As i said, I don't hunt over my food plots (2 - 1/2 acre pcs). I kinda like to think that if nothing ever happens over the plots they might feel safe once they get there. hence they may keep visiting it. The folks on the farm next to me hunt their plots and see the same deer even tho action has occurred there, so it probably doesn't matter-just how ya feel about it I guess. Lotsa deer are taken over plots. As far as baiting, I've seen 5 deer shot within 2 hours from two different stands (in Jersey) where they ran between the 2 bait piles(corn) despite getting shot at at both stands. I have dumped corn here (in winter after season) and 50lbs usually gone within 24 hours. I'm in rural area now & have lived in congested Jersey so ya can't convince me that baiting doesn't give you a huge advantage. It almost seems unfair. However, I agree ya just cant take a pile of apples out to the woods and have deer magically show up-doesn't work that way. The deer have to be there naturally. If you put it out...the deer are there.....they eventually will come to it. They like an easy meal too.