OPPOSE ANY RESTRICTION ON BAITING - EMAIL TO WDFW

[bobcat]

I've been baiting blacktails for three years now and have yet to be successful. In fact in all that time I've only had one deer come in to the apples while I was sitting in the blind, and it was a little fawn, and even at that, it was right at dark with only 5 minutes of legal time left. I get plenty of pictures with the trail camera, but of course, they're all at night.

[idahohuntr]

You bring up many good points...maybe I'll explain my views on wolves in another thread...like around the holidays when I have had enough of my in-laws!    I think both you and I want this one to stay on point with respect to preserving baiting though.

[BlacktailBowhunter]

Is there a public session for comment on this? Is this legislative or commission driven? Please pm with any info. I live in OR but hunt WA and oppose any restrictions.

[Little Dave]

Is there a public session for comment on this? Is this legislative or commission driven? Please pm with any info. I live in OR but hunt WA and oppose any restrictions.

You can send a note to commission@dfw.wa.gov

A canned message in their response:

"If you go to  http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regulations/seasonsetting/, you will find the season setting process. This process is currently in Phase II, which is not open for public comment. However, as you will see, Phase III allows for an additional public comment period on specific rule proposals in January/February 2015."

Even so, if they get a lot of feedback on this subject, they may look at it more carefully.

[BlacktailBowhunter]

Is there a public session for comment on this? Is this legislative or commission driven? Please pm with any info. I live in OR but hunt WA and oppose any restrictions.

You can send a note to commission@dfw.wa.gov

A canned message in their response:

"If you go to  http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regulations/seasonsetting/, you will find the season setting process. This process is currently in Phase II, which is not open for public comment. However, as you will see, Phase III allows for an additional public comment period on specific rule proposals in January/February 2015."

Even so, if they get a lot of feedback on this subject, they may look at it more carefully.

Thank you. I help a friend that is a professional political organizer and is also an expert civil rights policy analyst that I am going to have make a strong arguement for the hunting community.

[Brad Harshman]

I've been genuinely following this thread because I'm concerned with: the negative affects to public lands, the affects both good and bad to the animals, and the general techniques of baiting.  I'm not really a big game hunter so the resolution will not impact me immediately.  With all that said - I haven't seen any quality posts of people sharing scientific evidence that small scale baiting helps animals.  Did I miss it?  Does it even exist? What about the negative impacts of small scale baiting?

There has been a lot of people sharing their experience of how unsuccessful they have been baiting.  Even though they put in a lot of resources it didn't work out for them.  So maybe it is a non-issue.

But what about large scale baiting or better yet feeding stations?  They obviously work with elk.  Apparently the elk feeding stations are a sight to see when the snow gets deep.  These stations definitely alter the animals natural eating habits. But it's a necessary evil, right?

But then I just read what the WDFW vet had to say in regards to feeding the the Okanogan deer: "...
In general, WDFW and other wildlife managers discourage the public from winter feeding of deer and other wildlife because it can harm the animals, said Kristin Mansfield, WDFW wildlife veterinarian. Deer, for instance, need to feed on many different kinds of plants to maintain a nutritionally balanced diet. Mansfield noted that some well-intentioned people have been feeding deer fruits and grains.
“Fruit and grains are not a normal part of a deer’s diet at this time of year and can be extremely difficult for deer to digest,” Mansfield said, adding that a steady diet of such high-carbohydrate fare can elevate the animals’ stomach acid levels and cause serious illness and even death.
Mansfield said she appreciates people wanting to help animals in what seems like harsh conditions. “But most feeding just makes us feel good and can end up being bad for the animals,” she said. “Fruit is too high in carbohydrates and lacks the nutrients deer need to stay healthy. It’s a bit like letting your kids eat nothing but candy bars.”
Supplemental feeding also disrupts the natural foraging patterns of deer and concentrates the animals into one location..."

WDFW says we shouldn't bait because it changes their patterns and it does harm the deer's digestive system if done improperly.  This information sounds more convincing then Hitler's original post saying there is only one hunter "a bait supporter" and everyone else is evil.

