Are you tired of watching ducks fly by and commit to other hunter’s decoy spreads?
A water motion duck decoy may be just the tool you need to have ducks feet down in your decoys this season.
We’ve taken the time to review all of the best water motion duck decoys on the market today and ranked them based on features, reliability, and price. We’ll let you know which decoy is the best for your hunting style and budget!
Which is the Best Water Motion Duck Decoy?
Here are my top picks for the best water motion duck decoys:
1. Higdon XS Pulsator
The Overall Best Water Motion Duck Decoy
The Higdon Pulsator has been a staple in hunters’ decoy spreads for years now.
The XS designates this as a new and improved model over their previous Pulsator decoy.
This decoy is a compact, reliable, and effective way to add realistic water motion to your decoys.
Key Features:
- Foam filled
- 7-hour runtime
- Built-in timer
- Realistic motion
- Internal lithium-ion battery
Reliability:
The XS Pulsator boasts over 240 five-star reviews on Amazon.
Price:
What I Like/Dislike about the Higdon XS Pulsator:
There are quite a few things I like about the XS Pulsator. The first is its build quality, weight, self-contained battery box, and packability.
I also appreciate the ability to add and replace batteries and even hardwire these decoys to a car battery or string of multiple 12V Higdon decoys for setups where you have access to a permanent duck blind.
One thing I like to modify on my butt-up motion decoys is to take the outlet tube and turn it 180 degrees, so the water shoots down and tips the decoy back. This creates less splashing, reduces glare, and simulates a duck head bobbing in and out of the water as it feeds
2. Lucky Duck Agitator HDi
Multiple Timer Settings
Lucky Duck offers a variety of motion duck decoys with the Agitator HDi being one of their more recent releases.
The Agitator has features similar to other butt-up motion decoys but with something extra that we’ll note here in a moment.
Key Features:
- Lithium-Ion battery
- 6-8 hour runtime
- Ready for HD remote kit
- Built-in timer with three settings
- Removable exhaust tube for easy transport
Reliability:
The Agitator HDi has over 50 five-star reviews on Amazon and 40 five-star reviews on Lucky Duck’s site.
Price:
What I Like/Dislike about the Lucky Duck Agitator HDi:
Lucky Duck’s Agitator HDi compares pretty evenly with other similar decoys.
I appreciate the easily removable exhaust tube for ease of storage and transport.
The feature that excites me most is the ability to vary the timer with three different settings. This helps to reduce motion and make your decoy less intimidating to wary ducks or to vary timing among multiple Agitators in your decoy spread.
3. Avery GHG Finisher Spitter
Most Realistic
Avery set the Finisher Spitter apart from other decoys on the market by using their line of highly detailed Pro-Grade decoys for exceptional realism.
The Spitter offers many of the same features and similar runtimes to the previously mentioned decoys.
Key Features:
- Ultra realistic Pro-Grade detailing
- Natural feeding motion
- Durable, foam-filled construction
- Internal lithium-ion battery
- 7-hour runtime
Reliability:
There are a few reviews for the Finisher Spitter on the Rogers Sporting Goods website.
Many of them mentioned reliable operation even in mucky water and some, when compared to other similar decoys, noted a slightly smaller size which resulted in increased motion.
Price:
What I Like/Dislike about the Avery GHG Finisher Spitter:
Although the Finisher Spitter is similar to the other decoys we reviewed, there are a few things that I think set it apart.
Realistic details and availability of not only drake mallard decoys but also hen mallard, pintail drake, and canada goose variations help you create the most natural spread possible.
The pintail and canada goose versions also have the added benefit of increased white areas which helps to increase the visibility of your motion decoys to attract far-off or high-flying ducks.
4. Higdon Pulsator PRO
Newest to Market
The next generation of Higdon’s Pulsator line, the PRO series includes some useful improvements to reliability and usability.
The Pulsator PRO also features improved detailing and realism on the actual decoy.
Key Features:
- Foam filled
- 7-hour runtime
- Built-in timer
- Lightweight, easy to carry
- Magnetic charge port and charger
Reliability:
While the Pulsator PRO is relatively new and has only a handful of reviews to reference, it does feature a newly designed motor and waterproof battery housing that carries an IPX7 rating.
Higdon also states on their site that the decoy will work in as little as six inches of fresh, salt, or brackish water.
Price:
What I Like/Dislike about the Higdon Pulsator PRO:
Higdon has incorporated some meaningful upgrades to this decoy including the magnetic charging and IPX7 waterproof rating and I appreciate these.
Aside from the new features, it is hard to improve such a simple and already effective device.
I would likely only purchase the Pulsator PRO if it was similarly priced or available, on sale, for less than the previous models.
5. Avian-X Power Swimmer
Unique Design
The Avian-X Power Swimmer is another relatively new offering on the motion decoy market.
This decoy features the ultra-realistic detailing of Avian-X decoys paired with a unique underwater motor design to create swimming motion in your spread.
Key Features:
- Non-fouling motor design
- Foam-filled decoy for stability and durability
- 6-volt Lithium-Ion battery
- Continuous or intermittent run modes
- 10+ hour runtime on intermittent mode
Reliability:
This decoy has minimal reviews that are mixed in opinions, however, it appears to do well on calm days to create subtle motion in your decoy spread.
Some reviewers complained about the motor getting clogged and others claimed it worked way better than their bilge-pump style swimming decoys.
One thing to note is that a few reviewers were unsure of how to turn the decoy on. Although it is not mentioned in the product description, the decoy apparently features a water-activated power switch.
Price:
What I Like/Dislike about the Avian-X Power Swimmer:
I appreciate the realism and packability of this decoy. With the motor integrated into the keel, the decoy appears to have a minimal footprint for storage and transport.
