A topic for discussion - Roto Duck

[AquaMan]

I realize that we like to keep the subjects to fishing here, but the spectrum is the same.

At issue is the mechanized wind duck/goose decoys. The DNR is attempting to ban these all together. Currently, they can be used but you cannot have a wireless remote control. This in in MN only. The rest of the Mississippi flyway is entitled to use the "roto ducks" and remotes and liberal bag limits. Seasons are being lengthened all the way down the flyway as well.

What gives? Is the MN DNR trying to close duck hunting down? With hunting results the last 4 years in the fair to poor side of success a lot of duck hunters are wrapping it up. I have seen the decline in DU numbers as well as youth hunters. We need these tools to keep hunting interest going or am I way off base?

I am just a little miffed at the goals of our DNR. I love duck hunting, but with the restrictions and reductions, it is getting darn hard to get excited about it anymore.

Any one else?


AquaMan~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It all begins and ends at the water's edge...

[Eyez]

Here's the way I see it.

I don't own one, but I've seen them used, and they are very effective. I did intend to buy one this fall, but didn't get around to it, and now I think I've changed my mind. My thought on it is, that if any state bans any type of hunting aid (special decoy, etc) without first proving that it is an unfair advantage, or that it will lead to overharvest, they are out of line. MN DNR has always had their sphincters pulled a little to tight I think, being the first to ban any new device they think is unfair, so it doesn't surprise me that they're the first to regulate the roto-ducks. Personally, I don't care if someone else wants to use one, but I do know that I don't want to set my decoys within a mile of someone that's using one, cause I won't pull many birds away from it. If they are proven to significantly increase harvest, to the point that they will have to lower the limits again (these things could actually cause other regs to get stricter, in order to keep using them), then I'd rather see them banned.

On the purist side, roto-ducks work almost so well in some cases, that there is no challenge to hunting ducks when you're using one. I earn each mallard that I shoot, by lugging 3 dozen decoys and lots of hours practicing calling. A roto-duck seams kind of like a cheap way to shoot your birds. Kind of like shooting pen raised pheasants.


my thoughts anyway...


Eyez

[AquaMan]

Good points Eyez

Our group bought one this season and, thought I like the old fashioned way cuz it is truely simpler, I did not see a marked improvement with this rotating wing decoy. Ducks that were committed came whether the roto was going or not.

I used one up in Lake of the Woods, over in Ottertail and down in Lonsdale. I saw other hunters with this device and when we gathered at the end of the day, the otheres even admitted that fly-bys were greater with the decoy, but committments still were the same.

I have witnessed more sky blasting from those with the rotos, but they might do that anyway. The difference is that the roto provides more fly-bys. Some swear by them, others detest them, but this is American ingenuity at its capable best. Gimmick or tool?

I am not for or against the roto ducks, my frustration is that the DNR is so quick to restict new tech that we are having a difficult time keeping hunter's interest. Without them [hunters], the funds go away and with that the resources. Not to say the roto duck will save the day, but jeez, when is the fight "a battle" and when is it "a fight"? Seems that someone is making more out of this up there at DNR HQ then needs to be.

Look at the deal with the underwater cameras. Did they really effect harvest? or was it a fun toy that a few select will abuse and the rest of us enjoy? Gimmick or tool?

AquaMan~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It all begins and ends at the water's edge...

[ILLEYE]

This year I have seen the robos far less effective than last year. One reason I'm sure is that more guys are using them up and down the flyway. Also, the weather hasn't been as conducive this year as it was last. I would favor a ban on them if the only alternative was reduced bag limits. I agree though that we need to entice as many young people to the sport as we can. The major contributors of money to help the ducks are the hunters. I also think one reason hunter numbers are declining is the cost, as you almost have to have a lease in my neck of the woods to get decent hunting. It is becoming a sport of the rich. But that is another topic.

[Box]

I have used them and have seen it go both ways - they have brought some down and they have flared some that I thought otherwise would have come in.

I still think hunting is more about knowing where and how to hunt more than the type of dekes you are using. I have hunted with up to 5 of these things out, and ducks have passed over us high. I have also hunted (as I'm sure most of you have) where two normal decoys have been all it takes to get dozens to come in.

For the guys who have not used them, consider this: they break easy, they are expensive, the battery wears down, and they are a pain to transport. It is a fad that will most likely go away (unless they find a way to make them better).

Saying they are too lifelife is akin (IMHO) to saying the new paintjobs and swivel heads on dekes make them too lifelike, or that having a string attached and manually shaking dekes is too lifelike.

So... I have 2, one of which broke. Will i buy more, even if they are legal? No. Will I use the one I have? Sure, until it breaks, which will probably be next opener..hehe..

BTW - about the seasons being extended down the flyway... I am pretty sure they HAVE NOT. It was proposed but not approved. For most people in MN the past few seasons have been bad. But let's not jump on other states just because we have had bad seasons. Remember when the entire nation was in drought, and we were shooting ducks like crazy because of our lakes? The pendulum will swing back in our favor again - hopefully soon.

BTW2 - I went to NoDak for 2.5 days and shot 15 ducks. The NoDak people were very nice to us, and the farmers let us on and told us the best spots. If you want to shoot some ducks, head to where the ducks are.

