Deer decoy used to nab violators

Posted on Tue, Nov. 04, 2003

Deer decoys snag hunting violators
Associated Press

RAPID CITY, S.D. – The deer was fake but the citations were real.

Conservation officers in the Black Hills issued about 30 citations last weekend to hunters who stopped on roads to shoot at deer replicas placed nearby, according to Bruce Nachtigall, regional law enforcement specialist for the Game, Fish & Parks Department in Rapid City.

Shooting at big game from roads is illegal.

Nachtigall said road hunting for deer is a problem every year, but Saturday morning was especially bad.

Twenty vehicles passed a decoy at one spot. Fifteen of them stopped and at least one hunter shot from eight of those vehicles.

“Some shot once, others more than once. One individual fired five times. Essentially he emptied his gun,” Nachtigall said.

“Saturday morning was probably the worst example of hunting violations I’ve been around. Just to have that many people stop and shoot, that was pretty bad.”

Most of the violations were for shooting from the road, or from a vehicle.

Officers set up the decoys in the central Black Hills Saturday and in the Northern Hills Sunday for the opening of the buck-only season.

They picked areas where hunters have in the past shot at deer from roads, or where landowners have complained about such practices.

Information from: The Rapid City Journal

Wade,

The Minn. DNR use deer decoys in this area to nab road hunters. They setup this decoy along a busy roadside and sit and wait for the shots to be fired! I have seen first hand a used decoy at the home of a warden……man did that decoy have holes in it!!! It HAD ears that were motorized, and would move around some. I think the warden said it had to be retired??????

Wade,

The Minn. DNR use deer decoys in this area to nab road hunters. They setup this decoy along a busy roadside and sit and wait for the shots to be fired! I have seen first hand a used decoy at the home of a warden……man did that decoy have holes in it!!! It HAD ears that were motorized, and would move around some. I think the warden said it had to be retired??????

I saw one of these things last year by where i hunt the only reason i knew it was fake is cause i watched someone shoot at it and it didnt move….oh ya then they gave him a pretty little ticket…scared the warden and the hunter to when they were on the road I shot a deer with my muzzleloader warden thought for sure someone had shot his decoy until i walked to the road and explained to him his decoy wasn’t shot at lol

I saw one of these things last year by where i hunt the only reason i knew it was fake is cause i watched someone shoot at it and it didnt move….oh ya then they gave him a pretty little ticket…scared the warden and the hunter to when they were on the road I shot a deer with my muzzleloader warden thought for sure someone had shot his decoy until i walked to the road and explained to him his decoy wasn’t shot at lol

I was told about this from a friend who saw this happening in the Hills last weekend right by the cabin we hunt from. They had multiple decoys setup on a sharp corner that drops about 150 feet straight down into a creek bottom. Unfortunately we slid a suburban off this hill early one morning in very slippery conditions. Those boys had to head back to the cabin for new shorts, luckily no one was hurt, just ruined 5 pairs of shorts.

I was told about this from a friend who saw this happening in the Hills last weekend right by the cabin we hunt from. They had multiple decoys setup on a sharp corner that drops about 150 feet straight down into a creek bottom. Unfortunately we slid a suburban off this hill early one morning in very slippery conditions. Those boys had to head back to the cabin for new shorts, luckily no one was hurt, just ruined 5 pairs of shorts.

I saw one of these while on the road pheasant hunting in S.W. MN about 15 years ago. We stopped on the road to look at what we thought was a nice buck….but as we stood there we realized the thing didn’t move. Then we started looking for the warden’s hiding spot. At the time we thought it was kind of rediculous…obviously there is a need for this.

I saw one of these while on the road pheasant hunting in S.W. MN about 15 years ago. We stopped on the road to look at what we thought was a nice buck….but as we stood there we realized the thing didn’t move. Then we started looking for the warden’s hiding spot. At the time we thought it was kind of rediculous…obviously there is a need for this.

