FFD Lessers

[Brett Neffendorf]

I am looking to invest in either a couple dozen FFD lessers or a couple dozen pro grade lessers. Here in the Willamette Valley of Oregon we get ALOT of muddy annual fields hunting these small geese. The one problem I worry about is all of the mud getting into the FFD lessers. What is everyones experience with FFD's and mud? What is the best process for getting the mud off and what does it do to the flocking after a year of mud getting in the flocking and trying to be cleaned off?

Brett Neffendorf

[Jeremy DeVries]

Brett.

I'd love to respond to this post, because it is a great question. However, all our mud here in Montana is frozen solid by the time goose season comes around. We don't even have to worry about it.

[Brett Neffendorf]

I wish I could say the same thing haha. When I go back home to hunt we can drive into the fields, and everything is either hard, or frozen solid. Here in the valley we can hardly get our carts to push through this gunky mud half of the time!

Brett Neffendorf

[Robert Nelson]

Brett,
I do not have personal experience with the mudd.
However if you do a search for FFD Lessers, or
something along those lines, i read a thread couple
weeks ago about this topic. It was a mixed message
thread, some guys claimed no issues/ but really
talked about keeping them double bagged and picking
them up one at a time into the bags to keep em clean.
So i think those guys were talking about, keep em clean
no matter what.

The other 1/2 of the guys complained about keeping
them clean, and mentioned using a soft bristle brush
and warm soapy water the same day they used them,
saying if the mudd hardened up for a couple of days
it was a real bugger to clean.

Hope this gives you a little insight.

Regards,
Robert Nelson

[Brett Neffendorf]

Well, it doesnt matter what you do with your decoys in the valley you get them muddy! Were talking about fields that are tiny annual grass seeded fields and you are walking in 3-4 inches of mud, and the whole bottom of your decoys are caked in mud. We individually bag every decoy and take care of them like oiur girlfriends, so the maintenance is not a problem for me. I just wanna know how well the flocking holds up and if it is better to get pro grades for my situation

Brett Neffendorf

[Mark Brendemuehl]

Air compressors work well for blowing out the mud. I have never had mine CAKED in mud, but t hey get plenty muddy anyway. I smear off the excess that I can in the field as long as it doesnt spread it, and hit it with an air compressor.
Mark

[David Rearick]

We have been in some sticky mud at times, and the easiest way to get it off is to let it dry, and then either brush or blow it off. If that does not work, a hose and a little gentle washing will do wonders...

[Kevin Kriha]

We have been in some sticky mud at times, and the easiest way to get it off is to let it dry, and then either brush or blow it off. If that does not work, a hose and a little gentle washing will do wonders...
This is the same process we use and it seems to work great. Let it dry, knock off the excess mud, and gently wash off what is left with a garden hose and a soft brush.

[Wingman]

Not a "Pro-Staffer" but I mix FFD Lessers (feeders) with my Smith lessers to add numbers when needed and thy work great. If you are hunting multiple days in a row in muddy conditions then the mud can be an issue. If not then just take them out of the bags when you get home and let them dry for 24-28 hours then take a soft bristle brush to the decoys and they will look good as new and doesn't hurt the flocking. Little extra work but it's not that big of deal. IMHO there is a big difference between FFD's and Pro Grads especially here in the valley where there are well educated geese especially in the 3rd period....


Cheers,

Adam

[Brett Neffendorf]

Thanks for all of the information fellas. Hopefully I can find a couple dozen FFD lessers used for sale in my area, oregon or washington

Brett Neffendorf

[Zach White]

We have used our FFD Lessers in some muddy fields this year. The Six Slot bags do an awesome job keeping the mudd off during the haul into the field and from there its just a matter of making sure that the decoys go from the bags to a motion stake and when you are done from the stake into a bag. If you don't set them on the ground then you really don't have much to worry about. The mudd will come off with a brush or just run them under a hose.

[Dustin Andersen]

If you get them in the field in bags then there should really be no worries about getting them muddy. As Zach stated. As long as they go from bag to stake you shouldn't have a problem. Then when you're done from stake to bag. The bag should be the only thing that gets muddy.

[hardcore dekem]

Brett, I know the conditions of the Valley, I grew up in Redmond and have hunted and worked over around Portland a few times and that mud is nasty! I will agree with these guys about clean-up. Take them out in bags and bring them in, in bags, when they do get muddy let them dry and them gently brush off.

