Baiting, what's it mean to you?

giles · Jan 20, 2016

I see many folks around here that bait and many that think it should be illegal. I did some searching around here and it just kinda left me with more questions than answers. So I thought a new thread would bring some excitement, lol.

For me, the baiting definition has always been very clear and pertains to not only corn piles, but food plots and everything including scents.

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Along with the popularity of it, I think the deer have become dependent on it in many areas. So what harmful effects, if any, do you think making it illegal might do?

I'll share my thoughts on this when I have more time to dwell on the subject. (Not at work)

bowhunter1023 · Jan 20, 2016

The only "harmful" effects will be to the pride of people who can't kill deer without it. Like I've said before, I bait and bait heavily. I use it for camera inventory, late season freezer filling, movement manipulation and helping put others on deer. I support making it illegal to bait and honestly, hope it happens soon. There's plenty of food out there for lower deer numbers, so it's not going to hurt them any.

Baiting has not helped me kill a buck (other than the one I shot this year) and it's not something I rely on for killing them. It's more important to me for keeping deer coming to the center of our farm and for knowing what's there.

To answer the question: "What's it mean to me?" It means knowing what deer are around. Easier opportunities to fill our freezer. More eventful hunts for my wife. Assurance that deer have a reason to stay tight to our farm.

Jackalope · Jan 20, 2016

Bait is anything that draws an animals to an area. Be it food, smells, or even does. If there is a reason a deer was drawn to that area he's been baited. The state draws the line at things placed in an area excluding normal farming practices. . But technically there's tons of natural bait also. Hunting over a white oak flat or a pile of corn is the same tactic. The deer was baited to that area, the type of bait doesn't matter. The same goes for food plots, it's baiting deer to an area just the same as dumped corn is baiting deer to an area.

MK111 · Jan 20, 2016

I've never shot a deer over bait in 48 yrs. But I did plant a 3 ac food plot 3 years ago to draw deer off my adjoining neighbor's 110 ac horse hay baling operation. Is that baiting, I don't think so as the deer are feeding on it 12 months a year. It's a big benefit to the deer and turkeys during the lean winter months and before spring green up. This is the time of the year when the deer need the most help with good feed.
I also took delivery of 3 gravity feeders yesterday but in my mind they also will be used to draw the deer to my property not shoot deer over.

Spencie · Jan 20, 2016

bowhunter1023 said:
The only "harmful" effects will be to the pride of people who can't kill deer without it. Like I've said before, I bait and bait heavily. I use it for camera inventory, late season freezer filling, movement manipulation and helping put others on deer. I support making it illegal to bait and honestly, hope it happens soon. There's plenty of food out there for lower deer numbers, so it's not going to hurt them any.

Baiting has not helped me kill a buck (other than the one I shot this year) and it's not something I rely on for killing them. It's more important to me for keeping deer coming to the center of our farm and for knowing what's there.

To answer the question: "What's it mean to me?" It means knowing what deer are around. Easier opportunities to fill our freezer. More eventful hunts for my wife. Assurance that deer have a reason to stay tight to our farm.

Ditto for me. I say every year I'm going to try to keep up with the neighbors but never do. I use it for inventory. As far as food plots: mature bucks use them but if the neighbors are dumping golden nuggets by the truck load then the food plots are used secondarily. I'm not sure if making baiting illegal will be a good thing. Guys that break the law will become even more successful so it will only punish law abiding hunters. About like all other new laws and policies in this country.

giles · Jan 20, 2016

I also run a bait pile at my house and do some small food plots. I'm trying to think of how I should've worded this thread...because in my mind habitat keeps coming up too. Maybe after this thread runs its coarse I'll start a thread "bait vs habitat".

Jackalope · Jan 20, 2016

giles said:
I also run a bait pile at my house and do some small food plots. I'm trying to think of how I should've worded this thread...because in my mind habitat keeps coming up too. Maybe after this thread runs its coarse I'll start a thread "bait vs habitat".

