Avian-X Top Flight Decoys

S

S Lewis

Active member
Fellow hunters,
I'm looking to help a friend buy some redhead decoys to go along with his cork bluebills. Has anyone had experience with this decoy. Every supplier seems to sell them, but I can't find any decent reviews. I'm familiar with G & H and Banded. What is Avian's "rubberized molded materials" they talk about. Rick Johannsen as creator makes this mold look like a winner.

Thanks for your input on them.

Louie
 
They are new this year so you won't see any unsponsored reviews for a while.

AvianX has developed a good reputation with previous offerings though.

Two friends have purchased the redheads and are so far satisfied. They are significantly larger than ghg oversized redheads if that is a factor for your friend.
 
I don't have the new diver decoys but I have bought a handful of boxes of their puddle ducks. I would say the realism and paint are pretty good overall by comparison to what else is similar/available. Of course everyone has their likes and dislikes but I can't complain much about what I've got including some dekes that have been used a few seasons hard and one even absorbed some shot and lives on. The softer plastic somewhat resealed and though it rattles it doesn't take on water. For almost $20/decoy the big divers aren't cheap but I don't think they're a rip off for that price. AvianX makes good plastic decoys in my opinion. No experience with the new divers though, gotta repeat...
 
The rubber mold materials avian x is talking about is the type of plastic they are made of its soft to the touch meaning when you cram them in a decoy sack they wont crack like the hard plastic other decoy companys use.

I use avian x decoys for my decoys now. I have their mallards, black ducks, gadwall, widgeon, pintails, both teals, woodducks, red heads, canvasbacks, and the bluebills.

Only other duck decoys I have are GHG magnum buffleheads and goldeneys and six dozon coots.

I dont hunt with all the decoys at on time much mostly hunt with 4 to 6 dozon at a time.
 
Thanks for the input guys. I talked with an Avian tech rep today. (Jimmy) He was helpful and his description matches up with what you said Clinton. ie: more forgiving to abuse and built the same as their mallards. I appreciate you guys as "real world field testers".
Thanks again... Louie
 
As a side note I have notice because they give more when smashing them into decoy bags the paint seems to hold up better then other decoys I have used over the years.
 
A buddy of mine has run the Avian X mallards for about 3 seasons, and I've been pretty impressed with them-they look really good and the softer plastic seems to hold up really well. The flex they have reminds me of the older G&H decoys, and if I was in the market for more plastic decoys I'd give them a good look. They sure are pricey though!
 
3 words...MADE IN CHINA

They look good and all, but I was dumb enoough to buy some when they hit the market and the plastic cracked within a year. No idea why either, they were not abused in any way shape or form. 2 of the 6 simply cracked.

Get more corks or some cedar. If you have to go with plastics go with something made in the US at least.

Oh, here's a picture for you to consider...
cfd4f0c6-c98d-4075-aad3-52c73c2817da_zps3e3cfaf2.jpg

 
Last edited:
http://www.fieldandstream.com/photos/gallery/hunting/2010/12/duck-decoy-tour

I think everyone working in the USA should read the last paragraph of this article, right before "Additional Info" at the end of the article.
 
I have G&H gadwalls, redheads and cans I bought back in 1998 & 99.
Only issue with them is about 1/4 have cracked where the head meet the body. Years ago they would send you new heads, but that policy has ended, you now have to pay for new heads and they are running out of heads for the older models like I have.
But as far as bodies go, I have never had a single one crack or major paint issues.
They are, by far, the best plastic decoys on the market.
 
Thanks for your Avian-X "field" input. I wonder if the current molding process has changed from the early models. I will revisit G&H. I have 24 G&H redheads...going on 15 years....some paint fading, but they still get ducks to splash down to join them. The only thing I might do is pour some foam in them, since in real good blows they sometimes will blow over. I helped Ligman this spring pour some foam in a dozen Banded redheads I bought on sale. Rick also "touched up" the factory paint, and they float and look great. Looks like Banded has left the decoy business. I don't see any decoys on their website.
 
Carl, that's what they refer to in Biz Ness as "forced obsolescence".

For Avian X the "proof" over time will be against GHG. Haven't checked lately, but guessing G&H doesn't have an active succession plan.

Your decoys going on 20 years... those boys in Henrietta want you to buy some new ones! :-)

With exception of a "long haul/numbers bag/water keels" bag, I run Herter's 72 and G & H.

Unfortunately, what puts the best companies out of business can often be the quality of their products... less and less want to pay for the best up front, better to buy "good enough" and replenish.

Cabela's couldn't price Herter's to sell for the "last near forever" value. They're the Ever Lasting Gobstopper of decoys.

It's a land of throw away tech, and plastics are tech.

(RIP Gene Wilder)
 
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