Author Topic: leaving decoys out. (Read 7664 times)

AWS · « **on:** January 19, 2012, 08:05:34 PM »

Went out to a public hunting area in Western WA, a nice place big enough for four groups if they spread out. Someone has put in a large set right in the middle and is leaving it out overnight, looks like a couple of days at least already. I paddled through the spread and called out a few times, no boat, no one home. I set up about 50yrds away and around the corner in case they came back from lunch or something. I left at dark and took a closer look on the way out nobody around and nobody pulled in, I left at dark. I did paddle around looking for a turned over boat or any sign of a mishap, nothing.

Would you call the warden on this?

rtspring · « **Reply #1 on:** January 19, 2012, 08:09:38 PM »

the regs say decoys may only be left unattended for 1 hour. I would of of packed them up and called the gamie....

seth30 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 19, 2012, 08:22:58 PM »

is it a high tide area? One of my buddies found a few dekes left behind due to the tide.

AWS · « **Reply #3 on:** January 19, 2012, 08:30:39 PM »

No no high tide and it was a large spread half dozen flocked goose floaters, groups of pintail, teal, mallard, cans, and bluebills plus two spinners and a flying mallard deke. I barely had room in my rat for me the dog and my dz dekes.

seth30 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 19, 2012, 08:31:29 PM »

Jeez, sounds like the guy wanted to donate his dekes to everyone

jordano · « **Reply #5 on:** January 19, 2012, 08:34:13 PM »

very, very illegal.. lucky that guy still has a spread left... if I were you I'd go take what has been "abandoned".. unfortunately its free game now..

Cap.Silver · « **Reply #6 on:** January 19, 2012, 08:39:11 PM »

h2ofowlr · « **Reply #7 on:** January 20, 2012, 09:24:09 AM »

I'll give you $20 if you pick them up for me!

D-Rock425 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 20, 2012, 09:38:34 AM »

Ill give 25$

TheHunt · « **Reply #9 on:** January 20, 2012, 11:09:10 AM »

Widgeondeke · « **Reply #10 on:** January 20, 2012, 11:22:24 AM »

I've been wondering where I left all my dekes. I'll give ya $20 if you just PM the location I left em at.

alecvg · « **Reply #11 on:** January 20, 2012, 11:22:45 AM »

Wow... you guys wanna take someones dekes? Sounds like stealing to me. How do you know someone didn't fall in the water, or something bad happened that they had to leave. What happened to the benefit of the doubt? Don't bother with what isn't yours.

Special T · « **Reply #12 on:** January 20, 2012, 11:26:37 AM »

How about picking them up and posting an ad and telling the game warden to collect you decoys tell me what they are and where they were locateddddddd... say the were found in Skagit county...

I have lost decoys in my bag that i have gotten on the bay... I have donated more than a few too!

Technically its abandond just like a sunk boat is...

Widgeondeke · « **Reply #13 on:** January 20, 2012, 11:28:26 AM »

Quote from: alecvg on January 20, 2012, 11:22:45 AM

Wow... you guys wanna take someones dekes? Sounds like stealing to me. How do you know someone didn't fall in the water, or something bad happened that they had to leave. What happened to the benefit of the doubt? Don't bother with what isn't yours.

Sarcasm!!!

Fishnclifff · « **Reply #14 on:** January 20, 2012, 11:30:38 AM »

Decoys are not to be out 2 hrs after shooting time.

We ran across this years back up in Stanwood. We picked up all the dekes and put them in the bushes, set out our spread and got ready to hunt.
Guys came out and said they left theirs out to reserve the spot, on public land.
We had a discussion about the laws. The law showed up. They got coupons and were sent on their way.
Decent hunting day as I recall.

Special T · « **Reply #15 on:** January 20, 2012, 11:34:04 AM »

Thats awsopme!

Camp David · « **Reply #16 on:** January 20, 2012, 11:44:58 AM »

Quote from: Fishnclifff on January 20, 2012, 11:30:38 AM

They got coupons and were sent on their way.

Coupons? ...for reduced movie tickets?

jordano · « **Reply #17 on:** January 20, 2012, 12:13:32 PM »

y'all are too funny... someone posted about Maritime law.. if a boat or something is unattended and floating on any body of water it becomes no ones and can be claimed by whoever can gain possession and control of it.. My buddies boat floated away the other day up river from me about 2 miles... I towed it back to them but technically I owned the boat the minute I grabbed the bow line...

Happy Gilmore · « **Reply #18 on:** January 20, 2012, 12:35:57 PM »

Quote from: jordano on January 20, 2012, 12:13:32 PM

y'all are too funny... someone posted about Maritime law.. if a boat or something is unattended and floating on any body of water it becomes no ones and can be claimed by whoever can gain possession and control of it.. My buddies boat floated away the other day up river from me about 2 miles... I towed it back to them but technically I owned the boat the minute I grabbed the bow line...

Have you ever registered this boat?

Happy Gilmore · « **Reply #19 on:** January 20, 2012, 12:38:55 PM »

You can leave decoys out on private property. Nobody has the right to remove decoys accessed via private property. I.E. a gun / hunting club.

When using water for access etc. some property owners maintain rights out into tidal areas. Just because you can float there doesn't mean the actual ground under you is public.

seth30 · « **Reply #20 on:** January 20, 2012, 12:57:51 PM »

I paint my name and number on the bottom of my dekes just in case I get stranded in high tide and Im forced to leave them.

Kola16 · « **Reply #21 on:** January 20, 2012, 02:19:37 PM »

Quote from: seth30 on January 20, 2012, 12:57:51 PM

I paint my name and number on the bottom of my dekes just in case I get stranded in high tide and Im forced to leave them.

Me 2

waterfowl870 · « **Reply #22 on:** January 20, 2012, 03:27:19 PM »

Quote from: Widgeondeke on January 20, 2012, 11:22:24 AM

I've been wondering where I left all my dekes. I'll give ya $20 if you just PM the location I left em at.

haha

Fishnclifff · « **Reply #23 on:** January 20, 2012, 04:05:52 PM »

In Mcminneville Oregon, a couple was cited for having decoys out on their pond, on private property.
They said they were taking pics of waterfowl.
Gamies came , confiscated them, left them with a citation.
Oregon's rules are similar to ours.
Don't know if it is a fed rule or not.

TwoFeet · « **Reply #24 on:** February 15, 2012, 01:08:16 AM »

Quote from: Happy Gilmore on January 20, 2012, 12:38:55 PM

You can leave decoys out on private property. Nobody has the right to remove decoys accessed via private property. I.E. a gun / hunting club.

When using water for access etc. some property owners maintain rights out into tidal areas. Just because you can float there doesn't mean the actual ground under you is public.

Land ownership, be it public or private, has no bearing on the legality of unattended decoys. It's plainly spelled out in the Migratory Bird Regs. Should you have any doubts, call the WDFW at 360-902-2515 and they'll be happy to explain this to you or dispatch an officer to do so in person. Of course hunters should obey the law and avoid Unlawfull Trespass.

Shannon · « **Reply #25 on:** February 15, 2012, 08:38:05 AM »

Here's the link to the page in the regs that talk about setting decoys out.
http://wdfw.wa.gov/publications/01220/wdfw01220.pdf
It looks to me like its only illegal if your on public land. If your on private land you can leave it out all season if you want.
Its not a good idea IMO. If you want to educate the birds on your piece of private that's fine but I won't be leaving mine out.

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Author Topic: leaving decoys out. (Read 7664 times)

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