5 Best Decoys for Duck Hunting in 2023

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The use of decoys is essential for those who enjoy duck hunting. If you’re serious about duck hunting, you’ll want to invest in the greatest duck decoys available on the market.

It’s 0challenging to get close to the ducks in the air since they’re so cunning. It’s for this reason that decoys have saved so many lives.

In addition, aiming and shooting at ducks might be easier with the help of this method.

You don’t have to work out to use decoys; plenty is available. On this page, you’ll find the best options for your needs.

However, duck decoys should never be ignored if you’re serious about duck hunting.

Last update on 2024-08-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Best Decoys for Duck Hunting

1. Dakota Decoy X-Treme Flocked Drake Head Mallards

The Dakota Decoy X-Treme Flocked Drake Head Mallards will always add realism to your spread.

For an appearance that can’t be ignored by ducks, these heads are life-size and meticulously detailed.

In addition, the buoyant substance of the Lifeguard’s body will keep it from sinking even in severely weeded seas.

These X-Treme Mallard Drake Head decoys from Dakota Decoy are lifelike, inexpensive, and easy to use if you’re looking for head decoys.

Waterfowl hunting blinds or a spread of other X-treme Flock or Head Dressed decoys are ideal environments for these high-quality decoys.

Handcrafted and painted, the decoys’ heads are of the highest quality, giving a lifelike appearance.

Decoy is constructed of molded resin and hand-painted, making it a fantastic choice for any duck pond or spread.

Pros

• The perfect addition to a well-executed hunting strategy.
• Using it is simple and effective
• Stay afloat in the water without losing your stylish looks.
• It aids every hunter in achieving their optimal duck hunting results.

Cons

• Expensive

2. Avian-X Full-Body Mallard Decoys with Decoy Bag

Last update on 2024-08-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

With the Avian-X Full-Body Mallard Decoys with Decoy Bag, you can create a realistic spread of mallards.

Decoys with a wind-activated motion system designed to entice birds’ attention are 17″ long. Using rubberized molding material and non-chip paint ensures long-term durability.

As a result, birds are deceived by birds of prey that appear to be real.

Comes complete with two hens (one high and one low), four drakes (one low and two feeders), and a six-slot decoy bag, according to a rule of six.

Pros

• It has a brass weight system for added stability and a swimming motion that mimics that motion.
• They’re made of rigid plastic, then painted and sealed to look like a genuine deal.
• It’s a breeze to work with.

Cons

• None

3. MOJO Outdoors Elite Series Pintail Decoys

Last update on 2024-08-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

Pintail decoys from the Elite Series by MOJO Outdoors are hand-painted for realism and easy to erect.

Decoys are coated in Liming Wax, which penetrates deep into the feather structure to ensure long-lasting durability.

In addition, waterproofing is improved by using the traditional technique.

This means that the paint can be used in ponds, rivers, and reservoirs.

With the MOJO Outdoors Elite Series pintail decoy, you’ll have a distinct advantage over other decoys.

Realistic appearances, precise detailing, and just the right amount of weathering have been integrated with the waterfowl lure tool’s decoys.

Every duck in the sky will be drawn in by this decoy if you put together a group of 5 to 10.

Because they are composed of high-quality materials and include UV protection, MOJO decoys can withstand all kinds of weather.

To avoid tipping or sinking, all of MOJO Outdoors’ designs are equipped with their patented drainage system, which helps them to stay out on the water for longer.

Four AA batteries, good for 16 hours of use each day, power the wings.

The decoy’s design and lifelike appearance help it work well while remaining safe and straightforward to use.

Pros

• Incredibly resembling
• Easy to use and long-lasting
• An efficient spinning wing powered by the wind
• Battery-powered

Cons

• Even if you get just one in a box for serious hunting, you may need more than five to get the job done

4. Flambeau Outdoors 8700FBU Storm Front 2 Mallard Decoys

Last update on 2024-08-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

They comprise lightweight, waterproof foam that can withstand a lot of wear and tear.

It’s easy for waterfowl hunters to notice these decoys since they “pop” like actual ducks in the water.

Together with a wide selection of drakes and hens, these mallard decoys will add a new element of intrigue to your outing.

When mallards arrive and start calling each other, you know it’s time for the season to begin.

Thanks to their weatherproof cushion, you may rest assured that your decoys will not sink during water hunts.

This two-piece kit is an affordable alternative for hunters who want realism while luring game birds into traps.

In addition, the Storm Front 2 Mallard Decoys are an outstanding product and one of the best on the market.

