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Money over science?

Slabzilla73

Slabzilla73

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Joined
Jun 26, 2021
Messages
373
Here in Michigans lower peninsula, baiting was banned couple yrs back. Claiming that science shows that communicable diseases (CWD, TB) are transferred by spit through baiting. Not sure what difference is between eating under an apple tree, food plot or crop field. I have no problem with this, as imo, it makes you become a better hunter learning to read feeding routes & bedding areas etc. Well we have a youth & handicap hunt the middle of September, 2 weeks before the bowhunting opener and they are allowed to bait for this. Is the DNR being hypocritical and having a cash grab over the science they preach?? I personally have heard a few people frustrated by our DNRs occasional flip/flop on their reasons. If the science says its bad why allow it? Our upper peninsula has a 2 gallon bait limit, understandable being the harsh winters, and has just allowed supplemental feeding there from Jan to March ( i believe). But once again, what are we to believe? Also, for you Ohio hunters, why is it unlimited baiting on private land but no baiting on state/federal lands. I hunt state land there (favorite hunting trip of the year) & wish Michigan micro-managed counties like Ohio. Bored this morning and looking for some feedback so whats your opinions??
 
I’m an Ohio resident/hunter. Have never hunted in Michigan so not super familiar with your regs, although I do get Michigan DNR newsletters and emails. I can see their reasoning for allowing baiting just for the handicap hunting, to give them a better opportunity to harvest if they can’t really do a lot of the things hunters normally do. I have heard some flack about how Michigan manages your regs etc. over podcasts and what not. I could be wrong but I wonder since your state has such a strong hunting culture, maybe even stronger overall than Ohio’s in some aspects, but I wonder if they’re just trying to appease all the many opinions and views in the hunting space as best they can while still trying to manage problems like CWD etc.

I do not bait myself and I hunt primarily public down here. I’m really on the fence about baiting in general and for me personally, it really doesn’t do much for me in terms of making hunting more enjoyable. I’d rather conquer the challenge of becoming a better woodsman and let that effort determine my success.

I guess to answer your question, I guess I am of the opinion that a landowner should be able to do whatever he wants on his land within reason. At the same time I would be against baiting on public land because unfortunately I feel people would abuse it quite a bit.

I would vote for the same rights for your guys in Michigan too if I could.


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I don't see how baiting can increase revenue for the state so I would speculate that it's purely political.
 
I used to hunt northeat Ohio in Ashtabula county.I thought it was a tremendously overbrowsed area with very poor natural habitat.The guy who's property I hunted was a bigtime baiter and he killed multiple giant bucks over bait in the late season,when there was little else for the deer to hunt.
 
dougell said:
I used to hunt northeat Ohio in Ashtabula county.I thought it was a tremendously overbrowsed area with very poor natural habitat.The guy who's property I hunted was a bigtime baiter and he killed multiple giant bucks over bait in the late season,when there was little else for the deer to hunt.
Click to expand...
Ashtabula hunter here… had the soil and water guy visit a few years back, before we timbered. He’s walked a lot of properties in the county and he said it’s surprising how many corn feeders are out there. I basically never hunt bait but the one time I did was a late season hail mary in late November 2011, on a corn feeder, and that’s the biggest buck I’ve ever shot, heh.
 
dougell said:
I don't see how baiting can increase revenue for the state so I would speculate that it's purely political.
Click to expand...

I’m Al you have to buy a permit to bait. People believe baiting increases their chances more tags will be sold.
And you bet your arse it’s political!


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I have a couple friends who hunt southern ohio and they bait heavily on private property. ...and kill giants every late season!!
 
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