Over my years of duck hunting, I have used everything from homemade silhouettes to the best fully flocked mallard decoys.
I know that if you are in the right place at the right time, you can shoot ducks without a single decoy.
But for the other 95% of hunts, having the right decoy spread is critical for your hunting success. As an avid duck hunter, I am going to share with you my top picks for the best mallard duck decoys.
The best mallard duck decoy is whatever decoy fits your personal hunting situation the best. Whether you need oversized, fully flocked or lightweight duck decoys, there is an option on this list that can help you shoot more ducks.
Not sure what to choose? This guide will cover all the information to help you make an informed decision. Already know what you want? Use the links below to jump straight to our detailed reviews.
Affiliate Disclaimer: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and other affiliate programs. We may receive a commission at no cost to you if you use our links to purchase a product.
I believe there are 3 critical components to duck hunting. The first is location, the second is camouflage, and the third is duck decoys.
If you want to have a mobile setup that can provide excellent camouflage anywhere you go, check out my kayak duck blind and the best duck hunting kayaks.
In this article, we will cover the third critical component: the best mallard duck decoys.
Overall Winner:
Fully flocked decoys that give you an edge when it comes to realism in all weather conditions. The Dakota X-Treme decoys are my top choice for the best mallard duck decoys.
Unless you are hunting premium private ground or a location with lots of ducks and very little hunting pressure, having good decoys is critical to hunting success. What constitutes a ‘good’ decoy will vary depending on your hunting situation.
On a large body of water that might mean large numbers of oversized decoys to increase your decoy spread visibility. For hunting a small marsh, a smaller spread of more realistic decoys could give you the best results.
No matter how you hunt, these four factors will most likely influence your decoy decision: realism, durability, decoy size, and weight. In the sections below, I will explain why these four factors are important, and review hunting scenarios where you may want to prioritize one style of decoy over another.
Already know what you want? Skip to the detailed reviews of the best mallard duck decoys.
If anyone tells you that hyper-realistic decoys are a requirement for duck hunting, they might just be trying to sell you the latest product. However, waterfowl have an uncanny ability for survival and after being shot at all season long, they tend to be pretty wary. Having a realistic decoy spread is critical for hunting success.
Notice how I mention that the key to hunting success is a realistic spread? That doesn’t always mean an ultra-realistic decoy.
Yes, in some cases if you hunt with just a few dozen decoys, using the most lifelike decoys possible is important to have a realistic spread. But if you hunt large open water that has rafts of ducks in the thousands, setting out 6 of the most lifelike decoys imaginable won’t do you any good.
When you are considering the best mallard duck decoys, keep in mind how you hunt. In general, I would suggest that you look for a realistic decoy anytime you plan to use 3 dozen or less decoys.
Is it a requirement to shoot ducks? No. But will you have more confidence in your decoy spread and second-guess yourself less? Absolutely.
It doesn’t matter how realistic your decoy is if the paint chips off after the first hunt or it leaks and ends up at the bottom of the marsh. Duck hunting decoys take a lot of abuse throughout the season.
You can’t expect a duck decoy to last for years without a few scrapes and scratches. But what you want to avoid is the decoy that you baby all season long and it still ends up with half the paint missing at the end.
I have typically had good luck with brands like Dakota Decoys and Avian X when it comes to durability. However, buying cheaper decoys is not a bad idea if you don’t mind repainting them each year.
I have some budget decoys that the paint started failing on, so I repainted them and flocked them all black. They are now one of my favorite decoys for hunting areas where I need better visibility.
Using the Best Decoy Bag will also help protect your decoys and make them last longer. If you don’t mind putting a little extra care into your decoy transportation, you can keep your decoys looking newer for longer.
Decoy size is an important consideration when looking for the best mallard duck decoys. When I refer to decoy size, I am talking about both the size of your decoy spread and the size of the decoy itself.
You can get into some hotly contested debates about which is more important for visibility, the decoy spread size or the actual decoy size. Regardless, everyone agrees that a larger decoy is better for visibility than a small decoy, and having larger numbers is better for visibility than having fewer decoys.
If you are hunting large areas with lots of water, you should look to either increase your decoy spread size or use oversized decoys. If you are hunting a small marsh or pond, chances are the ducks are going to see your spread and so the decoy size becomes less of a critical factor. Â
I have never heard anyone ask for more weight to carry after a long hike on public land. Choosing lightweight duck decoys can be essential for helping you access difficult spots. If you carry, cart, or drag your decoys to your hunting spot, you should look for the best lightweight mallard duck decoys.
There are a few options for lightening the load. You can go the traditional route and opt for foam mallard floaters that will cut down on decoy weight. But it is also worth considering other mallard decoy options like windsocks or silhouettes.
These options can still allow you to set a sizeable decoy spread without the weight.
Having the best mallard duck decoys is a function of picking the right criteria for your hunting situation. No matter what your situation, these decoys will offer advantages for various duck hunting scenarios.
