People and baiting

[Finlander]

Baiting is easy!

[CANOPY SAM]

I can certainly understand why someone would want to bait, or attract deer to their property, while all of their neighbors were doing the same. But I think the concerns over baiting big game are pretty well documented. Congregating too many animals in a small area, particularly a feeding trough, tends to spread disease quickly amongst the entire herd, if indeed there is disease or sickness of any kind present.

After this thread piqued my interest I actually stopped in the hunting department in Wally World to look at these products. I've never done this before.

I read thru the ingredients of perhaps 8-10 different products, and there was only one that I could find that didn't have some type of nut, small grain, or sweetener added to assist in attracting and holding deer in a small area. So in other words, only one of these products out of ten were legal to use in Minnesota for hunting deer. I'm assuming the rules listed above also pertain to the bow-hunting season, and muzzle-loader season as well.

As the bow-hunting season opened a couple weeks ago, would it be safe to assume that all but one of these products are no longer legal to use anywhere in the state? Based on the rules, I think so.

BigBucks, if you wanna bait people, I think putting out piles of money would draw in the biggest, fattest, healthiest people anywhere! Pretty much a guarantee you'd have every Republican politician in the country fighting for a spot at your stand site!

[Scott K]

Or a bunch of bikini girls

[slimngrizzly]

Ive always baited my cameras with mineral or apples... in 7 or 8 years and hundreds of bucks, I cant say ive got a mature buck during shooting hours more than maybe 1 or 2 times.

[Getanet]

There are concerns about spreading disease, but I believe the rule in MN is also written to protect the spirit of fair chase.

Food plots are slightly different animal, in the fact that you can't really stop someone from planting legals plants on their land. Plus, it can be argued food plots benefit many different animals with food and shelter.

Personally, as someone who hunts state land, I'm glad we don't allow baiting. People are already protective enough of "their spot" without people getting upset about someone hunting over their bait pile.

[InTheNorthwoods]

I can certainly understand why someone would want to bait, or attract deer to their property, while all of their neighbors were doing the same. But I think the concerns over baiting big game are pretty well documented. Congregating too many animals in a small area, particularly a feeding trough, tends to spread disease quickly amongst the entire herd, if indeed there is disease or sickness of any kind present.

I honestly believe the "congregation" argument is overblown. Deer are in constant contact with one another, and nothing, and I mean NOTHING, congregates deer herds like winter, particularly a harsh winter. Not to mention that cattle feeding operations are providing "baiting" situations legally, same with bird feeders, etc. My point is, we can try to keep deer from congregating, but its like trying to slow down the Mississippi by throwing a rock in the river.

If we don't like baiting, fine, we don't like baiting. But I don't think the spread of disease through bait is a new threat - I think it is a great scare tactic and crutch in the debate against baiting.

*Note, I hunt frequently in ND where baiting is legal, and I do not bait. AKA, I have no "dog in the fight" re: the baiting debate*

[skee0025]

Food plots are slightly different animal, in the fact that you can't really stop someone from planting legals plants on their land. Plus, it can be argued food plots benefit many different animals with food and shelter.

Agreed but the end result and intentions are the same. They are planted with the intention of drawing and holding deer to a property or specific area. They alter the "normal" travel paterns of the animals. Anyone that claims otherwise is selling something. If the same rules about hunting over bait applied to a food plot how many people do you think would still be planting them?

[Musky Buck]

Does this happen field/food plot people, how do you quietly sneak into your stand without burning the deer off the field or plot ? Does this happen to hunters who bait, do you set up the pile so you don't have to walk right past it to get to your stand especially in the AM ? I think if I baited I'd bait so as not to disrupt where the deer might or likely will be so I could get to my stand as quietly as possible without bumping them. I also then must take the neighboring hunters into account and bait where it wouldn't be to their benefit or as minimal as possible. Bottomline if I can't get a deer in 9 days of gun hunting in a 1 deer choice area without bait I might as well give it up. Or start bow hunting for more chances.

[Getanet]

If the same rules about hunting over bait applied to a food plot how many people do you think would still be planting them?

I agree with you, but how do you legally define what a food plot is? Baiting is much easier to define and regulate.

