In Minnesota, it is legal to bait bear. However, it is illegal to bait deer. If both were legal, I'd still bait bear but I would not bait deer.
The answer to your question (is it a double standard) is not in what is legal or not in your state.....but how you view each. WHY wouldn't you bait deer? Answer that and you'll go a long way to answering your own question.
We can't baitbears in my state.....yet they're killed by hunters, every year (heaviest bear ever came from my state.....and we grow some WHOPPERS, here).
They can't bait them in VA....but a buddy of mine just sent me photos of the 2nd one he's had taxidermied in the last 3 seasons (both bowkills
).
Its NOT "impossible". Will it make you have to HUNT for them, though? You have answer that one for yourself.
Answer the question in bold, underlined (above).....and you'll answer your own question.