ORIGINAL: Ridge Runner
well, I learned how to deer hunt in the old school, patterning them studying them thoughout the year, year after year to find out when and where to hunt them on the land I had to hunt. Then all of a sudden the state of wv allowed baiting, so you pattern the deer, find out what the preferred food is, plan your strategy........Then 2 days before season all the locals start dumping corn, the patterns are completely altered, the preferred food changes, it just screws me up.
Here is the kicker, when I change my tactics and start whacking whitetails at 1/2 mile or more, because of the changes in the travel patterns because of the baiting, the folks that bait say I'm not hunting because I'm too far away, any wonder I frown on baiting?
RR
I totally agree with the fact that baiting changes the deers' patterns. I believe it also congregates does which in turn diminishes buck movement during the rut. It tends to make the deer more nocturnal as well. If your goal is to take a trophy buck I believe your chances are better if you don't bait. Some of the frustration conerning this topic arises from the fact that when you choose to bait you effect every other hunter in your area. I have talked to many people who felt like they have to bait to compete with their neighbors who started to bait. I also believe that if it's legal in your area it's your choice.