Greatest Duck Decoys of 2022

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All skilled waterfowl hunters are good on the similar 4 issues: scouting, calling and decoying, hiding, and taking pictures. Irrespective of which species you chase or which flyway you’re looking, these 4 abilities are required for fulfillment. Proudly owning a diffusion of the most effective duck decoys which can be completely suited to your looking model definitely helps as nicely.

I’ve spent years area testing and experimenting with completely different decoy fashions and setups, and I’ve interviewed veteran duck hunters across the nation about their favourite dekes. My spouse would say I’ve a duck decoy assortment downside, however I contend it’s solely an issue if you happen to’re making an attempt to unravel it, which I’m not. On this planet of positive wine tasting, sure snobs give attention to a particular selection and area. Then there are the true connoisseurs who will fortunately strive any wine—whether or not it’s cheap-ass stuff out of a field or the best cabernet sauvignon—wherever at any time. In terms of duck decoys, I’m like that second sort of wine drinker; I’ll strive something, at the very least as soon as. So, if you happen to’re trying enhance or bulk up your present decoy unfold or construct a diffusion from scratch, overview my high picks, and should your cup runneth over.      

The Greatest Duck Decoys of 2022

The Greatest Movement Decoys

What Makes a Good Duck Decoy?

The very best duck decoys are ultra-realistic, sturdy, add movement to your unfold, and don’t produce glare.

Realism

The carve (form and element of the physique) ought to appear to be an actual duck. The paint scheme must also look lifelike in quite a lot of gentle circumstances. In most species you need the colours to be vivid so geese can see them, however not so vivid that they give the impression of being unnatural.

Sturdiness

There are every kind of on-line feedback and movies about sure decoys surviving (or not surviving) a shotgun blast. However if you happen to’re taking pictures into your decoys, one thing has gone mistaken (except diver hunters). Most duck hunters ought to be extra involved about how their dekes maintain as much as common looking circumstances. Will their paint chip once they’re bounced round in a ship? Will they crack in freezing circumstances? What number of seasons will they final?  

Movement

Geese transfer round, even once they’re loafing on the water. Good duck decoys will “swim” naturally with a breeze or within the present. Then, after all, there are the motorized movement decoys that add motion to your unfold.

No-Glare

Glare off a decoy is a deal breaker. On a sunny day geese will spot it from lengthy distance and keep away from your unfold, as a result of it doesn’t look pure. Simply watch reside geese in full plumage throughout bluebird circumstances. Their colours will pop brightly, however you don’t see that over-exposed sort of white glare coming off their heads or backs. Low-cost decoys sometimes have extra points with glare. Greater finish dekes use paint that gained’t glare. 

Why It Made the Reduce

These decoys look killer. They’re gentle and sturdy.

Key Options

• Illusory movement paint job
• 60/40 DuraKeel for dealing with chop and present
• A number of physique positions
• DuraFeather versatile physique
• $219.99 for 12

Execs

• Extremely sturdy building
• Extremely-realistic carve
• Paint scheme creates the phantasm of motion
• Light-weight

Cons

Product Description

GHG may need constructed the proper mallard decoy with their Professional Grade XD Sequence Mallards. Once they have been first launched in 2018, we examined their Harvester Pack, which is a six-pack that features two lively drakes (heads up), two swimmer drakes, and two lively hens. Straight away we observed the extremely detailed paint scheme on the drakes’ inexperienced heads. The corporate makes use of delicate shades of inexperienced for the pinnacle and even perfected the darker, blackish-green cap on a drake mallard’s noggin. The concept right here is that as geese circle the unfold, the paint scheme makes the decoys appear to be they’re shifting. The hens have simply as a lot element because the drakes. The unimaginable configuration of paint and lifelike physique positions and profiles mix to take advantage of lifelike floater we’d seen on the time—and so they nonetheless are immediately.

However these dekes may take a beating except saved correctly. They make the most of what GHG calls “DuraFeather,” which is a comfortable, extra versatile plastic that gained’t crack simply. My buddy and diehard duck hunter, Todd Gifford, has been looking with those self same check decoys for a number of years now, and so they nonetheless look pretty much as good as new (regardless that we hunt the frigid waters of the higher Midwest yr after yr). He doesn’t child them, however he does preserve them in slotted baggage, and we anticipate they’ll final for a lot of seasons to come back. We’ve got killed numerous geese over them via the years.

GHG sells 12-packs and six-packs in three completely different choices (lively set, feeder set, and harvester set) so you possibly can combine and match to construct your superb unfold. If you happen to’re seeking to construct a premium unfold of the most effective duck decoys that can final long-term, you gained’t do higher than the GHG Professional Grade XD Sequence.

