Motion Decoys

[flsteve]

Today as I was looking down from my 4th floor office window - daydreaming - as I watched a group of about 15 to 20 Mallards & Mottled ducks splashing around in a newly flooded retention pond, I was noticing how much splashing and flapping was going on. Don't know if it was because it was raining or what - but it was the liveliest group of ducks I think I have seen.

Considering how dead my decoys sometimes look on those calm days, I decided I had better get back to my desk - and back to work. So I promptly went to Cabelas.com to look at motion decoys. :rolleyes:

I was looking at the splashing variety like these:

Wonderduck Paddle Wheel SuperMag Mallard Combo (http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=MainCatcat20712-cat20831&id=0029608227051a&navCount=1&podId=0029608&parentId=cat20831&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=XG&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat20831) $90

and ...
Blackriver Mallard Feeder (http://www.mallardsplash.com/feeder.html) found one for $70

and a cheaper option ...
Wing Magic Motion Decoy (http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=-cat140006&id=0021927226103a&navCount=6&podId=0021927&parentId=cat140006&masterpathid=cat140006%3Acat21420%3Acat21404&navAction=push&catalogCode=OG&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat140006&hasJS=true&hasJS=true) $50

Anyone have any thoughts, opinions, experience with any of these?

I would prefer the cheaper option - but I have my doubts about setting up and using a jerk cord. I know when the teal are flying, if both hands aren't on the gun and ready to shoot, I might as well forget it. They come in too low and too fast.

[SSPhone]

Try your link Cabelas web site must be down. Also tried them from the email I just got from them. But they are down.
Anyway We have had the wonderduck and the mallard machine and the mojo and as of this week a Air Lucky. All but the Air Lucky require batteries or some type or wiring setup. A real PIA and think it flares more then it helps here. But when we hunted on ReelFoot the Mojo he had did the trick.
I got the Air Lucky just to try the non motorized it spins with the lightest amount of wind. But it needs a paint job not to many green heads on Lake Toho.

[CUNCRT]

I have the mallard machine, which in my opinion puts the most movement in your spread as compared to any of the other options. However, it is a real pain in the arse if you are hunting in an area with vegataion. the weeds get caught up in the motor(its a trolling motor flipped upside down w. 3 dekes on it).

It comes with 100ft cord and i run it off of my trolling motor battery. In all honesty i should have saved my $$...just rig up an old fashioned jerk string and be done with it. I havent used in the past 3 seasons. String and a bungee cord works much better!

[Steve W]

I use the "jerk cord" for motion.

It is cheaper and give my boys something to do.

[D Duck]

Jerk cords are one of the cheapest ways to do this. I have a setup with 3 4 deke spreaders that will move an entire doz.

Spinning wing decoys in this part of the state only seem to have limited effectiveness early in the season. After the second week, I put mine away for the balance of the season.

Decoys that move water are the best, IMO. However, don't waste your money on the Wonderduck - had one and it's not as advertized. I made some duck-butts with bilge pumps on the bottom that work really well for this.

I see your in my neck of the woods, send me a PM if you want more info and I'll be happy to share.

[duckmanJR]

We have a couple Baby mojo (hen) spinners and they work well early but as young birds are harvested and survivors get "smarter" they sometimes flare birds. A buddy bought me a "shaker" hen and it is nice on those still mornings putting some slight movement in the spread.

[N. Cook]

I like shakers....I put a couple of off center batterie operated motors from toys in two of my magnum Mottle decoys and one each of the commercial "hockey puck" from a catalog in a ringer and teal decoy....they really keep things moving in each spread on a still day. The mottles are especially effective. I have a wind driven spinning wing painted as a male ringer....nice attractor, but may be a deterent later in the season. Easy to convert to a "lander" then.

[flsteve]

Well I bought a black bungee cord tonight - think I will try to rig something up.

I will have to keep my eye out for some toys to put in a couple of decoys. :)
I saw a cat toy - ball with a tail that rolls all over the room - thought about trying one of those in a decoy before.

Thanks for all of the replies.