[Tarponman]

Just wanted to let you know that our commissioners voted to ban
spinning wind decoys effective for the 2005-2006 Arkansas waterfowl season.
Below is the press release detailing the ban as well as a newspaper article
from the Arkansas Democrat Gazette. If you would like any further
information, please let me know. Thanks, Andrew James Arkansas Game and Fish
Commission

AGFC News release

Sept. 16, 2004

Spinning wing decoys are out for 2005-2006 waterfowl season Half-day hunting
proposal tabled LITTLE ROCK - The spinning-wing decoy will be making its
last appearance in Arkansas during the 2004-2005 waterfowl season.
Commissioners today officially outlawed the use of the decoys for the
2005-2006 season. Commissioners felt that removing the decoys from the duck
hunter's arsenal in the 2005-2006 season would give both hunters and retail
outlets advance notice of the ban. "We believe it's fair to both buyers and
sellers that we allow them one more season," commissioner Sheffield Nelson
said. "We also want to save ducks for the future," Nelson added.
Commissioners have said in the past that the spinning-wing decoy helped
hunters kill more young ducks that were attracted to the wing flashes. The
spinning-wing decoy is defined as any electronic, mechanically-operated,
wind-powered or manually-powered spinning-blade device that simulates wing
movement. The decoys will be allowed during the snow, blue and Ross'
Conservation Order season dates of Feb. 7 to April 30.

 

[nr_gooseslayer]

I wish they would ban them here. Go back to the times when you didn't need to have a robo duck to compete. On our marsh, if you don't have one or your battery goes dead you may as well pack up and go home.

 

[Keith S.]

I like the spinning wingers. I hunt all public, and anymore, they hurt you. Our compitition uses them like mad, 2-6 in each spread. We don't use them and we have no trouble shooting birds. the birds get sooo use to seeing them and they know it's danger. It still comes down to scouting and good calling IMO.

 

[koocanusa]

I agree learn how to call and spinning wings go away. I have one and have only used it once on a river hunt. Other than that this year we have actually decoyed and called ducks from a field where there were three spinning wing Lucky Ducks in use. go figure.[ b][/b]

 

[nr_gooseslayer]

We tried not using them. We tried more decoys. I didn't want to spend money on them, but bottom line on our marsh you need them to compete here. We can get then to come down and look, but when they get close they go straight to the ROBO everytime. We tried jerk cords, being where the birds want to be and it doesn't matter here. I hunt almost everyday during the season, and knoe how to call and set up. The birds here don't flare off of them. If we have one out they come straight to them.
The battery went dead last year middle of a hunt. After it died we didn't shoot another duck, but the guys set up by the parking lot with 2 Robos were pounding them. I do my scouting and know where the birds want to be, but those damn robos are equalizers.

 

[duckman1106]

Let 'em have the spinners. Each year more and more ducks learn to avoid the strobe lights they see over the marsh. That makes my spread that much more appealing.

 

[Sully]

I think it has to deal with location and hunting pressure. If you're up north where the season first starts then they are probably an advantage due to not having been hunted. But down in TN where the birds have been hunted hard all they way here, they have seen plenty of robo's and they won't be as stupid. I have used 1 maybe once or twice and all it did was flare them. Now I don't use one and I get my limit just about every time I go hunting. It wouldn't hurt my feelings if they banned them here.

 

[macduck]

Here in Penna we were never allowed to use the battery powered spinners; but we can use wind powered. Two wks ago a buddy & I were hunting. A fellow set up a few yards down from us; he put up one of the these wind powered spinners. Most time only one wing spun. Some woodies came in, saw the spinner w/ one wing working, turned right into my decoys. All I was doing was blowing a woodie whistle. Right. Calling & decoy placement mean so much more. & I can't tell youns how many times I was tempted to slosh over to that guy's spinner & spin that left wing myself.