Why It Made the Reduce

These decoys are reasonably priced and useful.

Key Options

• Vibrant paint job
• Weighted keel with a number of attachment factors
• Two physique positions
• Versatile EVA mix physique
• $59.99 for six

Execs

• Reasonably priced
• Sturdy
• Giant dimension makes them seen

Cons

Product Description

If you wish to kill geese constantly, don’t hunt with low cost decoys. They give the impression of being much less lifelike (particularly within the vivid solar); finally their paint wears down; and earlier than lengthy you’ll have to exchange them. On the flipside, you don’t have to purchase the most costly duck decoys both. The Cabela’s Norther Flight Over-Sized Mallards are center floor. They give the impression of being actual sufficient, if you happen to maintain them. They’ll final many seasons, and they’re reasonably priced. If you happen to’re simply getting began, you may get a dozen for a bit greater than $100. As a result of these decoys are bigger, they’ll be extra seen, so you may get away with a smaller unfold in lots of conditions. Add one other six annually and shortly you’ll have a nice-sized unfold of stable decoys.

Why It Made the Reduce

With their reasonably priced foam-filled design, they’re a superb discount

Key Options

• Foam-filled choice
• Weighted, brief keel
• Six upright drakes
• $59.99 for six (foam stuffed)

Execs

• Reasonably priced
• Extremely sturdy
• Light-weight
• Good colours

Cons

• Common realism
• Comparatively small

Product Description

Divers are sometimes not the wariest of geese and they’ll come right into a puddle duck unfold. However if you happen to’re focusing on divers particularly, it helps to have a pair dozen diver decoys bobbing across the unfold. If you happen to’re simply constructing your unfold, I’d go together with buffleheads first as a result of they’re distinguished in so many flyways, and the brilliant white contrasting on the black is actually what diver geese key in on (plus, buffies at all times wish to land by different buffies). Higdon affords a foam stuffed choice for these decoys, which I’d extremely suggest. The froth filling makes them extra sturdy and can enable them to take just a few stray pellets and preserve floating. That is essential for diver decoys since most of these geese are identified for coming in low, simply above the water.

The one draw back to those bufflehead decoys is that they’re a bit small. If that’s an issue for you, go together with Higdon’s Commonplace Bluebills, Commonplace Ringnecks, or Commonplace Redheads. They’re all good. Searching divers usually calls for giant spreads on large waters, so if you happen to’re in a diver scorching zone, I’d suggest getting just a few of the Commonplace Diver packs, which incorporates redhead, bluebill, and ringneck species.

Why It Made the Reduce

This hefty and ultra-realistic decoy is the last word choice for focusing on mallards on large water.

Key Options

• Weight-forward swim keel
• 4 drakes, two hens
• Two lifelike physique positions
• $109.99 for six

Execs

• Most lifelike wooden duck decoy available on the market
• Sturdy
• Giant dimension makes them seen
• Nice for uneven water and present

Cons

• Not very packable
• Poor mounting attachments on keel

Product Description
This can be a magnum mallard decoy at its best. The big profile (18 inches from tail to the tip of the invoice) makes it extremely seen from a distance and the marine-grade physique makes it bomb proof. The beefy, weighted keel ensures it is going to deal with any chop. The decoy’s physique profile and paint job are stuffed with considerate particulars that Avian-X has made its identify on. These decoys are perfect for migrating mallards on large waters. As a result of they’re so hefty, you’re not going to need to hike them into little potholes.

There are solely two knocks on this decoy. First, the mounting spots on the keel usually are not full holes. They’ve a bit hole within the plastic {that a} Texas rig or decoy line might break via. The second is the worth. A six-pack—which incorporates two high-head drakes, two low-head drakes, one high-head hen, and one low-head hen—is twice as costly as the highest reasonably priced decoys in our lineup.

I’ve hunted with these decoys for a number of seasons now and I beat the ever-loving hell out of them. In contrast to my buddy Gifford, I don’t at all times preserve my decoys in a slotted bag. They get bounced round in boats and truck beds and storage flooring. The drakes have just a few scratches on the heads which can be noticeable—however not sufficient to drag them from the rotation and even contact them up with paint. The hens don’t have any harm in any respect.

If you happen to hunt big-water mallards and are prepared to pay high greenback, you gained’t do higher than these.

Why It Made the Reduce

Ultralight, lifelike, and sturdy, these are the last word decoys for walk-in hunters.

