Molasses

[Kyle]

Anyone ever use molasses? How did it work for you? If it worked well, how did you put it out?

[HunterLee]

I'd guess that is baiting. But if you are using it for picture taking bears like it and so do the deer. I wouldn't put it by you stand though.

[Kyle]

From my outtake on the regs. Its not considered baiting.

"Bait

Liquid scents, salt, and minerals are not considered bait unless they contain other foods defined below as bait.

-"Bait" is grain, fruit, vegetables, nuts, hay, or other food that is capable of attracting or enticing deer and that has been transported and placed by a person."

Its an iffy one, but right away I wouldnt consider molasses to be bait simply because it contains water and sugar and no other food. Not trying to sound like im rationalizing this, but I would think sugar is biproduct from another source. Animals dont consume large amounts of just sugar, so im not sure if molasses would be considered a food. Plus, other mineral products use sugar to attract deer, and liquid mineral products are not considered bait.....

Anyway, I havent put it out yet, but was just wondering if anyone has used it for deer, and if it works. If others think that it is considered baiting, or have factual information stating that it is, please tell me. Im not in to unethical hunting, and wouldnt be able to let myself hunt if I thought I was doing something unethical or against the law.

[Mark Christianson]

First off, is he asking for the sake of bear or deer baiting.

[Nate McVey]

I would consider mollasess as bait.....I'm not sure I've ever seen a mollasess tree

[chucker34]

I'm 100 percent confident it is baiting. The rule of thumb is if its food or contains any food product, its bait in the law's eyes. Molasses is food.

[Mark Christianson]

If the question is pertaining to deer, I completely agree with the chucker.

[Kyle]

Thanks for the replies guys. If molasses is bait, I just cant logically understand why liquid minerals that also contain sugar are legal? Molasses is simply refined sugar and water. I wont put it out, but it just doesnt make sense. If anyone can elaborate on this issue or just wants to put in there 2 cents please do.

Thanks

[Mark Christianson]

I'm quite certain you cant use minerals that contain any sugars.

If you want to use anything, use the BLB special mineral mix.

I checked with the DNR, and this is 100% legal according to the CO in the area I live. I have the email from him saved, in the event a different CO feels different about it.

100 lbs trace mineral

50 lbs stock salt(also called ice cream salt)

50 lbs di calcium phosphate

Many people have used this mix and reported wonderful results.

[chucker34]

I would agree with BLB. I think if it has any component of food - other than salt or minerals, it's considered bait by the DNR. However, I heard several people last year saying Buckjam and those other liquid minerals that use artificial flavoring are legal so I e-mailed the DNR. The response was that the flavoring was articial and therefore not food and so you could use it. This surprised me. This was last year. It's a gray area in my books and the DNR might have a different response this year. lcornice?

On a final note, I would doubt minerals, even those with a little artificial flavoring, are going to be much help drawing the deer in at this point of year as usage generally tends to slow as the summer draws to a close and it gets colder.

[Kyle]

Ya, i just called the DNR to make sure. They said the same thing. Molasses is illegal to use on deer. However, I spoke with an official DNR officer and he said he doesnt understand it either. He said they just talked about it at over the summer or something and for no obvious/distinctive reason the people that make the laws decided it was considered food. He said they also dont consider it a liquid because it is to viscos. He said he didnt agree with the decision either, and that he understands its a liquid and that other attractive mineral liquids out there contain some of the same ingrediants(sugar and wate). However it is illegal.

Thanks for the replies on the subject everyone. Its a little frustrating that our judicial system cant distinguish specific reasons they have laws in place. As far as hunting for me goes, its not a big deal. there are plenty of deer, and Im optomistic! I can already taste those tenderloins