I saw one of those shows on TV where they taped this and several guys stopped to shoot at the decoy. They had it set up on a in a field where there was a bend in the road so when the cars would come around the bend the headlights would shine on the deer. The last truck that came by did not bother to shoot at the decoy he just drove off the road with his Dodge Ram Charger & ran the decoy over
Needless to say after that mishap the decoy had to be retired

I saw one of those shows on TV where they taped this and several guys stopped to shoot at the decoy. They had it set up on a in a field where there was a bend in the road so when the cars would come around the bend the headlights would shine on the deer. The last truck that came by did not bother to shoot at the decoy he just drove off the road with his Dodge Ram Charger & ran the decoy over
Needless to say after that mishap the decoy had to be retired

Yes I’ve seen stuff like this on tape also.You wonder what’s wrong with these people????
You can’t shoot a deer from a roadway?
What about across a highway? What about across the highway if a law enforcement officer is telling you to?You guys wondering what I’m getting at ?A story And not this story
A few years back my best friend and I were driving along a local highway during the 2nd shotgun season.We see a doe that had it’s whole bottom jaw shot off.This poor doe was in alot of pain and would not move from the ditch.We were only a few miles from town so we went to look for the police thinking we could get a road kill tag and shoot the doe.We find a sheriff who told us no problem and off he goes with us to take care of this doe.So we pull onto the other side of the highway.As we get out of our vehicles the doe starts to get nervous and heads for the fence.This sheriff yells at me to shoot the fu$#@%^er.Now I don’t know what to do,laugh or shoot.I chose not to shoot across the highway.We harvested the doe without any troubles but we had a great laugh over that sheriff telling us to shoot that poor doe across the highway.
Ryan Hale

Yes I’ve seen stuff like this on tape also.You wonder what’s wrong with these people????
You can’t shoot a deer from a roadway?
What about across a highway? What about across the highway if a law enforcement officer is telling you to?You guys wondering what I’m getting at ?A story And not this story
A few years back my best friend and I were driving along a local highway during the 2nd shotgun season.We see a doe that had it’s whole bottom jaw shot off.This poor doe was in alot of pain and would not move from the ditch.We were only a few miles from town so we went to look for the police thinking we could get a road kill tag and shoot the doe.We find a sheriff who told us no problem and off he goes with us to take care of this doe.So we pull onto the other side of the highway.As we get out of our vehicles the doe starts to get nervous and heads for the fence.This sheriff yells at me to shoot the fu$#@%^er.Now I don’t know what to do,laugh or shoot.I chose not to shoot across the highway.We harvested the doe without any troubles but we had a great laugh over that sheriff telling us to shoot that poor doe across the highway.
Ryan Hale

They use em down here too. Someone highpowered a buck i was after that was 75 yrds from my stand. It scored 180, they told me this after i asked if they heard of this buck. They use them alot down here thank goodness. They got a carload of guys a couple of years ago whos trunk was full of racks from a weeks hunting with a high power, which is illegal here anyway, they took everything including thier birthdays. I wanted a shot at that buck too da<–> it. I hope they keep using them too.

They use em down here too. Someone highpowered a buck i was after that was 75 yrds from my stand. It scored 180, they told me this after i asked if they heard of this buck. They use them alot down here thank goodness. They got a carload of guys a couple of years ago whos trunk was full of racks from a weeks hunting with a high power, which is illegal here anyway, they took everything including thier birthdays. I wanted a shot at that buck too da<–> it. I hope they keep using them too.

So, what happens to the guy when he gets out of his truck, leaves the road easment to be legal and blast the thing? If he shoots at the decoy and he is in legal parameters as in the aspect of being off the road the legal distance, then nothing happens, correct???

So, what happens to the guy when he gets out of his truck, leaves the road easment to be legal and blast the thing? If he shoots at the decoy and he is in legal parameters as in the aspect of being off the road the legal distance, then nothing happens, correct???

If a guy gets out of his truck, starts walking toward the decoy, gets far enough from the road to shoot, the deer (decoy) is still standing there and he has not figured out that it is a decoy and he shoots at it he should be busted just for being plain stupid

If a guy gets out of his truck, starts walking toward the decoy, gets far enough from the road to shoot, the deer (decoy) is still standing there and he has not figured out that it is a decoy and he shoots at it he should be busted just for being plain stupid

Look at the class of people that we are discussing here???

It was just a hypothetical question, that’s all.

