spec shells vs full body

[Louisianaspeckiller]

I like the new spec full body. But it seems like the oversized spec shells with motion stakes would work as well and you get 2x the decoys for the same price.

What do you spec hunters think?

[JEDJR]

Paul, Welcome to the Avery messageboard. Glad to have another Louisiana Speck hunter on board!

The O.S. Shells are nice decoys, and you can get twice as many for the price when compared to the new fullbodies.
I guess it comes to preference and if you need or want more decoys.
You know in southwest La. , You can decoys specks, especially late in the season with 2-3 decoys.
But like you, I like to run a BIG spread, especially early in the season when the birds are just making it to us.
Myself, I prefer a fullbody to a shell, that's just me,I like the realism and overall look of the GHG FB Speck and all the different head positions offered in both Active and Feeder head positions. I do like and own shells when looking for numbers, like in a snowgoose spread.
The movement on them with the new realmotion bases and stakes work with very little wind and I helped Fred Zink alittle with the paint scheme on these so I am going to be partial to them.. ;) :D
I hunted this weekend over some and I was very pleased with their look and movement.

Where do you hunt in Lake Arthur? I have a lease just north of you off 1126/382.

Good luck with your decision and the Specks this season.

[JEDJR]

Here is a pic of some from Sunday..

http://i9.photobucket.com/albums/a67/JEDJR/JBA.jpg

[Thráinn E. Skúlason]

Louisianaspeckkiller

Welcome to the Avery Message Board.
Your question is a good one.
What I would do is mix them together. I think you will get great results if you would have sleeper shells mixed with FB. And of course have the majority FB.

You will get good results with only the shells but if you are willing to pay a little bit more you will get better results with the FB and I believe you will get the best results if you mix them together.

The best things are often a little bit more expensive ;)

[Louisianaspeckiller]

Hello. We actually hunt in Klondike if you know where that is. Use cary-lite full body's mostly but wanted to try out the Greenhead motion decoys.

Do the shells use the same motion base that the full bodies do. You have any trouble w the bases and all our clumps?

[JEDJR]

I know where Klondike is. The shells use GHG Universal motion stakes. You simply find the balancing point on the shell(with the head on) and drill a hole in the shell using a 5/16 bit.

The shell fits on top of the motion stake that has a spring, giving you a realistic wobble in the wind.
These really help a shell spread come to life. I have some on my snowgoose shells.

I didn't have any problems with the realmotion base in the clumps of dirt in the field. The GHG FB's come packed 6 per box and come with 6 realmotion bases and 6 realmotion stakes, so you are covered either way.

[Rick Frisch]

I think your question depends on the way you hunt and your decoy budget. You can't beat the realism of full bodies, but there is a cost associated with it.

Thanks,

[Brett Beinke]

We have used both but I have noticed that if you put a group of shells off to the side nothing really happens but if you put a group of full bodys off to the side they really like them!

[Louisianaspeckiller]

We generally set up specs 30 yrds from blind and blues and snows (small group) 60 yrds upwind and offset from blind.

I agree full bodies are best but those humpbacked oversized shells are the closet Ive seen yet to a full body look in a shell. About $100.00 less expensive for twice the decoys too which allows you to create several family groups of specs when 2-3 single full bodies isnt doing the job.

Thanks for the tip on the universal motion stakes. Thats my goal for this year, more motion in the spread.

[JEDJR]

Good luck with the shells and motion stakes Paul. G&H in Gueydan has some motion stakes in stock. I bought some Friday afternnoon there.

Post some pic's of your spread and hunts.

[Louisianaspeckiller]

Will do Jed. So G&H to get even more of my money? I should have stock in that place by now. Looked at a browning A-bolt Micro hunter there last week, real close.

Nice front in place today. Looking good for weekend. Hope you get them coming in strong. Good luck.

[Curt Wilson]

Nice pic JED. Looks like you had a good day. What is the limit on specks in Louisiana now?

[JEDJR]

Curt, the limit is still 2 Specks per day. Our days did get reduced from 86 to 72.

[Christian Curtis]

I agree that the realism of a FB decoy is unbeatable. There are only two reasons that I would choose a shell over a FB.

1. Budget
2. Packing decoys into field