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Looking for Coots and Gadwalls

2K views 10 replies 7 participants last post by  MinneKans 
#1 ·
Looking to pick up a couple dozen coot decoys and gadwalls. What do you guys recommend? Cabelas have G&H gadwalls listed, but not available. When I talked to them this morning, they said the gadwalls have been discontinued and won't be available. I may try to order them from another place, just looking for some suggestions on gadwalls and coots.
 
#3 ·
I have been looking for these as well. As far as actually looking like the real thing, the Avery Pro Grades look the best in my opinion. There are other good looking Gadwall decoys but they just don't have the correct paint scheme. As far as coots go I had planned on buying some but after asking peoples thoughts I think it is better to buy the dirtiest oldest decoys you can find for 1$ each and pant them black with a white bill. That is what people have suggested to me and I also find it very hard to pay the prices companies want for a black decoy.
 
#5 ·
LiquidA45 said:
after asking peoples thoughts I think it is better to buy the dirtiest oldest decoys you can find for 1$ each and paint them black with a white bill.
I just bought some "oldies" tonight that need fresh paint. Got a dozen Miller Mfg. bluebills for $20 and half dozen Tex Wirtz bluebills for $10. I'm still kicking around the idea of painting them like coots instead of back to bluebill or some other diver. Not sure how well that will work since the decoy shape is far from that of a coot.

If you're considering this method, check out craigslist. I've been seeing tons of listings with old dekes for a good price that need rehab. Much cheaper to re-purpose old dekes than buy new.
 
#6 ·
Rick Hall said:
woodduck31 said:
I just picked up a dozen of the new tanglefree coot decoys.
Are they a whole lot better than the old ones? Those had to be the worst coots ever made. Even managed to make Carrylites look good by comparison.
I just looked them up and I think they look ok, but $45 for 6...that's a damn joke. I would pay that if I got 2 dozen, can't be that hard to paint something all black. Same thing with GHG, $45 for 6 but hotbuys are $30 for a dozen?
 
#7 ·
'JaminC'mon said:
LiquidA45 said:
after asking peoples thoughts I think it is better to buy the dirtiest oldest decoys you can find for 1$ each and paint them black with a white bill.
I just bought some "oldies" tonight that need fresh paint. Got a dozen Miller Mfg. bluebills for $20 and half dozen Tex Wirtz bluebills for $10. I'm still kicking around the idea of painting them like coots instead of back to bluebill or some other diver. Not sure how well that will work since the decoy shape is far from that of a coot.

If you're considering this method, check out craigslist. I've been seeing tons of listings with old dekes for a good price that need rehab. Much cheaper to re-purpose old dekes than buy new.
I wish it was like that here, look up "decoys" in the Tulsa section, it is a joke. I saw one that wanted $50 a dozen for tanglefree mallards and the picture is of a mallard hen with about 50% of the paint gone. Another guy wanted $300 for a mojo from the early '90s, a dozen mallards that were just a little newer, and a couple janky calls. The worst I have seen was a thrift/antique shop outside of Tahlequah. They had single Flambeau Mallards that had green slime all over them and were bleached from the sun and they wanted $20 a decoy!!
 
#9 ·
Black Smoke said:
Look at the Tanglefree Coot decoys if you want to get nice looking/realistic looking decoy. I know you guys think its a joke but I guess it's a hunters perspective on the look of them but if you are going to get lookers check out Tanglefree.
That's what I was just saying, I think they look good but $45 for 6 is a scam in my opinion.
 
#10 ·
LiquidA45 said:
'JaminC'mon said:
LiquidA45 said:
after asking peoples thoughts I think it is better to buy the dirtiest oldest decoys you can find for 1$ each and paint them black with a white bill.
I just bought some "oldies" tonight that need fresh paint. Got a dozen Miller Mfg. bluebills for $20 and half dozen Tex Wirtz bluebills for $10. I'm still kicking around the idea of painting them like coots instead of back to bluebill or some other diver. Not sure how well that will work since the decoy shape is far from that of a coot.

If you're considering this method, check out craigslist. I've been seeing tons of listings with old dekes for a good price that need rehab. Much cheaper to re-purpose old dekes than buy new.
I wish it was like that here, look up "decoys" in the Tulsa section, it is a joke. I saw one that wanted $50 a dozen for tanglefree mallards and the picture is of a mallard hen with about 50% of the paint gone. Another guy wanted $300 for a mojo from the early '90s, a dozen mallards that were just a little newer, and a couple janky calls. The worst I have seen was a thrift/antique shop outside of Tahlequah. They had single Flambeau Mallards that had green slime all over them and were bleached from the sun and they wanted $20 a decoy!!
Might be worth it to check other areas on craigslist and see if people would be willing to ship the decoys to you. I'm in the Wausau, WI region. The Green Bay and Milwaukee regions have decent numbers as well. Some are over-priced, but nowhere near to the level you're seeing it. Here the stuff flies though. If you don't jump on it same day it's posted you likely won't get it.
 
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