Spinning Wing Decoys - Poll

MarshBum · 12-11-2008, 08:56 AM

So, I'm curious as to people's experiences with spinners. My personal feeling is that spinners are, unfortunately, required in competitive situations. Sauvie Island is an example and it's a case of "keeping up" with everyone else. However, in non-competitive situations, I shun the spinner and feel that good blocks, calling, and location can close the deal.

I'm more curious as to how people view them. Do people think they are the best thing since sliced bread, or a necessary evil? I'm also curious as to people's thoughts about what it has done to our sport.

Geoff

danger · 12-11-2008, 08:59 AM

I agree, to a large degree a necessary evil in competative situations. BUT!!!, I still don't have one, hunt SI an awful lot and have excellent trips.

Birds do get wise to them.

AtItAgain · 12-11-2008, 09:05 AM

They are good in a lot of situations, but depending on the day there are techniques that work better.

SImudBogger · 12-11-2008, 09:08 AM

I have one. Use it at SI 90% of the time. Don't use it on the lower river or a few other places i hunt. I think there are certain situations where you can actually flare birds with them.

But if you are hunting certain places on the island without one you will be at a disadvantage.

sprigkiller09 · 12-11-2008, 09:12 AM

Spinners can make all the difference in the world or they can flare birds big time. In my hunting situations it depends on alot of things though:
1. New birds or birds that have been around?
2. Weather
3. X or no X
4. Competition or no competition

I at least try spinners EVERY day i duck hunt. If they arent reacting well then i pull em or just leave them on the stake. One thing that never fails for me is jerk lines.

jnicholson · 12-11-2008, 09:32 AM

I like them but only use them 1/2 the time, sometimes they flare birds.

If I didn't use them at all I would still want my brother waterfowlers that do use them to continue.

I'd be very dissapointed if someone lobbied to get them eliminated, especially if it were a waterfowler. I'd hate to see these go the way of the electronic spinners or baiting bears or running dogs etc. as another example.

It's tuff enough when anti hunters lobby to get restictions against our sport but when hunters jump on the differing hunting issues like this and don't support each other then the end result is always less privelages for all.

I don't run dogs for cats and bears but I wouldn't even dream of voting it away for my fellow sportsmen that did.

Careful what you vote for and how you speak your mind, there may be some very lousy consequences for you.

Support hunting.

John

stlhdr1 · 12-11-2008, 09:37 AM

Depends on the day and area hunting.

If you're hunting an area where ducks haven't had much pressure it sure helps with getting them to your "X"....

They can and will flare birds if your yanking the string with the birds 50 yards out. Just use it to get their attention and then go to the jerk string decoys...

Keith

Hunt'nFish · 12-11-2008, 09:51 AM

I think ya'll know my answer.

Like any tool....they aren't the only tool, nor the best tool at the time. But a tool all the same.
Hunt'nFish

waterfowlin101 · 12-11-2008, 09:53 AM

Spinners are like duck calls. Some people will swear up and down that duck calls flare birds. In reality though, it's not the spinner nor the call that is flaring anything.... it how they are used and WHEN!!

WHEN is the key word. There is a time to call, and a time to keep quiet. There is a time to spin, and a time to let birds work on their own.

Reading birds and giving them what they want at the perfect time is what stacks up piles of puddlers. This is the key to consistent success.

As for spinners, I take one everywhere I go. It is a great tool to help kill birds.

Jon

Chesapeake · 12-11-2008, 09:54 AM

Some days they are great, other days they dont seem to matter.

I use one and dont see it as a negative, unless its one of those days and I forgot it at home, and the guy next to me is pulling all the birds with his.

sprigkiller09 · 12-11-2008, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waterfowlin101

Spinners are like duck calls. Some people will swear up and down that duck calls flare birds. In reality though, it's not the spinner nor the call that is flaring anything.... it how they are used and WHEN!!

