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Started By
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Motion decoys for duck hunting - do you use them? when, what kind, how often...?
Posted on 4/25/16 at 6:01 pm
Posted on 4/25/16 at 6:01 pm
I'll start by saying this: I know jerk strings work. I use one often and it is a great way to add motion to your spread.
That being said, it has it's limitations and I'm constantly looking for ways to improve the realism of my spread. Several times last year, I felt that the calm, clear water around my decoys hurt me in getting interested, but wary, birds within range. I'm trying to add motion without flaring birds.
As I see it there are 2 types of motion decoys (and admittedly a small number that do both):
1. Spinning/flapping wing decoys that don't disturb the water. Obviously MOJOs are the most popular in this segment. I've used teal and dove MOJOs with great success on teal and doves, but have also flared mallards with them and supposedly geese hate them. Also in this category are the Lucky Duck Flapper type decoys that flap their wings. They add more realistic motion, but don't attract as much attention from birds at long distances.
2. Water-disturbing decoys. There are too many in this category to really cover them all but just a few would be quiver butts, weasel-ball decoys, swimming decoys, pulsators, etc... The only ones I have personal experience with are the homemade weasel ball decoys. They add a little bit of ripples to the immediate area, but not much and seem to run out of battery quickly. I suppose the commercially produced decoys like the "Real Decoy Flutter" decoys would make a bigger disturbance, but haven't ever seen one in action.
I'm currently looking at the G&H Navigator series decoys, specifically either the Canada goose or Pintail feeder versions. You can see a video here of the goose version: LINK. The biggest complaint about this type of decoy is that they are unreliable, frequently suck in debris that clogs the motor, and generally are a pain to deal with. The G&H ones seem to be the best of the bunch, but I have no hunting experience with them.
So, what kind of motion decoys do you use? And when do you use them? Is it dependent on the terrain you're hunting? Are some better in timber or fields or marsh? Do you hide your MOJOs? Do you only use ones with remotes? Or do you just run with a jerk cord?
That being said, it has it's limitations and I'm constantly looking for ways to improve the realism of my spread. Several times last year, I felt that the calm, clear water around my decoys hurt me in getting interested, but wary, birds within range. I'm trying to add motion without flaring birds.
As I see it there are 2 types of motion decoys (and admittedly a small number that do both):
1. Spinning/flapping wing decoys that don't disturb the water. Obviously MOJOs are the most popular in this segment. I've used teal and dove MOJOs with great success on teal and doves, but have also flared mallards with them and supposedly geese hate them. Also in this category are the Lucky Duck Flapper type decoys that flap their wings. They add more realistic motion, but don't attract as much attention from birds at long distances.
2. Water-disturbing decoys. There are too many in this category to really cover them all but just a few would be quiver butts, weasel-ball decoys, swimming decoys, pulsators, etc... The only ones I have personal experience with are the homemade weasel ball decoys. They add a little bit of ripples to the immediate area, but not much and seem to run out of battery quickly. I suppose the commercially produced decoys like the "Real Decoy Flutter" decoys would make a bigger disturbance, but haven't ever seen one in action.
I'm currently looking at the G&H Navigator series decoys, specifically either the Canada goose or Pintail feeder versions. You can see a video here of the goose version: LINK. The biggest complaint about this type of decoy is that they are unreliable, frequently suck in debris that clogs the motor, and generally are a pain to deal with. The G&H ones seem to be the best of the bunch, but I have no hunting experience with them.
So, what kind of motion decoys do you use? And when do you use them? Is it dependent on the terrain you're hunting? Are some better in timber or fields or marsh? Do you hide your MOJOs? Do you only use ones with remotes? Or do you just run with a jerk cord?
7
Posted on 4/25/16 at 7:25 pm to The Last Coco
We use spinners during teal season and most of the time during the first split (when we mostly shoot gray ducks). Mallards just don't seem to want to commit later in the season when you've got a spinner out, but will try to mount a jerk rig. We use the jerk rig all year.
This post was edited on 4/25/16 at 7:26 pm
Posted on 4/25/16 at 8:34 pm to The Last Coco
Teal season and first split only. We use mojo's but have also tried the Vortex. That sumbitch is a PIA.
This post was edited on 4/25/16 at 8:36 pm
Posted on 4/25/16 at 10:15 pm to The Last Coco
First couple of hunts during the first split only.
They do more harm than good after that in NELA. They should go ahead and make them illegal across the nation.
They do more harm than good after that in NELA. They should go ahead and make them illegal across the nation.
This post was edited on 4/25/16 at 10:16 pm
Posted on 4/26/16 at 6:22 am to Jenar Boy
it is a PIA but I've had ducks hovering over it trying to figure it out... 
