inexpensive, and getting a lot of attention. Don't feel bad for DD because if they are identicle, DD will be getting a nice chunk of change from a lawsuit I'm sure. :rolleyes:

[mrussell]

I think a guy on the Calling The Shots forum said it best. "In 12 days all will be right, lack of hunting causes alot of fights, lol":cool:

[Mallardman9]

Here's some pics guys............

Monsters

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll15/mallardman9/decoy1.jpg

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll15/mallardman9/decoy2.jpg

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll15/mallardman9/monster2.jpg



And for those of you that dont know what dakota's look like.......

http://i284.photobucket.com/albums/ll15/mallardman9/side-light.jpg

[SamnTuck]

Ok Ok, so they're not identical... Dakotas are painted much better. I don't have any sentries, but someone should take a picture of one from the same angles to show the blatant similarities.

[corybdesign]

they all have similarities. someone copied the first decoys that showed overlapping wing primaries, flocked heads, etc. im glad they found a way to make a similar decoy for alot less money. maybe there will be some prices being dropped now. competition is a good thing for the consumer.

[BlackMouth]

exactly! maybe itll help bring the other companys back to reality and made decoys affordable again.

[nitrousneil]

to me they look like a ghg paint job on a dakota body!!!!!

[Goose4280]

I personally am all for buying cheaper decoys. Im not a big fan of copy cats though. Dakota has turned into a well known and respected decoy company and hes trying to profit from that obviously. Time will tell.

[BlackMouth]

I say all the more power to him! Especially if he can make and sell them for what he claims. It just goes to show how ridiculous the price for Dakotas are. If he can make a similar decoy and sell it for that mutch less, you can tell how mutch you really are getting gouged when buying Dakotas.

[Goose4280]

Most of the major decoy companies im sure make plenty of profit but just like any other product but all the major companies fork big money into advertising and the consumer pays for it. Like i said before im not for copy cats,but the guy is getting his name around by using the net. That will surely cut costs and enable him to keep the price down.

[jjwanz]

where can you buy them at though?

[freefall319]

Ok Ok, so they're not identical... Dakotas are painted much better. I don't have any sentries, but someone should take a picture of one from the same angles to show the blatant similarities.

Bingo!

Yes, they look the same but the paint is different. They may cost less, but, will the paint hold up like the Dakotas? Paint is the most important thing next to posture. If they only make it through 1/2 a season then what good are they? Now, I am not a Dakota fan myself. Mostly because i've never seen them in person and because my BF's do me just fine for a hell of a lot less (75.99 for 4 floaters compared to 180 for 6= alomst double the cost). But, from what i've read of them they hold up to the abuse pretty damn well. so remember, you get what you pay for! After all, is'nt that how we justify hanging $500+ around our necks?:p

[corybdesign]

i can repaint them about 5 times for the difference in price and id probably need to repaint dakotas once or twice in that time frame anyway. i actually think the side pockets look alot shallower and they look BETTER than dakotas personally.

[mrussell]

where can you buy them at though?
They're not available yet. Only the prototypes have been made...at least that's what I gathered from the huntingpa forum

[XtremaGooseHunter]

The reason Dakota's are higher in price is quality. We have used just about every deek on the market and after one season they were beat badly. This season we shure did put the Dakotas to the test and they held up better then any brand we ever used. Bill cuts no corners on his products. In my opinion this guy is not right in copying the Dakota's but its happend before and will again. Even with being cheaper I am shure they will not hold up as well. I know I would rather pay alittle more money but get a better product.

[mrussell]

The reason Dakota's are higher in price is quality. We have used just about every deek on the market and after one season they were beat badly. This season we shure did put the Dakotas to the test and they held up better then any brand we ever used. Bill cuts no corners on his products. In my opinion this guy is not right in copying the Dakota's but its happend before and will again. Even with being cheaper I am shure they will not hold up as well. I know I would rather pay alittle more money but get a better product.

I agree with the pay a little more for a better product. But......when a couple doz. decoys cost more than my gun that might someday be used by my grandchildren there's a problem. I don't care if his decoys look like the Dakota's or not. The man found a niche. Nice looking decoys the average fella can afford.