Without sacrificing quality, it has all of the features of more expensive models. Excellent value for money, and highly recommended for a great duck hunting trip!

Pros

• A practical method of attracting ducks to your path
• It’s simple to spread and pick up.
• A fantastic decoy for hunting ducks on the open water.

Cons

• No setbacks

5. MOJO Elite Series Floater Spinning Wing Duck Decoy for Duck Hunting

Last update on 2024-08-22 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

The MOJO Elite Series Floater Spinning Wing Duck Decoy for Duck Hunting is an excellent choice for all duck hunters.

It flies like a real bird, down to the accurate tail movement and wing position. The decoy’s design is what attracts the most waterfowl to it.

Thanks to unusual attention to detail, these full-feathered decoy heads float level on the water for hours.

Even the most skeptical birds will be fooled by the sturdy yet flexible foam composition, which provides excellent castability and an incredibly realistic 3D profile.

Spinning wing floaters have been employed in waterfowl hunting in North America since the sport’s history.

Ducks find them hard to resist because of their lifelike appearance and synchronized movement.

Deploying these decoys is as simple as tossing them into the air using a throw rope or a paddlewheel.

If you clean them after each day of hunting and store them off-season in a dry, sheltered spot, they’ll endure for years.

Pros

• Using the spinning wing’s movement in both the wind and water instantly draws ducks to the area.
• You’ll always be ready for that shot in any water or weather conditions with the decoys.
• Durable and lightweight materials have been used in its construction.
• The device is powered by four AA batteries  
• Features a battery enclosure that snaps into place.

Cons

• None

Here is an article I wrote on the best waterproof gloves for duck hunting

Things to Look out for before making a purchase

If you’re in the market for your first set of duck decoys, keep in mind a few things.

• Species

Duck decoys come in various species, and many are so lifelike that you can’t tell them apart from the real thing from a distance.

Mallards, teal, wigeons, and pintails are all puddle ducks (dabblers), and a nice set of mallard decoys will usually suffice.

There is no harm in using a variety of other kinds of duck decoys, but mallard decoys have killed more dabblers than any other type of duck.

A spread of diver decoys is better for luring diving ducks (divers).

When looking for both mallards and divers, a spread of mallards with a few divers is generally sufficient.

• Size

Most duck decoys are the same size as a typical duck of the species they are meant to mimic.

Duck hunters have long used these as their go-to decoys.

Some hunters swear by magnum decoys, which are larger than ordinary decoys and sit higher in the water, making them easier to spot from afar. 

You can’t fit as many magnum decoys into a single decoy bag with magnum decoys.

Using decoys three or four times the size of a regular goose has confirmed this larger-is-better idea even more clearly.

Even when they land in the spread, geese can see them from even further away, yet they don’t seem bothered by their size.

• Anchors/Weights

If this is your first time using duck decoys, you’ll need to attach a line to each one and link the other end to an anchor or weight.

The anchor sinks to the bottom and prevents your decoy from drifting away when you place it in the water. 

All kinds of decoy weights are available, and each hunter prefers one over the others.

It is recommended to choose anchor weights that are strong enough to keep the decoys in place but not so heavy that carrying the bag becomes much more difficult. 

They should also be designed so that they do not readily become tangled.

It’s a popular choice for many anglers to use strap-type weights, which are long strips of lead that are flexible enough to wrap around the decoy’s keel or neck so that they don’t tangle with other weights and lines when they’re being stored.

• Decoy Bags

To become serious about duck hunting, you’ll need at least two dozen decoys. The greater the number of birds, the more secure they are for waterfowl.

Decoy bags are necessary unless you plan to transport your decoys in a boat or other watercraft. 

Large mesh bags are ideal for transporting many decoys and allowing excess water to drain away.

Some have compartments for decoys, whereas others don’t. 

Regardless of your decision, you’ll almost certainly require more than one bag. Always keep one decoy in your luggage as a safety net.

If you don’t, you’ll have to spend a lot of time hunting for the bag once you remove the last decoy, which is likely to have sunk!

What is a decoy and what is it used for?

A duck decoy is a device used to attract wild ducks or other waterfowl species.

Previously, the birds were slain and consumed.

Decoys had an advantage over shotgun duck hunting since duck meat was free of lead shot.

Conclusion

Duck hunting is steeped in tradition and history, including the usage of decoys.

From ultra-realistic, completely flocked decoys to hand-carved and painted pieces of art, selecting the appropriate decoys and decoy rigs for your spread is a subjective decision.

However, one thing is sure: you can never have enough decoys!