Baiting, I know this has been discussed and discussed this is just my rant....LOL

[Baker]

I take responsibility for starting this post. I was NOT setting out to cause a big ruckus! LOL
I do truly hope that nobody harbors terrible feelings towards someone on this forum who does or doesnt use bait. I have us going down a rabbit hole I never really intended. My true intention was just expressing how F'n annoyed I was with listening to a podcast from 2 individuals who claim to be great stewards of the land and its wildlife to the point where as some folks besides me have mentioned they arrogantly come across as the highest power on such topics. Again, if you choose to bait and it is legal where you do so, good for you. Just know that what you are doing has no positive benefits to wildlife as a whole. By baiting I mean pouring out large amounts of food on a pile on the ground. If you want to split hairs and say that growing a crop is the same as baiting, you are just trying to justify the use of bait. From a wildlife feeding perspective it is not the same thing, the negative ramifications are not the same. Do I want to shoot big bucks, hell yea. Am I going to go about a practice that time after time has proven to have a negative impact on ALL types of wildlife (whether legal or not) just to potentially make that happen for myself or a customer ...... no. I live in Kansas baiting is legal, at least 2 of my neighbors use bait, do I hate them ... no. Do I wish they would care about our wildlife resources more than shooting a big deer, most definitely. I earned my wildlife biology degree 30 years ago, I have worked with some very knowledgeable people over the years in this field, learning from them every chance I get, I still devote as much time as I can to learning the facts that current scientific studies are showing us.

Well said. Out of curiosity where did you get your degree in wildlife biology?

 

[Turkey Creek]

Well said. Out of curiosity where did you get your degree in wildlife biology?

University of NE- Lincoln

 

[Baker]

University of NE- Lincoln

Thanks, Most of the folks I know are from MSU along with several more active in S. Tx. and Mexico. We probably have some intersecting lines.

 

[BenA]

I take responsibility for starting this post. I was NOT setting out to cause a big ruckus! LOL
I do truly hope that nobody harbors terrible feelings towards someone on this forum who does or doesnt use bait. I have us going down a rabbit hole I never really intended. My true intention was just expressing how F'n annoyed I was with listening to a podcast from 2 individuals who claim to be great stewards of the land and its wildlife to the point where as some folks besides me have mentioned they arrogantly come across as the highest power on such topics. Again, if you choose to bait and it is legal where you do so, good for you. Just know that what you are doing has no positive benefits to wildlife as a whole. By baiting I mean pouring out large amounts of food on a pile on the ground. If you want to split hairs and say that growing a crop is the same as baiting, you are just trying to justify the use of bait. From a wildlife feeding perspective it is not the same thing, the negative ramifications are not the same. Do I want to shoot big bucks, hell yea. Am I going to go about a practice that time after time has proven to have a negative impact on ALL types of wildlife (whether legal or not) just to potentially make that happen for myself or a customer ...... no. I live in Kansas baiting is legal, at least 2 of my neighbors use bait, do I hate them ... no. Do I wish they would care about our wildlife resources more than shooting a big deer, most definitely. I earned my wildlife biology degree 30 years ago, I have worked with some very knowledgeable people over the years in this field, learning from them every chance I get, I still devote as much time as I can to learning the facts that current scientific studies are showing us.

A fruit tree dumps large amounts of food on the ground. If I pick them up from under a tree and move them somewhere else, that's worse? Is that better than running an ATV hopper full of corn down a shooting lane?