Full disclosure, I am a big fan of the Dakota Decoys company. I have been using their fully flocked decoys ever since I got out of college. I have had almost no issues with their decoys. One time I received an extra resting head instead of an upright head with my goose decoys, and they sent me two new replacement heads, a hat, and some decals, all hassle-free and at no cost to me.
The flocking on these decoys is excellent and really makes a difference when the decoys are sitting on the water. They have weighted keels so you can toss them out easily, and they are just slightly oversized for extra visibility.
Fully flocked decoys take a little extra care to keep them looking nice. I had about three seasons of good use out of these decoys before the flocking on the heads was showing some wear. Luckily, the company sells replacement flocked heads.
It is hard to summarize in a short paragraph how much I love the Dakota X-Treme fully flocked duck decoys. In my opinion, when they are on the water 10 yards away or more, they are the most lifelike and realistic looking decoy available on the market.
The fully flocked decoys don’t have the intricate paint details you might find from other brands, but those tiny details wash out in the sun and at distances over just a few feet. The contrasting colors and flocking on these decoys are what makes them stand out, and if you plan to use a small spread of realistic decoys, this is my top recommendation.
Why Buy It?
Slightly oversized for better visibility, these fully flocked decoys will give you an edge when it comes to realism in all weather conditions.
Shop for Dakota X-Treme Fully Flocked Mallards At:
Even though I love fully flocked mallard decoys, I still find myself using regular painted decoys on occasion. Often it is when I am hunting muddy conditions, or I want the extra numbers for a larger spread. If fully flocked decoys aren’t what I need, I will take my Avian-X topflight mallards.
Out of all the painted decoys, Avian-X seems to have their paint quality down the best. Their decoys have more of a rubber-like feel than traditional plastic decoys. Apart from the durability of the paint, they also have some of the most realistic looking decoys on the market. Often debated on internet forums, the Avian-X seems to win over 60% of the vote when it comes to realism.
Another feature of these decoys that makes it stand out is the rigging system (some people love it, some hate it). There are holes drilled above the weighted part of the keel that are used to clip the line and anchor on. They are a bit hard to access, but it should be a one-time process to rig your decoys. Then, there are ‘swim clips’ on the weighted part of the keel that you can use to clip the line through. This allows you to easily change the anchor point to the front on windy days, and to the middle on calmer days when you want the most motion.
Why Buy It?
The weight-forward keel, swim clips, great realism, and exceptional paint durability are all reasons why the Avian-X Topflight Mallards are my pick for the best floating mallard duck decoys.
Shop for Avian-X Topflight Mallards At:
))/2853900.json?$BPSMkt_ProductFeeds$&extend=380,380,380,380)
If you hunt open water, you can probably benefit from using oversized duck decoys. Especially on days when there is some wind, your standard decoys can disappear in the waves. One thing I like to do is to mix in a handful of cheap decoys that I paint and flock completely black. It adds a lot of pop to the decoy spread.
When it comes to oversized mallard decoys, you can expect to pay a premium for the larger size. They will also be more difficult to transport and will take up a lot more space than your standard size decoys.
For the price of an oversized decoy, it is tough to go wrong with the Northern Flight Oversized mallard decoys. They aren’t the prettiest or most realistic decoy on the market, but when consider that we are mostly looking for size and visibility, it is hard to beat the price of these.
Cabela’s brand duck decoys were the first ones I ever used when my dad bought a dozen of them on our way home from an out of state duck hunting trip with my Grandfather. Maybe that is the reason I still think of them so fondly, even though they aren’t really anything special. But at the end of the day, if you are looking for a well-priced oversized mallard duck decoy, these are a good option to consider.
Why Buy It?
Add large decoys to your spread to increase visibility. These decoys stand out and are cost-effective for the purpose.
Shop for Northern Flight Oversized Duck Decoys At:
If you hike long distances to get to your hunting spot, there is a good chance you are looking for the best lightweight mallard duck decoys to save time and energy in the mornings.
I have not used these EVA foam decoys, but every year I am tempted to add them to my decoy spread. Side note: other less traditional options for lightweight decoys include wind socks and silhouettes with v-boards.
Because these Lifetime decoys are made of foam, they are unsinkable. That’s a big benefit when you hunt with someone like my brother Dan! All jokes aside, another benefit is that they are crazy lightweight, coming in at under 1lb each.
They do have the option to add weights to the keels which makes them self-righting. Meaning you can throw them out and they won’t end up upside down. This is a big plus if you have a large spread because it makes it quick to set out decoys.
But in my opinion, if you are using these decoys, you probably have a small decoy spread to begin with because you are limited on space/weight. In that case, it is just as easy to hand-place one or two dozen decoys and save the extra weight.
The last thing I like about these decoys is that the drakes come with a flocked head, which helps make them look a little more realistic. The paint has good contrast but there are some comments online about it wearing prematurely. If lightweight decoys were my primary concern, I would certainly pick up a dozen or so of these to try out.
Why Buy It?
These are light weight and unsinkable. A great option for a decoy spread when you need to hike in a long distance.
