Decoy Set Time

[Scott M]

Haven't heard any discussion in this forum about the proposed decoy law change. House File 709 would allow waterfowl hunters to leave decoys in public waters if the decoys are "attended." Currently waterfowlers can't leave decoys on public waters between sunset and one hour before shooting time.

I guess I really don't care either way. If I'm hunting public water, whether I put the decoys out there or not I need to get there super early to get a spot. I just don't want some guy to go out the day before, set his decoys, and then leave. I guess I'd like to have the courtesy of shining a flashlight to know a spot is occupied, whether or not there are decoys out. If it saves me the trouble of putting them out later and chasing some birds off the lake, so be it. Whether or not you put decoys out, some of the places I hunt you have to get up pretty early in the morning and this law wouldn't change much in that regard.

Other thoughts?

[dan z]

I would be all for it but, you have to be thier to attend to them... right now the law is one hour before sunrise. well if you have a big sprread that hour gets used pretty fast. I would not mind if I could go out early in the morning and set the dec's up and get to chill a while in the blind before the sun breaks/ or shooting time. I personally would not leave them outta sight tho...

[riverrat56]

I like this bill for this reason-

Even if we have to be at the lake at 3 am, once we get to our spot we can set decoys and then get back into the boat and focus on important things like staying warm and eating cold pizza....

Otherwise you get a sweat worked up walking out, get cold waiting to put out decoys, then break a sweat again setting decoys, then get cold standing in the boat not seeing any ducks.

I also don't like this bill because-

It will lead to people trying to "reserve" spots and could make for some tense moments and/or lead to some decoy's being stolen if people chose to leave them overnight.

[onlydrakes4me]

I have different thoughts on this one. personally if I had to get up super to get a certain spot it would be nice to put your blocks out when you want without having to wait one hour befour legal shooting.

On the hand as riverrat had said I think it might lead to guys arguing about who has rights to which spot. i would also hate to see people leaving decoys out overnight.

The law says that decoys have to be attended, but does that mean a person has to be within so many feet of the decoys or can they simply sit in a vehicle and wait untill a couple hours before legal shooting, hop in their boat and go to their spot. Or another situation would be - lets say I have a cabin on a lake. this hypothetical lake is great for hunting waterfowl, i put the decoys out in front of my property, I am home but not hunting, does this classify as attending decoys or not????

I guess if the bill passes it will have to have certain provisions that a hunter must follow

[jumboperch]

I'm not for this at all. Give someone an inch and they will take a mile. Too many loop holes.

[FishandFowl]

I agree, 1 hour is plenty of time to get ready. I believe that this will be to hard to enforce and used to "reserve" spots or open discussion for leaving unattended decoys in public waters. I do not support this at all.

Just my .02

FnF

[BoxMN]

Well, pretty much, isn't that what we have now? He who gets to the point (or other good spot) gets it first, regardless of if decoys are out or not? Or do you guys have spots where the guy who pulls up just before deke setting time gets to flip coins with the guys who were out there 3 hours prior and waiting in the rushes j/k ...but really it doesn't matter 1 bit in practical sense, other than it will be nicer for those of us/you who get up early to get the good spot.

[skee0025]

I believe that this will be to hard to enforce and used to "reserve" spots or open discussion for leaving unattended decoys in public waters.

"Didnt you see my decoys" I can hear it now..No need for this, if its not broke dont fix it.

[jigginjim]

I would hope attended decoys, would mean you must be within 150 ft of your farthest decoy. If you leave them unattended you deserve to come back to someone else in your spot.

[ironman]

I like it. We have run out of time before trying to set a massive spread in that hour after already waiting a couple hours at the spot. I think the CO's are going to interpret "attending" as being with them at all times, at least lets hope.

[HNTNBUX]

I don't like the idea of changing it. I get up early to get a good spot and then sit there and wait it is not a problem. If someone can get to a spot at say midnight and put out their decoys, or leave them up next to private land on a point or something I think it leads to ownership of the spot. I can see if this passes I will have to get a bigger boat and a cot so I can put my decoys out at 10 pm and go to sleep in the boat just to get the spot I want. It sounds like a slippery slope to me.

[GudeMN]

Wouldn't matter if your dekes are set 3 hours early or and hour early. It won't stop other groups from slipping in nice and cozy at 50 yds anyway. MN needs a minimum distance law before it needs to change when you're allowed to set your spread.

[onlydrakes4me]

ya its called respect. I absolutly HATE it when lazy hunters oversleep and set up 50yds next to me 10min before legal shooting