FB mallard suggestions...

My admiration of the GHG motion sytem on a store self overcame my disdain for magnum decoys, and I bought and deployed some FB mallard feeders today. And having used them, I still feel they're too **** big but the motion is the best I've seen afield to date.

May learn to live with a handful of giants in my spread, but it turns out the round stands aren't big enough to stand up to stiff winds and the stakes are at least a foot too short to be of use for wet or dry deployment in my part of country. (Don't care where all the pro-staffers have found them not just adequate but "awesome," just sayin' a northern front was knocking my stands over today, on flat bottom, and the stakes are too short to gain adequate purchase for wind, much less hold their decoys above stubbles.)

Not sayin' they're junk, just that they could be much better. (And smaller.)

[Rob Jepson]

Rick,

Thanks for the feedback. Today was our opening day for geese and I had my first opportunity to use the new FB Mallards and FB Canada Lessers on a hunt. Of the two motion systems, stakes or bases, I like the Field stakes the most but know the bases will handy when the ground freezes. Anyway, I understand that all hunting environments are not equal so there are a lot of variables when it comes to the effectiveness of the new Motion system in those different situations. Your constructive feedback from your personal experience inthe field will help us with any future changes so thanks again!

[Dux r me]

to big?????

[Bearman]

Don't make them smaller, but longer stakes isn't a bad idea....oh, and offer them seperately so the gusy with the '05 FB mallards can get longer stakes w/o buying new decoys.

[Joe Fladeland]

I agree with Dux R Me and Bearman. I love the size of them. If they were any smaller they wouldn't be visible in the stubble fields up here. As for the stakes and bases. I have not had any problems with the bases tipping over because of high wind yet, although I have not hunted in any gail force winds yet, they seem to stand up in pretty strong winds. I would like to see a longer stake made for these fullbodies, because sometimes the ground is too soft at some of the potholes we hunt and you have to put the stake in a little farther so it doesn't tip over. And it would be nice if you sold these seperately so people could purchase these if they got this years FB mallards like me. Just a suggestion for next year as I can definately survive without a longer stake. These decoys truly are the "Best of the Best" as Field and Stream stated. You know these decoys are good when you've got 6 of them set up in a corn field and you are standing up and ducks are literally trying to land a foot from you. It happened to us this year. I can't imagine what it's gonna be like now that we have 5 dozen of these instead of only 6. Keep up the good work. Thanks. Dakota Kid

[Rick Frisch]

The longer stake is already a done deal. They worked fine in testing last year, but we realize that some field have very high stubble. We are looking at 19" stakes.

As for the size, we can't help you there. We did a poll and most customers wanted them Over-Size. The Over-Size shows up so much better than a smaller version would.

Thanks,

Rick, I realised when I wrote it that I was swimming upstream on the size thing and was trying to be cute. But I was dead serious about the wind knocking over the too-small diameter stands (on flat bottom) and the stakes being worthless for virtually anything here. 19" would be a good start.

Have been jammed up at the lodge but expect to call you early next week about the sun rotted 6-slot straps.

[Brobones]

The size of the FB mallards is right on the mark. The stakes could be longer for sure, with most barley and wheat stubble height the decoys do get hung up on it. Longer stakes will solve the problem. I have all ready made extensions for my decoys and they work great. I will be making longer extensions to use the decoys in shallow water. Every hunters situations are different, one must adapt to those specific situations. When I hunt pea fields here in Sask the orginal stakes are perfect.. Great product guys.

[JEDJR]

Rick, I also mentioned from the start, that a longer stake was going to be needed on the FB Geese as well.
With our soft ground here, and rice stubble not always cut to the hunters liking, We need something that can go farther in our soft bottom ricefields, yet sits the decoy high enough to where the stubble doesn't hamper the decoys movement.
I hope longer stakes are in the works for the FB Geese as well.
They can be sold as an accessory like the Universal motion stakes, for guys that hunt this type of terrain.

Rick, for now, have you thought about taping the motion stakes to a wooden dowel for added length?
I will try this if our field gets too soft.
Don't see that happening just yet..

[Tony Vandemore]

Don't care where all the pro-staffers have found them not just adequate but "awesome

Hey Rick, I am one of the Pro-Staffers that has found these to be awesome! Hunted a variety of different situations with screaming winds and haven't had one knock over yet. Have you tried putting a dirt clod or something on the bottom of the stand?
What I have been doing in shallow water is using the stakes from my Pro Grade Canada fullbodies. They are longer than the duck stakes and allow you to set them in deeper water.