Aside from the Avian-X reputation for realistic detailing on their decoys they also go a step further to offer this decoy in drake mallard, pintail, and gadwall variants.
I am unsure of the reliability or ability to make ripples that add motion to other decoys in your spread, this would cause a bit of hesitation for me when shopping for a swimming duck decoy.
6. Avery GHG Finisher Swimmer
Most Duck Species Available
Much like the Finisher Spitter, the Swimmer, utilizes Avery GHG’s ultra-realistic line of decoys.
The Finisher Swimmer offers hunters yet another way to add simple and realistic motion to their decoy spread.
Key Features:
- Authentic movement
- Lithium-Ion battery
- 7-hour runtime
- Foam-filled decoy
- Multiple species available
Reliability:
Although this decoy only has a few reviews on various retailers’ websites, they all seem to be positive and a majority are five stars.
This design is simple and similar to other bilge-pump style decoys leading us to believe it would be similarly reliable in operation.
Price:
What I Like/Dislike about the Avery GHG Finisher Swimmer:
My favorite thing about the Finisher Swimmer, and my only comment, is the availability of multiple duck and goose species.
From snow goose to shoveler, Avery didn’t skimp on giving hunters some variety in their options for a motion decoy.
They even went as far as offering hen variations of every duck species they released, including mallard, pintail, gadwall, wood duck, wigeon, and shoveler.
7. Higdon Battleship Swimmer Pro Pursuit Pack
Most Motion for the Money
The Higdon Battleship swimmer was the first bilge-pump style motion duck decoy I ever purchased.
The Pro Pursuit Pack is not only an improvement on the previous model but includes a unique device to create extra action in your spread.
Key Features:
- Includes two Li-Ion battery packs
- Built-in timer
- Magnetic charging port and charger
- Foam-filled decoy
- IPX7 waterproof rating
Reliability:
Although the Battleship Swimmer Pro Pursuit Pack features no reviews online, I expect it to have similar reliability as the Pulsator Pro due to the same enhancements to the motor and housing.
Again, Higdon states that this decoy is safe for use in saltwater, but does require a bit more water depth than the Pulsator, at 12 inches, for reliable operation.
Price:
What I Like/Dislike about the Battleship Swimmer Pro Pursuit Pack:
I appreciate that Higdon has again made meaningful improvements to an already popular line of motion decoys with the Pro series.
The Pursuit Pack option includes a special connecting rod to add a static decoy, like a drake mallard, that will follow the hen swimmer around to mimic a pursuit. Check out this video for a glimpse of the connecting rod in action.
Attaching other decoys to this swimmer decoy also helps to further increase motion in your spread.
I’ve actually created my own decoy spreader to which I connect my swimmer in order to add movement to a whole group of decoys. (Insert related how-to article plug here)
As far as a downside, weight may be a concern for hunters who walk in or use small watercraft to access their hunting areas.
What is the Best Alternative to Motion Duck Decoys?
If you aren’t able to purchase a motion duck decoy, there are a couple of alternatives you can try in your spread.
A jerk string is a tried and true method for adding motion to a decoy spread. It is simply a length of cord attached to a bungee, or flexible piece of PVC, that you tie a few decoys to and pull on repeatedly during a hunt to move the decoys and create ripples in the water. You can get as complicated or stay as simple as you’d like when creating your jerk string.
Alternatively, if you don’t mind a little labor and added movement, you can ditch all the fancy devices and just kick the water that you are standing in to create ripples that will spread out into your decoys and give the illusion of movement.
There are also many other DIY options that we haven’t mentioned here. Check out this guide on how to take a cheap quiver magnet and use it to create your own rippling duck decoy.
Are Motion Duck Decoys Worth It?
Whether motion duck decoys are worth it depends heavily on your hunting conditions.
As most of my hunting is done in calm backwater creeks and swamps, I typically have very little wind or waves to move my decoys.
Motion decoys help me add realism to my spread that another hunter a few hundred yards over may not have.
Any added realism in my decoys gives me a chance to earn shot opportunities on the minimal, highly pressured birds we typically have in our area.
Each type of motion decoy has its advantages for different conditions and methods of hunting so a little trial and error may be necessary to figure out what extra gear you are comfortable carrying in exchange for the benefit it provides.
If you are covered up with clouds of ducks and hunting in areas with high winds or sea state that move your decoys, then you can probably leave the swimmers and spitters at home.
What Gear Do I Need for Duck Hunting?
Essentially, all you need to start duck hunting is a shotgun and some shells… well and a few ducks to shoot at.
You could get where the ducks want to be and shoot a few as they come in to land, however, decoys and a variety of other gear help you overcome different challenges you’re likely to face while duck hunting.
Below is a list of gear you’ll probably want to add to your duck hunting kit to ensure a safe, effective, and comfortable hunt.
- Shotgun and shells
- Decoys
- Decoy bags
- Lifejacket
- Marine radio, PLB, or similar device
- Waders
- Warm camo clothing
- Motion decoys or jerk string
- Decoy gloves
- Hand warmers
- Kayak or boat
- Portable blind
- Blind bag or backpack
- Headlamp
- Duck & goose calls
This is a quick list of essentials based on my experience in duck hunting. You could spend days, if not months, browsing all the different gear and gadgets sold to hunters.
Wrapping It Up
There you have it, my list of the best water motion duck decoys to consider while you’re gearing up for this duck season.
When making a choice, be sure to consider how you hunt and the common weather conditions near you.
Convincing a flock of wild ducks to come in close enough for you to take an effective shot, while a lot of fun, is no easy feat. Think hard about how a motion duck decoy can help you accomplish this goal.