Key Options

• Manufactured from closed cell EVA resin
• HollowCore physique
• Twin-keel hull
• 4 drakes, two hens
• Two lifelike physique positions
• Self-righting keel weights for prime wind and waves
• $149.99 for six

Execs

• Extremely-lightweight
• Sturdy
• Wonderful design for Texas rigging
• Wonderful movement on the water

Cons

I bought to see Heyday Out of doors’s Hydrofoam Decoys (formally often known as Lifetime Decoys) in motion whereas looking with the Heyday crew on an early teal hunt in Texas. The best factor about these decoys—and the rationale they stand out from the competitors—is the fabric itself. As a substitute of hole plastic, they’re made solely of EVA foam, which is identical materials Crocs are constructed from. The froth building permits for extra carved-in element and texture than a typical deke. This mixed with the intricate portray that goes into every mannequin makes the Hydrofoam decoys look extremely lifelike on the water. We hunted over their teal decoys, after all, however their mallards and different species are simply as lifelike (additionally they provide a flocked model that prices $10 extra).

Being made from hollowed-out foam makes the decoys tremendous gentle as nicely (a dozen HydroFoam mallards weighs solely 10 kilos). This makes them the last word decoy for hunters who must stroll into their spots and should carry decoys. Increasingly more, you’ll see diehard public land (and public water) hunters hauling round Heyday decoys.

Even the gentlest breeze bought these decoys shifting on the water, and the twin keel design permits them to maneuver much more freely in any kind of present. They’re quiet and don’t clank collectively like plastic decoys do, which is but one more reason they’re so superb for walk-in hunts. Their light-weight design doesn’t sacrifice sturdiness, both. These dekes will take a beating and carry on floating, and so they’re made to final a lifetime. —Dac Collins

Why It Made the Reduce

That is the best-looking wooden duck decoy available on the market.

Key Options

• Weight-forward swim keel
• 4 drakes, two hens
• Two lifelike physique positions
• $109.99 for six

Execs

• Most lifelike wooden duck decoy available on the market
• Sturdy
• Giant dimension makes them seen
• Hens look nice too

Cons

Product Description

Do you really want wooden duck decoys? That each one relies upon upon how severely you goal woodies. Singles and pairs will lock into an everyday mallard unfold. However if you happen to goal wooden geese particularly, particularly bigger flocks of migrating woodies, it positively pays to have a dozen wooden duck dekes in your arsenal, and also you gained’t discover extra lifelike ones than the Avian-X Topflight Wooden Geese. First, you’ll discover the colours. They’re beautiful and vibrant, identical to an actual woodie. What’s most spectacular to me is how additionally they nailed the coloring on the hens. If you happen to’ve seen a mature hen woodie within the fall, they’ve nuanced (and exquisite) hues blended in with all that brown. Avian-X nailed that with this collection. Additionally, the physique positions are very correct and lifelike. Quite a lot of different wooden duck decoys have the drake’s head sticking excessive up above the water, like he’s on alert. Whereas wooden geese do strike this pose, that’s not the one place I need to replicate whereas looking. The Avian-X physique positions look rather more pure and relaxed.

Whereas many wooden geese get shot whereas go taking pictures or as bonus birds, I goal them particularly within the Mississippi flyway (which is loaded with wooden geese at sure occasions of the yr). I’ve discovered that the brilliant colours of those Avian-X decoys attract bigger flocks of wooden geese higher than common puddle duck decoys. These dekes, paired with a easy wooden duck name, make it doable to work and end flocks of 12 to twenty wooden geese.

Why It Made the Reduce

That is essentially the most lifelike trying full physique duck decoy available on the market.

Key Options

• 17-inch area stake
• 4 drakes, two hens
• Number of physique positions
• $199.99 for six
• Six-slot bag included

Execs

• Most lifelike full our bodies available on the market
• Sturdy
• Giant dimension makes them seen
• Transfer nicely within the breeze

Cons

• Depraved costly
• Stakes may be laborious to set on frozen floor

By now you’ve in all probability observed that Avian-X retains popping up on this record. That’s as a result of they make extraordinarily lifelike decoys, and I’d moderately hunt with fewer lifelike decoys than extra dekes that don’t look pretty much as good. That idea holds true for the Avian-X AXP Full Physique Mallards.

These are giant, full-body decoys that look wonderful within the area. Their colours, element, and physique positions are all glorious. The one downside is that they’re very costly. If you happen to needed to construct a diffusion of, say, 5 dozen full our bodies, it might value you $2,000. However many hunters don’t want that many full physique duck decoys. Most area hunters focusing on mallards can get away with a goose unfold together with a pair dozen full our bodies on the X (together with some spinners). Even simply six full our bodies alongside a sand bar paired with a floater unfold helps convey mallards in shut. If you wish to add some realism to an present unfold, you possibly can’t do higher than the Avian-X AXP Full Physique Mallards.

