Oh god...here we go AGAIN

I compair bainting to hunting at all these game farms it is just way to easy for you when you do that! it takes just about all the sport out of the hunt!

What are "egg corns"?

Anyway, it is pretty well documented that baiting screws with the eco system. And really, I don't know that the law has much to do with not being able to shoot a deer over a bait pile.

If you place bait, you're feeding the population. Since deer feed primarily at night, you are probably feeding more deer than you're killing, ultimately creating a dependency for the bait. If this is true, the deer population would actually increase since there is now more food to support them, as well as their future offspring. I forget the name, but there is actually an entire cycle that every species go through that revolves around populationvs. food. Creating artificial foods for wild animals is not a good idea, even though some will argue for it.

But if you look at any area where a species has an over population problem, you have to ask why? Something, somewhere had to intervene. Had it not, a few would have starved to death and now there would be just enough food to sustain the population. Of course this is the simplified version.

Baiting is illegal here in VA. You can't put any food piles or salt licks, etc. out after Sept. 1. As I understand it, the reason the state of Virginia gives for its no baiting laws is primarily to prevent the spread of disease from deer all bunched up over the same concentrated food sources. That dog don't hunt, though, because it's legal to put out these foods and salt licks, etc. before Sept 1 (what? you mean deer can catch CWD BEFORE Sept. 1!?)

I don't hunt over bait because, for me, hunting is about getting into the deer's natural habitat, and from there, getting into its head and life, etc. But I'm kind of weird in that I don't gun hunt anything, because it's just too easy. If I depended on venison I harvested to feed me and my family, I would take a more pragmatic approach and would consider baiting and gun hunting. But that's just not what it's about for me. I don't judge people for how they hunt, as long as they're not wantonly cruel or careless and try to harvest the animals they shoot and try to get them to someone or something (dogs, etc.) to eat.

Killer:

The problem with the area I hunt is......NOT ENOUGH PREDATORS. By this....I mean.....NOT ENOUGH HUNTERS. I have sole permission to hunt the areas I hunt....and we need to take more deer. The deer have a safe haven in the form of a county park that doesn't allow hunting. So.....they congregate in there. I'm betting some deer grow up and die of old age in there....only coming out at night to feed on the mast crops that are likely sucked up pretty quickly in their core area.

I just cringe to think they're starving.....but I guess some do. They'r enot in MY yard a lot (though they do come into my yard, some), but I know people who can't have garens due to their browsing habits.

I might change my mind, next year, and do 2 food plots. My guess is they'd become dependent upon them for food, too. I'm at a loss as to what to do to help....other than kill more of them. I take NO pleasure in killing. None. I know I need to take my limit, though. I wish I could take more (take more people in with me).

Jeff

WE can bait here in Maryland, but I don't like it. As someone mentioned, they get on edge and are easily spooked around bait if you hunt it. Not only that, to me it limits your possibilities if you hunt it. If you don't pile food up they have to forage and move around more. Much more natural patterns and more deer movement. I just don't really like it. I'd rather find the food, the beds, the trails and lay a plan... I call it hunting. With bait you carry it in and lure them and shoot.... I call it lots of things but not real hunting.

The reason many states are against it are varied. I suspect some of the reasons have to do with recent deer diseases that are said to be spread by nose to nose feeding. I also suspect that people in charge see it as an unfair advantage. I also suspect they see it as a strike against hunting when the practice of baiting is observed or heard by the non-hunting community. Some are probably against it as the food/bait is not always in the best interest of sound nutritional needs of the animals... like heavy in corn. Also, it luresanimals from other nearby areas into confined areas causing problems with over population and carrying capacity. You make a herd dependant on bait from a young age and then stop putting it out I suspect the animals suffer a temporary set back. Add to this the new found population increase and the local flora suffers a big hit. I just don't like it. I'd like to see the practice of baiting outlawed everywhere.

WEll which is it. In one thread you talk about the low life neighbors shooting all the deer and you can't get one. Then in this thread you say you want more hunters. There aren't enough and there are too many deer. It may be you're part of the problem on your land. Forget the bucks and shoot some does. Tell your landlord you'd like to bring in some friends to help thin the herd... just as long as they don't shoot Your bucks.

David:

I actually agree with everything you said in your post on this thread. If I could invite you to come hunting with me.....and you ended up taking one of the bucks my poaching neighbors took.....I's help you drag him out.....take your photos....and recommend a good, local taxidermist.

The herd (careful not to say "my") here needs thinning. I'd just like to see it done, legally. I don't know how much clearer I can be. I don't want the deer spotlighted, either. I'd like to see everything done on the up&up.

A friend of mine knows a farmer who gets a depredation permit to take deer off his property. Thing is....he ONLY takes trophy bucks off the property....and then brags about the bucks he takes. I'd just like to see it done, right. Call me a dreamer.

Jeff

And I never said I couldn't get one. I could tag out in the first week of the season.....all on archery tackle. I've never said that. I've harvested 4 deer with my bow, so far, this year. I'll be surprised if I don't tag out (6).

Jeff

Or clover, or oats, or sugar beats, or chicory, or rape, etc....

If you hunt over a food plot and are bad mouthing baiting you should look in the mirror cause you are only fooling yourself.

There is nothing natural about this scene below.

David:

This is EXACTLY what I tried to do when Rob/PA was down here. No dice. He didn't wan tto let anyone else hunt on his land (this IS the uncle/great uncle to the guys I was referring to in the other post). I've tried to do things the right way....and the onlyB&%^#ing I've done is over people "seemingly" NOT doing things legally. I'd NEVER begrudge ANYONE for taking an animal if they did so legally and ethically. I mean that. I told Rob when he was here.....ShootANY animal you want to. I'd have LOVED forhim to have taken one of those bucks. Ioffered him first dibs on whichever spot he wanted. I'd never begrudge anyone an animal taken legally.