Corn decoys... Are they legal in CA?

[frankyg55]

I was reading an article that talked about using decoys that resemble an ear of corn. They said that it worked well for all waterfowl. Does anybody know if they are legal in CA? Has anybody tried them? I saw them on sale at Cabela's and was thinking about trying some out.

[Fastshot]

Quoting from DFG Carrie Wilson's Q&A (http://www.dfg.ca.gov/QandA/2008/20081016.asp)
Question:
Is it legal to use artificial (plastic) corn cobs to attract waterfowl? I have recently seen this product available in hunting catalogs.
Answer:
Under both state and federal baiting laws, plastic corn cobs would not be considered bait.

DFG Selected 2009-10 Resident and Migratory Upland Game Bird Hunting Regulations


§257.5. Prohibition Against Taking Resident Game Birds and Mammals by the Aid of Bait.

Except as otherwise provided in these regulations or in the Fish and Game Code, resident game birds and mammals may not be taken within 400 yards of any baited area.
(a) Definition of Baited Area. As used in this regulation, "baited area" shall mean any area where shelled, shucked or unshucked corn, wheat or other grains, salt, or other feed whatsoever capable of luring, attracting, or enticing such birds or mammals is directly or indirectly placed, exposed, deposited, distributed, or scattered, and such area shall remain a baited area for ten days following complete removal of all such corn, wheat or other grains, salt, or other feed.
(b) Exceptions:
(1) The taking of domestically reared and released game birds on licensed pheasant clubs and other licensed game bird clubs;
(2) The taking of resident game birds and mammals on or over standing crops, flooded standing crops (including aquatics), flooded harvested croplands, grain crops properly shocked on the field where grown, or grains found scattered solely as the result of normal agricultural planting or harvesting;
(3) The taking of resident game birds and mammals on or over any lands where shelled, shucked or unshucked corn, wheat or other grain, salt, or other feed have been distributed or scattered as the result of bona fide agricultural operations or procedures, or as a result of manipulation of a crop or other feed on the land where grown for wildlife management purposes: provided that manipulation for wildlife management purposes does not include the distributing or scattering of grain or other feed once it has been removed from or stored on the field where grown.

It looks like it would be all legal, sounds like it would work pretty dang good if you had a good amount of them. Cabela's (http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp;jsessionid=DVYKBRK2HZHWNLAQBBISCNVMCAEFEI WE?id=0034518227584a&type=product&cmCat=froogle&cm_ven=data_feed&cm_cat=froogle&cm_pla=1311051&cm_ite=0034518227584a&_requestid=205575) sells them $10 for a dozen pretty good price.

[keepcallin]

they would have 2 get really close so u have 2 pick up ur emptys

[boar slayer]

a couple of years ago saw a program and they were using rolls of printed material that was in a corn pattern and it seemed to work . when i was veary young I read an artical in a hunting magazine about using plastic sheeting to simulate water basicly a fake pond

[dblsmk]

I actually saw the plastic sheeting trick work in the later 60's between Baldwin Lake and Big Bear Lake. The fellow shot a nice string of ducks.

[db 183]

I saw the plastic corn decoys in Cabela's and I emailed Carrie Wilson at Fish and Game. She does a question and answer column in Western Outdoor News.

She replied back that she checked with a warden and confirmed that the corn decoys are legal. You can not hunt over bait, but plastic corn decoys which are not bait, are perfectly fine.