Why It Made the Reduce

These decoys will permit you to construct area unfold with out breaking the financial institution.

Key Options

• 12 area stakes
• Six drakes, 4 hens
• Two physique positions
• $143.99 for 12
• Removeable heads makes them stackable

Execs

• Mild
• Don’t take up a lot area
• Reasonably priced
• Transfer nicely within the breeze

Cons

• Much less lifelike than full our bodies
• Stakes may be laborious to set on frozen floor
• An excessive amount of motion in excessive winds

If you happen to’re new to area looking and set on beginning a duck unfold, these shells could be place to start out. They value lower than half the worth of the most costly full our bodies. They usually look a lot adequate to kill geese over. The 12-pack consists of two lively hens, two feeder hens, 4 lively drakes, and 4 feeder drakes.

Additionally, as a result of you possibly can take away the heads on these shells, you possibly can stack them. Which means they may take up much less area in a decoy bag and also you’ll have the ability to load your unfold right into a truck as an alternative of needing a trailer. The true draw back right here is that in excessive wind (usually when the duck looking may be excellent) any sort of shells on a stake will bob or spin frantically. Some motion in your unfold is sweet. An excessive amount of, and unnatural, motion isn’t good.

The Greatest Movement Decoys

“Movement decoy” used to imply solely motorized spinning-wing decoys often known as robo geese or, merely, Mojos. However now there’s all kinds of movement decoys accessible. Listed here are three of my favorites.

It’s laborious to beat an authentic, and the Mojo spinning wing decoy continues to be bringing geese to the kill gap in any case these years. The most recent model has a comfortable, versatile physique, magnetic wings, and a stable housing for the physique. This design creates much less wobble, rattle, and noise than these older spinning wing decoys produced. It has a distant that’s Bluetooth appropriate, so you possibly can flip it on and off as you see match. As for looking with spinning wing decoys, they’re not the silver bullet some hunters imagine them to be, particularly now that so many hunters use them and geese see them on a regular basis. On extremely pressured native geese, I depart the spinners at dwelling. On large migration days the place I’m making an attempt to catch geese’ consideration from lengthy vary, I’ll run spinners.

This intelligent decoy mimics the rocking, bobbing movement of a feeding mallard. Because it bobs, it sprays water throughout the unfold like geese are actually getting after it. On calm days, having one or two Pulsators on the market will convey the unfold alive. That’s as a result of the Pulsators themselves are shifting, however additionally they create little ripples that transfer the decoys near them. That is usually all it takes to persuade cautious geese to commit. This can be a foam-filled, one-piece decoy with a seven-hour run time. It’s going to run in as little as six inches of water.

However even with all of the good-motorized decoys on the market, the old-school jerk twine nonetheless will get it finished. This model from Avery is a standby for a lot of veteran waterfowlers. It has 21 toes of journey, 100 toes of industrial quality line, a grapple anchor for deeper water, and attachments for six decoys, although you should utilize fewer if you happen to like. It additionally features a carry bag so you possibly can preserve the entire thing organized.

FAQs

How I Picked the Greatest Duck Decoys

I picked decoys that I’ve hunted over via the years and have seen carry out nicely within the area. I additionally relied on my colleagues and different veteran waterfowl hunters to suggest their favourite decoys. I picked decoy classes that cowl the broad spectrum of waterfowl looking situations. I’ve hunted with many of those picks for a number of years and might attest to their sturdiness.

In all instances, I leaned towards decoys that look lifelike within the area. Which means the decoys are inclined to run on the costlier facet. I’ve seen how lifelike spreads and good calling will put birds on the deck, even in robust circumstances. I’ve additionally seen low cost decoys put on out after a single yr. Immediately that “reasonably priced” decoy isn’t so reasonably priced after you need to purchase one other spherical when the subsequent season begins.

Closing Ideas

Duck looking is difficult work, and it’s costly. Add up the price of the most effective duck looking shotguns, the most effective duck looking waders, and throw in shells and licenses; abruptly it looks as if you must strive to economize by shopping for low cost decoys. However that manner insanity lies. Purchase the most effective duck decoys you possibly can afford, simply begin by shopping for fewer of them. It’d take you many years to construct up a full unfold, however that’s positive. Throughout that point, you’ll nonetheless be killing geese over your lifelike trying mini-spread. Do not forget that good decoys are an funding. And if you happen to give them simply the smallest quantity of care, they may final you a few years of excellent looking.