Go if I understand your question correctly then NO you cannot put out the slightest amount of a "food substance" by hand. I understand what you are saying about putting out only a bucket or two in a picked field, but in all honesty what good is a few extra kernals of corn going to do? If you are trying to "just hold them around a lil while or more frequently" then whether you want to admit it or not you are baiting. Baiting is simply causing the animals to feed in areas for longer periods of time than they would under normal or natural conditions. Now as far as I am concerned there is NO difference between bush-hogging a field of corn and hunting over vs hunting over a timed feeder. Here in my state of TN we can bush-hog crops until the cows come home but if you spill one handful of grain (or anyother food substance) on the ground then you are then baiting. I dont have a problem with "baiting" animals perse (tho the garage story IS rediculous if you ask me) as I have done it in TX and KS and can see the benefits depending upon the terrain and landscape. But for states that specifically ban baiting the act itself (distributing by hand) is where you are breaking the law, regardless of amount or your true intentions.

I can see from the DNRs point of view tho, if you ARE going to have a bait ban then you must prevent ALL artificial placing of food upon the ground. The line must be drawn somewhere. NOTHING is easier to enforce than xxx pounds per acre or something subjective like that.

Getchu sum,
RA