 

[Turkish]

I take responsibility for starting this post. I was NOT setting out to cause a big ruckus! LOL
I do truly hope that nobody harbors terrible feelings towards someone on this forum who does or doesnt use bait. I have us going down a rabbit hole I never really intended. My true intention was just expressing how F'n annoyed I was with listening to a podcast from 2 individuals who claim to be great stewards of the land and its wildlife to the point where as some folks besides me have mentioned they arrogantly come across as the highest power on such topics. Again, if you choose to bait and it is legal where you do so, good for you. Just know that what you are doing has no positive benefits to wildlife as a whole. By baiting I mean pouring out large amounts of food on a pile on the ground. If you want to split hairs and say that growing a crop is the same as baiting, you are just trying to justify the use of bait. From a wildlife feeding perspective it is not the same thing, the negative ramifications are not the same. Do I want to shoot big bucks, hell yea. Am I going to go about a practice that time after time has proven to have a negative impact on ALL types of wildlife (whether legal or not) just to potentially make that happen for myself or a customer ...... no. I live in Kansas baiting is legal, at least 2 of my neighbors use bait, do I hate them ... no. Do I wish they would care about our wildlife resources more than shooting a big deer, most definitely. I earned my wildlife biology degree 30 years ago, I have worked with some very knowledgeable people over the years in this field, learning from them every chance I get, I still devote as much time as I can to learning the facts that current scientific studies are showing us.

It feels to me like this is the one topic where consensus advice from wildlife biologists is totally ignored by entire state wildlife commissions. I don’t understand it.

 

[Turkish]

A fruit tree dumps large amounts of food on the ground. If I pick them up from under a tree and move them somewhere else, that's worse? Is that better than running an ATV hopper full of corn down a shooting lane?

Get a couple whiskey drinks in any good ol boy and they’ll admit that triple cleaned corn is magic! Every impartial opinion I’ve heard admits it’s no contest.

 

[Turkey Creek]

It feels to me like this is the one topic where consensus advice from wildlife biologists is totally ignored by entire state wildlife commissions. I don’t understand it.

I will PM you otherwise this thread is going to get completely off track and just invites people to twist what is being said to fit their perceived view and agenda, just like "baiting".

 

[KY wild]

It feels to me like this is the one topic where consensus advice from wildlife biologists is totally ignored by entire state wildlife commissions. I don’t understand it.

I agree but it is ignored for a reason in Ky and that reason is money. Most of the budget comes from selling tags and hunting license and if you outlaw baiting then fewer people will hunt and fewer with by a license.

 

[KY wild]

I take responsibility for starting this post. I was NOT setting out to cause a big ruckus! LOL
I do truly hope that nobody harbors terrible feelings towards someone on this forum who does or doesnt use bait. I have us going down a rabbit hole I never really intended. My true intention was just expressing how F'n annoyed I was with listening to a podcast from 2 individuals who claim to be great stewards of the land and its wildlife to the point where as some folks besides me have mentioned they arrogantly come across as the highest power on such topics. Again, if you choose to bait and it is legal where you do so, good for you. Just know that what you are doing has no positive benefits to wildlife as a whole. By baiting I mean pouring out large amounts of food on a pile on the ground. If you want to split hairs and say that growing a crop is the same as baiting, you are just trying to justify the use of bait. From a wildlife feeding perspective it is not the same thing, the negative ramifications are not the same. Do I want to shoot big bucks, hell yea. Am I going to go about a practice that time after time has proven to have a negative impact on ALL types of wildlife (whether legal or not) just to potentially make that happen for myself or a customer ...... no. I live in Kansas baiting is legal, at least 2 of my neighbors use bait, do I hate them ... no. Do I wish they would care about our wildlife resources more than shooting a big deer, most definitely. I earned my wildlife biology degree 30 years ago, I have worked with some very knowledgeable people over the years in this field, learning from them every chance I get, I still devote as much time as I can to learning the facts that current scientific studies are showing us.

I agree and hate baiting, but I wonder if you could elaborate a bit on some of the ways baiting hurts wildlife. I would like to have the knowledge in my head for future discussions with the master baiters.

 

[Turkey Creek]

I agree but it is ignored for a reason in Ky and that reason is money. Most of the budget comes from selling tags and hunting license and if you outlaw baiting then fewer people will hunt and fewer with by a license.

You already answered a good portion of your question. I will PM you as well.

