GMAC to discuss deer/elk baiting in the future.

[buck man]

As DB has so eloquently put it, baiting is always under fire. What really gets me is when I hear how easy it is to kill a deer. There is some truth to that if you just want a deer. Most people I know that bait however will often times take a doe at the end of season simply because the buck they were after stayed a little too nocturnal.

I like many other baiters spend countless hours running baits,(11 in my case) changing batteries, hanging stands all for the off chance you can get that mature buck. Weather plays a huge  role in our success of baiting. The winter of 09 was a prime example. Ample snow and bucks losing their inhibitions. Then came the gun hunters saying we killed too many mature deer. Yes we killed a few good bucks, but in my 11 years baiting that was an exceptional year.

How about the costs we incure for nothing more  than enjoyment of the hunt? My wife chokes when she sees the bill for 8 ton second cutting alfalfa, 4000# corn, 8000# bean screenings, and 5000# apples. Yes I have an addiction....it's called mature whitetails. All that money and time, this year I have 5 bucks that I would consider shooting. The pay off for me is time in a stand and watching deer and sometimes even shooting one. That my friends is my therapy that keeps me sane for the next 9 months untill I start all over again.

Morale of the story is gun, bow , or muzzy  hunters , we need to stick together and not take away the few rights we still have.

PS still got 6 days left and still have my two deer tags unfilled. If time permits I may even be able to fill my dads disability permit. It's cool sitting in a blind with your gimped up dad.. Easy? Not even close.

[ouchfoss]

This year I decided to try some baiting with apples for late season blacktails and its nowhere near as productive as I was hoping it would be. I have had deer show up but it has been nowhere near consistent at all. There was a couple days when a nice two point showed up but he only stopped by in the middle of the night. I guess my point is that although baiting does help your odds of a deer showing up in the exact area you want him to, it is still pretty tough to seal the deal. 

[csaaphill]

I don't go against baiting at first glance, but with so much about how one hunting method is bad and anyone doing is lazy or such then ya lets divvy up all the different types of hunting and do away with it. If however hunters can stop bickering back and forth at what they feel is somehow more moral than anothers then no. So go ahead and longarm photos stop and glass deer on pvt property as long as your not tresspassing, but people will still beatch about stuff so might as well fork over those rights as well.

[bobcat]

I've heard people say it's unethical to hunt out of a tree stand. So let's make that illegal as well. And while we're at it, I think ground blinds offer an unfair advantqge as well. The deer can't see you while you're in there, and if it rains you don't get wet. That's not fair to the hunters who are doing the real hunting out in the elements!

[deerslyr]

I've heard people say it's unethical to hunt out of a tree stand. So let's make that illegal as well. And while we're at it, I think ground blinds offer an unfair advantqge as well. The deer can't see you while you're in there, and if it rains you don't get wet. That's not fair to the hunters who are doing the real hunting out in the elements!

How about binoculars and spotting scopes? Wow what a huge unfair advantage when you can spot a buck in his bed several miles away when he has no idea your there!

[lokidog]

I've heard people say it's unethical to hunt out of a tree stand. So let's make that illegal as well. And while we're at it, I think ground blinds offer an unfair advantqge as well. The deer can't see you while you're in there, and if it rains you don't get wet. That's not fair to the hunters who are doing the real hunting out in the elements!

    

[bobcat]

I've heard people say it's unethical to hunt out of a tree stand. So let's make that illegal as well. And while we're at it, I think ground blinds offer an unfair advantqge as well. The deer can't see you while you're in there, and if it rains you don't get wet. That's not fair to the hunters who are doing the real hunting out in the elements!

How about binoculars and spotting scopes? Wow what a huge unfair advantage when you can spot a buck in his bed several miles away when he has no idea your there!

Yep, good point! Optics is next on the list of things to be banned.

Oh, and let's not forget GPS and rangefinders.   

[JLS]

I've heard people say it's unethical to hunt out of a tree stand. So let's make that illegal as well. And while we're at it, I think ground blinds offer an unfair advantqge as well. The deer can't see you while you're in there, and if it rains you don't get wet. That's not fair to the hunters who are doing the real hunting out in the elements!

How about binoculars and spotting scopes? Wow what a huge unfair advantage when you can spot a buck in his bed several miles away when he has no idea your there!

Yep, good point! Optics is next on the list of things to be banned.

Oh, and let's not forget GPS and rangefinders.   

Are we going to have to walk to our hunting spots too

[Bob33]

I think the most unethical things are the "Deer Crossing" signs. They should be outlawed because they let hunters know right where the deer are!

[csaaphill]

 
didn't mean to jack the thread.
So ya on topic I don't personally bait never really wanted, but I have walked wheat field edges, or other such places. I have come accross apple piles out in the woods. So what's the numbers to the authoer of this thread that want to ban it or who don't you know?
maybe write a wdfw personel or the Local senator or something to keep this legal.
point was that hunters need to stop bickering about things and unite the antis have us beat at that.
Anyone know of or hear any word on if hound hunting will be allowed again or a movement to bring it back exists? or not?

[csaaphill]

Thanks for the post, start planting your apple trees now. 

I used to think mountain lions were really cool and why would anyone want to kill one, so I decided I would not, not that they should not.  However, after trying some steaks, I would definitely shoot one now.   

It is frustrating when hunters won't support other hunters even if they do not use whatever the method is.

never ate couger I guess from your smiley on it it tastes ok? then?

[huntnnw]

most that rip baiting or say its cheating have never done it...they have a broad idea of whats it about and the deer or elk just stroll right into the baits all day long and 180" bucks are a guarantee with baits. The packing of baits,the money involved and time is staggering if your only doing 5 sites and I know some who do far more. I don't understand hunters who would vote to have a hunting right taken away from a user group..be the same as me voting to have dogs taken away for bird hunting cause I don't agree and shame on any of you who are reading this that voted to ban hounds and bear baiting u shouldn't be allowed to hunt anymore

[lokidog]

most that rip baiting or say its cheating have never done it...they have a broad idea of whats it about and the deer or elk just stroll right into the baits all day long and 180" bucks are a guarantee with baits. The packing of baits,the money involved and time is staggering if your only doing 5 sites and I know some who do far more. I don't understand hunters who would vote to have a hunting right taken away from a user group..be the same as me voting to have dogs taken away for bird hunting cause I don't agree and shame on any of you who are reading this that voted to ban hounds and bear baiting u shouldn't be allowed to hunt anymore

They've been watching too many Texas ranch whitetail hunting shows.   

[huntnnw]

   or midwest states that allow baiting where they have 5-10 times the deer population that we have. As DB stated getting a mature mountain whitetail is difficult!! if you couldnt use bait success on these giants would be very very low....hell I do baits in ferry and have 1 spot that I can count on 1 hand how many deer..not bucks.. deer I have seen on a bait in the daylight in 4 years! I dont even see a deer this year there

[DBHAWTHORNE]

That's why I try not to leave much there after dark, gets them looking earlier for it.   

Never thought of that. But I always would try to bring in enough so I'd only have to re-bait twice a week.

When I use a spin feeder they hear the motor run and they are there in 10 minutes. I used to go just force the feeder at noon and watch the stampede.

especially if it had run dry

A buddy of mine threw some apples off his deck into his yard this year and instantly a doe ran out and started eating it... he started testing it out... they distinctly recognize that sound of an apple hitting the ground and come running... he has only had does do this but it's still pretty entertaining... of course these are town deer so they are basically pets.