As i said, I don't hunt over my food plots (2 - 1/2 acre pcs). I kinda like to think that if nothing ever happens over the plots they might feel safe once they get there. hence they may keep visiting it. The folks on the farm next to me hunt their plots and see the same deer even tho action has occurred there, so it probably doesn't matter-just how ya feel about it I guess. Lotsa deer are taken over plots. As far as baiting, I've seen 5 deer shot within 2 hours from two different stands (in Jersey) where they ran between the 2 bait piles(corn) despite getting shot at at both stands. I have dumped corn here (in winter after season) and 50lbs usually gone within 24 hours. I'm in rural area now & have lived in congested Jersey so ya can't convince me that baiting doesn't give you a huge advantage. It almost seems unfair. However, I agree ya just cant take a pile of apples out to the woods and have deer magically show up-doesn't work that way. The deer have to be there naturally. If you put it out...the deer are there.....they eventually will come to it. They like an easy meal too.

Won't the deer come to the plot as if it were bait?

I see no difference between baiting and a food plot other than the fact that baiting is illegal here and cheaper . You're using food that the animal can get to in both cases .

I know a guy who spends around $4,000 per year tending his food plots , if that ain't antler obsession then I don't know what is .

I agree 100% with Jeremy. Food plots are natural forage that can and will improve the health of "your" herd. Perenial food plots such as clover will benefit the deer year round. Deer will root through the snow to get to the clover when other food sources have virtually "dried up". Annual plots only offer a food source durring the summer growing season but again it is natural browse.

The problem with baiting(not that I'm against it) is that in areas that have CWD is that it concentrates deer to a very small specific location. Mineral pits or food piles have been attributed to the spread of CWD. If you compare a pile of food or a mineral pit to an acre of clover the deer are more concentrated in the mineral pits or food pile as opposed to spread out over an acre. Deer are less likely to spread disease if they are browsing off clover then if they're rooting in a mineral pit.

I'm not a scientist but have read a lot on the subject. The whitetail institute send out monthly publications on food plots and habitat improvments. Here's a link if you're interested to a web version of what they send out. http://www.whitetailinstitute.com/info/news/
Just click on the box to the left of the page that is titled contents.

BAIT n[ME, fr. ON beit pasturage & beita food; akin to OE 1 a: something used in luring esp. to hook or trap b: a poisonous material placed where it will be eaten by usu. wild animals considered undesirable or deleterious 2: to give food and drink to (an animal) 3: LURE, TEMPTATION, ENTICE

Not my definition, Websters.

I am going to jump in on this one too. I agree with Jeremy and Adams. I have several (8)food plots on my lease. We have been doing this for 4 years now and are starting to see a significant improvement in our deer heard. Yes, some people hunt the plots, I really have no problem with that. However; I don't think it is considered baiting. I tend these plots year round and have a mix of forage. Some are perennial and some are annuals. IMO it is beneficial for all wildlife to have good food sources. Also, I enjoy working these things in the off season. Anybody can pour out a pile of corn and hunt over it, there is no work involved in that. If you go the hassle and sweat to improve your deers habitat and provide a year round food source, then you are not baiting.

There is also an interesting side benefit to plots that you know get visited regularly. Isn't it neat to be able to take a young person or a first time hunter out and know that your odds are pretty good that they will at least see deer? What a great way to get new blood into our sport. I am sure that everyone here will agree that part of the thrill of what we do is not just in the kill but also in watching deer and other animals.

I also have many food plots. But i would and do consider them bait. Now don't get me wrong, it is habitat improvement, it is biologically better for the animals, they are more comfortable eating on them compaired to "thrown" bait. But don't tell me that "thrown" bait can't be work. I've dropped alot more sweat with "thrown" bait then on the tractor. Why do I personally consider our foodplots "bait"? Anything I provide to the deer, to entice them to come into, so I can get a shot at them, I consider "bait". And yes, that even goes for lures.

First off I am in no way against baiting. If you choose to hunt that way and it is legal then go for it. That said I do not see food plots as baiting. If so then what about the guy who hunts along a farmers hay field or standing corn, is he hunting over bait? I know there are several on this forum that see food plots as baiting and they do not like it. I hope they hunt out in the middle of a 10000 acre forest with no farming of any kind that the deer could be drawn to. If not and they hunt on a farm then they too are hunting over food plots. Field corn is a food plot for cows. Sweet corn fields are food plots for people. Do you think the deer really care that sweet corn was not planted for them? No they will go to any food source that appeals to them.

Food plots also benefit (as stated by several others) many different wildlife species. After all something will be growing on that land whether it is junk weeds that wildlife will not eat or something you plant that is a beneficial food source. If you have the resources why not plant something that will help “the herd” instead of letting the land go into waste grasses. One bad thing about a farmer’s field is that he will harvest the crops before winter and that would be when wildlife could use it the most. Food plots planted by hunters are left to help wildlife make it through the winter.

I know baiting is a hot issue in WI and in about half the state it is not allowed because of CWD. Last I heard the DNR has no proof that CWD is passed from deer to deer at feed stations. They do not know how it is transmitted. They banned baiting because it seems to make sense that if you bring deer into close contact with each other then the possibility to spread disease is greater. I do not bait as it is not allowed where I hunt. I did not hunt over bait when it was legal because I choose not to. I do plant food plots now and will continue to do so as long as it is legal. To me acorns around the base of an oak tree congregate deer more then a 1 acre food plot.

As for being antler crazy most of what I have seen in my food plots are does. I feel that this gives them better nutrition which in turn they are able to pass along to their fawns in the milk they produce. This will have the benefit of increasing the overall health of “the herd”.

mammasboy,

You DO make a very good arguement. One question. Do you set up your food plots with the idea of attracting deer or is the idea habitat improvement? I think that how each of us answers that question would probably dictate how we view this subject.

I never said it couldn't work. It is actually illegal in my state but I know several people in SC that do this with success. I guess it is just my personal opinion. I would rather go to the trouble of doing something that provides food sources year round.