[Honkers45]

Last week, i got mudd on my deks and just took a tooth brush and alil warm water and they cleaned up fine...i had no problems with Cleaning the flocking ...Honkers45

[Cody Frazier]

Bret,
Mack's prices will be hard to beat right now $127.99 for FFD Lessers with free shipping. They only charge you $6 for the over-size fee. I just ordered some for myself this morning.

[DEC]

I just took advantage of that deal as well. Too good of a price to pass up! It isn't on their website though. I had to call and place the order for a dozen. All they have is feeders left, which was exactly what I wanted. And "yes" I confirmed ... bags come with the decoys.

Anyone looking for a steal on FFD lesser feeders ... call Mack's! FAST!:cool:

[Mariner 250]

I just called Macks to order a dozen and they said 159.99/6. Did you guys order today? Do you remember which sales person you talked to? I would like to get in on the good price. I mentioned that two other guys had posted that they bought for 127.99 and the salesman(Brody) said ,nope 159.99, the sale must be over.

[DEC]

I ordered mine at 4:00 pm on Friday, about 10 minutes before I posted. I have the confirmation number and everything.

[DEC]

When I ordered them, I never mentioned that I had seen they were on sale. I simply told him that the lesser FFD's were not on the website and I wanted to know a price. He said "all we have are feeders and they are on close out sale for $127.99 per box". I asked if they had free shipping and he said "the lessers are NOT an oversized item, so yes they would be shipped for free". Then I asked if they came with the 6 slot bag. He said "Let me check" & he came back to say "Yes all FFD decoys come with the bag already in the box". I said "good, I was just checking to make sure they are not old stock". And he came back to say "no, these are this years stock, we are just clearing them out". I said, "I'll take two boxes" $255.98 was run on my credit card and I have a confirmation number. I just checked on my order status and it says it is waiting to be picked up by FedEx and the dollar amount matches my phone conversation.

[DEC]

The catalog item number for the FFD lessers is AVE716 FDR LSR

[Cody Frazier]

When I ordered them, I never mentioned that I had seen they were on sale. I simply told him that the lesser FFD's were not on the website and I wanted to know a price. He said "all we have are feeders and they are on close out sale for $127.99 per box". I asked if they had free shipping and he said "the lessers are NOT an oversized item, so yes they would be shipped for free". Then I asked if they came with the 6 slot bag. He said "Let me check" & he came back to say "Yes all FFD decoys come with the bag already in the box". I said "good, I was just checking to make sure they are not old stock". And he came back to say "no, these are this years stock, we are just clearing them out". I said, "I'll take two boxes" $255.98 was run on my credit card and I have a confirmation number. I just checked on my order status and it says it is waiting to be picked up by FedEx and the dollar amount matches my phone conversation.

Interesting as they charged me OS shipping on the actives:confused: :confused:

[DEC]

FYI update on the Mack's Lessers "deal" ...

Mine came today, I opened the box ... NO BAGS!!!!:mad: I immediately called Mack's and spoke to some guy that told me that no bags come with the FFD lessers, except in a harvester pack. I said "bull" and that the catalog clearly said they came with bags, every competitor catalog says the come with bags, Roger's sells them with bags I know from experience, and the kid on the phone verified that they come with bags when I ordered them. He said "there was a misprint in the catalog" and that the sales kid was "wrong". He said I can keep them or return them. I said I'll return them on Mack's dime ... he gave me the returns dept. phone number. I called the returns dept. and spoke to a very nice young lady, explained the situation, she said that only harvester packs come with bags. I then explained again how the catalog says "bags included", all competitors include the bags, and the kid verified that bags were included ... or I would have just called Roger's and ordered them! So, after a long calm discussion, she graciously said that she would be sending me two mid-sized bags free of charge. Problem solved and I thanked her over and over for living up to the purchase agreement.:cool:

Now my question is ... I thought all FFD lessers were being shipped from Avery/GHG with bags in 2007. Did this change over the course of the year?:confused:

[CamoHunter870]

DEC
Looking at my MacksPW Christmas 07 catalog, it states the FFD are "Available in Harvester Pack with Avery slotted bag" It doesn't say anything about the slotted bag with feeders/actives.
I know Harvester packs from Rogers comes with the bags.

[Nathan Lopez]

Brett, Last year I hunt for a week straight in nothing but standing water mud fields and slayed the geese, I run only FFD and all's i did was hit them all with a hose after we were don in the field and everything came off easy and the stuff that didn't I scrapped off with my hand and washed the little that was left. The flocking held up great. I don't like the sheen of the Pro grade if they get wet. IMO however. Good luck! Selling FFDs If interested, season is over here.