Deer Baiting

Status
Not open for further replies.
If baiting deer is illegal, then it's cheating. If baiting is legal, then it's not.
Click to expand...


Exactly. I personally don't consider sitting over a pile of bait or sittin' next to a feeder a legitimate "hunt", but where it's legal, who am I to judge one's methods. Around here tho, the majority of citations given out during the deer season are from hunting over bait, either because it's placed illegally or shooting over it after hours. Thus baiters get a bad reputation.
 
Went through it in Michigan

We had a year or two where baiting was illegal in my state and it really didn't make that big of a difference. As many have said, this will give you a chance to sharpen your hunting skills. Deer are easy to pattern given the time and effort on your part. They are creatures of habit regardless of whether you are creating the habits (your bait and water) or nature is doing it for you. What I will agree with is the comments that speak to the laws governing our hunting. Nothing......I mean nothing lends fuel to the fire of the anti's than reports of hunters violating the law. You have to adapt to what you have plain and simple.
 
For those with the flamethrowers, seriously, get over yourselves. If its legal, it's legal! Don't like baiting, but you hunt over food plots? No difference, except the food plot is enduring and if you own the equipment already, probably less money. Regardless, you have an attractant (the food) to bring them in.

I grew up in a state that did not allow it on the public land I hunted, so I cut my teeth "the hard way". But I've also been stationed where its allowed and have done it as part of culling the herd. I've also done it for hogs to trap and shoot them.

Hungryhunter, your hunting experience will take on more challenges, as has been mentioned. Some of those have been highlighted already. Time to hit the books and start studying, especially since you lack a hands-on mentor out there. Please feel free to come back with any questions you have. If you're reluctant to post them out, I think it's fairly easy to tell who you could PM them to.

Best of luck to you.
 
Globemaster3 and others. Thank you, like I said this kind of expertise isn't born with and you guys that are willing to share it are the true contributors to this sport. Thanks again. The flame thrower guy, pshaw.... I don't think he even understood the humility and humor in being a "hungry" hunter.
 
In my part of the world if you don't have a food plot or feeder of some type you don't see many deer because everybody else does. I would prefere to stalk them up but there are too many guns around and they get angry when you cut across " their area". Through the years I have also noticed that the less you tromp around the more deer you will keep in your vicinity.
I spend about 85% of my precious hunting time in my elevated stand with a feeder 120 yds away. I see lots of deer, most of which I just enjoy watching. If a shooter buck shows it's rarely at the feeder. They don't get old by being stupid. And I do feed year round. Most don't.
It's just the way people hunt down here, almost tradition. To call it cheating is a little rash. I wish I had thousands of acres to play Daniel Boone on and truly hunt but I can't so I content my self with as many weekends as I can get in my little corner of a 1000 ac. ranch and my feeder. Hell, I've even got a heater in my stand now.
 
Hungry Hunter the best way to acquire hunting skills is to stay in the woods hunting. In season or out. You don't have to have a bow or gun to go hunting. Most days I enjoy the hunt as much or more than the kill. As far as baiting goes, it has been illegal here in Alabama. After season went out this year laws were passed making it legal with some restrictions. That said, I find that most people that are against baiting usually hunt over, or on trails to and from green fields, harvested corn or soybean fields, or salt licks. I could never figure out how that differed from baiting. I got no gripe how a person hunts as long as it is legal.
 
Well sir you asked for opinions and you sure got'em. Here in minnesota baiting has never been legal but so many chance it and do it anyway. But doing so is indeed hard on those hunting close by that don't. (by pulling their deer away too ) I've seen fights breakout in a bar because of someone's illegal behavior. I've also heard serious threats being made by grown men. If your only concerned about yourself and perhaps those who hunt with you and go that route. Be prepared. As many in your local play by the rules and watch. Folks are not stupid and a few can really show a melt down if someone screws with their hunting. A little added advice: Game wardens are a shrew bunch of fellows. Here in this State once your caught you'll be watched every season there after for many years. Regardless where in the State you hunt. How I know about this activity. My son's brother-in-law is a lieutenant in this States DNR. I'll admit I bent a few rules/laws in my younger days concerning this topic. But the consequences were no where as bad as it is now. But it is your decision to make.