[jjwanz]

I agree with the pay a little more for a better product. But......when a couple doz. decoys cost more than my gun that might someday be used by my grandchildren there's a problem. I don't care if his decoys look like the Dakota's or not. The man found a niche. Nice looking decoys the average fella can afford.

Good point, and right on with that comment.

[BlackMouth]

I dont know what the heck some of you guys are doing with your decoys, but I dont seam to have a problem with them getting beat up and paint coming off. For full bodys I mainly use the GHG hunter and pro series, and hunt the hell out of them. Most are in the field all season long. A little extra care and time setting them and picking them up goes along way.

For that reason I cant justify paying 3 times as mutch.

I fully support the new decoys, and as soon as I can Im picking a few dozen up. Maybe even get a sticker for my truck and trailer!!!

[XtremaGooseHunter]

I agree with the pay a little more for a better product. But......when a couple doz. decoys cost more than my gun that might someday be used by my grandchildren there's a problem. I don't care if his decoys look like the Dakota's or not. The man found a niche. Nice looking decoys the average fella can afford.


I agree on your affordablity product but if you buy them for there cheapness what if you have to re-paint/flock or even buy new ones in a year or two. It will eventually add up. I dont understand how he is so great in making these copying the Dakota's. If he was truley an honest man with intregrity he would try to make his acctuall own product at cheaper cost, instead of baseing his product almost exactly like another companys. It would be like me making a truck that looks like a chevy at a cheaper cost and making the wheels different. Im shure the die hard GM fans would not like that too much!

[HRK]

Art Ladehoff.
Make no mistake about it, over twenty years ago Art Ladehoff and, "Big Foot, the Decoy", established the industry standard for field model full body goose decoys.

About the time World War II was ending, Art Ladehoff was already helping his dad paint their hand made decoys. Through the years, Art's interest in decoy making persisted. In 1958 he started Decoys Unlimited in Clinton, Iowa. For the next 25 years, Decoys Unlimited furnished do-it-yourself decoy making kits to thousands of waterfowl hunters. In 1982, Art was interested in purchasing, for his own use, a number of really good looking, easy to handle, full body, field goose decoys. After a lengthy search, it was apparent there was noting available to suit his requirements. It seemed the only alternative, to acquire the quality hunting decoy he wanted, was to do what he had been doing most of his life, design and carve working decoys for his own satisfactionand use. Art's creation had to be a true hunting decoy, rugged, durable, and practical to use. Overall, it had to look better and be better than the popular stuffers preferred by many in the famous Chesapeake Bay goose hunting region. In 1984 Big Foot was introduced. Decoys Unlimited, the part time mail order business, wasrenamed Clinton Decoy Company, and the Big Foot Revolution Began!

[jjwanz]

Yeah i am a fan of ghg, not too too expensive but still have quality. I've been thinking though, and big foots may be the way to go.

[XtremaGooseHunter]

Before I started using Dakota's my spread consisted of GHG Life size series and hunters. I also had some bigfoots. After two seasons on my GHG's they almost looked like a half breed snow goose. They were always in six slot bags. The bigfoots always held up and looked new. Dont get me wrong I loved the looks of the GHG just wish the paint would have stayed on. One feature on the Dakota's is that the plastic is tan. I gouged one really bad on the tralior and could barley tell were it was missing paint at.

[John Manning]

Yeah i am a fan of ghg, not too too expensive but still have quality. I've been thinking though, and big foots may be the way to go.

Good post Barry +10 on the Bigfoots

JJ did you get the Cabelas flyer in the mail? 6 pack of the 'variety pack' of the Bigfoots for 139.99.

[Goose4280]

Ive had some of my bigfoots for alot of years and will have them for many more. Thats a good thing about Dakota is the tan body under the paint you cant really tell. I had some FA eliminators that the body was bright blue when the paint came off. I wasnt to impressed with that.

[jjwanz]

Good post Barry +10 on the Bigfoots

JJ did you get the Cabelas flyer in the mail? 6 pack of the 'variety pack' of the Bigfoots for 139.99.

no i didn't man, but thats a nice buy i know! from what i hear you can beat the piss outta em for years and they still look good!

[h20fowler]

It would be like me making a truck that looks like a chevy at a cheaper cost and making the wheels different. Im shure the die hard GM fans would not like that too much!

