Most states have laws governing the act of setting bait out in order to harvest a game animal. This is a pretty well know fact. On the other hand. Is it still baiting when I take out a bucket full of corn to a corn field that has been pecked dry by turkeys. Also does it raise an ethical concern?

Screamin' Eagles!!! as for your ques.... it depends upon your motive, as to the "Ethical" part. I say feed the turkeys in DIFFERENT areas,(one day here/next time there,etc) that way noone can say you're "training" the birds to come to a specific area. Nothing wrong in giving the flock much needed food during slim mast years.
BTW... Go 25th INF.....

I believe that, in general, you can't bait turkeys. Just use a call and a decoy like every other ethical hunter. Oh and good luck.

When I first wanted to start turkey hunting years ago, a friend of my invited my wife and I out to his place. There must have been 15 turkey tails hanging in his garage. I was impressed, he must be the man! I need to pick this guys brain...and so I did. When he started to tell me the story I had to kringe inside. You see, he has this little shed out by his pond. And every day of the year he throws corn out about 20 yards in front of the shed. Every morning the turkeys file in. The during the season he stops because turkey baiting is not allowed. He gets up, walks over to the shed, gets inside, and turkey hunts. Oh yea, with warm cup of coffee of course. Pops the turkey of his choice and promply displays it in the garage. Somehow I imagined it to be different...and for me thank the good Lord, it is.

That's like shooting fish in a barrel. I definately would not resort to doing something like leading them into my back yard. Here on our base where hunting is allowed, the government leases the land to farmers who are required to leave behind 10% of their crops. There was a lot of corn left over from this years harvest to to mention what the combines miss. These birds ( along with other wild game ) have been tearing up this corn field so it has pretty much gone cold since it has all been eaten already. I'm talking about scattering a few pounds of kernels in this same field where corn was grown over the summer. I haven't done it yet and I'm actually trying to find out how the DNR will look at it along with the thoughts on it being ethical that you guys reply with.
My love for the sport is in being out there in the woods with a gun and a call trying to get them to come to me but sometimes I may need a little help. At the same time I do not want to make a decision that will cast downward looks on me by other hunters

The story of the guy "Garage Hunting" his turkeys is ridiculous! What kind of satasfaction do you get out of that? Hunting is all about the challenge you get from the sport aspect of it. Why doenst this guy save the money he spends on the turkey stamps/applications/ammo and whatever else and buy the butterball turkeys at the grocery store?

Getting the butterball home probably presents more of a challenge.

Go if I understand your question correctly then NO you cannot put out the slightest amount of a "food substance" by hand. I understand what you are saying about putting out only a bucket or two in a picked field, but in all honesty what good is a few extra kernals of corn going to do? If you are trying to "just hold them around a lil while or more frequently" then whether you want to admit it or not you are baiting. Baiting is simply causing the animals to feed in areas for longer periods of time than they would under normal or natural conditions. Now as far as I am concerned there is NO difference between bush-hogging a field of corn and hunting over vs hunting over a timed feeder. Here in my state of TN we can bush-hog crops until the cows come home but if you spill one handful of grain (or anyother food substance) on the ground then you are then baiting. I dont have a problem with "baiting" animals perse (tho the garage story IS rediculous if you ask me) as I have done it in TX and KS and can see the benefits depending upon the terrain and landscape. But for states that specifically ban baiting the act itself (distributing by hand) is where you are breaking the law, regardless of amount or your true intentions.

I can see from the DNRs point of view tho, if you ARE going to have a bait ban then you must prevent ALL artificial placing of food upon the ground. The line must be drawn somewhere. NOTHING is easier to enforce than xxx pounds per acre or something subjective like that.

Getchu sum,
RA

Of COURSE, it is baiting!!!! I think you know it is too, or else you wouldn't have made the statement that your "love for the sport is in being out there in the woods with a gun and a call trying to get them to come to me, but sometimes I may need a little help." You are considering putting out food to get the turkeys coming to it, in order to increase your odds of success, so there is not a doubt in the world as to whether it is baiting!!!!!!!! PLEASE DON'T STOOP THIS LOW!!!!! The birds deserve better!!!!!!!!

Feeding turkeys to help them out during winter weather is something totally different, but even then, in most places it is completely unneccessary. Deep, prolonged snow or ice might be the exception, but generally turkeys are fully capable of getting by without our assistance. No need fooling yourself that you are doing them one bit of good.

In this Sunday's newspaper the outdoor colunm said that Vt is looking at baning all baiting. It also said that 23 states and 2 Canadian provinces do not allow baiting for deer, moose and elk. The reason why Vt is looking at baning the practice is concern for disease transmission.