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

[Baker]

I have never seen shin deep mud, urine and feces, with the food/grain on top of and within it. i have seen that at a bait site. It disgusted me.

Good grief! I've been feeding deer for over 25 years in one of the wettest states in the country and have never seen knee deep mud and feces under a feeder . I'm talking deer not cows.

 

[Turkish]

Good grief! I've been feeding deer for over 25 years in one of the wettest states in the country and have never seen knee deep mud and feces under a feeder . I'm talking deer not cows.

I’m sure you realize that everyone’s farm doesn’t look like yours.

To be clear, you don’t think any research has documented higher disease prevalence at bait sites?

 

[BenA]

Of those examples, I have never seen shin deep mud, urine and feces, with the food/grain on top of and within it. i have seen that at a bait site. It disgusted me.

I've not seen a bait site like that unless it was flooded. But, I've also seen that happen to other food when flooded as well. The thought that congregation of deer that raises the risk of disease transmission only happens at bait sites is just not true. And, food plots can raise that risk too.

 

[Turkish]

I've not seen a bait site like that unless it was flooded. But, I've also seen that happen to other food when flooded as well. The thought that congregation of deer that raises the risk of disease transmission only happens at bait sites is just not true. And, food plots can raise that risk too.

From Dr Demarais at the Deer Lab (just a quick one I found):

“The relative risk comparison showed that almost three times more deer visited sample areas around feeders than equivalent areas within food plots. The more deer that frequent a small area, the greater the risk for CWD to spread through direct and indirect contact between those deer,” Demarais said. “The conclusion is that deer at feeders are more at risk for catching CWD from other infected deer than at food plots.”

Nobody wants to talk about predator population subsidization or aflatoxin?

 

[BenA]

From Dr Demarais at the Deer Lab (just a quick one I found):

“The relative risk comparison showed that almost three times more deer visited sample areas around feeders than equivalent areas within food plots. The more deer that frequent a small area, the greater the risk for CWD to spread through direct and indirect contact between those deer,” Demarais said. “The conclusion is that deer at feeders are more at risk for catching CWD from other infected deer than at food plots.”

Nobody wants to talk about predator population subsidization or aflatoxin?

So food plots do raise the risk factor of CWD spread.

 

[Derek Reese 29]

So food plots do raise the risk factor of CWD spread.

I would say that’s one interpretation….two deer in the same 30 acre cornfield raise the risk factor also..just a pinch above 0…but with food plots being designed to shoot into and across with a bow that smaller area in and of itself would lend itself to more risk..

 

[Double Creek]

Nobody wants to talk about predator population subsidization or aflatoxin?

The pro baiting crowd never does....

It's always about making killing a deer easier, whether you are talking about Texas mesquite country or Alabama pine plantations. You know, it would be impossible to kill them in those environments without it... It' really a miracle they even existed for a million years before Moultrie was born.

And let me preface those comments above to exclude people like Baker. He obviously is extremely passionate about wildlife and puts a ton of time, money and effort into those passions. I have zero doubt that he feeds for the benefit of wildlife. From his videos and posts, it's obvious that he doesn't half ass anything. If he's feeding/baiting, you can rest assured it's the most optimal way it can be done.

The issue I have is that for every Baker, you have 100 Bubbas that are piling up corn, fruit, sweet potatoes, rotten beans, rotten cotton seeds, hell, anything you can imagine, in order to attract a deer. It's disgusting and I've seen it firsthand. I really don't think a lot of the people of this forum know what's going outside of their bubble. Spend a little time looking into what is happening in pro baiting states by the types that aren't really interested in spending their time on a habitat forum.

 

[Bill]

Well all I know is in October my trail cam gets every deer walking by the licking branch it’s focused on. Well licking, sniffing, or rubbing it.

Damn inconsiderate branch

 

[Baker]

Nobody wants to talk about predator population subsidization or aflatoxin?

Its bed time, but...

Shockingly I have lots of thoughts about predators. And I am happy to share a personal experience I have regarding feeders and predators. The ONLY predator I have ever had a problem with is mountain lions. In our Mexico property lions have learned they can hang out near a feeder and a deer becomes an easy target. We have learned it is best to have a rather large area...50 yardsx50 yards at least...open to give the deer better escape. Beyond that, lions are the only predator I have ever worked to control. Not the least worried about coyotes, bob cats etc.

Aflatoxin...I brought it up as a problem for turkeys and quail in Ann earlier post. That said we have one of the best quail populations in North America in heavily fed country.

in the morning...

 

[SwampCat]

From Dr Demarais at the Deer Lab (just a quick one I found):

“The relative risk comparison showed that almost three times more deer visited sample areas around feeders than equivalent areas within food plots. The more deer that frequent a small area, the greater the risk for CWD to spread through direct and indirect contact between those deer,” Demarais said. “The conclusion is that deer at feeders are more at risk for catching CWD from other infected deer than at food plots.”

Nobody wants to talk about predator population subsidization or aflatoxin?

Just to be open minded, which many arent - standing corn with corn still in the husk can develop aflatoxin, particularly when exposed to warm, humid conditions in the field or during storage, like we have in the south and mid south.

My feeder locations are a great aid in reducing nest predator abundance - making it possible to trap feeder locations and eliminate most nest predators over a fairly large area with little effort. I have been successful, with a ten day concentrated trapping effort within 300 ft of a feeder, removing so many coons and possums i typically go about three months before getting a picture of another one.

For the last two years, I have started putting up a corn feeder adjacent to my orchard a month or so before fruit starts getting ripe. The feeder helps to attract the coons and possums, making removal much less effortless - allowing me to harvest enough fruit last year to actually can and freeze some - which I have never been able to do before. Going to be part of my fruit tree management program until things change

 

[ksJoe]

With complete innocence I ask exactly what are the demerits of baiting beyond personal opinion? Not looking for some big emotional argument just concise facts .

The free handouts quickly makes the deer start feeling entitled and creates a culture of dependence. Its well documented that by the end of the first season 90% of the herd is registered democrats, and by the 2rd season of baiting they're democratic socialists and by year 3 they're communists.