Deer Baiting Regs- Hay

[matthothand]

I am wondering how the baiting regulations apply to hay. A typical Canadian late season hunt takes place over a bait pile of hay and seems to be effective. I am curiously anxious to apply the same tactic to our WI property starting after firearms season or first snow. How much hay can I place on the ground to hunt over in one spot if we own 80 acres? Is hay legal?

[bigsmallie]

If you have to ask "how much can I get away with?", rather than concentrating on how can I "HUNT" this animal, than I think you need to spend more time in the woods.

[Deitz Dittrich]

dont know the answer to your question. I would ask a DNR officer. If I remember right its 2 gallons of bait.

[matthothand]

Bigsmallie, I know how to hunt. I haven't used bait since I was 12 years old and at that age I had no choice. Since then I've taken 44 does and 4 P&Y bucks under fair chase/no-bait conditions in two states. I asked the question because I would like to try a new tactic and do not want to break the rules. I also would like to attract more deer to the property in the winter and would like more deer to utilize my mineral site in the spring...then on to the food plots which will last into the next winter. Basically, I want to attract more deer to the property and decrease their home range while supplying them with above average year round food sources. In the winter months a deer's diet can consist of up to 80% tree bark and other woody browse. They lose weight all the while. I'm pretty sure the protein content is higher in an alfalfa/clover based hay diet than bark from a cedar tree. Call it a winter-long protein supplement to aid general health. As far as hunting goes...I hope to shoot a particular mainframed 8 that'll gross around 150" in the next few weeks and as a result the hay station would be another legal tool to make doe removal more convenient. I have lots of reasons that I want to try this and I'm not going to go on anymore about it to make my case.

Deitz, Thanks. I was aware of the two gallon per 40 rule but was wondering how to go about measuring two gallons of hay.

If anyone else could be of any help I'd appreciate it. I'd also appreciate my hunting ethics not being the subject matter.

[Jim Hudson]

Matt

I would read the regs as the normal two gallon limit on anything. I also would say you would have to measure the hay by compressing it into a two gallon container and then disperse it as you please. But, to be sure, I would contact a local game warden and get his or her opinion on the matter.

Also, on the baiting issue overall. In the latest issue of Wisconsin Outdoor News, DNR Secretary Frank made an announcement to hunters to refrain from bait this hunting season. Other hunting organizations have joined his voice. This stems from the CWD concern but also TB being found in deer in a neighboring state. Just FYI. Dont want to get into a baiting argument, just telling about a statement that is out there right now.

[matthothand]

Thanks Jim. I have e-mailed various DNR staffers.

[Deitz Dittrich]

Let us know what you find out.

[outdoor ran]

. Since then I've taken 44 does

Who keeps track of the does they shoot J/K Matt, let us know what you find out. I've watched them shows where they use hay up in Canada to get deer in. Seems like its mostly in hard winters and deep snow up there where they can't find or dig to food. Lots of hay laying around here in the farm land and I've never seen deer out there eating it. But you never know.

[Jim Hudson]

Also, not positive though, but I remember hearing or reading something on the matter of hay in the winter time. Being that it is not good for them and even can kill the deer? Something to the matter of their stomach microorganisms (being ruminants) and not being able to process hay... This came about during the time people were heavily feeding them in the winter time to sustain them through tough years... Anyone else remember this? Or was it a wives tale?

[kkahmann]

Hay I would think would process thru the Rumen just fine--they get a lot of it from road side ditches anyway. I heard the same as you Jim but they were talking mostly about hot feed like corn and alfalfa not being digestible.

We had a fairly normal amount of snow last winter so up here not very many deer. I have tried supplemental feeding in the past and I can get the local deer to eat horse hay but you can forget apples,corn or pumkins--they just don't seem to know they can eat it.