Frenchieboy Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 Like many others (I suspect) I am not getting any younger or fitter so I am loking at ways of cutting down the amount and weight of decoying equipment I have to carry around. With this in mind I am thinking of changine from using full bodied crow decoys and half shell pigeon decoys to using FUD decoys. From what I can see the FUDS are a little more expencive but they take up less room in my kit bag and may be a little lighter. Because I would have to be starting my decoy stock from scratch (I would be looking at about 1 dozen crow and 1 dozen pigeon FUDs) so before I part with my cash to buy any FUDs I wanted to know if many of you guys use them and if so how they compare out in the field compared to full bodied and half shell decoys. Also, are there any particular makes of FUDs that are lesser quality and also which are the better quality ones to buy? Thanks Guys. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cosd Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 (edited) I went through the same thing and have managed to get my kit down to a total of just under 10kg. That includes 100l rucksack Two nets Bucket seat Twelve FUDs Turbo flapper Battery for flapper Timer for magnet Remote for flapper 60 cartridges Net clips and pegs Multi tool I changed to FUDs after using flocked shells and I haven't seen a difference in birds not liking them. I've had birds landing next to them many times. I didn't like the pegs they come with so I cut those off. This has saved weight and I can sit them as high as I want depending on crop. They also turn into the wind and bob about with the pegs I made for them. More than happy to put a post up showing a very simple peg that works. So thumbs up from me to the FUDs and since they have come down to £19,99 per box I think I'm going to get some more. Cos Edited July 13, 2012 by Cosd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yickdaz Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 they certainly work frenchie i have used them for 3 years now, and in the process of getting some crow fuds, as for poor quality i think only NRA make them and make them well so only one type of fud as far as i,m aware Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
utectok Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 Too dark too small to slow to set up and no movement Not for me I'm out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cranfield Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 As many people probably love them as hate them. I know lots of friends who have tried them, not been impressed and gone back to shells. I think some of the earlier ones had quality problems, with "rivets" coming out and them falling apart, but I haven't heard that moan lately. Pays your money and takes your choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul hart Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 Good quality flock shells all the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted July 13, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 I understand what you mean Cranfield which is why I was asking for general opinions. I appreciate that there will be some that don't like them just as there are some that do. I really wanted a general opinion including all of the pros and all the cons so that I could make up my mind with a fuller picture. As for the quality, I was asking that because I did not want to waste my money buying some budget ones and finding that the build quality was rubbish or that they were going to fall appart in a relatively short time - I would rather pay a few pounds extra to avoid that situation. Therefore I appreciate all feedback and comments on the matter in hand, including yours of course! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sitsinhedges Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 Good quality flock shells all the time. I'm with stupid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yickdaz Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 i use shell decoys as well along side them just to save weight and bulk myself, all decoys work but from what you said frenchie thats what you want to do is save weight well go ahead and buy some thats all i can say Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tod Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 i have 2 sets of pigeon fuds and they are differant shades, both NRA, the newer ones are lighter for some reason, cant fault them in my opinion, they do work, but if the birds are there a grey plastic bag blowing in the wind will work also have some crow fuds but dont rate them as much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vole Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 I sold all my magpie ones . Not a big decoyer but did less well when using these . Much bigger than the real thing . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pboro shot Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 ive been using fuds past few months and not really noticed any differnce to shells as far as getting the birds in the only thing i did was ditch the silly red spike ,for a brazing rod , as there so light they sit on top of standing crop, once you get used to setting them up youll be able to set them as quick as shells,i also like the fact you can set the body and head position makes the pattern look more random /realistic as already said they could do with being a little bigger the crow versions are silly big dont really get that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fielddweller Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 Got12 pigeon ones used with a spinner or flapper work very well,ie birds really do comitt.As for crow fuds no joy here,no good til a few dead ones are down(which can take a while)not tried them with dead birds on the spinner but read on here that works atb fielddweller Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yickdaz Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 ive been using fuds past few months and not really noticed any differnce to shells as far as getting the birds in the only thing i did was ditch the silly red spike ,for a brazing rod , as there so light they sit on top of standing crop, once you get used to setting them up youll be able to set them as quick as shells,i also like the fact you can set the body and head position makes the pattern look more random /realistic as already said they could do with being a little bigger the crow versions are silly big dont really get that http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/index.php?