I too was told by a DNR that you can't bait on public land. He said the main reason is that it gets back to hunters fighting over a spot. HunterA puts the bait down. hunterB finds deer in baited area and decides to hunt. Hunter A comes back and finds Hunter B in "his spot" and soon a fight gets going. He said you will not be sited for baiting, but littering since baiting is legal. Kinda like tree stand screw in steps are ok but not on public land. You don't get in trouble for the steps, but the fact that you damaged a tree on public land.