BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

[JTapia]

While at the local Diner with some workmates we started deBaiting (pun intended) the pros and cons of baiting. I personally don't bait and it is illegal on all state Wildlife Management Areas. I dont have a problem with planting food plots for the deer but I dont really think that putting up a condo stand overlooking a planted food plot and waiting for deer is proper "Hunting", more like "killing". Other than having a green thumb there is no skill involved hunting this way. Using a feeder is completely unaceptable to me and still call yourself hunting. When I stated this position, a longtime friend of mine who uses a feeder on his lease he angerily threw his coffee money on the table and walked out. I now understand how hot a topic this is, so I ask all of you, What is your personal opinion on this?

[bitmasher]

Yeah it can be a hot topic. My 2 cents....

Baiting is an acceptable form of hunting, I don't think baiting should be banned and only regulated in what can be used for bait and when it can be used.

That being said, I don't bait, for the simple reason that I prefer to stalk my game, to me that puts the "hunt" in hunting.

Fair chase always seems to enter into a baiting discussion, from the view point that baiting is somehow more unfair to the game than other methods of hunting.

I think judging the "fairness" index of a given hunting method (bow, firearm, stalking, baiting) is arbitrary at best. Relative to our spear carrying ancestors, we are all a bunch of unfair hunters.

In other words, if you really want to make it fair for game, "fair chase" purists should simply resort to running around naked in the forest throwing rocks at whatever will venture close enough. This is silly but it highlights that if you really want to make it "fair" for the game you should give up all enhancements that give you an edge (binos, scopes, guns, clothes, compound bows).

As a hunter, I would rather see methods of hunting evaluated from the perspectives of whether or not they are capable of delivering a quick ethical kill, rather than trying to define "fair".

Looking forward to seeing what others say on this one...

[claycrusher]

I hunt in wisconsin where the baiting debate is a hot topic. We have gone from a baiting ban because of the cwd fears to again being allowed to use a max of 10 gallons out at a time.The problem with this is how do you police that.One mans 10 gallons is 2-5gallon pails full and the next guys is a trucklod.I peresonally have seen the change it makes just where i whitetail hunt in the northern part of the state.I personally dont bait,the natural patterns that the deer use to use changed over the last few years,after doing some serious scouting and following active trails they all lead to some serious bait piles.Last year with the ban in place I saw the deer during season fall back into there old travel patterns which meant movement from the bedding areas to feeding areas, guess what I know how to find these areas and was lucky to fill my tag.The big complaint i heard was i didnt see any deer now that i cant bait.Well guess what its time to get into the woods and learn the ways of the whitetail.lets all take a look on how to keep hunting a sport and keep it hunting and not just call it killing.

[saskie]

[saskie]

I use bait to attract deer to an area, but my personal ethics won't let me actually hunt over it. There are so few deer and so much "feeding habitat" where I hunt (regenerating clear-cuts everywhere) I (and many others) use the bait to attract deer to "your" chopping.

I'll set up on the trails leading to/from the chopping. I only plan to usemy stand if it's a completely miserable day pouring rain and snowing.

[JTapia]

I am not really sure that "fairness" or "fair chase" is the word I would use. In the purest sense of the word, "fairness", we would walk into the woods butt naked, no stones, and walk up to that Buck and look him in the eye and proceed to kill him with what God has given us...bare hands, feet and teeth. Of course that would mean that the ole Buck could use his God given defenses...ANTLERS and HOOVES !!!! Makes you wonder who would be the hunted after all. I also realize that Baiting is legal and is one method used by many but, in MY opinion, it is not a method of "Hunting". bitmasher says he prefers the stalk, he in my book, is a "Hunter". saskie says he uses it to attract Deer to his area but doesn't actually hunt over it, instead hunts trails leading to the bait. he has taken the time and used his knowledge of deer behavior, (hard earned I would imagine) to find trails and funnel areas, he is a "hunter". claycrusher is a true hunter, he identified the lack of deer movement, reasearched his knowledge of deer movement got out and did his legwork and bagged him a deer reguardless of the baiting. Myself, I try to "hunt" year round. I can almost without fail tell you where the deer are and what they are eating at any point of the year. I do this by walking miles thru the woods and observing and learning more about deer behavior each trip.In essence we all hunt over bait, just mine is naturally growing. I scout and find what deer are eating instead of plopping down a barrel full of corn and plugging the spreadder into the batteries. I also used to drive a Camaro really fast, but that dont make me an IROC racer.
Thats just my opinion though, who am I?

[bnow0707]

I don't hunt over bait but i have used it to draw deer to a pasture near my house but no one has ever hunted that pasture. Here in alabama all bait(i.e. mineral blocks, loose corn, etc.) must be removed within 10 days prior to the opening of bow season(Oct.15). So by the time that gun season comes(Nov.22) around deer are no longer gathering in areas that were once baited.But any standing crops (i.e. soybeans, corn, as well as any of the "Deer Mixtures" such as Biologic and others) are allowed to remain. I do however hunt most afternoons and heavily rained days over food plots of winter wheat and rye grass. I still believe that this is hunting even though I sit in a 4x4 plywood box raised off the ground. Just as much work goes into perparing, planting, and maintaing food plots and shooting houses as does finding and following deer trails and hanging stands.

[swampstalker]

Here in minnesota baiting for anything but blackbear is illegal which is the way i feel it should be. This way your on an even keel with the species you hunt.As it was stated earlier once you begin baiting deer is still considered hunting? Besides every one knows if deer carried guns deer hunters would be extinct...

[JTapia]

"Besides every one knows if deer carried guns deer hunters would be extinct"

LOL swampstalker, you, like I, must have been surprised to see that big ole buck standing right where you were just looking a second ago and looking straight at me. If he were armed I would just be pushin up tulips right now.

[Skipper]

I am ok with "Baiting" to get deer on the property, but not to hunt over. The only things I raise on my farm are Timber and hay. Neither one holds a candle to the neighboring corn. If I want deer on my place, I've got to get some food plots on it or else. Its never been this way before, we've always had deer. This year though, the sign on the farm is next to nil, and I haven't seen anything yet. The biggest reason is 2 neighboring farms have big corn fields on them now. I have decided to plant some food plots for next season, but hunting wise, I would feel more comfortable hunting the trails to and from rather than the plot itself.

Skipper

[swampstalker]

Hey there JTapia hows it goin tonight? No I haven't seen the big one yet, my time is coming. I have had plenty of deer get the jump on me though I'm embarrassed to say. I guess like the saying goes when you least expect them, expect them.. And I still don't believe in baiting.