FOXSYLVANIA

 – -For several decades now, state wildlife officials across the country have been rolling out roadside robotic decoys to nab unscrupulous hunters who seek to poach deer out of season or beyond established hunting hours. 

Often placed near a road where they can be seen by passing cars, the robotic deer can be outfitted with remote controls that make it possible to move the decoy’s head and tail to make it look as realistic as possible.  When a poacher takes the bait and pegs a shot at the mechanical deer, authorities are not far away and the would-be deerslayer gets nailed with something like a misdemeanor citation, punishable in Utah by up to six months in jail, up to a $1,000 fine, and seizure of the offender’s weapons.  Robot decoy programs are in place not only in Utah but also in Georgia, Florida, and elsewhere.

In some cases, offenders have repeatedly fired shots and even arrows at the mechanical deer, apparently amazed that they don’t go down!  A robotic deer decoy used in Georgia had to be replaced in 2006 after being shot more than 1,000 times.  Perhaps videos could be made of such occurrences and sold with proceeds going to add to state wildlife conservation funds…