One of the worst things that can happen while hunting is being spotted by the wild animal. This is why decoys have always been an integral part of fooling animals and keeping yourself as camouflaged as possible. In the past, decoys were simply molds of animals like deer and turkey, but now there are many advanced features to help the decoys stand out and work more accurately.

While shopping for hunting supplies, be on the lookout for the following five advancements in decoy models. These upgrades can help draw out more animals and really change the way you hunt.

Decoy Animal Callers

Instead of making all of the animal calls yourself, a decoy can complete the job for you. Speakers that make professional animal calls are placed directly near the vocal area of the decoy. This helps make the animal sound appear as accurate as possible.

The calls can go off in one of two ways. The first is through automation. This means that a timer will run and set off the animal calls at set intervals. The other option is a remote caller. With the push of a button, the animal call will sound off exactly when you want it to.

Vertical Motion

Overgrown grass and large fields can hide a decoy a little more than intended. Instead of exposing yourself and adjusting the decoy, newer models allow the animals to rise up and reveal themselves. The vertical motion decoys are typically produced for smaller wild animals like turkey, hen, and duck. A vertical pole features a rising and dropping mechanism so that the animal can rise to a specific height.

Just like the animal callers, the vertical motion can be set at intervals or automated through a remote control.

Swimming Animals

Hunting for ducks and geese requires a lot of planning around bodies of water. When you use a traditional duck decoy, the item floats and does not have much control. Advanced swimming decoys have a number of upgrades to emulate real creatures on the water.

• Kicking Legs: The legs of a decoy duck can move in a realistic motion as they paddle around a pond or lake. The circular motion of the legs can be controlled so that they stay in a specific area.
• Head Bobbing: Decoy birds can bob their heads into the water like real birds do when trying to get food. This realistic motion can help draw other ducks nearby if they think that food is available.
• Wing Flapping: The animals can not only swim, but realistic wing movements can be added to them. This also helps draw animals to the location.

Positioning Deer

A typical decoy is placed in a field and doesn't have any movement or changes. When using the same decoy multiple times, weary animals can avoid the area and recognize the false creature. Instead of just purchasing a solid decoy, new technology has allowed adjustments for the deer. This means that the legs can be repositioned to designate a new pose for the deer.

A lot of the details can be adjusted as needed. Ears can be pointed or folded down. Heads and necks can be adjusted to make it seem like a deer is alert or simply grazing for food. Each slight adjustment can help you make different decisions for different hunting areas.

Remote Control Decoys

Harness the full capacity to move your decoy around a hunting area. Typically manufactured for smaller decoys like turkeys, hens, and foxes, a remote control decoy can move freely over multiple types of terrain.

The basic controls for the decoy include a realistic walking motion and control over the head and neck movements. As the technology improves, the lifelike nature of movements will improve along the way.

When shopping for these advanced features, it's important to consider your hunting budget. With proper care, a decoy could last for several years and hunting seasons.