Every waterfowler dreams of ducks dumping into their perfect spread. Countless hunting products promise to turn those dreams into reality. However, I’ve been scammed so many times that I’m now leery whenever a company makes these claims. Yet, Rig’em Right dares to make this claim about its Mainline Series BLACKOUTS decoys.
While hunting in a heavily pressured portion of Oklahoma, I added them to my goose and duck spreads for an extra pop on the water. They’ve been the only decoys in my duck spread on sunny and cloudy days.
So, even though I was skeptical at first, I’ve strived to give them a fair shake before reaching a verdict. After rigorous testing this waterfowl season, I’ve concluded these decoys aren’t a scam.
In short: Rig’em Right Mainline Series BLACKOUTS ($90) have added an extra pop to my spread that I’ve been missing for years. They’re a new-school take on an old-school decoy hack that actually works, but they’re not the golden ticket for limits every time you go hunting. You still have to put in the work.
Specifications
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Trusted brand
- Provide excellent contrast
- Lifelike movement and look
- Durable
- Multiple ways to rig them
- Not too bulky or heavy
Cons
- Might have gone overboard on the details (appealing to hunters rather than ducks)
- Not the “golden bullet” for harvesting more ducks
- More expensive than painting your old decoys black
Rig’em Right BLACKOUTS Decoy Review
For years, I’ve heard about waterfowlers painting 2L pop bottles black and shooting limits of ducks over them. Was that just an old wives’ tale or the gospel truth?
Instead of chugging 12 to 15 2L bottles of pop and painting them, I chose the easier route: Rig’em Right BLACKOUTS. These floaters are the first commercially available solid-black decoys I know of, which is incredibly surprising.
Initial Thoughts Out of the Box
When I opened the first box, I was very impressed with the feather and head position detailing. However, I thought it was a bit silly to separate the decoys by drakes and hens. Yes, there is a slight difference in body size and shape, but it is more of a selling point for hunters than the ducks.
I rigged the decoys with the Rig’em Right Xtreme Coated Cable Decoy Anchors. Alternating clips on the front and back was hassle-free because there were four precut holes in various positions on the keel.
In-the-Field Performance
The Rig’em Right BLACKOUTS were tossed into the back of my truck, ready for their first hunt. Since I was still skeptical, I intermingled a dozen BLACKOUTS with my buddy’s typical decoys.
There weren’t a ton of birds flying that day (we later found out someone had been poaching on the pond recently), but the ones that gave us a look didn’t show any signs of flaring off the decoys. This hunt gave me the confidence to head out with only the BLACKOUTS.
For my next hunt, I decided to use only the BLACKOUTS for my duck decoys, but I still had some Canada goose floaters on the water. There wasn’t much wind, but the BLACKOUTS moved well enough to make one of my buddies do a double-take when he was walking back to the blind. But I didn’t want them to trick my buddies; I wanted them to bring in more ducks, and they did.
We had a giant flock of teal land in the spread without any spinning wing decoys present. Then a pair of mallards landed next to several of the BLACKOUTS and didn’t jump until we came shotguns a-blazing out of the blind.
However, on another hunt, I couldn’t get the ducks or geese close enough, even to consider sky busting, though I saw several hundred. So they’re not a perfect solution to drawing in ducks from everywhere.
What I Love About These Decoys
After hunting with these dekes, I’ve become a big believer in them. I’ve used Rig’em Right gear for years and know they make gear that can endure the abuse waterfowlers put their gear through.
As far as hunting with them, I love the contrast they provide. Black is much easier to see, so the ducks notice them from farther away on sunny or cloudy days. They also move well in little to no wind, no matter how you rig them. However, lack of wind is rarely a problem here in Oklahoma.
I’ve had these decoys bouncing around in the back of my truck for all of duck season. They’ve lasted through mud, freezing temperatures, and rattling together in my vehicle. I expect them to last for many seasons, as long as they don’t get shot by accident.
Lastly, these decoys are lightweight enough for hunting public or private land. They’re not the lightest decoys I’ve ever used, but they’re also not anywhere near the heaviest decoys I’ve hunted over.
Where I See Room for Improvement
This might be strange to say, but the most significant area for improvement is not going overboard with the details. Most of them seem to be selling points for hunters, but they don’t actually matter in the field.
For instance, if a duck notices the feather detailing or sex of the decoy, it’s already in your spread well within shooting range. While these details definitely don’t hurt your chances, they’re extra steps and processes we pay for as consumers. So, I see the possibility of these decoys being even more affordable.
Waterfowlers also shouldn’t get the impression that these decoys are guaranteed to bring the birds in. You will still need to do your due diligence by scouting and hunting as close to the X as possible if you want banger hunts all the time.
Final Thoughts: Rig’em Right Mainline Series BLACKOUTS
After hunting with the Rig’em Right Mainline Series BLACKOUTS this season, I don’t see another season in my future when they’re not a primary part of my spread. I’m not afraid to only use the BLACKOUTS or mix them with traditional floaters. If you don’t want to paint your old decoys or use 2L bottles, these are the ideal alternative.
Rig’em Right BLACKOUTS won’t break the bank, and they work vastly better than I expected.
