And all along I thought:

1. Farmers planted corn in fields so that they could harvest in order to feed their livestock and sell it on the open market in order to make money to make a living. They attempt to maximize their harvest = income by leaving as little corn as possible left on the ground. However, the harvest process is an imperfect system which leaves residual corn and by-products scattered randomly for wildlife to eat. Some hunters take advantage of this imperfect process by strategically setting up stands or blinds around trails in which they believe wildlife will enter these fields. Some of the more successful hunters may also have had the ability to take time to scout these areas in order to determine if there was a pattern to where the deer entered the field - thus again strategically placing their stands or blinds.

The intention of the corn in this situtation was for the farmer to make a living / career / lifestyle - the result provided an opportunity for a hunter to take advantage of this situation. (Is this an unfair advantage? - you decide)

2. Baiters (who bait with corn) intentionally place strategic piles of corn in areas where it will optimize their success for killing a deer (or other animal). They may set up their stands or blinds first, in trees and areas that they want the deer to come close to - and then place the pile close by.

The intention of the corn in this situation was to kill a deer. (Is this an unfair advantage? - you decide)

3. Food Plots? - (What is the intention? - Is this an unfair advantage - you decide).


I really do not care if hunters (purposefully) bait or not, unless they bait where it is illegal.
As you can see from the above - my definition of baiting comes down to what the original intention of the food source was.
So to me, that is the difference.

Be safe, be ethical, be lawful and continue to promote hunting for the next generation.