Baiting conflicts

[boyne bowhunter]

Is a guy who shoots a spike over bait with traditional archery equipment less of a hunter than an eight year old girl who shoots a monster buck in a food plot with a rifle from daddy’s heated blind? The circumstances that we deer hunt in are different for everyone. Therefore, you cannot apply a one size fits all philosophy towards hunting. We all have to make our own choices about how we want to hunt. If you are opposed to hunting over bait, then don’t do it. However, you should not let other people make decisions on what is best for you. I am sure that your situation is different from theirs and they do not know all of the things that you are up against. Do those who claim to be opposed to hunting over bait refuse to hunt near a tree that is dropping acorns? If they hunt over an apple tree that is dropping apples in October, is it really any different if someone throws out a few apples under that same tree a couple of weeks later? What is the difference between shooting a buck that is distracted by the rut and one that is distracted by the smell of food?

If you choose to hunt deer the hard way, I respect that choice. Most of us have to work and have family obligations, so we do not have unlimited time to wait for a shooter deer to show up in range. Baiting just might be that little extra that you need to draw a deer in closer or to get a clear shot. I believe that it is far better to use bait to improve your chances for a clean kill than to take a risky desperation shot through brush, because it is the only opportunity that you might get. Stay within the law, and do what is best for you. If you are hunting pressured deer on public land, I think that you will find that putting out some bait does not guarantee you anything.

This^^^^.

I've been considering replying to this thread for a while now but I couldn't have put it better. This sums up my thoughts exactly. I personally don't care to hunt over bait but that's my choice (it also happens to be illegal where I hunt). How you approach hunting is your choice alone, as long its within the law.

 

[CanuckBuck]

Just an update. I didn’t hunt his bait pile in the end. I did go to check on it as the batteries on his camera got low on opener and of course magically a hunter was snooping around it. He was scouting for bow season apparently. Then 20 minutes later a pack of dogs came in barking at me showing their teeth. Basically the locals didn’t take too kind to the bait pile and the message was received loud and clear. I hunted my area the way I always do but the pressure was so intense this year, never experienced it like this in my life. Anyways my dad did come out and hunted his bait. Nothing was coming into it during business hours. So a couple days past and he was good to go again, i put him on a crossing which is even closer to his truck but on the opposite side of the public land. I suspected the deer posted up on private and would meander over to public by night fall. Anyways i gave him the best seat in the house, 1 hour before last light i heard his shotgun go off. Well…..he missed. He saw more deer 1/2km away from his bait pile than on his camera. Imagine that. I enjoyed everyone’s opinion! Thanks a bunch fellas, like someone said above. You don’t need us to make your decision. Paraphrasing a bit but you get it.

 

[Bigterp]

Just an update. I didn’t hunt his bait pile in the end. I did go to check on it as the batteries on his camera got low on opener and of course magically a hunter was snooping around it. He was scouting for bow season apparently. Then 20 minutes later a pack of dogs came in barking at me showing their teeth. Basically the locals didn’t take too kind to the bait pile and the message was received loud and clear. I hunted my area the way I always do but the pressure was so intense this year, never experienced it like this in my life. Anyways my dad did come out and hunted his bait. Nothing was coming into it during business hours. So a couple days past and he was good to go again, i put him on a crossing which is even closer to his truck but on the opposite side of the public land. I suspected the deer posted up on private and would meander over to public by night fall. Anyways i gave him the best seat in the house, 1 hour before last light i heard his shotgun go off. Well…..he missed. He saw more deer 1/2km away from his bait pile than on his camera. Imagine that. I enjoyed everyone’s opinion! Thanks a bunch fellas, like someone said above. You don’t need us to make your decision. Paraphrasing a bit but you get it.

Glad you got to hunt with your Dad, that’s the trophy!