[skee0025]

I agree with you, but how do you legally define what a food plot is? Baiting is much easier to define and regulate.

Thats easy.. Any plant matter put in place to attract and/or hold wildlife to a specific area. Any planting consistant with accepted agricultural practice must be harvested or plowed under no less than 10 days before the site my be hunted over.

[Getanet]

To me, it's not that easy. In many parts of the state it's nearly impossible not to hunt near a corn field. Would farmers be required to plow their fields before the archery season opener?

How far could you be from a food and/or attracting/holding source to be legal? If you owned 80 acres and planted some apples trees, could you hunt anywhere on your land? What if you planted Oak trees instead? Or rows of Pine trees? Both attract and/or hold deer.

To me, food plots are too much of a gray area to try to regulate legally. You're forcing a CO and the courts to determine a person's intentions, not necessarily their actions. The only people that would benefit would be defense attorneys.

[Wobbler]

This is the first year we have put food plots on our land. I have to admit it has increased our sightings of deer tremendously. However, the work all of us put in to cutting the old growth, tilling it up, putting lime down, planting, watering, cutting them down so animals can eat them, and raking all of our plots was huge. In our food plots on camera we have pictures of deer, bobcats, moose, grouse, wolves, rabbits, and a bear. Say what you want that food plots are like baiting they are not. Anyone can go to a store buy a bait and set it there and they are done. These plots have been up for a long time and they are used 6 months out of the year by many animals. You can say I am targeting deer but it helps many other animals out as well. C'mere deer or anything else specifically is used to get deer period.

[slimngrizzly]

I like to use bait IN my food plots! Im sure im just gonna be the bad guy here!

It like colliding worlds.

[Musky Buck]

Bingo Wobbler, deer don't care for being in the open much during gun season period or we'd all be field hunters, you won't see a deer in a field around here until January ish, if you're lucky once opening day is cooked. But I guarantee if I haul the food in to them I'd see deer in my many swamps and river or creek bottoms miles off the road. We'd literally slaughter them during cold muzzy seasons. Get a good die off winter and maybe we could all leg wrestle for available lottery only permits in our zones.

[InTheNorthwoods]

So, farmers would have to plow their fields under if they want to hunt. Bowhunting starts in September, that means they'd have to harvest/plow under everything they grow by the first week of September; a good month before many crops are ready for harvest on a normal year. Not only that, but when those fields are harvested, there is always spillage. Better call in the workers to crawl on hands and knees to pick up those kernels of corn. Wheat you say, by golly, better plow every day, because the excess seed has created a volunteer wheat field, and we know how those deer love that green growth come fall. And then, what about farmers that rent land from others who continue to hunt their lands, that is a whole other can of worms. Does the farmer need to plow under his crop because the land owner wants to hunt the land?

Hay fields, gosh darn it, gotta till up that alfalfa, because the deer love to eat it.

Next, what about logging practices? The new growth that comes about after logging is an abundant food source that draws deer from a great distance. Are we not allowed to let new trees grow? Gardens? They need to be plowed up too. What are people going to eat?

This is all ridiculous. What do people have against improving the health of the deer herd? That is what food plots do. They are habitat improvement that don't "just exist once hunting season rolls around". Hunters should be in favor of this.

As far as baiting vs. food plotting - they are worlds apart. I acknowledge that they both are intended to increase the odds of bringing in/seeing deer; but so are deer scents, deer calls, and deer stands/ambush points. I am guessing those most opposed to food plotting are those that don't dedicate the time to plant them, or don't have their own land to plant them on - and they are bitter because someone has worked hard to buy their own land and put in the time or money to improve it. Well, my answer to them is "make it happen yourself".

[Wobbler]

+1!

[Scott K]

So, because my neighbor owns 200 acres, and I own just a small portion, he can plant whatever he wants, to draw deer off my land, onto his, and thats ok. But if I do anything to draw the deer back to me, that isnt ok? I just dont see the "fairness" when one person is allowed to place attractant on his land to attract deer (food plot) but the neighbor cant throw out a bucket of corn to attract deer. Just because one guy owns more land, and has a field, he gets special rights?

