So why is deer cocaine considered bait?

Il and Wi consider minerals as well as food "bait"

Even if you can't hunt bait, I see nothing wrong with putting out a little minerals and food out every now and then. Maybe draw a few deer toward your area. Its definetly not taking the fair outta fair chase. These are wild animals, food doesnt change that. theyll spook as easy as the next deer. They wont jump right on the end of your arrow, so to speak. It's just a way to try to stack the odds a little. You can buy natural mineral rocks, are they considered bait also?

In parts of the state (wi) it's illegal. They think the mixing of saliva at these bait sites may be responsible for spreading CWD. It's illeagal to feed deer at all.