Baiting - needs to stop

[Crappyman]

Just heard a great show tonight on 'cco with Ron Schara. They were talking about deer baiting and the significant increase in the number of citations. Why do hunters think they need to bait? Part of the joy of hunting is actually hunting. I think putting out buckets of corn or whatever and then hunting over that is such a disservice to the sport and what it means to hunt. If your sole purpose is to put meat in the freezer, go to the store and buy some meat. It'll be a heck of a lot cheaper. I don't see any difference between the guy that shoots a deer out of season or poaches one at night and the guy that shoots deer over a bait pile. The DNR has started taking guns away from the folks breaking the law. I would like to see the fine be increased to a couple of thousand bucks and see if that makes a difference. I would encourage you to sen your state legislatores a note and let them know that you like to see the DNR gettougher with the folks that break the baiting laws.

[ac777]

Some people want the easy way out. It's their choice, not much I can do to stop them, not going to waste my time on a trivial thing that is legal in nearby states.

[merkman]

Yet another cry for more "knee jerk" laws.

1) Baiting is illegal in MN already

2) The CO's are doing their job and arresting more people for it, that is why you have heard about it.

I don't see the need to change anything, other than we should pat the CO's on the back for increasing the number of citations given for this. That is the first step in controlling the problem.

[croixflats]

Is it really that big of a deal not to bait to warrant huge fines just because someone doesn't agree with the style of hunt. Now if we start seeing an increase of disease that is attributed to baiting, witch I think is the reason behind the law, then maybe an increase in fines and a better job at getting information out to the public for the reason of no baiting.

[bak2MN]

All the talk about baiting and concentrateing the deer in one spot and the increase of disease because of it is hypocritical. Baiting and food plots are one in the same as far as im concerned. If you throw out corn or beets or whatever to attract deer or grow a acre of turnips, clover or whatever and hunt around either, or concentrate the deer it is one in the same. Just my opinion. Neither should be legal.

[96trigger]

Not to debate food plots vs baiting, but I think stiffer fines and penalties would not be a bad thing. Obviously, with the rise of baiting, too many people are taking the chance. I don't think we need MORE laws, just stiffer penalties, and a chance to defend oneself if caught.

[vister]

you would have to make fines and penalties stiffer across the board. not just with dumping a bushel of corn next to your stand, but all violators alike. speeders, seat belts, running stop signs, fighting, etc. but even then you'll repeat offenders. for instance, you want to hear about unjustice, and how our crappy judicial system works. my bro got stabbed 6 times last winter. the perp got 30 months in state pen and a 50 dollar fine! now if i shoot an eagle, i can expect worse than that.

[Musky Buck]

75 arrests 2 years ago, 175 last year, this year ? I heard Ron Schara last night, he is right, do we really want a 1/2 million hunters baiting deer some will take it to the year round effort. Hunting will turn more into watching a bait pile, sorry we have it right and baiting states have it wrong. Our state is the fairest of chase compared to a baiting state. I could see if we get outrageous deer numbers again, but things are under control. Baiting has already had big impacts in certain areas and some trophy bucks have been killed over them stealing away the chance for a law abiding hunter. There's so much baiting going on already it makes you wonder if and who and if this has some to do with deer movement over the last few years since I have good areas but I've seen less than a deer a day in the past 2 seasons hunting 3 separate properties, yeah lets bait so we can really turn sections of land into ghost towns, they are already in places. Playing with a deer's stomach when it's time for them to fatten up for winter is wrong, didn't need it in the past, certainly don't need to satisfy some greedy, lazy hunters turning MN into a new competitive baiting state. If you aren't willing to notice the difference between baiting and food plots, corn stands, or whatever, I mean 5th grade gun safety kids know the difference why can't adults.

[Harmonica Bear]

The diference being time, energy, and money for food plots?

[Cooter]

I'm hoping WI is on its way to a statewide ban on baiting and feeding - while regal with restrictions, they are strongly encouraging people from both.

[Bear55]

All the talk about baiting and concentrateing the deer in one spot and the increase of disease because of it is hypocritical. Baiting and food plots are one in the same as far as im concerned. If you throw out corn or beets or whatever to attract deer or grow a acre of turnips, clover or whatever and hunt around either, or concentrate the deer it is one in the same. Just my opinion. Neither should be legal.

Should we outlaw farming too? Food plots are a much closer in comparison to farming than some lazy hunter pouring a bucket of corn right next to his stand.

I think the CO's are catching more guys because they are starting to enforce the rule a little more. There have alwasy been baiters and they are not hard to find. I like that they are taking rifles away, I think its a good wake up call and might do more to stop baiting than a bigger fine.

[uptracker]

Crappyman,

I know how you feel. Here in the U.P. of Michigan, you can't walk a section of land without finding at least one bait pile. I actually travel out of state twice a year now just to get away from the bait and hunt a better herd. You think you got it bad, come over here. It's sick.

When I came back from N. MN last Friday, I heard on the radio that your CO's confiscated 35+ firearms, wrote citations, etc. on opening weekend. I wish they did that here. The southern lower peninsula of MI actually has a baiting ban right now due to a CWD case. But, every gas station, feed store, party store, etc. is selling bait by the truckload down there. Right now, it's basically just a slap on the wrist....although the ticket should be costing the offender a minimum of $500....that doesn't happen though. Our court system is all talk here.

I will say that I liked all the anti-baiters I ran into up there last week though.

Good Luck!

