Massachusetts

Prohibited:

(b) baiting deer, hunting over bait, or the placing of bait for the purpose of taking deer or attracting them to a place where they may be hunted. Bait includes any artificial or natural substance, including but not restricted to salt, corn or other grains, apples or other fruit, vegetables, or any product or substance which constitutes a nutritional attraction or enticement to deer. A baited area is any area where bait has been placed and remains a baited area from 10 days prior to the opening of the archery season to 12:00 noon on the day following the close of the primitive firearms season.

I have heard of people using bait in MA, but I interpret this law as saying no baiting at all. Am I wrong? Does this say that you can bait as long as the attractants are out of the soil and area 10 days prior to opening day of bow season? Does this basically just mean no baiting deering the season, but I can setup some form of bait now in front of my stealthcam? I dont wanna break any laws here? Curious as to you guys input. Maybe some of you understand the law better than I.


Thanks

Jim

Not being from Mass. I have to ask a question, is baiting allowed during gun? If it is I may be ab;e to answer you question.

no Tazman, there is no baiting allowed during any of the seasons

Thanks for the reply

Double check with a game warden, but this sounds just like Va., you can not hunt an area that had any type of bait on it 10 days prior to opening day of bow. What this means is there can be no bait at all present for 10 days prior so even a salt lick put out 1 month before season must be removed 10 days prior if any is left.

you can set bait out as long as it is removed 10 days prior to the first day of archery season. the bait can then be put back out the day after the closing of the primitive firearm season at 12:00 noon. so therefore you can put bait in front of your stealth cam as long as it is removed 10 days before the first day of archery season. i hope this clears things up

I have to agree with shootem up870. However I would also read that as if you don't hunt where your stealth cam is then you are ok. I read it that way because it says you cannot hunt over bait. That may be a very fine point but it could be an argument if you left it out. Hope that makes sense.

I agree with wihunter402, if you are not hunting over the bait--then it shouldn't be a violation of any law to keep the bait out all season long. But I guess it should be private land--where everyone else knows what is going on to avoid any mistakes...But there could be some kind of space limitation--such as you have to be 1000 yards away from all baited areas--or something like that...

Just my $.02

I agree with shootem up

I read it as you can't bait with in 10 days and during the whole season. This means even baiting somewhere and hunting the trails to the bait. You are allowed to plant things like fruit trees and clovers and you don't have to dig up before the season. You just can't take a bag of clover or apples out and pour it on the ground.

I read it as "no baiting allowed"! Here in Oklahoma it is allowed and is practiced extensively. Makes you wonder whats up with Mass? I had the same doubts about baiting in Ok and emailed the Ok Wildlife Dept. They gave me the answer I wanted!