However, just as the opposite goes………….
a few years back, we got checked by game wardens on private property 3 times in the same deer season. All because a poacher decided to shoot a deer accross a 2 lane state hwy at a doe, with a rifle, outside of deer hunting season, during the day. So the wardens were crawling all over are area.

As we left our stands, got in the trucks and headed down the road, I saw a MONSTER buck about 200 yards away in a gravel pit. Next two him, was a small 8 pointer. The 8 pointer kept looking at us and back at the monster. The monster stood still, staring back at us. He made no movement at all. At first, I thought it was a decoy that the smaller 8 pointer got interested in, because this monster stood still for atleast 1 full minute. No ear twitch, no tail twitch, nothing. His rack was so big, and because he didn’t move, I thought for sure that the DNR put one up, because we had been checked in that area 3 times that season.

BUT, then he moved. Long story short……..I got the 8 pointer……… That buck zigged, I zigged, he zagged, I zagged, (on foot sneaking through the woods) then he pulled a Randy Moss and put on the turbos and left me standing still in the open field. I never even got a shot at him. Biggest deer I’ve ever seen live……

But like I said, at first I thought it was a decoy. If I would of been rifle hunting, I would of dropped him by getting out of the truck, walking into the field and setting myself up for a 200 yard plus shot. But instead, I stared back at him……..

oh-well……

Look at the class of people that we are discussing here???

It was just a hypothetical question, that’s all.

However, just as the opposite goes………….
a few years back, we got checked by game wardens on private property 3 times in the same deer season. All because a poacher decided to shoot a deer accross a 2 lane state hwy at a doe, with a rifle, outside of deer hunting season, during the day. So the wardens were crawling all over are area.

As we left our stands, got in the trucks and headed down the road, I saw a MONSTER buck about 200 yards away in a gravel pit. Next two him, was a small 8 pointer. The 8 pointer kept looking at us and back at the monster. The monster stood still, staring back at us. He made no movement at all. At first, I thought it was a decoy that the smaller 8 pointer got interested in, because this monster stood still for atleast 1 full minute. No ear twitch, no tail twitch, nothing. His rack was so big, and because he didn’t move, I thought for sure that the DNR put one up, because we had been checked in that area 3 times that season.

BUT, then he moved. Long story short……..I got the 8 pointer……… That buck zigged, I zigged, he zagged, I zagged, (on foot sneaking through the woods) then he pulled a Randy Moss and put on the turbos and left me standing still in the open field. I never even got a shot at him. Biggest deer I’ve ever seen live……

But like I said, at first I thought it was a decoy. If I would of been rifle hunting, I would of dropped him by getting out of the truck, walking into the field and setting myself up for a 200 yard plus shot. But instead, I stared back at him……..

oh-well……

Steve, being stupid is not a crime. We’d all better consider who’s in charge before we start making it one.

Being one who’s usually holding my opinions in check , I would say the following:

I hate this crap. Less than 10% of reported incidents even get a visit by any sort of sanctioned officer (LEO or DNR). The last thing we need is people out looking for trouble when troubles getting reported are ignored.

Kudos to the guys who ran it over with their pickup. If I saw one and could get to it without trespassing, I’d club it with a maglite until it’s eyeballs were hanging on springy wires from it’s head.

Steve, being stupid is not a crime. We’d all better consider who’s in charge before we start making it one.

Being one who’s usually holding my opinions in check , I would say the following:

I hate this crap. Less than 10% of reported incidents even get a visit by any sort of sanctioned officer (LEO or DNR). The last thing we need is people out looking for trouble when troubles getting reported are ignored.

Kudos to the guys who ran it over with their pickup. If I saw one and could get to it without trespassing, I’d club it with a maglite until it’s eyeballs were hanging on springy wires from it’s head.

Sorry guys, I did not mean to offend anyone, it was suppose to come off as a joke. My bad

Sorry guys, I did not mean to offend anyone, it was suppose to come off as a joke. My bad

None taken Steve, it’s just something that I see a lot lately.

There are many in a mad rush to treat their favorite pet peevers as second class citizens. When I consider all the forces aligning against gun owners, hunters, and even fishermen, I thought it wise to point out that allies sometimes come in strange shapes & sizes – and oftentimes from places you’d never expect.