 

[H20fwler]

I do not mind the baiting in any form be it feeders or plots, soft or hard mast at all.
If someone runs feeders year round or has plots/orchards that hold grain nuts or fruit it helps/promotes all kinds of wildlife.
Sucks that feeding just during hunting season is such a draw, I think feeding year round is a better draw though.

I believe states allow it to help keep deer numbers down and make hunters and vehicle insurance companies happy.

Again, if you don’t like it don’t do it..who cares.

 

[BenA]

Look, I'm one that admits to baiting in the past, and one that is considering doing it in the future. I know the draw of it. I also know the draw of fruit trees, food plots, and acorns. I was a wildlife biology major (dropped out in my senior year to rodeo full time). I understand and keep up with health implications. I know you can responsibly feed or bait while minimizing those risks to mimic what happens in the wild. So, if you are in an area where baiting is pulling in deer and holding them at a rate above the level they would be if no baiting was done, how do you compete with baiting without planting something that mimics baiting? I know what doesn't work is having old fields, tons of edge habitat, 4 acre corn field that is left standing and picked in portions, woods that have been manipulated through FSI, staying out of sanctuaries almost the entire year, etc. Do you just accept the fact that you're not going hold the deer they are, sell and move, fence it in, or bait?

 

[Turkish]

Do you just accept the fact that you're not going hold the deer they are, sell and move, fence it in, or bait?

If I don’t see baiting as an option, do you understand why I’m so vocal about it?

Stupidly, I guess the option I’ve chosen is to yell at the clouds, as evidenced by my participation in this thread. :)

 

[BenA]

If I don’t see baiting as an option, do you understand why I’m so vocal about it?

Stupidly, I guess the option I’ve chosen is to yell at the clouds, as evidenced by my participation in this thread. :)

I'm not the kind to do nothing, and don't have the money or desire to fence it. So, I'm left with baiting or selling. I know the area has potential, so don't want to sell. That leaves me with baiting maybe, and being stuck with killing 3.5 and 4.5 yo bucks that survive unless the neighborhood changes.

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

sorry I want to follow. What is your neighborhood like in terms of hunter? I know the neighbors bait successfully but what are they killing, mature bucks or not?

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

I take responsibility for starting this post. I was NOT setting out to cause a big ruckus! LOL
I do truly hope that nobody harbors terrible feelings towards someone on this forum who does or doesnt use bait. I have us going down a rabbit hole I never really intended. My true intention was just expressing how F'n annoyed I was with listening to a podcast from 2 individuals who claim to be great stewards of the land and its wildlife to the point where as some folks besides me have mentioned they arrogantly come across as the highest power on such topics. Again, if you choose to bait and it is legal where you do so, good for you. Just know that what you are doing has no positive benefits to wildlife as a whole. By baiting I mean pouring out large amounts of food on a pile on the ground. If you want to split hairs and say that growing a crop is the same as baiting, you are just trying to justify the use of bait. From a wildlife feeding perspective it is not the same thing, the negative ramifications are not the same. Do I want to shoot big bucks, hell yea. Am I going to go about a practice that time after time has proven to have a negative impact on ALL types of wildlife (whether legal or not) just to potentially make that happen for myself or a customer ...... no. I live in Kansas baiting is legal, at least 2 of my neighbors use bait, do I hate them ... no. Do I wish they would care about our wildlife resources more than shooting a big deer, most definitely. I earned my wildlife biology degree 30 years ago, I have worked with some very knowledgeable people over the years in this field, learning from them every chance I get, I still devote as much time as I can to learning the facts that current scientific studies are showing us.

I love these discussion, I appreciate the post! I’m the same I don’t hate anyone on here who baits despite my strong opinions on it.
No one will ever convince me to bait but I like learning what motivates others who have differing opinions than mine. If anything maybe I can use that in real world discussions with people like my neighbors to where I have a good understanding to where I can articulate some points a little better.

