RE: Why bait?
 

How about some pics! ;)

RE: Why bait?
 

Baiting is one of the most contriverial subjects in deer hunting... if you haven't noticed. In my opinion it is good for the deer and in some ways bad form them. It does help the spreed of TB and CWD, but the same as an ear of corn in a corn field. I think if spread properly (which is required by my state) it does tremendously reduce the slightest chance of spreading diseases.

I feel the main problem with baiting is that it causes deer to become lazy, and here in northern Michigan deer will rely on bait piles for food and at the end of deer season (Jan 1) they are basically left to die. Here in northern Michigan we get enough snow that deer have to make "yarding" areas which are areas that deer heavily populate to pack snow for the ease of travel. These areas are in swaps or very thickly wooded areas, for protection form the wind, and a place that has food source such as cedar. What baiting does is keep deer from forming these yarding areas, because they are relying on bait. They would normally be set in their yarding areas by early to late december, depending on snowfall, but due to a season that goes to Jan 1st it sets them back and in the dead of winter, causing countless deer to die.

Then there is the side that bait does help feed the deer, the difference from a food plot and bait is that the accessility of plots diminish as snow falls. So the deer react the same as a normal food source and retreat to yarding areas when it isn't availible, this on the other hand is not before it is too late to begin yarding. I see nothing wrong with baiting as long as you stop baiting at a certain point to allow deer to form their "yards", and to make sure and spread your pile so that disease doesn't spread.

From a hunting perspective and not a habitat perspective,I have just recently started hunting without bait and there is no feeling like placing a stand in a location that deer naturally walk,and you see deer regularly without baiting. It is also a toally different deer, they are much more laid back and less spooky. I also think that in pressured areas you have a much greater chance of shooting a large buck if you don't bait, here in Michigan they (bucks) have come to realize where there is a bait pile there is a hunter.

I am not saying that baiting is neither wrong or right, but that when used to the point that it is harmful to deer you as hunter should stop.

RE: Why bait?
 

Stealth, your hypocrisy in the original post has already been pointed out, so no need to rehash that, too much. :D


Not everyone has the time for that either, genius. This is my 27th season. I have baited 27 of those seasons. Because of my career and family choices I've made I do not have time to hunt deer year round, meaning patterning a buck. Does this make me less of a hunter? While I have the utmost respect for folks that hunt year round, I don't consider myself any less of a hunter. Why? It still takes a great deal of doing everything right to get to full draw over a mature whitetail at 15 yards. I have stands baited for venison and non-baited stands for horns. It only makes sense with the limited time I have available. I have all of 3 hours in the stand this year of actual hunting time with one deer in the freezer. No time due to life, but the bait allowed me to harvest a nice doe to feed my family.

How scary it is knowing there are hunters/sportsman out there running around loose with mindsets like that. Unfreakingbelievable. Any ideas why I might say something like that? Let me enlighten you: A ban of any kind on any type of hunting is nothing more than an infringement on our rights as sportsman, which can only lead to more banning. Where do you suppose more banning will then lead?

As for those that think baiting spreads disease, I have one question for you: Have you ever observed deer in a herd? They lick each other and have nose to nose contact with other deer without bait! Imagine that. Watch for yourself sometime, it'll shock you. Maybe we should ban the deer from touching each other. More sanctions, more banning!!!!!

Ok. I'm done with the great bait debate for this year. ;)

RE: Why bait?
 

I do not see how planting small food plots and then hunting over them is any different than baiting!

RE: Why bait?
 

Most useful information in this thread!!

Thanks I always wondered[8D]

RE: Why bait?
 

I had a buddy that I used to fish with. Just the two of us. Naturally we'd "keep score". As soon as I got a couple of fish ahead of him, he'd stop using the crankbaits, spinners, and rapalas and switch over to a worm and bobber. Suddenly he's kicking my butt hauling in fish left and right.

