I don't bait deer anymore (though perfectly legal here).....but the MAJOR opponents to the practice seem to always come from states where the practice is prohibited by law.

My landowner's seen an albino doe (he thinks it's a doe)...and to be honest....if I thought baiting her in would give me a better shot at killingher....I'd do it (and thisassertion is backed up with the fact that I don'tbait). I don't think it would, though.

Here's the FACTS from the article (Quoted):

"Extrapolating surey resultsto the region yields 80,000 bait stations and 2.33 million bushels of feed at a cost of $10.4 million. Baiting and feeding deer is as big a business as it is controversial.

Some managers employ baiting as a tool to fascilitate harvest. In South Carolina, however, bait does not appear to augment harvest.Ruth revealed that on areas where baiting is permitted, one deer is harvested per 3.37 man days, compared to 1.16 man days per deer on areas where baiting is prohibited."

Now....one could say that the areas permitting baiting could also include (which I'm sure it does) those where only "supplemental feeding" was occurring......and possibly (even likely) no one was hunting OVER the bait.

But I'm still betting the numbers aren't anywhere near what people would believe (or hope) them to be.....if they wish to remain detractors of the practice.

I don't care what your beliefs are regarding baiting. I just thought the article was"interesting".

yah interesting

Ive never felt right with hunting over "bait". But it is one of the oldest methods of drawing game in, so i don't think there is anything wrong with people who do it.

If it isgoing to increase your chance of shooting a truly rare animal, then there is nothing wrong with it

The article is saying it doesn't.

Jeff,

I had a long time of dealing with this (baitin)on a personal level, about 10 years of hunting. I grew up on the gulf coast of FL and when we went fishing we didnt go out without a livewell of bait. bait that wasnt for the hook, but bait to throw out live to replicate schools of bait.

I am growing food plots on my land for the first time this year. I consider this baiting, however the warden will write you a $2000 fine for hunting within 1000 yards of biologic plots, loose corn, salt blocks/minerals etc.

I find your article interesting in the facts of the ratio of kills to man days. My plot is legal since I include turnips and corn, but I have no plans on sitting yards away from the plot waiting to shoot a deer standing still for several minutes while filling his/her gut.

Id rather hunt them on the way to the plot, but also feel that I am supplementing their feeding.

Im suprised that in NC its legal to bait...and Im with you about the albino. If I knew there was one in the vicinity, I would surely try to lure him/her to my stand using whatever method ws at hand.

Good luck at seeing the albino...and more luck at sticking it with a broadhead. Nice data that was included in the article. Kinda makes you think!

Baiting never works and any one that has ever tried knows that.[:-]

Its always easier to catch trout on a dry fly than a red worm.

Market hunters stopped baiting ducks because it is allot easier to call them than to bait them.

And I'm sure bear baiting will be proven to be very ineffective also.

All of those deer you seeon roads in Texas are standing there to avoid the sharp ends on the Spanish daggers that dot the landscape.

Don't worry ..........Be happy...........

I read that same article in Buckmasters. It was very interesting. It seems as though the numbers show that the more people around you bait as well, your chance of a harvest goes down since the deer can move from property to property at any time and have plenty of food at all places. Now if you're the only one around baiting that might change but they can still visit it at night and you'd never know!

do I detect a note of sarcasm?

What's this got to do with deer?

Yet we don't scoff at people who bait bears. I get sick and tired of hearing the old argument that you CAN'T kill a bear if you're not baiting. Of course you CAN. Baiting them just makes it easier.

But I'll tell ya.....if someone comes out with hard facts (like the ones stated, above) that says differently (RE: DEER HUNTING)......and leaves out emotion and conjecture.....I'll change my tune on that one, too. I'll wait patiently for that one.

I hear a lot of conjecture.....but no facts to back them up.

Do you really believe that any of todays studies are free of any prejudices,if you do I have some politicians you might want to meet with they are very forth coming and as honorable as atelevangelist hoping to feeding hungry African children.