I personally think they should just allow baiting for everyone, or not at all, no food plots, no hunting over spilled corn, apple trees, etc..

[96trigger]

4WE, why don't you put in a food plot to try and keep the deer in your area?

If I had a neighbor that was putting up food plots on his 200 acres, and I only had 10 acres, I would clear at least a 1/2 acre or more to put into a food plot. Deer don't know where the lined fence is, your food plot should be just as good as his.

If pressured, deer will choose safety over a food source. I'm not arguing, just curious as to why you don't put in a food plot?

[jay83196]

This is one of those topics every year that goes round and round....like abortion or gay rights nobody will ever agree! I say if you don't like somthing don't do it, and don't judge others for doing it!

[Musky Buck]

Wandering isn't that an issue every year, the have's and have nots, he'll have better hunting many more years than you will regardless. If your portion is that small then your carrying capacity is squat anyway. I would've befriended that neighbor for bow or late muzzy or bow or another. So you've pulled the t-cam batteries because he heisted your deer well I drove through 10's of thousands of acres of public land last night and there were a total of 0 people hunting any of it, the cornfields yes on public land went unhunted all week, the clover plots had no 1 hunting at least before dark this week, expand your game plan, if you want to hunt public food plots there are many to go hunt, go to Morris, many cornfields on public land, go to the rum river, many cornfields/clover to hunt, then you'll realize these plots are no slam dunk, the deer won't come in the open etc etc.. That neighbor has the right to do what he wishes on his land the same as we all do, can you thank him for creating better habitat for all creatures ? I have a neighbor who shares your view, the difference is he soaks all his money into his extravagent lake place, I said sell it and buy hunting land, drive your cadillac to a realtor and sell your lake place. That's what I think is the biggest difference, plots or field provide for all critters, a pile of bait is meant for 1 critter or people would bait year round. Done with this topic, we know how lazy a baiter is except the sweat of carrying 2 50 pound bags of corn in just before season actually 4 wheeled in in many areas, here's to every Minnesotan's gun jamming just when that trophy takes his first bite deep in the scrub brush. Field/Plots= people who care about deer/deer hunting and all the other wildlife it helps. Baiting= I Me My and I I care about getting with the easiest solution possible. It's why we can't fill a pond full of corn for ducks and geese. Good luck hunting, we get the rut and tons of days in the field if you want em.

[slimngrizzly]

I believe in God AND evolution!

[Scott K]

4WE, why don't you put in a food plot to try and keep the deer in your area?

If I had a neighbor that was putting up food plots on his 200 acres, and I only had 10 acres, I would clear at least a 1/2 acre or more to put into a food plot. Deer don't know where the lined fence is, your food plot should be just as good as his.

If pressured, deer will choose safety over a food source. I'm not arguing, just curious as to why you don't put in a food plot?

Sorry, I had posted prior that I do have food plots. I actually do a lot for the deer in my area, and I am actually pretty fortunate to have a good trail going through my land now, that is rather productive.

In the past 5 years, I have cleaned out a lot of the dead piles blocking trails, I have cleaned up and planted small food plots throughout my property. I have also planted 4 apple trees, in which I plan on adding more. I also added a small watering hole, that seems to get used, when there is actually water in it. During the hard winter months, I throw out a few bales of hay every month or so. And while deer hunting, I also bait, because it is legal in Wisconsin. I have also cleaned up routes, for deer to travel through my land, and I take advantage of the deer movement since the neighbor has planted huge food plots. So I am not the lazy deer hunter, that will just toss out a pail of corn then go sit over it. But, not everyone can do what I did, to make the deer come back to my land, and that I guess is more of my point. Across the road from my land, there is a couple older gents, upper 70's I would guess, now they havent shot a deer in years, I dont expect them to do the work I did to draw in the deer. If they couldnt bait, how would they even stand a chance? I was speaking in more general terms, but I included some of my personal experience in with it. So kinda hypothetical, kinda personal.

[Bear55]

So you are already baiting in WI, that is cool keep hunting over there and be happy. Most of us want nothing to do with it on this side of the fence.

[eyeguy 54]

[Getanet]

This is one of those topics every year that goes round and round

Speaking of, I think I saw the APR horse twitch.