Baiting For Deer, Do you do Bait?

[woodsdog2]

Baiting is illegal in my state as well. In addition, anything they can lick or eat that is not grown or growing or man made BESIDEs scent is also illegal. So no, I never have baited and It isn’t something in me that I would find sporting enough to do. I want to try to take them on their own terms as much as is feasible. They humble me all the time and I’m glad for it. But, I’m not judging those in other states where it is legal to do it. It’s just not for me.

If a loved one or good friend I knew who was as passionate as all of us on this forum are about hunting was dying of cancer and wanted to shoot a big buck and never was able to and was the type that was ethical and always followed the rules and was a good hunter but never had a chance to take a nice buck….. I think I would try to set that up for them though.

 

[shamus275]

Like I said, sorry your neighbors don’t follow the rules. I’m just pointing out current legal standards of baiting in MI and the culture behind the bans and the bait.

Memo to Ted Nugent: Not all hunters hate Michigan’s deer bait ban | Bridge Michigan

A ban on deer baiting is prompting fears of a plunge in hunting (and objections from the Motor City Madman) but conservation groups say the move is necessary to stop chronic wasting disease from decimating the herd.

www.bridgemi.com

.

I know and I get it, I live here and I see people get busted for it but the majority of hunters don’t care. There’s several rules that drive me nuts in MI and it seems like constantly change every year.

 

[woodsdog2]

I know and I get it, I live here and I see people get busted for it but the majority of hunters don’t care. There’s several rules that drive me nuts in MI and it seems like constantly change every year.

That would be highly frustrating!!!

 

[woodsdog2]

I have no problem with baiting for black bears however! It is also illegal to bait for bears in our state but I do wish that changed. I’ve done enough research that that biggest bears, much like smart hogs are very hard to kill even over bait.

 

[Plebe]

That would be highly frustrating!!!

It is. Baiting happens in WNY by adjacent landowners around some of my hunting spots too.

 

[Horn]

I know and I get it, I live here and I see people get busted for it but the majority of hunters don’t care. There’s several rules that drive me nuts in MI and it seems like constantly change every year.

Right. It is annoying! Are the new regs even out yet? Small game and turkey opens in less than a month

 

[Plebe]

Right. It is annoying! Are the new regs even out yet? Small game and turkey opens in less than a month

https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/managing-resources/laws/baiting

Here’s Fall turkey:

https://www.michigan.gov/dnr/-/media/Project/Websites/dnr/Documents/LED/digests/fall_turkey_hunting_digest.pdf?rev=ffc57c085f0c48bdaee03a7c164e2dac

The deer digest isn’t on the website

 

[Plebe]

I know and I get it, I live here and I see people get busted for it but the majority of hunters don’t care. There’s several rules that drive me nuts in MI and it seems like constantly change every year.

There’s an entire thread on this forum about hunters picking and choosing which laws they follow. For some it seems a badge of honor. Pathetic, imo.

 

[shamus275]

Right. It is annoying! Are the new regs even out yet? Small game and turkey opens in less than a month

I’ve seen some changes posted online and via DNR emails but haven’t seen them in a hard copy yet. I’m stopping by the bow shop this morning to see if I can find the print edition of regs.

 

[bowhunthard88]

Most people have a strong opinion on this subject, but I am lukewarm at best, because I have used bait and I currently no longer do. However, I do have a strong opinion against baiting in areas where it is not legal! Baiting can be an effective, and legal, management tool when determined as a necessary or viable option. Personally, I view food plots and salt licks on about the same ethical grounds, IF you are hunting over them. Another point to consider is the transmission of disease due to proximity, but that doesn't pertain to the ethics portion. Bait is not guarantee, and there is a proper way and an improper way to utilize it as an effective tool.

 

[Islandshooter]

I’m well aware the Disabled Vet rule as I am a 100% Disabled Veteran however, I still refuse to take advantage of it. I also know for 100% that none of my neighbors are Disabled Veterans and conscientiously choose to break the law. I had a whole thread about this last season.

Thank you for your service and sacrifice, sir!

 

[Jammintree]

Thank you for your service and sacrifice, sir!

I second that. Thank you sir!

 

[Iron_llama]

In MN, baiting deer is illegal, but baiting bear is not only permitted, but virtually the only way people hunt bears.

In WI, baiting deer is legal and commonplace, but bear bait is strictly prohibited (as I understand it, I've never hunted either in WI).

To the extent I've run the numbers, both MN and WI hunters seem to have relatively equivalent success rates for bear and deer, and life goes on as usual on both sides of the border. So I guess my position is, hunt within the bounds of the law where you hunt. If your own personal ethics impose more restrictions than the laws and regulations - and, really, ethical people will almost always find this to be the case - then stay within those bounds.

Shooting a deer over bait still seems pretty unappealing to me, but I can see it being appropriate in a narrow population control or depredation context.

 

[woodsdog2]

Thank you for your service and sacrifice, sir!

Indeed! I third that! Thank you so much!!

 

[BowhunterXC]

It's legal here in Ohio and I've tried it in the past with mixed results.
I would rather not alter the natural state of the area that I'm hunting and hunt the area based off of the area's merits. It's the reason why I selected the location in the first place.

Not to mention drawing in unwanted varmints to the area.

 

[John 35]

I’ve heard several people complain about feral hogs ruining their hunting around their feeders but they still persist in using them. I don’t think they have the ability or any interest in hunting without them. I think it’s kinda sad if someone doesn’t know how to hunt without using bait. I think food plots can hold someone back from actually learning hunting as well. I had a similar experience with food plots as the op had with bait. But I do think food plots are better from a conservation stand point.

 

[Buckhole75]

I have killed a lot of deer over bait over the years Not really my thing but have done it Also not my thing to say whether it is right or wrong for my neighbor to kill deer by whatever means the law deems legal So i stay pretty neutral on the subject

 

[shmelton]

I don’t know any hunters fro GA or AL that don’t bait. I’m sure there are some, but they are in the fringe minority.


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[shmelton]

I have killed a lot of deer over bait over the years Not really my thing but have done it Also not my thing to say whether it is right or wrong for my neighbor to kill deer by whatever means the law deems legal So i stay pretty neutral on the subject

If more hunters thought this way, we’d be a lot better off as a whole.


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[bodark]

I’ll shoot a yearling over a corn pile with a rifle idgaf. I’ll take whatever I can get.