electronic decoys

[ducksdogsdownriggers]

Per the Spokesman-Review: http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/feb/15/landers-hunting-rule-proposals-undergo-changes/

Allow electronic decoys to be used for waterfowl hunting. Advice: reject.

This proposal originated from the Waterfowl Advisory Council, which is dominated by guides. The Game Management Council debated the distinction between technology that enhances a hunt and equipment that increases harvest. The council voted 14-4 to reject the proposal because electronic equipment would increase hunter success rates.

[Sawbuck]

Thats too bad, I was thinking that an electric MoJo would have been a nice addition to my spread.

[Mr56Jeep]

Maybe they should outlaw all decoys if hunter success is a problem?  And all calls?  and probably shotguns too?   

[full choke]

I am fine without battery operated decoys. Sucks that we can't use the quiver magnets and shakers, but I make do with pull strings. There are pull string spinning wing decoys available too. The way I.  Look at it- if you are too lazy or uncoordinated to pull a string, should you really be using a 12 gauge? Besides, it is embarrassing to sit in a marsh with the guys next to you running a vortex with four mojos, a couple of teal mojos on the side, three or four bilge pump duck butts throwing water around like a jet pump while their mallard machine creates a two foot wake for their remote controlled swimmer dekes to surf... Damn Potholes will start looking like the Bellagio!

[boneaddict]

People and their electronics.........

I was just finishing up on the decoy I made with my remote control boat and aquakeel.

[Madison]

 

Thank God.

[seth30]

good!  Less trash I will find out there while Im hunting.  Too many slob waterfowlers out there, the same one that leave there spent shells will leave there spent batteries

[ducksdogsdownriggers]

good!  Less trash I will find out there while Im hunting.  Too many slob waterfowlers out there, the same one that leave there spent shells will leave there spent batteries

My thoughts exactly!

[hdshot]

Still kind of weird it is OK with the feds when they have the ultimate say on migratory birds.  Either way to much of one method can lower success as well.  Used the fishing reel spinner and works good in a snowy corn Field if the ducks are using it and doesn't seem to work very well on water attracting ducks.    Just comes down to weather in the end.

[Special T]

A buddy of mine had one of those fishing reel/speedo cable powered wing decoys. worked pretty good. only had to twirl the wings a little instead of the constant motion of the wind kind. 

[Mr56Jeep]

Anyone know what the fine is for using a Mojo?   

[h2ofowlr]

Anyone know what the fine is for using a Mojo?   

There is no fine if using on reservation land!

[Mr56Jeep]

Anyone know what the fine is for using a Mojo?   

There is no fine if using on reservation land!

I was thining more like Skagit area or Pot Holes      

[Special T]

And do you know how many Rez there are in that close proximity?

[Mr56Jeep]

And do you know how many Rez there are in that close proximity?

I'm not aware of any on the Skagit delta.   

[Special T]

Close enough in proximity is the swinomish. Not the delta proper but borders near the N Fork Mouth I sure the tidal areas loosly associated with the KEY HOLE and West is likely hunting grounds for tribeal members, however i have not  met any.

[hdshot]

Anyone know what the fine is for using a Mojo?   

  Strange question and don't like where this is going by the way it sounds to me.  Wondering if worth the fine for you or just conversation? 

[money794]

so its illegal to use electronic nex year>?

[Mr56Jeep]

Anyone know what the fine is for using a Mojo?   

  Strange question and don't like where this is going by the way it sounds to me.  Wondering if worth the fine for you or just conversation?

I may be a *censored* but I'm not going to do anything illegal.  I'm too old for that.

more want to make the statement that I think the reasoning behind the decision is BOGUS.

Now, that being said.... Does anyone know what the fine would be for using an electronic decoy on non-indian land in the peoples republic of WA?

[cryfowl]

The Dept of Fish and Wildlife were accepting public input on this topic up unitl Feb. 21.  The final vote will not be until April.  Was told 70% of the public/hunters support a lift on the ban so far.  With almost every other State allowing them and them being OK with the Feds, I have heard that it is almost a sure thing they will lift the ban.  I'm confident enough that I purchases a MOJO Teal the other day.  Of course if they go against what most the people want (WA politics) and continue the ban, I can always send it back....LOL.    