Let's continue to get facts, not necessarily the sifted stuff WDFW references, but the independent studies, so we can make an educated decision on baiting.  The best way to convince WDFW is to reference facts from the scientific community not the brash opinions of the outspoken.

[Special T]

Brad i hear what your saying. I think the issue is that there is NO evidence that we should ban small scale baiting so why the push? Its and agenda because some people dont like it.

[idahohuntr]

I haven't seen any quality posts of people sharing scientific evidence that small scale baiting helps animals.  Did I miss it?  Does it even exist? What about the negative impacts of small scale baiting?

The justification for maintaining baiting as a hunting method is not based upon any argument that it "helps" animals; the scientific aspects revolve solely around whether it does any harm.  WDFW has been clear they do not believe this is a biological issue.  However, part of the reason this is an issue being debated centers around some of the very large, prolific baiting operations...which I could very well see resulting in harm to animals as described by Dr. Mansfield and others.  I will continue to beat the dead horse that the best solution on this whole matter would be to regulate baiting so that folks aren't putting 5 metric tons of apples out for the deer.  A guy tossing a salt block out and a bag of corn or some alfalfa is not going to result in the impacts described and observed with major feeding programs....which actually brings me back to the justification piece...I can think of one justification for maintaining baiting with some scientific support...most deer and elk in Washington State are selenium deficient.  Hunters packing salt blocks (usually loaded with Selenium) are providing a key element that is limited in the environment...ban baiting and probably a whole lot less selenium in the environment. 

http://www.academia.edu/2045391/The_implications_of_selenium_deficiency_for_wild_herbivore_conservation_a_review

[Little Dave]

The scientific method could be applied to study effects of small-scale baiting, particularly in zones with high property boundary density.  I believe such a study would be a waste of time and money, more a matter of common sense.

It could be argued that baiting, when done properly, is an effective wildlife management tool in zones with high property boundary density.  If the goal is to keep a population at or below social carrying capacity, bait may be used in the process of counting the animals, and it may be used to selectively take certain animals from the herd while necessarily respecting property rights.

It's the "when not done properly" part of baiting that might need a look.

[Curly]

There was a study on baiting in Michigan. Sounds like all the same issues  we've discussed were analyzed in that study.

http://www.michigandnr.com/publications/pdfs/huntingwildlifehabitat/Issue_reviews/99baiting.pdf

[singleshot12]

There also needs to be a study on what effects deer baiting has with the preditor populations? I know coyotes and bears will take over bait sites and thrive off of the apples and grain. We certainately don't need coyotes and bears to over-populate our deer hunting areas.

[Little Dave]

The solution that I would like to see is professional guidance.

The department has a few helpful pamphlets or Internet pages which describe things like how to clean razor clams, what bait works best for certain fish, what to plant in the garden that the elk and deer won't destroy, etc.

If there is a significant decline in deer population because of baits, some kind of prohibition is reasonable.  That's not happening though.  We're describing more of a "I don't like the way you dance" subject.

[mfswallace]

The solution that I would like to see is professional guidance.

The department has a few helpful pamphlets or Internet pages which describe things like how to clean razor clams, what bait works best for certain fish, what to plant in the garden that the elk and deer won't destroy, etc.

If there is a significant decline in deer population because of baits, some kind of prohibition is reasonable.  That's not happening though.  We're describing more of a "I don't like the way you dance" subject.

 

[Brad Harshman]

Great job Idaho hunter and little Dave for bringing this thread around.   

There seems to be a couple issues that WDFW is trying to resolve but I agree with many of you a simple "No Baiting" approach is simply too broad of a stroke.  Regulations concerning unregulated feeding stations should be addressed.  And as far as in-flight in goes, guys if you don't like baiting then don't do it, but respect those who do.  It sounds like a ton of work with little advantage given to the hunter.  The added benefits of extra calories and trace minerals outweigh negatives it seems.

Thanks to everyone who helps to educate us in a positive and constructive manner.

[drk9988]

Even though I am opposed to any restriction on baiting if this is the best of the two evils then comment now!

http://wdfw.wa.gov/about/regulations/seasonsetting/