S/S
 
no state ive lived in has allowed baiting, even salt licks are illegal to establish though not illegal to hunt off of. however coming from a person that has had to walk miles, through mud, snow, and rain for every deer I've ever killed and then have to track them field dress them, not always in convenient locations and then drag them miles back to my truck so yes...


anyone that gets to wake up after dawn, drive right up to a feeder and sit in a tree stand and take their pick of the largest deer that comes in at their predetermined feeding times and getting to field dress their deer in a flat field before pulling the truck right up and loading it in is a big fat cheat as far as I'm concerned...
 
If one does want to hunt over bait all they need do is put the bait inside a pasture that has a couple of cows or goats in it. I know someone who hunts over corn and sweet feed and has two goats on the 80 acre tract. I think the deer eat 100 times more of the "goat feed" than the goats eat. Where there is a will, there is a way. I just dont have a will to hunt over bait.
 
To all you guys that think you can just stand guard over a feeder and blast a deer at will... You have no idea what you are talking about.

Ive hunted deer all over the US. Had more than a little success. Ive killed them over bait, in food plots, by spot and stalk, rattling, over crops, on drives and in front of hounds. With everything from a modern synthetic stocked scoped rifle to an Osage bow I made myself. Terrain and deer densities vary so much, only a fool would make a blanket statement condemning any legal method of harvest.

The woodlot hunter of the midwest and NE would fail miserably in the flatwoods of Florida or the mesquite country of South Texas in they tried to hunt the way they do on their home turf.
 
Here`s a different view .

Hunting over bait weither a timed corn dispenser , plot or crops allows some hunters harvest deer or other game that would otherwise sit on the couch & watch the Outdoor Channel.

Ya gotta think of disabled/handicapped hunters & other situations that apply with some validity.

I myself maintain 2 feeders yr. round for the past 4yrs. & only harvested 2 deer & 1 was not baited related.

I do enjoy a quite couple of hrs. just sitting in the stand & watching what comes to the feeder!!

Ya oughtta see the turkeys try to get to the spinner!!!

To each his own !

& I still enjoy a nice quite float down the run & floating up on ole mossy back !!
 
I've done it both ways, and it's just another way of getting it done. I like the traditional still hunting, where it might take me an hour to cover 100 yards of woods, or finding a nice stump over a white-oak flat. Looking for sign, trying to figure out patterns, it's all part of the game.

However, when it's rainy and windy, and downright cold, I like a good box stand. My legs get creaky in cold weather and that stand has a nice heater in it. Yeah, I spend a little more money on plywood, but I'm of an age where that little bit of money isn't an issue.

What really "chaps" me is when we spend good money leasing a nice piece of timber to hunt, and two weeks before the season the loggers move in and chase all the deer out of the woods. I know that the timber companies make their living cutting down trees, but if they plan to cut a plot of timber, they shouldn't lease that plot for hunting. That just ain't right.
 
Here is Fl, running feeders year-round is a normal thing. However, not many deer are shot while they are eating corn. Our deer are mainly nocturnal - even more so if there is the slightest sign of hunting pressure. A feeder just serves to keep the deer in your area as opposed to wandering over to the neighbor's area.
 
Hawg knows what he's talking about. I have put out feed and grain in the state forests I hunt, but it's always well before the season starts and on a 1000+ acre chunk of land. I see no harm in giving them some food in the off season to keep them healthy, but hunting over bait should be illegal everywhere.
 
I can understand making an exception for disabled people, here in idaho disabled people can hunt from their vehicle, I suppose that if a guy is confined to a wheel chair a feeder might be just what he needs to keep deer around so he can hunt from his car or sit on the bait or whatever but for anyone that has the physical capabilities(and being fat is not a valid excuse in my book) to walk around and track game then there is no excuse why they should get to hunt from a plywood box with a heater while everyone else is trudging through the muck and rain hoping to spook a deer.

at the very least, baiting should require a special permit, much like it does in Idaho for Bear season.
 
anyone that gets to wake up after dawn, drive right up to a feeder and sit in a tree stand and take their pick of the largest deer that comes in at their predetermined feeding times and getting to field dress their deer in a flat field before pulling the truck right up and loading it in is a big fat cheat as far as I'm concerned...
Click to expand...

