Yes, baiting should be legal as long as it is regulated and the laws are enforced to make sure that it does not give baiting, and all hunting for that matter, a black eye.

Baiting is a great opportunity not for just hunters, but for people that want to view bears in the wild. We had ten people go to the bait sites this year at one time, only 2 of us brought our bows to hunt. The rest sat in the stands at night and watched bears, spent time fishing and letting the kids enjoy the outdoors. I saw 14 bears in two nights, shooting a bear at last light on the last night.

There are no documents of bears becoming habituated to human food sources due to baiting. Areas in Alaska that have outlawed bear baiting have become problem areas in the state for people and bears. More vehicle/bear accidents occur in Juneau, Ak than the rest of the state, and they contain about 5% of the states road system, maybe less. a huge percentage more calls are made regarding problem bears in that area than any other area in the state that allows bear baiting.

If the population can withstand a greater harvest from baiting, I think it is foolish not to allow bear baiting. After this year I have found it is more fun to stalk bears on the ground then be in a stand, but that is just me. I fully support the freedom to bait, even though I don' t plan to do it in the future. All sportsman should do the same.