Baiting Deer?

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Living in Michigan, I, for the 25 or so years I've been deer hunting have seen our state's DNR make their share of deer management mistakes. We have so many deer in our state that they really have to try hard to screw things up. Believe me they've tried. I don't think the DNR has a clue how many deer there really is. We are told that it's 1.5-1.8 million. While other states have mandatory check-in stations and required return of unused kill tags, Michigan counts vehicles loaded with deer coming across the Mackinaw Bridge for their Upper Penisula harvest numbers. Ah, but my thread title is on the subject of baiting. Well, this is now a hot bed of coals in Michigan because all baitng (even recreational feeding) has been made illegal in the Lower Penisula. It's a huge debate involving not only hunters but, the farmers who grow the crops and the store owners who sell it. I, personally, don't bait when hunting. I don't have anything against those who do. I do believe that a pile of corn can never and will never replace woodsmanship. Just thought I would throw this out there because it's such a big deal in my neck of the woods. So, what's the opinion on baiting for deer?
 
Can't do it here, can't really say if I would or wouldn't do it if I could. I don't think it's neccersarily wrong, just don't know if I would or not.
 
I have no problem with baiting. Sitting in a stand overlooking a pile of corn is not my favorite style of hunting, but it sure beats going a year with no venison.
 
The baiting ban in Michigan isn't meant to reduce the number of deer taken; it's meant to limit the spread of disease (specifically, CWD) by preventing baiting and recreational feeding, which unnaturally concentrates the deer in a specific area, where the disease is spread by direct contact with infected animals, as well as contact with the area which becomes contaminated with feces from infected animals.

This was put in place after CWD was verified in the lower peninusla; I believe it doesn't apply for the upper peninusla, but may be mistaken.

It seems like the DNR there is doing things to protect the deer herd, not to 'screw things up'.
 
There are some areas out here where the fish and game feeds in really hard winters, they have stopped in some areas for that same reason. Hadn't thought of that in relation to baiting deer.
 
I know that the baiting ban was put in place to stop the spread of disease. I am not arguing that. Infact, baiting restrictions were first put in place here to stop the spread of Bovine TB. Five counties in the N.E. Lower Penisula had a ban on feeding and the rest of the state was limited to 2 gallons of feed on the ground at any one time.

Also, Michigan compared to other states, does fall short in their management of the resource. Hey, at least now they are trying to get their poop in a group.

Again, I was just interested in seeing who's for or against the practice of baiting. I feel it takes away from part of the romance of "growing up" in the woods. Tracking, reading sign, and paterning the game you're after is becoming a lost art.
 
i spend my time between MS. & TX. Baiting is legal in TX but not in MS. I do have corn feeders up in TX and they are good to shoot the damn pigs under but I have noticed that the big bucks tend to avoid the feeders. the spread of CWD may be MI's reasoning for banning baiting but I'm not sold on their reasoning. I've seen much larger concentrations of deer in new soybean fields than under feeders.
 
Ethically, how is baiting any differnent than planting clover or other deer feed crop?

I ask out of curiosity. In the area I hunt, food is plentiful so baiting isn't really a benefit. My plans are to hunt the routes between bedding and water. So far, it works out.
 
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Join Date: 2008-02-05
Location: Evansville, IN
Posts: 47 The baiting ban in Michigan isn't meant to reduce the number of deer taken; it's meant to limit the spread of disease (specifically, CWD) by preventing baiting and recreational feeding, which unnaturally concentrates the deer in a specific area, where the disease is spread by direct contact with infected animals, as well as contact with the area which becomes contaminated with feces from infected animals.
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Ask ted Nuent about baiting and spead of disease. He said it a has been proved that no diseases are transmited feeding or baiting and what they claim is nothing more then BS. He noted a test in CA as reference if I remember right!
 
I have no problem with baiting where legal. I've done it myself (and still do at times) when I'm hunting smaller plots of land where food resources aren't as plentiful. My main hunting spot is a 6500 acre dairy farm though with corn and soybean fields as well as plots of big woods with good acorn ridges. When I'm hunting there baiting is pointless. The bait's already there :D.
 
I don't think 2 gal. of bait in one spot has much of a threat of spreading Disease, but those embezzles that had to dump truck loads of bait messed it up here in Mich. The DNR had to stop the over baiting and this is a way to slow it down. The U.P is next if people don't follow the rules. I hunt the U.P and don't use bait, but some in my Camp do. I don't have a problem with baiting as long as they don't get stupid and over bait. As far as the reason for the ban, What, one Deer found in a fenced in Deer farm with CWD?
 
