OK, so last year opening day I dove hunted on a family place for the first time. Through one area of this place there are the small type power/electrical lines that run along the roads between fields. Some of the guys had rigs set up with cheap zebco rod/reel combos and dove decoys tied to the end. They would throw them over the lines, and reel them up onto the lines until they looked like they were sitting on the lines, then just set the rod/reel in the brush. And it worked...really well.

My question is, is this legal? If it is, I plan on tryin it out this year.

I wouldn't do it if you valued your life!

Electrocution apparently is not an issue...I saw them do it with about 10 of the things.

be sure to use a steel leader!

Couldn't tell you if it is legal or not for sure. But i'm going to say more than likely not and the power company if they find out will probably be none to pleased.

Is this post for real?

I saw a hawk swoop down and steal my friends electronic/motorized dove decoy one time. He was pissed and shot at the the hawk several times... unsuccessfully of course.

We've hunted a place in Brownwood since I was born that has a tall powerline stretched across a very large sunflower field. If one dove is on the line several will join it, but one shot and they are all gone. We have talked about doing that very thing a dozen times and never actually tried it. I can't see why it would be illegal and you sure can't get electrocuted through monofiliament fishing line.

Let me know if you have success. I always thought the trick would be how to get the decoy to sit upright and not lay over. Maybe a split-line harness to each side of a 6" long piece of dowel rod, with the decoy glued in place perpendicular to the dowel?

Illegal.

Even stapling your garage sales notices to the telephone poles is illegal.

That's probably because they were telephone lines and not power lines.

Well, maybe I'm an idiot.

Everything about it seems illegal to me, but a quick google search shows multiple outdoor websites that recommend that very thing.

Buy one mojo dove and it will be worth 10 on a telephone line.

.....or you could put two mojo's on the line and get you limit before your beer got hot.

Oops....I must hunt with too many brits....warm beer and cold bread.

[This message has been edited by sunchaser (edited 8/17/2009 7:53p).]

who brings hot beer dove hunting?

"Let me give you a little advice so you know. In times of economic uncertainty, never ever f*** with another man's livelihood."

That sounds like way too much trouble for a friggin dove.

OK, a few things I'd like to address...

I won't get electrocuted. Like I said, I watched people do it all last season. For all I know they are telephone poles/lines though.

Yes, it works. I watched birds try to land next to the decoys. You just tighten the mono so the decoy sits upright and tie it off or set the reel down. I'm sure you could use sticks with line on them and do the same thing. If you have them already rigged up, it takes maybe 30 seconds to get each one set up. The hardest part is getting it over the first time...We used Mojos, the other guys did the power line thing, and we didnt shoot near as many birds.

My concern is the TPWD aspect of legality. I dont give two sharts if the power company or telephone company doesnt like it. I dont think anyone from ATT is going to be several miles back on our farm on the weekend. I just want to make sure I cant get in trouble from the game warden.

Thanks

Also, as far as getting them to sit upright, the cheapo decoys that are hollow w/ clothes pins on the bottom work best.

wow, I would avoid anything that remotely might be a power line. Two men in this area killed in past couple of years.

Most telephone lines are buried now, so you're most likely doing power lines. As far as safety, I've seen someone killed when the power arced 5-10 feet from a 13,000 volt line to a forklift, so I'm pretty leery.

Sounds (relatively) safe with nylon line. I would not do it if the ground was wet or in a rain/fog/drizzle.

http://www.banderaelectric.com/laws_related_to_work_around_powe.htm



OSHA Regulations*

5. For power lines of 50,000 volts and below, a worker or any part of a conductive material, tool, piece of equipment or machine must not come within ten (10) feet of an energized line. For power lines above 50,000 volts, this minimum clearance requirement increases four (4) inches for every 10,000 volts.

6. Violators are subject to criminal penalties.

Texas Law**

1. Work must not be performed around power lines if at any time it is possible that a worker or any part of a tool, machine, piece of equipment or material may come within six (6) feet of the lines.

2. Cranes or similar equipment must not be operated around power lines if at any time it is possible that any part of the equipment may come within ten (10) feet of the lines.



4. Responsible parties that violate this law are subject to criminal penalties. In addition, if a violation results in contact with a power line, they are also liable to the utility for all damages and liability it incurs due to the contact

[This message has been edited by CanyonAg77 (edited 8/17/2009 10:03p).]

^

Then there is your answer! Wouldn't do it. Nor would I waste my time.

"you sure can't get electrocuted"

famous last words...

I hunted with a guy in south texas that had cable running tree to tree around his water holes for just that purpose. It worked

FWIW, electricity isn't going to arc through mono..the mono is insulative, and would also melt almost instantly with any kind of current.

Still, it isn't a good idea, and it's the kind of thing that pisses off telephone and power linemen.

If you see two lines, one about 3-4 feet below another, and the lower one doesn't have large insulators at the attachment points to the pole, that lower one is aerial telephone cable, or possibly even CATV.

This thread is like a redneck joke.

What's the last thing a redneck says before going to the hospital?




























Watch this.

No, it is "Hold my beer and watch this."

Why not just learn to shoot better?

it works! and electricity can't travel down monofilament without burning it up. carry on.

Are you planning on shooting the dove off the power lines?

there's more dove on the shade side of my home in the morning vs when I go dove hunting...

bb gun!

Remember that these power lines in Texas are not the deregulated company that you buy electricty from, but the still very much regulated provider. Illegal.

No, we don't shoot them off the power lines. The decoys pull them in so we are able to get a better shot. They can also see them from farther away.

Obviously, there is some disagreement on the issue. My question was whether or not I could get in trouble by the Game Warden, which doesn't seem like the case.

Sounds like one of those ideas that sounds really really good when you are drunk, then you sober up, and it becomes a what in the heck was I thinkin ideas very fast....A zebco and a dove decoy....LOL

you can get old telephone poles from teh electric company usually for free...

2. get two
3. dig holes
4. attach cable (would attach before and drill a hole and tie it off on the ground on one end that way you can take your decoys down or replace with more next season)
5. get sum beer
6. wait for dove season
7. ???
8. PROFIT!!!