Shop for Lifetime HydroFoam Duck Decoys At:
This is a tough category to find the best budget mallard duck decoys. Many older hunters remember the days of Greenhead Gear ‘Hot Buys’ but cheap decoys seem to be behind us. It is nearly impossible to find a dozen decoys for under $60 bucks.
Almost any ‘budget’ decoy that you buy will likely have 25% of the paint missing after the first season unless you take exceptional care of them.
But that doesn’t mean there isn’t a place for these budget decoys in your spread. Some of my favorite decoys are old Greenhead Gear ‘Hot Buy’ mallards that I painted and flocked all black. They look great on the water and my painting/flocking has held up for years.
These Flambeau Master Series decoys are nothing fancy. If you are looking for more of a ‘best for your money’ category, I would consider the northern flight mallard decoys. However, I remember when I was in college and $20 made the difference between buying something or going without it until the next season.
If you are in the market for a dozen duck decoys and want to get started on a budget, you can buy these and have a more successful season than if you hunted without decoys at all. Just be prepared to touch up the paint if you aren’t happy with some scrapes and scratches on your decoys.
Why Buy It?
These are a good buy if you are on a tight budget and don’t mind touching up the paint every season.Â
Shop for Flambeau Master Series Duck Decoys At:
))/3021403.json?$BPSMkt_ProductFeeds$)
If you hunt ducks, you probably already know about spinning wing decoys. They are incredibly beneficial for early season and for field hunting. These decoys have a motorized spinning wing that creates a strobe-like effect as it rotates, mimicking the flash of a duck’s wings when it is landing.
This motion can be seen from long distances, making it an excellent way to increase the visibility of your decoy spread. Because it appears as though a duck is landing, it can increase the confidence of wary ducks, assuring them that it is safe to land.
Several brands produce quality motion duck decoys, but Lucky Duck is my favorite. The stake and mounting design are excellent, and the bungee cord ensures that the decoy stays put when you are moving it around mid-hunt. Â
I love the remote from Lucky Duck. It is easy to use, has a long battery life, and good range. Simply put, it flat-out works.
I personally have the Lucky Duck Junior and the Lucky Duck Teal. The teal is typically my go-to spinning wing decoy because of the size, and it has the best AA battery storage I have seen on any AA powered decoy. My Lucky Duck Junior also runs on AAs, but what’s nice about this spinning wing decoy is that it comes with a 6v rechargeable battery.
Ultimately, if you’re looking for the best spinning wing mallard decoy, Lucky Duck is an excellent choice. The company’s dedication to producing high-quality, reliable decoys has earned it a solid reputation among hunters, and I highly recommend Lucky Duck.
Why Buy It?
A spinning wing decoy will make a drastic impact on your hunting success early season. The Lucky Duck HD is easy to use, durable, and comes with a quality remote all at a reasonable price.
Shop for Lucky Duck HD At:
While it is hard to ignore the benefit of a spinning wing decoy early in the season, when it comes to late season on heavily hunted ground, my favorite motion decoy is a simple jerk rig. When you look out across a public marsh and see every group of hunters using a spinning wing decoy, it is no surprise that ducks seem to grow weary of that style of decoy.
Jerk rigs are a way for you to put motion on the water on those calm, windless days. To me, there is nothing more unnatural looking than a glass pond with decoys on it. If you have ever watched live birds, there is constantly splashing and ripples as the ducks swim around.
I like to rip the jerk rig hard when the birds are far out. It makes a lot of motion to grab their attention. Then as the ducks are circling, I will pull in a few feet of line (the opposite end is held in place with an anchor and bungee cord).
That way I can slowly release the line as the ducks are making their final approach, and the bungee cord pulls the decoys backward making subtle ripples in the water.
A homemade jerk rig is a great option but it can get expensive buying components separately. Shop Kayak Guys DIY jerk rig kits to save money.
Why Buy It?
Add realistic motion to your decoy spread with a jerk rig. DIY jerk rigs are the most custom option to fit your hunting scenarios.
Shop for Jerk Rigs At:
In general, I like to recommend the Dakota Decoys fully flocked mallards as they are durable, realistic, slightly oversized, and the company has solid customer support. But if you want to avoid fully flocked decoys, Avian-X is another great option.
From years of personal hunting experience to hours of research and commentary from other expert hunters, it is a safe bet to say these are some of the best mallard duck decoys you can buy. When you have the right location, the right hide, and the right decoys, you will have positioned yourself to have the best shot at a successful hunt. Â
Comments or questions? Please send us a message.
I am passionate about duck hunting and creating an effective and realistic decoy spread. I hope these tips help you pick out your own best mallard duck decoys.
If you want more exclusive email content about all things hunting, gear reviews, and more, consider signing up below. I won’t spam you with obnoxious emails, and you can pick exactly what type of information you want to receive.
Get Exclusive Deals and Expert Insights Delivered to Your Inbox!
Easy Shipping & Returns
Priority Customer Support
Secure Online Shopping
(620) 798-1703
Questions? Call or Text
))/3021403.json?$BPSMkt_ProductFeeds$&extend=380,380,380,380)