I think the definition kind of explained it "prepare, entice animals as prey" so bait would be anything that enticed an animal. If you go out and plant 20 acres of pines for deer to use as a bedding area the deer was enticed and thus baited. If you're hunting a natural oak flat the deer was still enticed to that area by the bait.

bowhunter1023 · Jan 20, 2016

Spencie said:
Ditto for me. I say every year I'm going to try to keep up with the neighbors but never do. I use it for inventory. As far as food plots: mature bucks use them but if the neighbors are dumping golden nuggets by the truck load then the food plots are used secondarily. I'm not sure if making baiting illegal will be a good thing. Guys that break the law will become even more successful so it will only punish law abiding hunters. About like all other new laws and policies in this country.

I agree with this. Making it illegal won't stop most people. There will be less people baiting, but it will still be very common.

xbowguy · Jan 20, 2016

I have shot deer over bait. I've shot deer on natural patterns.... they taste the same.

bowhunter1023 · Jan 20, 2016

Jackalope said:
I think the definition kind of explained it "prepare, entice animals as prey" so bait would be anything that enticed an animal. If you go out and plant 20 acres of pines for deer to use as a bedding area the deer was enticed and thus baited. If you're hunting a natural oak flat the deer was still enticed to that area by the bait.

I agree with this also.

I'm building fence for my cousin right now. She's engaged to a guy who owns 43 acres that butts up to a housing development full of $300-400K houses and some state ground. The sign is unreal. His prop has a nasty thicket on the edge of an oak flat. There's a cattle trail coming out of the thicket, across the flat and in to the backyard of a monstrosity of a house. What's there? 17 birds feeders. There's a triple trunked oak about 50 yards from the feeder and 75 yards from the thicket. It's a no brainer set.

If baiting were illegal, would I be in violation if I hunted that stand? Take away the bird feeders and the deer would still feed on the flat and skirt the yards of the houses since it makes a nice edge.

giles · Jan 20, 2016

Jackalope said:
I think the definition kind of explained it "prepare, entice animals as prey" so bait would be anything that enticed an animal. If you go out and plant 20 acres of pines for deer to use as a bedding area the deer was enticed and thus baited. If you're hunting a natural oak flat the deer was still enticed to that area by the bait.

That would be a clear difference in natural and bait for me. One you planted for that purpose = bait. The other you said nature oak flat = natural food source.

giles · Jan 20, 2016

Kinda like calling any corn field bait, the intended purpose of that field was not for the deer. Unless that what your purpose, then, yes, it's bait.

Jason Short · Jan 20, 2016

It doesn't mean anything to me since it already is illegal where I hunt. If I had private land I'm sure I would be dumping corn like everyone else, but so far the state has made that decision pretty easy for me.

xbowguy · Jan 20, 2016

I agree with Joe. Oak tree, Apple tree, Corn field or Corn pile. Still using one of the deers basic needs against him.

giles · Jan 20, 2016

So fishing in water is baiting? Come on now...

runhunter · Jan 20, 2016

xbowguy said:
I agree with Joe. Oak tree, Apple tree, Corn field or Corn pile. Still using one of the deers basic needs against him.

Aren't you doing that when you're hunting does in November???

xbowguy · Jan 20, 2016

runhunter said:
Aren't you doing that when you're hunting does in November???

Sometimes. Sometimes not.

"J" · Jan 20, 2016

I guess what I've read so far we're taking it too extremes lol.... If the DNR outlawed baiting, that would basically mean no more dumping food on the ground for them too eat.... Standing corn, soybeans and other ag fields aren't actual bait too the DNR..... Dumping piles of corn, and other attractants are....

brock ratcliff · Jan 20, 2016

Hunting without bait means a person has spent some time looking for the deer. Deer make that tricky on a natural movement pattern. Sure, you can kill 'em on an oak flat, but how do you know which oak flat they are on, and how long until they move to another? That is hunting.

Baiting is far different in that a person can put their corn pile where they want the deer. I've baited the last couple of years. My bait set ups are close to where I think deer already bed, and in areas I know I can get into without the deer knowing I'm there.

There is no comparison to be made in the two styles.

Blan37 · Jan 20, 2016

Why does it matter if you bait / don't bait? Is it because it's not sporting, or is it to control kill numbers? I'm not trying to be an ass, I'm just seriously curious. As a new hunter, it seems to me that if you're talking about sporting, then it makes a little more sense. If not, then bait away and let the ODNR set the kill quotas.

Baiting, what's it mean to you?

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