Why copy a failing brand? :p:D

[corybdesign]

Quality? Dakotas aren't any more durable than any other decoy, it just depends on how you take care of em. Maybe if dakotas were more reasonably priced the opportunity wouldn't have been there for this guy/company. And as far as copying, they aren't identical and when its been boasted how many people that went into decoy design worked for other companies don't you think they took the ideas and details they liked to make dakotas? Heck, you can see it in the decoys. I'm still laughing at how anyone associated with dakota was running down every other brand and now that they know they are in trouble they are cryin' about it.

[mrussell]

I agree on your affordablity product but if you buy them for there cheapness what if you have to re-paint/flock or even buy new ones in a year or two. It will eventually add up. I dont understand how he is so great in making these copying the Dakota's. If he was truley an honest man with intregrity he would try to make his acctuall own product at cheaper cost, instead of baseing his product almost exactly like another companys. It would be like me making a truck that looks like a chevy at a cheaper cost and making the wheels different. Im shure the die hard GM fans would not like that too much!

I'm glad Brian closed this thread on CTS because of comments like this. You question the honesty and integrity of a man for making a decoy similar to one of your sponsors. I question the integrity of a guy who would make such personal attacks based on a few bad photos.
I'd bet if it says Monster under your name instead of Dakota......Well. Didn't it say FA there last year? Please don't explain how the sponsorship thing works...I know, and I think it fine. Just callin a spade a spade. It doesnt give you the right to personal attacks.

[BlackMouth]

well put.

If Dakotas are that mutch better, than they should have absolutely nothing to worry about.

Iwant it to say Monster Decoys under my name!

[SBE II]

Let it die....This is starting to get really old, a staffer didn't even chime in until late. The decoys aren't even on the market, cheers to the guy that want's to go hunt over a field of sentries and good luck, let the controversy begin when he comes out with the mold for the feeders, actives, and floaters. We don't ever bash any other companies, at least I know that I haven't or seen anyone do that in this forum...This subject of this decoy has been going on longer than this forum, we're not scared, we believe in Dakota and know how hard Bill works at Dakota to provide the best product and just do what we're told. Xtrema is not trying to cause controversy, he's just proud of what he's a part of, just like you guys and your families. Bill treats us like family and the same goes along with Dakota and Longneck, don't assume things that you don't experience first hand. Bill hunts with us, calls us, and is flat out known to be a part of the Longneck Family. We do things to help him out as he does for us...Most staffers take pride in the companies they represent, I'm going to Hammond Cabelas this weekend to represent Dakota, it doesn't pay me anything...I look forward to speaking with people, sharing product ideas and questions, meeting the kids and teaching them how to blow a call if they want, and also meeting forum members....

The best evaluation of a product is to hunt over it for one season...especially decoys.

Just let it rest, the season is right around the corner, let's take it out on the birds not each other...

[mrussell]

Noone....well, I guess I can only speak for myself is mad here brother. Just dont appreciate unwarranted personal attacks on anyone. Where I come from, and in my circle, questioning a mans integrity and honesty is a big deal.

I personally know and really like a few of your brother longneckers. They are good, generous people, I certianly appologize if your team, or anyone else in the "buisness" took offense to anything in my posts. I love what you guys do and enjoy the CTS forum! I don't know Bill, but I'm sure he's a great guy.

ccoooommmm ooonnnn sept!!!!

[BlackMouth]

I agree that its kinda out of hand, but I dont think anything was to bad untill the guys integrity and other ethics started to be called out by a field staff member from a competeing company. Im glad to hear hoe close knit the company you represent is, that says alot about it. Just beware of the kool-aid.

Im done posting on here, Im letting it rest, atleast untill I get my Monster decoys trailer sticker and field staff title;)

[BigR]

Im done posting on here, Im letting it rest, atleast untill I get my Monster decoys trailer sticker and field staff title;)


I'll dress up in some mean monster halloween costume and work your booth and hand out decals:p

[corybdesign]

if their company is monsters inc. do you think disney will get pissed? :D;)

[XtremaGooseHunter]

I apologize. Things can get out of hand time to time.


\

ccoooommmm ooonnnn sept!!!!

And I agree with this! Bring it on!!!

[mrussell]

I apologize. Things can get out of hand time to time.



And I agree with this! Bring it on!!!


No worries here brother!

[BlackMouth]

Its all good here.

Its been to long of a year! I could smell September in the air today!