Arkansas officials to request ban

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Arkansas officials to request ban

By Bryan Brasher
July 21, 2005

Rule to outlaw automated decoys isn't likely to receive approval

TUNICA, Miss. -- Arkansas conservation officials will ask the Mississippi Flyway Council to outlaw the use of automated waterfowl decoys throughout the flyway during today's session of the council's annual summer meeting at Grand Casino. Even before they make the request, they expect the answer to be no. "We're going to make our proposal, but I doubt it will pass," said Andrew James, waterfowl program coordinator for the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission. "Even if it doesn't pass, we want to raise the level of public debate on the issue."

Arkansas made a bold step in October 2004, issuing a statewide ban of all motorized, wind-powered or mechanical flapping- and spinning-wing decoys for the 2005-06 waterfowl season. State officials believe the decoys, which mimic the movements of live birds, are too enticing to juvenile waterfowl and could eventually lead to a population nosedive.
So far the only state to follow suit within the Mississippi Flyway is Minnesota, which banned automated decoys statewide for the first part of its hunting season and for the entire season on its wildlife management areas.

James said the ill effects of the decoys can only be halted if the entire Flyway imposes the ban. In the United States, the Mississippi Flyway touches 14 states, including Tennessee and Mississippi. "One study has shown that hunters can kill 36 times more ducks with the 'robo-duck' decoys," James said. "That's scary -- and it can only lead to bad things in the future."

James said many Arkansas hunters consider the decoys unethical.
"We've heard from a lot of hunters who want to get back to basics," James said. "By using these decoys, you're reducing the sport to flipping a switch to start those wings flapping. If you continue to allow that, what's next?"
Mike Checkett, regional biologist for Memphis-based Ducks Unlimited, said overall harvest rates within the Mississippi Flyway have not gone up due to the use of spinning-wing decoys. He did say, however, that numerous studies suggest a major redistribution of harvested ducks with a lean toward northern hunters. Basically, the same number of ducks are being harvested throughout the flyway as always. But more are being killed in the northern states and fewer are falling in the southern states.
Checkett said even the ducks that escape northern hunters may be arriving in the lower states wiser and more cautious. "The spinning-wing decoys are increasing the number of human encounters for many young ducks," Checkett said. "If 50 ducks fly in toward a spinning-wing decoy and two get shot, the other 48 learn something.

"They're going to be harder to kill once they get to this part of the country." Bill Cox, chairman of the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission, said the commission has discussed banning automated decoys. But he believes many hunters would be opposed to a statewide ban without the rest of the flyway joining in. The Mississippi Flyway Council will likely make a decision on the Arkansas proposal by the final day of its summer meeting Sunday.

[Broke Ducker]

was wondering if you heard anything else on this , or did i miss somethin?