Love them or hate them, most waterfowl hunters have used or at least hunted over motion decoys. Each type of motion decoy comes with its own pros and cons, but they all add movement to the spread in some form. Whether spinners, swimmers, ripplers, or a tried and true jerk chord, the right motion decoy in the right situation can help finish more birds. We will be diving into the world of motion decoys, their pros and cons, and how to get the most out of them in this guide to motion decoys.
History of Motion Decoys
Before the spinning wing decoy took the waterfowl world by storm in the late 1990s, motion decoys were simplistic in their nature and design. Some of the first motion decoys were a multi-piece design consisting of a detachable head and body that would move with the water current to create motion. As technology advanced and the waterfowl community moved from wood carved decoys to foam and plastic decoys, so did the notion of adding realism to the decoy spread through motion. Nowadays, through modern technology, there are countless ways to create motion at the drop of a feather.
Why Motion Decoys
Motion decoys serve multiple purposes on the water and in the field. These decoys create movement by spinning or flapping wings, through vibrations across the water, and various electronic track systems to attract both ducks and geese from a distance to finish in the spread. Some of these decoys involve physical activity to catch the attention of the birds. Others are activated through an electronic switch or even a Bluetooth remote.
Motion is key in any decoy spread as it adds another element of realism in bringing birds to finish over the decoys. Putting motion on the water helps bring other decoys to life, especially on days with no wind to move your spread about in a natural manner. The extra flutter of spinning wings to draw a bird’s attention from miles off is along the lines of thinking smarter, not harder. Adding a touch of physicality with a jerk chord or flag brings audible movement to your decoy spread. These types of motion bring us to the big question: “When do you use movement in your spread?”
Movement in the Spread
When utilizing motion decoys in your spread, it is imperative to take into account the weather conditions (sunrise, wind direction, cloud cover, etc.), the terrain of the hunt (cut field, water depth and current, high tide vs. low tide), and lastly, the type of hunt you want to have (birds finishing in the decoys or birds flying by the spread and you are picking off the ones-and-twos).
Weather conditions will determine the direction your spread faces, which in turn plays a role in the direction your motion decoy will face. Terrain plays into the height of the pole(s) your decoys will need. Depending on the water level, it could be the difference between a four-foot pole and a ten-foot pole for the position of the spinning wing decoy. Water level will also determine if you use a jerk chord or a track system, as jerk chords can be held onto or hooked somewhere, while the decoys attached to the track systems might only have a four-foot extension and will not move around the water properly.
Factoring in the type of hunt you want to experience is a notion that every waterfowl hunter has. Ideally, you want to shoot some birds, run your dog, cut up with your buddies, and have a good time. Strategically placing motion decoys in your spread can often mean the difference between finishing these birds and leaving empty-handed.
The placement of the motion decoys in your spread plays a big factor in the design of your decoy layout. For spinning wing decoys, the timing of the season will play a role in whether or not you have movement near the middle of the spread or around the edge of the spread to attract the birds. When ducks fly south throughout the season, the spinning of the wings can be an unnatural characteristic, and the further the season progresses, the more potential there is for the birds to flare near the finishing hole. As the season goes on, move the decoy further away from the finishing hole to attract birds from a distance. Use decoys that have remotes so you are able to turn them off when the ducks approach your spread. Motion decoys that operate in the water are usually placed in the middle of static decoys to provide additional movement.
Types of Motion Decoys
Spinners
Spinning wing decoys work by imitating the moving wings of a landing duck. This type of motion decoy is a good way to attract ducks to take a closer look at your spread because it does not stir up the water. The flash from the wings is easy to spot and will capture the attention of any bird in the area. Spinning wing decoys are effective to use when hunting both ducks and geese in cut fields and on the water.
Swimmers
Among the newer motion decoys that enter the market are swimming decoys. These decoys resemble a traditional decoy above the water but below the water is where the magic happens. A swimmer has a small motor that propels the decoy in a swimming motion. Fix the swimmer to a long weight and watch as the magic works. These decoys serve a similar purpose as ripplers, adding motion to the spread and surrounding decoys.
Ripplers
Rippler decoys work through vibration over the water. Operated by a battery pack, once turned on, the vibrations from the decoy’s body send small waves across the water and throughout the decoy spread. This movement adds another element of realism as it looks like other decoys near the rippler decoy are giving off their own movement. Use these decoys to attract ducks on days with no wind and when you need to add motion to your spread. Rippler decoys are used primarily on the water.
Jerk Chords
Jerk chords allow the user to create movement by tugging or jerking a chord that is attached to a slew of decoys. This type of motion decoy enables at-will movement, meaning that the decoys can be manipulated at any point in time during the hunt. They are also one of the most cost-effective means of adding motion to the spread. Simply buy a jerk chord and attach your existing decoys to it. Jerk cords are most effective when drawing ducks in. Use aggressively if ducks are quite a distance away, and taper down as they approach your decoys. By the time they are cupped and locked in, the ripples from the jerk cord will continue to resonate throughout the spread.
Flags
Flags are used to create both an audible and visual effect to attract birds to your decoy spread. Visually, the motion of the flag shows wings flapping while audibly, the sound from shaking the flag mimics the flutter of bird wings. If you can see geese from a distance, they are close enough to start using flags to attract their attention. Flags are utilized predominantly when hunting geese in a field and in the same manner when you kick up the water in flooded timber to attract ducks.
Rotary Decoys
Rotary decoys are primarily used during snow goose hunts to increase the size of the spread and create lots of movement. These decoy systems are rigged up with multiple decoys spinning in a circle that act like birds circling down towards the spread. More often than not, there will be multiple of these rotary systems set up throughout the spread to draw birds in. Usually, they have between two to four decoy arms where the wind socks are hooked. Where these machines are set up in the spread is dependent on wind direction. Rotary decoy machines are designed to attract both ducks and geese to your spread. They are most effective in fields but can be used in marshes to attract ducks as well.
Track System
Decoys on a track system are generally grouped in two or more decoys that are attached to an electric motor submerged in the water. This motion decoy setup allows for the group of decoys to move about in a swimming pattern for an extended period of time during the hunt. These decoys can be used in the same manner as jerk chords to bring ducks or geese into your spread. Track systems are heavily utilized on the water.
Final Thoughts:
There are several different ways you can incorporate movement into your decoy spread. At the end of the day, there will be pros and cons to each and every type of motion decoy. It is up to you to decide whether or not you want to take advantage of the opportunity to attract more birds to your decoy spread. Happy hunting, and remember to enjoy your waterfowl season!