I was a walking/stalking hunter, 90% of the time. My preference. But a guy raised in town and "living behind a desk" probably will only eat deer meat if he hunts from a stand. Just a fact of life, seems to me.

I dunno. As long as a guy's following the wildlife agency's rules, how he does his deal isn't any of my business. Hey, Hank Williams, Sr., summed it up some 60 or so years back: "If you mind your own business, then you won't be minding mine."
 
I, personally, don't bait when hunting. I don't have anything against those who do. I do believe that a pile of corn can never and will never replace woodsmanship. Just thought I would throw this out there because it's such a big deal in my neck of the woods. So, what's the opinion on baiting for deer?
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So far as "replace woodsmanship".... have you ever watched those hunting shows? Go sit by a feeder and wait. Now, truly, a pile of corn in a huge patch of natural woods IS quite a bit different but under the right circumstances it can make all the difference.


I think setting up feeding stations in places where deer do not otherwise have enough food is just plain wrong. A pile of corn in the middle of the woods has me pretty indifferent. If it's illegal, don't. If it's not, whatever floats your boat.
 
Ask ted Nuent about baiting and spead of disease. He said it a has been proved that no diseases are transmited feeding or baiting and what they claim is nothing more then BS. He noted a test in CA as reference if I remember right!
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I don't think Teddy is taking our calls. He isn't a wildlife biologist of any sort, I don't believe. He may be a hunter, but not necessarily a person know knows wildlife diseases. If there is a reference for baiting not spreading disease, then that would be the source to turn to and not some second hand source such as Ted Nugent.

Of course, others feel differently than Teddy apparently does...
http://dnr.wi.gov/news/DNRNews_article_Lookup.asp?id=893
http://www.nodakoutdoors.com/valleyoutdoors169.php
http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/...lternative-methods/deer-baiting.htm/printable
http://www.michigandnr.com/publications/pdfs/huntingwildlifehabitat/Issue_Reviews/99baiting.pdf
 
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Last I heard they are not 100% sure how the spongiforms are transmitted. But, it would make sense that any activity that increased the close contact of whatever animals had the disease would make it worse.


I am too lazy to haul bags of corn around, but I have planted as much as 20 acres of food plots, usually oats or wheat because the deer can't just eat it to death. Might be slick as a putting green by winter though.
 
I work with a guy that, with his friend, put in a 3 acre food plot with a walk behind rototiller.........that's nuttier than squirrel crap.
 
I dont shoot tame animals or baited animals or shoot from a tree stand over or near a food plot and call it "HUNTING". I call it a harvest. Just like shooting a tame cow in a field. Sometimes animals need "harvesting", and nothing is wrong with this in MHO, however it aint hunting. No skill is needed.
 
Personally, sitting a stand over a food plot or corn pile isn't "deer hunting", it's "deer waiting".....I used to live out West, there not only was any type of food plot or baiting illegal, even parking by a watering hole could get you in trouble.....I guess there are differing views on what constitutes "fair chase"
 
I lived in Kansas for 9 years when I was in the Army. Baiting was illegal back then (not sure about now). We tracked our deer during dove and quail season. Then when deer season opened we atleast had an idea of where to HUNT. Lot's and lots of public hunting land, big deer, and not over crowded. Yes there was lots of farm land to hunt over, but thats exactly what it was FARM land.

Then I retired and moved to West Texas. Completely different here. First off, pretty much the whole state is private property so you have to pay to play. This has changed it to a rich mans sport. Anywhere that does offer hunting for a nominal fee ($$$), the land is fenced in (canned hunt). Feeders are used for several months before season opens. Big day comes, pay the man, climb into a tree stand, aka 2 story tree house with a/c and kitchenette. Sit around drink coffee, tell war stories with your buddies, all while watching the feeder and the open lane that was cut to it. Deer steps out, BAM....got your deer... No skill involved what so ever. Heck, all you have to do is make a reservation and on your way to the property stop by Wal-Mart to pick up a dozen doughnuts, a 30.06 and a box of bullets. After the hunt swing back by walmart to return the rifle and get your money back. See how easy it is to get that culled trophy you always wanted.

FYI, I don't care how long you boil those antlers, their still too tuff to chew. :D
 
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