[Tealer]

The Dept of Fish and Wildlife were accepting public input on this topic up unitl Feb. 21.  The final vote will not be until April.  Was told 70% of the public/hunters support a lift on the ban so far.  With almost every other State allowing them and them being OK with the Feds, I have heard that it is almost a sure thing they will lift the ban.  I'm confident enough that I purchases a MOJO Teal the other day.  Of course if they go against what most the people want (WA politics) and continue the ban, I can always send it back....LOL.

Careful with that 70% number. That includes people that are ok with the decoys as long as the season does not change. I am glad they voted it down. There is no need for them.

[winshooter88]

Just a small point here guys. Even though the GMAC voted against the electronic decoys that does not mean that they won't be legal. Dave Ware and the WDFW staff have a history of listening to comments from the public and from GMAC and then doing what they want to do anyway. So I wouldn't make any bets one way or the other. If you have to guess, lean toward the side that will bring in more money to the WDFW. Money seems to be the most important thing to the WDFW over anything else lately.

[ICEMAN]

That apears to be the unfortunate sad truth.

[cryfowl]

I have always wondered why people hate them so much.....I used to be one of them too.  If you don't like them, don't use them.  I hunt pretty much the same amount of days each year and always have.  I also shoot a limit darn near every day, so if I used electronic decoys or not, it wouldn't make a bit of difference on my harvest.  I harvest about 150-200 ducks each year.  I can use a wind powered spinner or pull cord and it does the same thing as a electronic spinner decoy.  I can stand in the water and kick my feet and make ripples or use a shaker decoy.  The end result is just the same.  It comes down to convenience.  It's why we use semi-auto shotguns rather than muzzleloader shotguns and mass produced plastic decoys over handcarved decoys.  It's why for the most part we drive to our hunting area rather than walk and use gas powered motors on our boats rather than row.  Convenience.  They are just another tool that we can use.  Plus the increase in revenue they will produce will benefit everyone.      

[TheHunt]

If you see that 70% like them.  Who do you think do NOT like them?

I think the 70% are the people who only hunt public lands and rarely ever get a limit. 

The 30% are the guides as they think if the number of birds that concist a limit might go down because the 70% might get more ducks.  The other part of the 30% is are the people who have private land access and the purest waterfowler. 

[Tealer]

I don't hate them. I think there are not needed to be successful. I hunt 98% public, ran a 6 bird average on the season. Which is pretty typical for me. I have been to too many meetings were the WDFW claimed they would make harvest rates skyrocket. Thus resulting in lower limits and a shorter season. No thanks. If you can kill ducks with out them, we do you need them?

[hdshot]

I heard something lifting the band was off the table which will keep them illegal. 

[cryfowl]

The group that voted them down is made up of mostly guides.  Why would they not want the average hunter to have a better chance at limiting?  $$$ out of their pockets.  Why pay them if you can have a successful hunt somewhere else on your own.  Up until this past year, I have only ever hunted public land.  Last year I met a couple guys who have a private lease and we hunted that 4 times, limiting all but one day.  We used a wind duck.  Even with that the birds flew past our spread and went to a lush green grass field because that is what they wanted.  Ducks are always going to go to the places they feel safe (least pressure) and can get food.  No amount of robo ducks will pull them away from what they need.  I think electronic decoys have a place in our hunting and just like everything else we have thrown at the birds over the years, the birds get used to them quick.  Have watched hundreds of ducks flare off wind operated spinners.  So why would the electronic ones suddenly make them stupid?         

[Sneaky]

The group that voted them down is made up of mostly guides.  Why would they not want the average hunter to have a better chance at limiting?  $$$ out of their pockets.  Why pay them if you can have a successful hunt somewhere else on your own.  Up until this past year, I have only ever hunted public land.  Last year I met a couple guys who have a private lease and we hunted that 4 times, limiting all but one day.  We used a wind duck.  Even with that the birds flew past our spread and went to a lush green grass field because that is what they wanted.  Ducks are always going to go to the places they feel safe (least pressure) and can get food.  No amount of robo ducks will pull them away from what they need.  I think electronic decoys have a place in our hunting and just like everything else we have thrown at the birds over the years, the birds get used to them quick.  Have watched hundreds of ducks flare off wind operated spinners.  So why would the electronic ones suddenly make them stupid?         

I agree, the guides are the ones who benefit from no electric spinners because it gives the public land hunter less of a chance to intercept "their" birds.

Wind spinners, pull strings, etc. cannot compare to an electric spinner! People who think they do generally don't understand what it takes to get birds to finish to a spinner. Sure, high flyers will take a peek at any kind of spinning wings, but once they get close if things aren't right they know the difference. Its not just convenience, its ability to create spin under adverse conditions (deep water, no wind, etc..)

