Banning Spinning decoys?
Many states have started to ban battery powered spinning decoys becuase of many reasons, Washington, Orgeon, Arkansas the ones that come to mind but I know theres alot more. Just wondering what some other guys thoughts on these are.
I know the first season we used one it was absolutely great, pulled in a lot of really high up birds, we had a couple weekends in a row where the migration really picked up and we saw multiple flocks of easily 300+ mallards come into the decoys. I have noticed a huge difference in how the birds react differently now to them, infact we have had much better success when we have a large canada goose spread out without a robo. Infact the days when we just go for ducks the its about half and half, birds that dont want anything to do and half that dont want to fully commit but just give a flyby, where as last year it was more like 75-25.
There is actually many reasons why states have started to ban them, things like
- the immature ducks are more drawn to the wings( I can account for that, of the 30 mallard wings I sent in last year, they mailed back that 24 were immature and 6 were mature ones) Guys down south are complaining that all the young ones get killed up north now and they get the tougher smarter mature ones
- What used to take guys years to learn to call right and set up decoys right now is replaced with weekend warriors who go out and just buy a spinner and a couple decoys, this thought has made states believe that after many years of above average harvesting, duck numbers would deplete.
-The other thought is its a mechanical device, not wind or human powered, ethics are in question by it being electronic.
- Field hunting for ducks was something very few did before spinners came along, you'd need to find a good little honey hole or some open water, now you could just pull off any farm road and get permission on the field and hunt it with great results.
Now personally, I could care less to see them stay or go, if you use one I got no problems with that at all, and if you dont more power to you. One thing I hate to see though, guys hunting, and instead of doing all the little things right good location and set up, they throw out 3 spinners and a couple goose shells and it can be like drawing a moth to a flame. When it comes to that, thats not really hunting anymore thats just shooting. I know last year was great with it, I truely believe the ducks are starting to put two and two together and they are seeing the spinning decoys up and down the flyway now since most everyone using them, With only one good weekend on duck hunting left, I'm having a hard decision on whether or not to use ours. Sorry for boring you guys just my .02
Last edited by Crazy_Farmer; 01-08-2008 at 10:27 PM.
1st Im in charge, and if not Matt is. Your job is to sign checks, tell us we're doing good and open your case of scotch after a good day. 2nd my fee. You can keep it, all I want in exchange for my service is the right to hunt all the drakes. A male. Buck only. Why and how are my business. If you don't like it, go alone. Set up right here or in a swamp or in the middle of a noshoot field for all I care. I've been on too many duck hunts with rich dentists to listen to any more suicidal ideas. Ok?