How else ya gonna catch em?

In NYS the official definition for baiting is anything that you have to physically pick up and move and place it there with the intent to harvest an animal off of. So by definition it seems like your idea would be baiting. In my opinion why test it or take a chace?? Find the natural food, if you have deer there then obviously they are eatting something. Other than that hit the travel corridors, creek crossing etc..

This isnt directed at you specifically or any one person but...i dont see why people have to try to bend the law or try to stretch every little bit of it. In my opinion, if you have to think about it or have second thoughts, then you probably shouldnt do it!