Spinners or not you can still only kill 7 ducks! Are we having a population problem that I am unaware of?


Don't get me wrong, I am for the electronics - There is 0 scientific reason to not allow them.

[hdshot]

7 ducks is just to sell licenses.  I remember when a mallard would be on every puddle and the limit was only 3.  It was a waste of time to set deks because jumping was the easiest without the hassle. 

[tabler4113]

I honestly don't know what the big deal would be if electronics were legal. Washington is one of very few states that does not allow them at this point in time anyway. I really don't see what it would hurt. Personally I don't think I would spend the money on them. I use wind powered and jerk strings and do just fine. Three of my buddies and I would limit darn near every day out, and if not there was not much flying anyway. I'm all for it but just don't really see how it would really help my success.

[Sneaky]

 

Don't need em, but it would be nice to have.

Tired of the state management that is backed by 0 science.

[full choke]

My question is why do you want them?

Everyone keeps saying they don't need them- then leave it at that. There would be more validity when the guys step up and say "I can't get it done. I need an annoying battery powered shiner to kill a duck."

Who cares if they use them in other states? Are you competing against those states for the same bird?

When they were legal- I had one. I used it. I thought it was pretty cool, made things pretty easy. Then they banned them and I was kind of pissed. I thought it was a typical WDFW kneejerk reaction to a situation. Now I am glad they aren't around. Nothing kills a pleasant morning in the marsh like some dude across the way with six to eight spinners running. Enjoy the fact they are not allowed.

[Sneaky]

Having them opens up a lot of options as I stated earlier, deep water situations, not having to rely on wind, etc. Therefore you can hunt in places where you weren't normally able to set up. Its nice to have other options as competitive as the sport is today.

[270Shooter]

They're legal on the rez and all they do is flare the ducks, movement on the water (ripples) is more effective anyways.

[DUCKDUDE]

I get just as many birds without the help of electroics.  If you have a good spread, know how to call and when to call and are concelled you should be good without.

[Fowlweather25]

The only thing that flares ducks is bad decoy arrangement and poor calling, or stickin your mug out there to get a look at the bird. If used correctly motion decoys can be a great asset to bringin in shy birds. But whatever, I'll continue to kill birds the way I've been doing it.

[DUCKDUDE]

A good jerk cord is killer on those calm days.

[Fowlweather25]

Jerk cords are great! Till your dog gets tangled in them.

[rtspring]

At the end of the day you get to kill seven ducks, I don't really see the big deal. Now if they start to change LIMITS I would be pissed off.

[full choke]

At the end of the day you get to kill seven ducks, I don't really see the big deal. Now if they start to change LIMITS I would be pissed off.

Not really. Limits are not set with the expectation that everybody will reach them. 7 birds would be way too high a number if they actually thought everybody out hunting was going to shoot that many. Look at the averages- it is something like .08 birds per hunter per day. Granted that takes in everybody- the guy who goes once, just walks around and doesn't even see a duck. Put him and the guy who limited together and you have a 3.5 bird average. If they expected everyone to limit we would have two or three bird limits.

[hdshot]

At the end of the day you get to kill seven ducks, I don't really see the big deal. Now if they start to change LIMITS I would be pissed off.

Not really. Limits are not set with the expectation that everybody will reach them. 7 birds would be way too high a number if they actually thought everybody out hunting was going to shoot that many. Look at the averages- it is something like .08 birds per hunter per day. Granted that takes in everybody- the guy who goes once, just walks around and doesn't even see a duck. Put him and the guy who limited together and you have a 3.5 bird average. If they expected everyone to limit we would have two or three bird limits.

Setting limits main goal is to keep hunters in check on those good days.  Can never predict what the weather is going to do. Mother nature is the main factor that keeps numbers in line and hunting basically allows hunters claim them before she does.  Two main factors that put the hurt on numbers was market hunting and now habitat loss.  Not waving arms arguing over 4 vs 7 or 2 vs 5 and so on.  I have seen the clouds of non stop birds in the air with 3 as a limit and the population still dropped like a rock.

[TheHunt]

The majority of the waterfowlers on this site are hardcore.  The average waterfowl hunter does not do well.  The the 70% is the average joe/joelean hunter.  If they think they can scratch out a few more birds the 70% wants the electic decoys.