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- Title
Effectiveness of Spinning-Wing Decoys Varies Among Dabbling Duck Species and Locations.
- Authors
Ackerman, Joshua T.; Eadie, John M.; Szymanski, Michael L.; Caswell, Jason H.; Vrtiska, Mark P.; Raedeke, Andrew H.; Checkett, J. Michael; Afton, Alan D.; Moore, Thomas G.; Caswell, F. Dale; Walters, Rich A.; Humburg, Dale D.; Yee, Julie L.
- Abstract
Spinning-wing decoys are strong attractants to ducks and increase kill rates over traditional decoying methods. However, it is unknown whether all duck species are attracted similarly to spinning-wing decoys and whether the effectiveness of these decoys changes with latitude. We examined the effectiveness of spinning-wing decoys for 9 species of dabbling ducks during 545 experimental hunts in California (1999-2000), Minnesota (2002), Manitoba (2001-2002), Nebraska (2000-2002), Missouri (2000-2001), and Arkansas (2001-2003). During each experimental hunt, we systematically alternated between 2 paired decoy treatments every 15-30 min (depending on study site): traditional decoys only and traditional decoys with a spinning-wing decoy. Overall, 70.2% (n = 1,925) of dabbling ducks were harvested (shot and retrieved) when spinning-wing decoys were turned on, ranging from 63.6% (n = 187) in Missouri to 76.4% (n = 356) in Minnesota. Effectiveness of spinning-wing decoys increased with latitude of study sites. Proportions of ducks shot when spinning-wing decoys were turned on differed among species, from a low of 50.0% (n = 8) for cinnamon teal (Anas cyanoptera) to a high of 79.0% (n = 119) for American wigeon (A. americana). The probability of being shot when spinning-wing decoys were turned on increased with annual survival rates among species; for example, spinning-wing decoys were more effective for American wigeon and mallard (A. platyrhynchos) than they were for cinnamon teal and American green-winged teal (A. crecca). Effectiveness of spinning-wing decoys did not differ consistently by age or sex of harvested ducks. Our results indicate that the effectiveness of spinning-wing decoys differs among duck species and changes with latitude; thus, consideration of these effects may be warranted when setting harvest regulations and methods of take.
- Subjects
UNITED States; DECOYS (Hunting); DUCKS; ANIMAL species; HUNTING
- Publication
Journal of Wildlife Management, 2006, Vol 70, Issue 3, p799
- ISSN
0022-541X
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.2193/0022-541X(2006)70[799:EOSDVA]2.0.CO;2