Wow... I was long winded. :)
Good hunting,
-Box (MN)

[RANGER]

Box,

You said..............."If you want to shoot some ducks, head to where the ducks are". Absolutely correct! However, there is another way..........buy one of the slightly used, somewhat dented triple "A"s that will be at your nearby Swap Meet in the near future shipped directly from Afganistan to you for a small charge. With these you can really reach out and touch SOMETHING!

As for the MN DNR?? There is something called a SCUD, soon to be available...................}> Just kidding!!!!!!!!!!!! Couldn't resist.

[Fshngyd]

I dont' know much about the MN DNR, and their rules and regs, In Nebraska we have no such problems. I can tell you that I hunt over 2 of the motorized decoys, the Mojo and Super Lucky Duck w/remote, I have not noticed a significent increase in the number of ducks shot this year with or without their help, but it does helps get the decoy spread noticed, but if you can't call well, or if your decoy spread is not arranged correctly, or if your blind is not camo'd well they don't help a bit. ILLEYE is correct in saying that the ducks are not responding to them as well as they were a year ago or even 2 years ago, so based on that, in a couple of years they will be a non issue. I think they only have a 2-3 year life in which they will work well, and we are basically into the 3rd year now. It is possible that within the next year or two, they will flare the ducks away instead of pulling them in, then we will have to retire them anyway! I also use the Mallard Magnets, they are basically a kite that mounts on a 1/2" conduit post, I mixed those with the moto ducks and 6 dozen floaters and some of the new Enticer full body stand up's from Flambeau, It is a awesome spread, the enticers really add to the "real" look of the spread.

[Jim Carroll]

I think the general consensus is that they are losing their effectiveness. Up here in ND they will probably always work to some extent because of the young of the year birds. But I think the Arkie and LA guys are going to see more ducks flaring off- the ducks will have seen a heck of a lot of spinning wings by the time they get down there.

I have no problems with with the current level of technology (Mojo user) which is really crude by today's standards, but what happens when these things start flapping around or flying? Duckin is, in a lot parts of the country, a rich man's game and there are plenty of people who wouldn't hesitate to spend $1000's for an ultra realistic killer decoy. At some point I think we are going to cross a technological line that I would be uncomfortable with.

Its probably the same in fishing. Program the boat to go out and catch some fish and clean them. Have the domestic robot prepare them and I'll be home by five....:D

[Fshngyd]

You are right Jim, Things can get a little pricey on the duck hunting front, when you consider lease's, blind construction, decoys, guns, cloth's, etc. I happen to be fortunate enough to have a great partner for hunting, we split expenses down the middle, so it allows us to have great blinds and equipment as well as the lease itself. We were sitting in the blind the other day, outside temp was around 15 degrees, inside the blind was about 60 or so, we were eating a freshly prepared breakfast of Bacon, fried potatoes and eggs and my partner made the comment "I wonder what the poor people are doing right now"?, my reply was "I am sitting here eating breakfast with you!! But one thing I do know well is that the poor people are not out Walleye fishing!!

[mac]

I wrote the following letter to the SD Game commission a few weeks back.


I have just been "Roboed" and need to know what to do about it. Went out to one of the better sloughs this AM and arrived on one side as another group of hunters arrived on the other side. There were conservatively 3-4,000 mallards on the slough and they got off without a shot being fired and so I was looking forward to a great shoot. My buddy and I put out 40+ decoys in the middle where the ducks had been sitting and got in some good cover. The other 2 guys put out about a dozen decoys next to the shore + 1 Robo Duck, about 400 yds away from us. (They stood on shore and I don't even think they had their feet wet)

These guys couldn't call 'Norm' for free beer, but we never fired a shot while they killed their limit at least and crippled about 10 more. The ducks would start for our set up and then go right to old Robo Duck, even came to them when we had given up after about 1 ½ hour of this and were out picking up our decoys.

I think I would put that machine up against expert callers with 100 live decoys in a baited area who had the option of using an electronic call.

My question then, is Robo Duck going to continue to be legal in SD? I have heard that it is not legal in other states. I don't consider it to be sporting, just a meat tool to be used by unskilled hunters. However if it is a question of join em or quit hunting, I'll be forced to buy one for next year in self-defense.

I would recommend to the Commission that they rule them illegal for the sake of ethical hunting and you may use my letter in any presentation on that subject.

Thanks from an "old" hunter,


I feel it is basically a tool for the hunter who can't call, can't arrange decoys, doesn't scout, doesn't know anything about concealment and a lot of other of the small things that make the difference in duck hunting.

One of the biggest things that you Minnesota people have besides the drainage 50 years ago that destroyed some of the best duck habitat in the world is that some of you shoot hen mallards. If you hunt with me and you intentionally shoot a hen once and you'll never be invited back. That hen represents 10-14 new ducks next year and so you never get the returning ducks that could make up your basic population.
I like to call single hens in and talk to them until a drake shows up. Thats how you learn to call.

If some guy came up with this "new" walleye catching tool called the gillnet that really works for the unskilled fisherman, you would scream bloody murder. Well, that's how I feel about Robo.