The first class of electric decoys comprises the electric accessories. Some of these accessories aren't actually decoys, or even attached to decoys, but are simple plastic containers with an off-balance rotating "wobble" motor inside them. The motorized device functions just like a hunter's foot-sloshing, yet may be even more effective, because when the device is placed in the center of a water-decoy spread, the ripples originate among the decoys and, bouncing off the decoys, impart motion to them as well.

Other accessories are simple diving motors attached to decoys. Placed in the water with decoys attached to it, such a device pulls the decoys beneath the water at the touch of a remote control, making them appear to be diving, bathing or feeding.

A wobble device can be placed inside a hollow decoy to add an even more-lifelike appearance. At least one manufacturer also makes a device that is placed inside shell decoys that makes the decoy appear to be walking, feeding and preening.

The spinning-wing decoys that started the craze for electronic gadgetry also prompted the most controversy -- not least because they've proved highly effective.

While spinning-wing decoys come in a variety of species configurations, most work well for attracting other species. One manufacturer's handheld gizmo features a "wing" that spins as the device is raised above the blind for waterfowl to see. While it appears to be a new invention, it's essentially an electronic version of the fabric flag.

PULL-STRING ROTATING-WING DECOYS
For those who don't want -- or are prohibited by regulations from using -- electronic gadgetry for hunting waterfowl, a manual version operated by the time-tested pull string is available. The wings rotate at a speed chosen by the hunter as he or she pulls and releases the string. Since the hunter can experiment with the speed of rotation and timing of rotation as while watching an approaching flock, using the manual pull-string rotating wing decoy is very similar to calling to them while gauging their response.

These pull-string spinning-wing models bring full circle the blend of old methods of hunting with new methods of manufacturing plastic decoys, adding yet another level of fun to any waterfowl hunting expedition.