[Big Dave2]

I don't think there are too many people out there who want baiting to be legalized but let's face it, if you hunt over a food plot it is no different than hunting over a pile of corn. Just because you put the time, money and effort into a food plot does not mean that you have somehow outwitted the deer. You have brought the deer to your stand using the same methods a baiter would use only you planted the seed instead of just throwing it on the ground.

Food plots are great for year-round feeding of the deer, but so are automatic corn feeders. That doesn't mean you should be allowed to hunt directly over them.

[TWISTERSOCK]

What really is baiting? This brings to mind a lot of issues I think besides just putting corn down next to your stand. For one thing if people have access to hunt next to a corn field and spot out a heavy trail with rubs is that baiting? or planting 10 rows of corn in the middle of there field? is that baiting? Is putting doe [PoorWordUsage] on your boots and hanging cotton balls next to your stand baiting? I mean everything a hunter does basically is baiting. I don't agree with it, but its almost impossible to eliminate by just looking at one source of the problem. I have totally eliminated rifle hunting myself, just because I was tired of being done every year on opening day. It just wasn't fun anymore. Instead bow hunting is way more challenging and I get to sit out in the stand and realize what I had forgotten. Just enjoying the outdoors and listening to the wild. Its not about setting up trail cameras, and black light headlamps.. I mean where does all this stop? Are we going to catch a walleye now and tag it with a gps to track where the fish are on the lake?

[jeffreyd]

everyone talks about corn and other items but the simplest thing to put down is an apple block. we have now adopted here in az a no baiting rule as they can identify a couple hundred people who are hard core baiters. mostly guides and will tell game and fish and the public they do it. while there are others it is not a big problem here. now if i have cattle on the land or know of cattle on the land all i have to do is tell co that i am taking lick to them and i am good to go. this creates a huge grey area but what do you do. i think there is not way to stop it unless you pass laws against selling products in stores. what will that do then?

[RumRiverRat]

Many deer hunters are lazy so they bait.

The type of hunter on Fishing Minnesota actually takes the time to scout.

[B. Amish]

I've never seen a food plot with a timer!!!!!!!!

[TylerS]

Comparing a field of corn to a pile of corn beneath a stand is pretty obtuse. With a pile of corn, you're pretty much guaranteed to get deer to eat at a set location at a particular distance away. With a field, which generally are large, you may get deer to come into the field, but having them come to a particular spot is a lot less likely. Now, this might not be a big deal with gun hunters, but if you're a bow hunter its a huge difference.

Same can be said about food plots...which I'm still on the fence about myself...

[vister]

huge difference between plots and baiting! theres no guarantee a plot will grow, or even survive summer foraging. i'd love to see a 1 acre food plot of corn or beans make it to maturity in the middle of a woods. wont happen. i've got acres of plots from 1/5 -1.5 acres in size. thousands of pics all year long with deer in the plot, but have never harvested a deer standing in one.

deer, like a bunch of americans, are lazy. if you have a 100 acre corn field, dump a few bushel of corn in a pile. deer will walk to the opposite end of the field to eat at the pile. they can consume larger quanities in a shorter period of time, which allows them to get to security quicker. this is why baiting is, and should remain banned.

[CatchPhotoFilet]

Sounds to me if you hunt over a food plot you think its not a type of baiting or even comparable to the act of baiting. Something like a smoker who doesnt think smoking should be banned from indoor places. Not matter how you look at it baiting or food plot scents or what have you its all used for the same purpose of harvesting a deer. Doesnt much matter how far away the deer comes out of the woods from where your sitting at with a rifle that can shoot 400yds with a shooter who knows what hes doing!If your bow hunting lets see move your stand to the other side maybe?with cameras used to scout a hunter pretty much knows what deer are around an area and its tendencies before the season starts. Shinning a deer and poaching a deer are far more obstructive acts than shooting a deer while its coming to eat. Not matter how you might think you are by hunting over a food plot and not over BAIT i think you might have to think hard of the purpose of any type of bait or food plot. Taking a rifle is outrageous I consider it almost like theft since the only real reason a rifle is taken is to resell and make money off it. its not to stop a hunter from hunting again its sole purpose is to be sold for money for the state. fines are more than enough to get the point across

[Big Dave2]

A food plot also holds deer closer to a specific area. A guy who owns a 40 acre plot bordered by hundreds of acres of public land can almost assure himself that the area deer will be on or close to his land with the use of large food plots. All the hunters using the public land will be S.O.L. while he will probably have the pick of the herd while shooting over his "bait".

[sticknstring]

Alas - it's become a bating vs food plot debate!

Quote:

while he will probably have the pick of the herd while shooting over his "bait".

Now that's funny!

[Big Dave2]

Alas - it's become a bating vs food plot debate!

Quote:

while he will probably have the pick of the herd while shooting over his "bait".

Now that's funny!

Are you saying that the deer would rather be out brousing pine needles than whatever yummy delites you have planted in a food plot, designed and planted specifically for the purpose of attracting game?

[96trigger]

what if the food plot is planted where there are hundreds of acres of ag land, and the deer don't even visit it until all the crops are picked and the seasons are pretty much closed, but it helps get them through the February/March time period. Still baiting? Even when there are 1,000's of acres of corn and alfalfa fields that they go to instead?

[walterman]

Oh...while this is sort of a "funny" matter, I often enjoy reading replies of how baiting is just like food plotting. I would think that it would take a lot more effort harvesting an animal off of a field vs. a bait pile. On our farm we plant food plots, yes it draws deer but does not concentrate them into one small area. There are acres of food for them to use. That being said they can come from anywhere and are far less predictable then a large number of deer coming to a pile of corn or apples. If people think food plots are baiting then I guess we should stop farming and cut down all oak trees as well. Just my opinion...