SB244 is a bill by Senator Penn, to legalize the use of feeders and bait for hunting. Each feeder would have to get a permit but then it is on! This would be great for hunting in Alabama. Many other states have already passed bills like this. If you are FOR the bill please send a e-mail to the DCNR or call them.
I have always been against the idea of using bait or feeders in hunting because to me it violates the concept of "Fair Chase Hunting". However, I have to admit that I am unfamiliar with the arguments for the use of bait. Could you elaborate a little bit on why this would be good for hunting and why it would not give groups opposed to sport hunting in general an issue to argue that hunting is inherently unethical. I know that this was an issue in the State of Maine in regard to bear hunting and much of the public reacted badly, believing that baiting was "unfair".
I agree with Californiadoctor. I personally think hunting deer over bait or luring deer in with feeders is less than hunting, at least for me. At the same time, I tend to let people make up their own choices about these things and mind my own business if everyone is hunting legally. I'll opt not to send any opinion to the cited location. I'm thinking principally of deer. Bear may be a different story. I understand it is very difficult to hunt black bear without the use of either bait or dogs. Even so, I remain skeptical of this kind of hunting, I'm just less confident in my rationale.
I don't mind using feeders but I don't believe in hunting over them. Intense hunting over a feeder will send your animals to night time feeding only. With our disappearing habitat, I think feeders are a viable option to help wildlife, especially through some hard winters. I have a couple of feeders but only use them from January to September but not as much from April through September. As far as baiting goes to attract an animal into a kill zone, I don't go for it. But, I don't think it's a big deal as long as you stay within the laws concerning baiting and the number of animals you can harvest.
I'm all for baiting. If a hunter doesn't consider it "fair chase", well, he doesn't have to do it. We all hunt for different reasons, and I feel it's important to respect that.
I hunt for the challenge of a fair chase, but getting meat in the freezer is also important. Lucky for me, I can afford to buy groceries. But if I didn't, I'd have bait out there any chance I could. The ends (full belly) justifies the means (bait).
Up to this point I've only used bait on nuisance species (groundhog & starling). I would certainly consider it for bear.
I don't know. The line is blurry to me. When you find a good oak grove or hunt the edge of a farmer's corn field, how is that different? You know the deer will come because they have to eat. That is the same as hunting antelope at watering holes.
Alabama Senate Bill
