So what is this big art form you keep mentioning. Are you a master at it? You either dump bait or you don't. You pick times, and you do it.
I guess if one took this step he could just take to the next logical step and make like a caged trap. That way next day, just go out and shoot it in the cage. Could check it in on a trappers licence. Then run back in thier house and get their camo on and take pictures with it.
This is the ignorance that breeds elitist attitudes.
I hear ya Jeff, there are a lot of knuckle heads out there who probably do more to ruin a hunting spot by trying to bait it but that's not my point. If done correctly (like anything else) is should produce better results over not baiting at all. I still can't see how it doesn't.
Fair question. What's your goal? If your goal is to kill "A" deer.....I'd say you're correct.
Now what do you do? You've killed ONE. See....the problem (IN REALITY....where people bait)....is...they keep hunting the same old baited spot.....the same old way.....entering the same way.....exiting the same way......etc...., etc..., etc... You see the trend.
So now what do they do from that point on? Their baited spot will suffer. Period.
There's no doubt in my mind I could bait this time of year and be successful.....even with bucks. But let's remember when we talk about baiting....that we're not talking about the Greg Millers of the world (as a community). Think about how most hunters use scents. You think everybody who buys tinks 69 uses it correctly? Plays the wind (though I can't figure that one out, yet)? Let's be real. Baiting isn't as easy as you make it.....and my bet is about 5% do it with any smarts about them.
With your average crop field(multi acre) you won't be able to predict with much accuracy where the deer will enter the field because their food source IS the entire crop field. Sure you can locate trails and set up their but unlike the pile of corn or automatic feeder, you can't be sure exactly where the deer will be.
Again....size of the pile, John. And the fact that the multi acre field is unpredictable probably AIDS the hunter to be honest. If he knew THE trail they'd take to it......he'd overhunt it.....just like most baiters do their centralized spot. Think about that.
That feeder out in the middle of nowhere when other sources of food is scarce is going to be an oasis for the deer....and they will go to it. People feed deer all the time and they keep coming day in and day out.
Please cite your hands-on experience with this. Also....the flocking you're talking about.....are people HUNTING while they're feeding them? ReallY? And they keep coming back? Even when Myrtle got shot yesterday.....and Sally, last week? Really? To the same spot?
Can we put this thread to rest now??
I sure hope so.