I've deer hunted all my life..using a corn feeder..and never experienced this....
I have been on a management lease since 92' and have applied those principles to my other hunting spots..even if there was more hunting pressure or less deer density....If a person is not worried about management and just wants to shoot any ole buck with horns..a corn feeder would probably achieve that....My experience is that most mature bucks are not interested in corn feeders....I had pics of one mature buck last season that were only after dark....I saw him one other time during the season and he was not interested in my feeder in the least....He was very wary and only interested in does....I try to get does to come to my feeder..in hopes that a mature buck in rut will show and give me a shot....I hunt heavy timber and the mature bucks feel safer in it....I have to walk thru a dense bottom with creeks and slews..but it is worth it to me(I have started riding a 4 wheeler to the edge of the treeline....when the injuns got horses they rode em..plus I'm older than I used to be..:D)....When acorns fall..they are not very interested in corn....Late season they are mainly interested in pasture feeding....
 
What really "chaps" me is when we spend good money leasing a nice piece of timber to hunt, and two weeks before the season the loggers move in and chase all the deer out of the woods. I know that the timber companies make their living cutting down trees, but if they plan to cut a plot of timber, they shouldn't lease that plot for hunting.
Click to expand...


Around here, I actively seek out areas being logged on public land during deer season as the sound of chain saws and logging activity seems to attract more deer than scare them away. One of the largest bucks I ever shot bow hunting came thru my stand headin' to an area being logged before the dust settled from the last truck out. As they left, I could hear everything the loggers said as they packed up their tools for the day. I was that close. I actually thought it was the sound of their footsteps I heard instead of the buck's. Many folks avoid hunting these areas because of the mess the loggers make, but the perimeter is easy to access and funnels the deer.
 
Some advice to HungryHunter...

I've read through this whole thread & seen some interesting points put forth. Some very interesting valid points of view & some real misconceptions as well. Here is my advice to you.

Hunting is a personal thing. You know what you want to get out of it, hopefully enjoyment & some good venison. Always follow the law, after that it's up to you. Appreciate every deer as a trophy - doe, spike or wall hanger. Don't waste the meat. If you don't want it, give it to someone who does. Don't let it spoil hanging (this really ****** me off the most).

If you really want to play Indian & sneak up & shoot your deer in the ear while it is asleep in its bed, GREAT! If you realize that hunting is a perfect opportunity to be with friends & family & a deer is just a bonus, that's GREAT too. If it is legal to bait, try it. I can assure you, that doesn't make it a cinch!

Go hunt; be safe; be legal; and enjoy it the best way you can & you'll know if you feel like you're cheating or not!

FWIW...

...bug :):):)
 
Last edited:
I guess you could call what I do baiting. I live in central Texas and I feed corn year-round and have plumper healthier deer because of it. And all the years I've been hunting (about 55), I can't remember shooting a buck over corn. A few does maybe, but no bucks (maybe a spike or two). I use the corn feeders to establish deer movement patterns and I hunt those expected movements. The corn brings the does, the does attract the bucks. I have many more deer on my place since I started feeding corn.

And the corn attracts the coons and squirrels, and they in turn attract the coyotes and bobcats. And the corn attracts the pigs, and I do shoot them over corn when I can, but more pigs are taken in the acorn flats and the open fields that I hunt.

Like PawPaw, I do like my box blinds. I'll get my coffee thermos and a good book and my little heater and get comfortable. If I see something, great. And I don't think that hunting like that makes me a bad hunter or a cheater. I stalked for years and I can still track with the best of them. I used to say that I could track a lizard across dry rocks, though it wasn't really true even in my younger days. But I can track a wounded deer across wet leaves, even with no blood trail (they get weak and drag their feet in the leaves). I've been doing this for a long time, as did my Dad and his Dad and his Dad. And I learned to hunt not far from PawPaw, over in eastern Louisiana in the lowlands along the Mississippi River.
 
603, I know what you mean about tracking. I saw a really big buck one day and decided I'd back-trail him. Just curious. I tracked that buck all the way back to where he'd been born.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top