/topic/158135-modified-fuds/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pboro shot Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 http://forums.pigeonwatch.co.uk/forums/index.php?/topic/158135-modified-fuds/ i used welding rod on the original rivit that way they can still be folded up ,also can be put into bouncer poles for little extra height on stanging crop Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
activeviii Posted July 14, 2012 Report Share Posted July 14, 2012 For lightness, forget it, they weigh the same as a half shell. I use 30 but i have taken all the red spikes off and replaced the wire and washers. i have bent the wire so its under the neck. i put them in bamboo sticks or bits of old carbon tend poles. they face the wind and dance about nicely. I have half shells, Fuds and silosocks. all have there day, but i find that green crops work best with FUDS and silosock and crop that is changing colour or harvested decoy better with flocked half shells. It might just be me but i have been using silo's and Fuds since they came on the market and i shoot a lot, so i think it happens this way to often to be a coincidence. The rivet still brake on the FUD's but thats because people shoot them.lol. Mail NRA direct and ask for a rivet pack. thats all i do. All the best Phil. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brendy73 Posted July 16, 2012 Report Share Posted July 16, 2012 i have 18 pigeon fuds seem to work the very best had 6 crow fuds never worked for me so got rid replaced them with flocked crows a few greybacks i did modifie them slighty and ordered two of them decoy dippa,s of deny on here havnt got any further than the garden yet but really looks well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted July 17, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 17, 2012 Thanks for all of your thoughts and opinions guys. From what I can see the pigeon FUDs are well worth having but the crow FUDs are not so good. I guess I will have to have a think about space saving with the crow decoys. I have never seen half shell crow decoys for sale, does anyone know of anywhere that makes or sells them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shooting Tom Posted July 17, 2012 Report Share Posted July 17, 2012 try putting in shell crow decoys on fleeee bay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frenchieboy Posted July 26, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 26, 2012 (edited) try putting in shell crow decoys on fleeee bay I did that Tom and I have just had 6 flocked crow shell decoys arrive this morning (for under £30 including delivery) which weigh very little and take up much less room in my "kit bag" than my 3 full bodied ones did. (I might well retain my full bodied ones to mount on fence or gate posts as "Look Outs" near the main pattern) The ones I bought look pertty good, especially as they are flocked, but I wasn't impressed with the spring pegs so I have whittled away at the pegs so that the springs are a bit shorter and now they are fine - When I first tried putting the pegs on them they flopped about like a load of drunken sailors on a Friday night in Portsmouth! All I need to do now is get out and try them, especially now that the farmers around our way have all of their baling and silage cutting in full swing which should draw the crows in looking for an easy meal! Thanks for giving me the nod about "the bay" mate Edited July 26, 2012 by Frenchieboy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted August 14, 2012 Report Share Posted August 14, 2012 i use sillo socks, and shell decoys, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spud dog Posted August 14, 2012 Report Share Posted August 14, 2012 This is going to sound cheeky, but if you don't ask. If you swap to fuds drop me a line I would be interested in taking your other crow decoys off your hands. Just starting so trying to build up a stock. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Outlander Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 I use both FUDS and shells together in my patterns and it seems to be ok for me , not that I've shot many lately but thats not for the lack of trying though. Outlander Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
humperdingle Posted August 26, 2012 Report Share Posted August 26, 2012 I posted this before, but I modified mine... Might sound daft to cut bits off, but it saves on weight and makes them much better IMO. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CXp4qcDBkcQ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30-6 Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 I have been using Sportplast easy-fold decoys since i started, and have had peregrine's, sparrowhawks and buzzards attack them. Very light, very squashable to put into a bag, and being of a hollow full bodied shape can be mounted on pegs, fence posts, cradles, garden canes, tops of stubble or even just layed on the floor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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