Although five Commissioners support a ban, the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Commission has voted to defer action on spinning wing or “robo-duck” decoys until the end of the 2006-07 season. Between now and then, the commission will organize a study to determine what effects, if any, spinning-wing decoys have on the overall population of ducks.
Although no major studies have confirmed it, some hunters and conservation officials believe the spinning-wing decoys, which mimic the movements of live ducks, are too enticing to juvenile ducks and will lead to more young ducks being killed and an eventual decline in duck populations in the southern states of the Mississippi Flyway.
“I would just like to see proof that they hurt anything before I make this decision,” Commissioner Tom Hensley said.
Arkansas is set to become the first state to impose a statewide ban of spinning wings beginning with this season, leading Commissioner Jeanette Rudy to comment, “We certainly don't have to do this just because Arkansas did. We should decide for ourselves what's best for this state and our constituents.”
Five commissioners, including Chairman Bill Cox, Mike Hayes and Skip Simonton, were firm in their support for a ban on the spinning wings decoys.
“I've been watching the flyway at Reelfoot Lake since I was kid, and there’s no doubt in my mind that spinning-wing decoys have changed the behavior of the ducks,” Hayes said.
The next TWRC meeting will be held in the Town Hall at Collierville on December 7-8.