Fishing with a worm and a bobber is sort of like hunting over a bait pile. It's easier,fun,a good way to get kids involved, and effective.You can catch alot of little ones but not alot of big ones. Alot of us started out with a Snoopy pole, worm, and bobber. Similarly alot of us started out hunting over a bait pile when we were kids. But it's not as challenging or rewarding because it's a little easier. Is it still enjoyable? Absolutely. Is it unethical? No way.

RE: Why bait?
 

Genius, actually that's what I was thinkin'. Actually, being serious now, I don't know if you read my last post that said I can understand where baiting is used it certain situations.

quote"A ban of any kind on any type of hunting is nothing more than an infringement on our rights as sportsman, which can only lead to more banning. Where do you suppose more banning will then lead?"quote


I'm talking about baiting, not hunting in general. It's beenbanned incertain states why not all was my point.

Oh, just to let you know I have hunted in a state (For 3 years)where it was legal, but I don't currently. Just clarrifying that so people don't think I've never had the oppurtunity to do so.


And come on, you can't be done. Topics like this make the forum what it is! Well great, respectable points. Opinions are great aren't they, even if people don't agree. Good luck next time out in the woods.

RE: Why bait?
 

The thing is.....YOU show no respect. You only condescend and condemn.

I'll stand on my post.

jeff

RE: Why bait?
 

Every situation is different!

Personally, I've only deer hunted in TX. I've hunted in the west and I've hunted in the east. For those of you that don't know this. East& west TX are on 2 opposite ends of the continent. Terrain, cover, natural food & watersources are no where near the same. In the west you hear people say, "Watch out for those deeralong the road!" The place is infested with deer. In east TX you hear people say, "Let me know if you see any deer along the road. I saw one last month, they might be starting to move around!"

Why Bait????

Because, "in some places", it increases your chances off putting meat in the freezer. Especially when there are 30 hunters with 2 stand locationseach, crammed into 2000 acres of timber company land that is mostly 1-5 year old saplings. It's nearly impossible to see deer in this type of cover. IMO,baitused in this case to draw the deer out of the cover. In East TX, we don't have corn, alfalfa, soybean, whatever feilds that the deer visit everyday.

However, in some places,baiting can be abused. I've seen it, done it, and quickly realized thatI did not like it, and there are wrong ways to do it.

Sometimes I bait, sometimes I don't. My wife's stand and my son's stand have feeders within 100 yards. My 2 stand areasdo not have feeders this year.
BTW, I've "hunted" with my bow within 30 yards of a feeder for the last 3 years and I have not killed a deer in those 3 years. I only passed on 1 deer that was shootable and that was 3 years ago.

JMO,
TXMM

RE: Why bait?
 

Stealth you flip flop more than any fish I've ever landed.

Read this remark made by yourself one more time:

"No offense to anyone who feels strongly about baiting, but can you tell me why it's ok to bait, and why you still classify yourself as a hunter?"

You start out by stating no offense was intended by this post and in the same breath slam half the population of hunters in this country for baiting implying they are not hunting, and are not hunters.

"Anyone can pick up a bow/gun and shoot at something over bait. But not everyone can pattern the deer, set-up on them for a good shot oppurtunity in their natural environment, with natural food sources."

With your use of sarcasm and judgmental accusations right out of the gate, do you really expect me or anyone to believe that you actually meant hunters that don't pattern a buck but rather use bait do so simply because of lack of time rather than abilitiy, or laziness?



Right.


You missed my point completely. People like you scare the hell out of me when it comes to protecting my rights to hunt.


That wasn't your point at all. Are you kidding me?

You said this:
You were in no way questioning why baiting hasn't been banned in all states but rather stated in plain English that you desire baiting to be banned in all states. Huge difference. You are fooling no one. Continue your burble - you are only digging yourself in deeper.

Now go sit down and think for a while before you post more inaccuracies. Think long and hard about why we as hunters should not want more restrictions and regulations on our sport.