Turkeys and Bait/Feed

[jparrucci]

I recently moved and have turkeys now in my backyard (about 3/4 of an acre). I am in a place I could legally hunt them. My neighbor next door puts out feed for the deer (no plan to hunt them) and it also draws in the ducks/turkeys/squirels and every other animal in the woods. I assume turkeys have a no baiting law much like deer do. Does this pretty much mean I can't hunt my own yard because of him feeding the deer? The only place that has cover on my property and is away from the house is also near his feed. I wasn't even planning or thinking of hunting my property until I saw the birds, but I don't want to get in trouble because of feed. On another note, how unfair is it to somebody like me because of somebody else feeding animals.

[Cheetah]

From the 2009 hunting regs, page 72. This is actually listed under the deer section, I don't see anything else specific to turkey.

"A person otherwise in compliance with this section who is hunting

on private or public property that is adjacent to the property where

bait or feed is present is not in violation if the person has not participated in, been involved with, or agreed to baiting or feeding

wildlife on the adjacent property."

[DonBo]

Good find Josh, and actually (at least as of last year) there is no law against baiting for turkey. There was talk of closing that loophole, though I've never heard if that has yet been addressed or passed.

[jparrucci]

Thanks! I searched the regs, but could not come up with anything. I am still undecided whether I will hunt the birds or not. I need to see if they are only in the yard specifically because of the feed, as I still see it myself as questionable ethics, but knowing that I can at least hunt them without breaking the law makes me feel much more comfortable.

[bluehat28]

I attended the Minnesota DNR Turkey clinic in St Cloud.This question was brought up to the DNR officer at the clinic and his answer was that there were no laws against this practice.But you could tell he was not happy about it.It was also talked that toms " had other stuff on their minds"

[DonBo]

Please note: There is now a law prohibiting baiting for turkey in Minnesota.

Hunting with aid of bait or feed prohibited

A person may not hunt turkey with the aid or use of bait or feed or in the vicinity of bait or feed if the person knows or has reason to know that bait or feed is present.

An area is considered baited for ten days after the complete removal of all bait or feed.

Bait or feed includes grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts, or other food that is capable of attracting or enticing turkey and that has been placed by a person. Food that has not been placed by a person and resulting from normal or accepted farming, forest management, wildlife food plantings, orchard management, or other similar land management activities is not bait or feed.

A person otherwise in compliance with this subpart who is hunting on private or public property that is adjacent to property where bait or feed is present is not in violation of this subpart if the person has not participated in, been involved with, or agreed to baiting or feeding wildlife on the adjacent property.