How would you handle this?

[raisins]

My days of getting the girls are done according to my Wife unit. Besides, I learned a long time ago that I couldn’t do my job effectively without support personnel!

if that tip website goes to an email, then it does so indirectly

i think you could 'fudge' that form i looked at (email address you control but John Smith and then ask to be anonymous)

you could also go to this website

DNR Directory Listing

www.michigan.gov

look at emails

i'd probably send to both the wildlife and the law enforcement emails

if 2 people see it, then someone doing something goes up a good bit because they can't act like they didn't see it (as easily)

 

[shamus275]

if that tip website goes to an email, then it does so indirectly

i think you could 'fudge' that form i looked at (email address you control but John Smith and then ask to be anonymous)

you could also go to this website

DNR Directory Listing

www.michigan.gov

look at emails

i'd probably send to both the wildlife and the law enforcement emails

if 2 people see it, then someone doing something goes up a good bit because they can't act like they didn't see it (as easily)

Herein lies the other problem, the DNR looks at neighboring property owners and being that I’ve previously made a complaint as stated in the original post that opens the door for the DNR to come knocking. It’s not that I’m worried about them looking at me because I know I’m not doing anything wrong but why give them an invitation to start looking? I’m trying to do this anonymously as possible to avoid any potential confrontation with either the neighbor or the Lawman.

I guess I’m going to have to go the burner John Smith email route but just have a feeling I’m the one that’s going to get burned.

 

[arrow30]

wait till he whacks a big one, right now all they are gonna get him on is unlawfull baiting.( fine) wait for the poaching charge!(jail)

 

[Homebrew454]

Try *67 then the number. Make anonymous report. If the *67 doesn't work then they will have your phone number but no name. You could also use a public phone to report it. People make anonymous reports to the law enforcement all the time so it shouldn't be a problem.

Also, the DNR can walk onto the neighbor's land to check. Gps coordinates would lend validity to the complaint. Heck, you could probably have one of us email them if you wanted.

Sent from my SM-G781U using Tapatalk

 

[katiesmom]

Get pictures whatever you do. Or video.

 

[Fuse Dude]

If you want to report him, write the GPS coordinates of the corn piles on a piece of paper that states "illegal corn piles", put it in an envelope and mail it to DNR law enforcement division. Don't put a return address on it.

By far the easiest and most effective, otherwise don't mention another word about it.

On the flip side your definitely gonna see more deer, especially during the week if you let him pass.

 

[Fuse Dude]

Anything online has a record, so if you go to the library,use an anonymous email. Your still trackable if you use your library card, go with snail mail of coordinates.

 

[Weldabeast]

If it was me and it was bothering me that bad I wouldnt get the man involved... Have u talked with the guy? Strike up a conversation and just play stupid....hey, I seen ur stand and bait....I thought baiting wasn't allowed?.... Based off the answer/conversation, if a resolution can't be worked out, then get the man involved..

 

[Fgirtyman]

So I have 40 acres in MI that I hunt and access to the neighboring 40 acres to east of me. Michigan has had a bait ban in effect since 2019 to combat the CWD spread. Last year my neighbor north of me was reported for baiting and was caught by the DNR with a truckload of bait and ticketed.

I just witnessed my neighbor on his 60 acres dumping bags of apples and corn in front of his trail cams/ladder stands. Three cams and ladders I can see from my west property line and all three have bait piles. The only reason I can see them is because he clear cut the east side of his property and I can clearly see over there now. He has stands on his west side which I can see from the road and I’d bet they have cams and bait piles too. I’m going to guess he’s been doing this the whole time since the ban went into effect. His property is a weekend hunting getaway and he comes up almost every weekend from down state to hunt.

I don’t particularly want to piss my neighbor off since we’ve never had any issues in the past but this really makes me mad knowing he killed an absolute giant over there last season and I’d bet my paycheck it was over a bait pile.

How would you approach this? The last time I called the DNR was for hunter harassment and trespassing by another neighbor and they did nothing other than make me feel as if I was the criminal.

I feel for your situation. Damned if you do report damned if you don’t. I had an illegal corn piler a few years back next to my property. It really stinks and is really putting a bad name on our sport. I talked to the warden and asked him not to divulge who turned him in. Gave the warden GPS approximate location. Warden also found a decoy and a permanent stand on public land. The Warden took care of it and Never told them I turned them in. The warden told the guy that they did fly over and found it. No mention of me turning him in.

 

[neonomad]

Is this is a response to me or post #16? Yes, by definition it is. Yes, I would. I’m trying to figure out the best way to do it anonymously because the website complaint form isn’t anonymous. And as stated before the DNR didn’t do anything the last time I talked to them. As far as retaliation goes…I’m a retired Special Operator. I’m not worried about that. What I am worried about is becoming the “target” and having the DNR called on me for anything I do or don’t do. Hunting is my therapy and I can’t lose that.

I may have missed that the DNR didn’t do anything last time, and if that’s the case, that is pretty frustrating.

I’m trying to put myself in this position, and I do think I would go tell my neighbor face to face “I didn’t call the DNR, but you need to stop baiting.” Something like that. What he’s doing sounds pretty flagrant.