Posted on 4/26/16 at 7:32 am to farad
Didn't use a spinner outside of teal season this year and with very good results on grays and the other SE la usual suspects. Have a variety of mojos at the house but feel like overall I like my chances of just an extra realistic spread vs adding a spinner and risking flaring.
On calm day I use a wonderduck mallard hen mixed in middle of the spread and it helps to make ripples n such. That's about it
On calm day I use a wonderduck mallard hen mixed in middle of the spread and it helps to make ripples n such. That's about it
Posted on 4/26/16 at 8:07 am to The Last Coco
Mojos: I have used in timber, potholes in the woods and various types of marsh. Generally I find that in the marsh, they help more than hurt. If I were exclusively targeting big ducks I might be more reluctant, but even late in the season I seem to have as much success as not with them, and the fact that they always work well with teal makes them pretty useful. In timber/potholes, I would use them early in the season for sure. Later in the season I would ideally use one early in the morning for the first 30 mins-hour and then turn it off.
Water disturbing decoys: My experience with these is that most of them just don't work very well. The amount of ripples that they add on the water is not significant enough to make me want to deal with them, EXCEPT that the giant floating donut type ones that spit water and have a big submersible battery do create enough of a commotion that they help. But I would want one that cycles on/off rather than one that is constantly on.
And in both cases, if I have enough ducks to see a pattern of them flaring, I have no qualms about going and turning them off/hiding them. But that's just common sense.
Water disturbing decoys: My experience with these is that most of them just don't work very well. The amount of ripples that they add on the water is not significant enough to make me want to deal with them, EXCEPT that the giant floating donut type ones that spit water and have a big submersible battery do create enough of a commotion that they help. But I would want one that cycles on/off rather than one that is constantly on.
And in both cases, if I have enough ducks to see a pattern of them flaring, I have no qualms about going and turning them off/hiding them. But that's just common sense.
Posted on 4/26/16 at 3:11 pm to farad
It would be great if you could leave that bastard out instead of packing all that crap. If a feller left it in Catahoula lake it would be gone with quickness
Posted on 4/26/16 at 8:55 pm to The Last Coco
Jerk string and sometimes a couple of Wonderducks unless we got good wind. If windy, then nothing but a couple of Teal Mojos. Those usually get pulled within an hour after LST though.
Posted on 4/26/16 at 9:14 pm to The Last Coco
We use several Mojos in teal season and then chunk them in the shed till the next year. But, where we hunt, it is a rare day to not have some kind of water movement.
I have hunted over the fancy water-disturbing / mojo hybrid that momentarily flaps and sprays water. I think it probably helped, but not enough to where I would want to spend the cash to buy one.
Jerk string: the only time it's worth it to me is in a little Woodie hole where I can walk to set it out and don't have much line to deal with.
If you use a jerk string and hunt with a boat, do you just put up with the string tangling/tightening/loosening when paddling/riding to the blind, leaving to pick up birds, etc? Or is there some magical way of setting one up that makes it easier?
I have hunted over the fancy water-disturbing / mojo hybrid that momentarily flaps and sprays water. I think it probably helped, but not enough to where I would want to spend the cash to buy one.
Jerk string: the only time it's worth it to me is in a little Woodie hole where I can walk to set it out and don't have much line to deal with.
If you use a jerk string and hunt with a boat, do you just put up with the string tangling/tightening/loosening when paddling/riding to the blind, leaving to pick up birds, etc? Or is there some magical way of setting one up that makes it easier?
Posted on 4/26/16 at 9:29 pm to tight lines
quote:
If you use a jerk string and hunt with a boat
To much of a pain in the arse for us to use when we boat hunt. That's when the Wonderducks get used 100%.
Posted on 4/27/16 at 7:31 am to The Last Coco
Everyone has their own theories and opinions. So ill give mine:
1) Spinning Wing: Only work early in the morning. The only exception I've found is that when I hunt my timber holes ill put them in heavy brush away from the hole. It gives the hint of movement, but they can't pinpoint it.
2)water disturbance decoys: They are a huge PIA. Just get a good jerk string setup. Or, better yet, get two.
3) late in the season, I use 6 decoys only, no motion, and never highball call. Just very light chatter.
4) if you want to watch ducks decoy like they used to, go to Saskatchewan in early October. It will renew your faith in duck hunting. It's basically like getting laid in a whorehouse.
1) Spinning Wing: Only work early in the morning. The only exception I've found is that when I hunt my timber holes ill put them in heavy brush away from the hole. It gives the hint of movement, but they can't pinpoint it.
2)water disturbance decoys: They are a huge PIA. Just get a good jerk string setup. Or, better yet, get two.
3) late in the season, I use 6 decoys only, no motion, and never highball call. Just very light chatter.
4) if you want to watch ducks decoy like they used to, go to Saskatchewan in early October. It will renew your faith in duck hunting. It's basically like getting laid in a whorehouse.
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