Did the actions of the DNR induce these people to violate the law? IMO: Yes. These people are getting ticketed for shooting from the roadway, not poaching. Shooting a plastic deer is not a crime. Also likely they are providing surveillance material for the DNR in the coming seasons.

Like I said before, it’s generating trouble where none existed. The Iowa decoy that I’ve seen on TV has several servo motors. It can raise, lower, and turn it’s head; raise & lower it’s tail; and move it’s ears. It also happens to be a ~140ish buck (based once again on memory only). No expense was spared when generating this tool to lure people into violating the law.

None taken Steve, it’s just something that I see a lot lately.

There are many in a mad rush to treat their favorite pet peevers as second class citizens. When I consider all the forces aligning against gun owners, hunters, and even fishermen, I thought it wise to point out that allies sometimes come in strange shapes & sizes – and oftentimes from places you’d never expect.

Did the actions of the DNR induce these people to violate the law? IMO: Yes. These people are getting ticketed for shooting from the roadway, not poaching. Shooting a plastic deer is not a crime. Also likely they are providing surveillance material for the DNR in the coming seasons.

Like I said before, it’s generating trouble where none existed. The Iowa decoy that I’ve seen on TV has several servo motors. It can raise, lower, and turn it’s head; raise & lower it’s tail; and move it’s ears. It also happens to be a ~140ish buck (based once again on memory only). No expense was spared when generating this tool to lure people into violating the law.

“it’s generating trouble where none existed”

The trouble did exist you can be assured of that. Nothing sickens me more than seeing a vehicle full of “hunters”(termed loosely) cruising back roads looking for an opportunity. I’d be willing to bet 7 out of 10 were looking for an easy target and just happened to find the wrong one. Or right one in my eyes. I see absolutely nothing wrong with what the DNR is doing.

Shooting a plastic deer is most definitely not a crime. But shooting a plastic deer from a roadway is. The people that are shooting at this ‘deer’ are the lowest of the low and quite frankly put ammo into the pockets of anti-hunters.

Lastly, do a little research on how many of those violators had open containers of alcohol or were beyond the legal limit. Then ask yourself if you really want people like that on the roadways, much less operating a firearm. I know for a fact I don’t

Feel free to bludgeon that plastic deer or run it over if the need strikes you. I’m sure the fine for the destruction of state or federal property is inexpensive.

“it’s generating trouble where none existed”

The trouble did exist you can be assured of that. Nothing sickens me more than seeing a vehicle full of “hunters”(termed loosely) cruising back roads looking for an opportunity. I’d be willing to bet 7 out of 10 were looking for an easy target and just happened to find the wrong one. Or right one in my eyes. I see absolutely nothing wrong with what the DNR is doing.

Shooting a plastic deer is most definitely not a crime. But shooting a plastic deer from a roadway is. The people that are shooting at this ‘deer’ are the lowest of the low and quite frankly put ammo into the pockets of anti-hunters.

Lastly, do a little research on how many of those violators had open containers of alcohol or were beyond the legal limit. Then ask yourself if you really want people like that on the roadways, much less operating a firearm. I know for a fact I don’t

Feel free to bludgeon that plastic deer or run it over if the need strikes you. I’m sure the fine for the destruction of state or federal property is inexpensive.

The decoys don’t always start trouble where none existed. The tiny little piece of land we hunt on is bordered by a black top road. Two of our stands are only about 250 – 300 yards off of this road. We are very careful not to shoot towards the road as a slug can travel that far. However, a couple of years ago, after being shot towards numerous times in one season by “hunters” shooting off the road, I made a call to the DNR. I had legitimate concerns about one of us getting hurt either while in a stand or going and coming. They set up one of their “robo” deer in a corner of a corn field directly in line with one of our stands (which we vacated for the afternoon)In 2 hours, they wrote 6 tickets – three for shooting from inside a vehicle on the road, 2 for shooting from the roadway, and the best one of all – a guy that almost parked on a no trespassing sign and walked in 50 yards and proceeded to empty his gun. He was the last one they ticketed because he was a decent shot and pretty much destroyed the decoy. When used in a problem area such as this, I think the decoys are a very valuable tool. The problems with road hunters we have had since have diminished considerably.