 

[Fgirtyman]

I may have missed that the DNR didn’t do anything last time, and if that’s the case, that is pretty frustrating.

I’m trying to put myself in this position, and I do think I would go tell my neighbor face to face “I didn’t call the DNR, but you need to stop baiting.” Something like that. What he’s doing sounds pretty flagrant.

If he is that flagrant he needs to be turned in. My opinion.

 

[philsanchez76]

I hate that for ya. id say start filling some water balloons with either your piss or maybe some coyote piss and start launching them into his bait sites. Just launch a few every evening after it gets dark so the smell stays fresh. Water balloon sling shots solved a lot of problems for me in high school. Or was it they caused a lot of problems? don't remember.

 

[Horn]

For context, I'm also in Michigan. Baiting is 100% banned at least in the lower peninsula. He is breaking the law. I don't agree nor disagree with the law. Your call on reporting him.



I'm pretty sure this gas station on a prominent state road doesn't have a super secret corn, Apple, carrot & sugar beet recipe though. I can think of other places openly selling bait. I overheard a guy asking how many beets were on a PALLET Saturday evening. ( different store selling "wildlife feed", you can buy them bulk by the skid steer scoop too)

I think we can assume the DNR is aware baiting is going on, apparently pretty commonly. If they don't care or won't do anything about it , does that change anything? Does it tip the risk in reporting to greater than the reward?

Baiting is illegal. I have no other opinions, I just wanted to point out the prevalence of bait for sale. You're in a very difficult situation

 

[shamus275]

For context, I'm also in Michigan. Baiting is 100% banned at least in the lower peninsula. He is breaking the law. I don't agree nor disagree with the law. Your call on reporting him.

View attachment 74993

I'm pretty sure this gas station on a prominent state road doesn't have a super secret corn, Apple, carrot & sugar beet recipe though. I can think of other places openly selling bait. I overheard a guy asking how many beets were on a PALLET Saturday evening. ( different store selling "wildlife feed", you can buy them bulk by the skid steer scoop too)

I think we can assume the DNR is aware baiting is going on, apparently pretty commonly. If they don't care or won't do anything about it , does that change anything? Does it tip the risk in reporting to greater than the reward?

Baiting is illegal. I have no other opinions, I just wanted to point out the prevalence of bait for sale. You're in a very difficult situation

Yeah all the local gas stations and roadside stores up here sell “Wildlife Feed”. I know the DNR followed the other neighbors last year right from the store to their property. Someone else who shares a border with them tipped off the DNR. There were 16 Conservation Officers at their place on opening morning of rifle season.

I think I have a foolproof way to handle the problem without having to be a criminal or a target of retaliation at the same time.

Thanks to all for the suggestions.

 

[neonomad]

For context, I'm also in Michigan. Baiting is 100% banned at least in the lower peninsula. He is breaking the law. I don't agree nor disagree with the law. Your call on reporting him.

View attachment 74993

I'm pretty sure this gas station on a prominent state road doesn't have a super secret corn, Apple, carrot & sugar beet recipe though. I can think of other places openly selling bait. I overheard a guy asking how many beets were on a PALLET Saturday evening. ( different store selling "wildlife feed", you can buy them bulk by the skid steer scoop too)

I think we can assume the DNR is aware baiting is going on, apparently pretty commonly. If they don't care or won't do anything about it , does that change anything? Does it tip the risk in reporting to greater than the reward?

Baiting is illegal. I have no other opinions, I just wanted to point out the prevalence of bait for sale. You're in a very difficult situation

Wait the average american deer hunter isn’t the do good conservationist MeatEater has lead me to believe?

Answer: no they are not.

 

[Horn]

Wait the average american deer hunter isn’t the do good conservationist MeatEater has lead me to believe?

Answer: no they are not.

I really just wanted to point out that in our state at least, bait is more of an open secret than an isolated incident

 

[NMSbowhunter]

Here in MS it is legal on private land with some exceptions, mainly dealing with how it is administered. They don't want it poured on the ground so it has to be broadcast by spin feeders and the corn must hover at least 1/4 inch off the ground after being cast, lol. That last part was a joke, by the way.

 

[neonomad]

I really just wanted to point out that in our state at least, bait is more of an open secret than an isolated incident

Yep, got it got it. My point was in response to that, that in my experience many many hunters are stubborn, selfish, and full of $&it. Just like any group of people I suppose, maybe slightly worse.

 

[raisins]

Wait the average american deer hunter isn’t the do good conservationist MeatEater has lead me to believe?

Answer: no they are not.

Hunting is a test of character on a few levels.

You have a pursuit folks get kind of obsessed about that they get to do alone in the woods where they think their actions usually won't have any consequences.

 

[raisins]

Yep, got it got it. My point was in response to that, that in my experience many many hunters are stubborn, selfish, and full of $&it. Just like any group of people I suppose, maybe slightly worse.

Among hunters, you have on one end the bonding with nature type and on the other end of the spectrum you have folks that like a legal reason to kill stuff....they enjoy the act of killing for its own sake.