WHEN is the key word. There is a time to call, and a time to keep quiet. There is a time to spin, and a time to let birds work on their own.

Reading birds and giving them what they want at the perfect time is what stacks up piles of puddlers. This is the key to consistent success.

As for spinners, I take one everywhere I go. It is a great tool to help kill birds.

Jon

Well said!!

Wreckless · 12-11-2008, 11:02 AM

Once again, well said.

Jon

Mike

Quaka Wacka · 12-11-2008, 12:04 PM

iuse them frequently, but some days they seem to flare the birds. And I think after a while they seem to become immune to them.

Adjhunt · 12-11-2008, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by waterfowlin101

Spinners are like duck calls. Some people will swear up and down that duck calls flare birds. In reality though, it's not the spinner nor the call that is flaring anything.... it how they are used and WHEN!!

WHEN is the key word. There is a time to call, and a time to keep quiet. There is a time to spin, and a time to let birds work on their own.

Reading birds and giving them what they want at the perfect time is what stacks up piles of puddlers. This is the key to consistent success.

As for spinners, I take one everywhere I go. It is a great tool to help kill birds.

Jon

Very well said Jon.
I think anyone who has used a spinner has flared birds with them, (just like a duck call) but the longer you use them the better you will get reading the ducks, and knowing when to stop and start it. My flapper goes with me everywhere and has turned a lot of birds around that would other wise want no part in coming down. But the key is, like Jon said "when".
This is a reason that I don't like and will never get a wind flapper, because you have no control over it, and that's when you are going to flare birds.

Nw dukn · 12-11-2008, 12:16 PM

I never leave home without it when im going huntin..

radderbehuntin · 12-11-2008, 01:40 PM

I feel that it is a game time decision. If I have competition or they are flying high, the spinner comes out of the bag. If there is no competition and the weather is overcast and nasty, nothing finishes better than straight up good calling!

Threemuch · 12-11-2008, 02:08 PM

I use it 90% of the time. I rarely am able to do an adequate job of scouting due to time constraints and frequently have to pull birds to me. Spinners do a good job of getting their attention. Once I have their attention, the spinning stops.

Headhunter · 12-11-2008, 02:08 PM

Always gets deployed, doesn't always stay deployed. I actually have been tinkering with a system to allow me to use both my pull-string spinners at once. Dont forget the Winduk too...

Buckhuntraj · 12-11-2008, 02:25 PM

Have a wind duck and also a home made spinner. I always use them especially when hunting sauvie.

DTSportsman · 12-11-2008, 04:39 PM

I have used them with success early, but generally when there is full day light they flare just outside landing gear zone. Now I generally hunt set up for both Ducks and Geese and have been advised to not use a spinner when Goose hunting as it will flare the Geese every time. Like said before a tool, but not "The Tool".

redfish89 · 12-11-2008, 05:15 PM

If I'm hunting SI, I never leave home without it.

Pelagic Baitboy92 · 12-11-2008, 05:37 PM

unless the wind is strong on your back use em. i've had ducks nearly sit on top of them, but if the wings stop with the white side up to early it will flare birds.

Born To Fish 2 · 12-11-2008, 07:17 PM

I switched to Knotty Duck decoys and have left the spinners at home just for the reason if the wind stops and the wings are white side up you got to go out and fix them.

As Jon has said, It's a Great tool like a duck call. You got to understand how to use all tools correctlyand you will have sucess.

HuntNFishAddict · 12-11-2008, 08:29 PM

Geoff,
At times I would really like ROBO back. I know, I know, not the purist thing to use robo.

I am one that will use whatever is at my disposal, (legally) to get birds to commit and finish so that I can take the most effective and lethal shot possible. I hate it when birds come back to the blind and you have to put the smack down on their noggins to put them out of their misery.

It is very difficult these days to find spots that the birds have not been educated to the decoy spread, and if we truly want to continue this sport, we must come up with new things to help us in our endeavors.