 

[BenA]

sorry I want to follow. What is your neighborhood like in terms of hunter? I know the neighbors bait successfully but what are they killing, mature bucks or not?

I have some that shoot anything. I have one that is great and controls a good chunk of ground. He only shoots mature deer. The couple (literally a couple) of 5 yo bucks in the area are killed by him or a guest. But, he baits big time. No food plots, no habitat work other than mowing fields. He always holds the big ones. We share pics, and he's always talking about neighbors shooting 3 year olds he is passing. He's not kidding either. He sends me videos he's taken of him passing them. Another buck, I was wanting was killed to my east. He sent me a picture with bait and feeder in the background. I told him I was going to take out my old field and going back to summer food in all of it. He told me he thought it would be a mistake because i have the best cover now in the area. It doesn't do me any good if they'd rather bed in mediocre cover nearer to feeders. My only hope is lots of summer food and kill them when they're still in bachelor groups in September before they head to the baited areas. Maybe I can shoot a 3.5 or 4.5 yo then with some regularity.

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

I have some that shoot anything. I have one that is great and controls a good chunk of ground. He only shoots mature deer. The couple (literally a couple) of 5 yo bucks in the area are killed by him or a guest. But, he baits big time. No food plots, no habitat work other than mowing fields. He always holds the big ones. We share pics, and he's always talking about neighbors shooting 3 year olds he is passing. He's not kidding either. He sends me videos he's taken of him passing them. Another buck, I was wanting was killed to my east. He sent me a picture with bait and feeder in the background. I told him I was going to take out my old field and going back to summer food in all of it. He told me he thought it would be a mistake because i have the best cover now in the area. It doesn't do me any good if they'd rather bed in mediocre cover nearer to feeders. My only hope is lots of summer food and kill them when they're still in bachelor groups in September before they head to the baited areas. Maybe I can shoot a 3.5 or 4.5 yo then with some regularity.

Got it. Was trying to understand the dynamic. Pretty typical it seems unfortunately.

 

[SwampCat]

I have some that shoot anything. I have one that is great and controls a good chunk of ground. He only shoots mature deer. The couple (literally a couple) of 5 yo bucks in the area are killed by him or a guest. But, he baits big time. No food plots, no habitat work other than mowing fields. He always holds the big ones. We share pics, and he's always talking about neighbors shooting 3 year olds he is passing. He's not kidding either. He sends me videos he's taken of him passing them. Another buck, I was wanting was killed to my east. He sent me a picture with bait and feeder in the background. I told him I was going to take out my old field and going back to summer food in all of it. He told me he thought it would be a mistake because i have the best cover now in the area. It doesn't do me any good if they'd rather bed in mediocre cover nearer to feeders. My only hope is lots of summer food and kill them when they're still in bachelor groups in September before they head to the baited areas. Maybe I can shoot a 3.5 or 4.5 yo then with some regularity.

Out bait thy neighbor and kill them early

 

[Mortenson]

I've spoken of this quite a few times here. We had the dnr snipers in our neighborhood for 10 years, up until last winter. For around 8 years they were set up a half mile away. Corn bait and sniping would commence the day after season ended, in January, and end around 4/1. I don't know if they were sloppy hunters or what, but we were able get a few bucks (and does) through every year. From '16 to '23 I was lucky to connect on four 5.5 yr olds. We were just beginning to rebound from terrible ehd when the snipers showed up, and now we are in the same spot trying to mount a rebound again after massive ehd losses in '24 (plus 10 years of sniping, and newly formed public land). Guess my only point is why weren't more deer killed at the corn pile especially in the dead of winter I'd imagine they'd be most susceptible to being lured in? Same thing in Ohio it's often mentioned - a huge bait state and they still get monsters frequently. So maybe hold out hope if you think nothing can ever evade the bait. I'm thankful it's one less thing I have to worry about in this God forsaken state of endless worries.