Bait/scent?

[blacktailcody]

Hey guys I was just wondering is there a difference between scent and bait. I am aware that bait isn't allowed but is scent.

[billythekidrock]

Bait = Not legal.
Scent = Not legal.

[saylean]

 

[skagitsteel]

pack smoked salmon and honey for lunch

[lokidog]

pack smoked salmon and honey for lunch

But don't spill any while eating.....   

[xXLojackXx]

The law states anything used to attract bears to a certain  area is considered bait. Scent, food, etc.

But, if you stumble upon a kill site you can hunt the gut pile as long as you DO NOT move it or reposition it in your favor.

[blacktailcody]

Thanks guys.

[returnofsid]

Here's one of those Legal Vs. Ethical questions...maybe...

Since it's legal to bait deer, say with apples or a molasses/grain block, and since deer season coincides with bear season, what if a bear happens upon your deer bait, while you're deer hunting, but you also happen to be in possession of a bear tag?

[blacktailcody]

  I was wondering the same thing.

[billythekidrock]

Here's one of those Legal Vs. Ethical questions...maybe...

Since it's legal to bait deer, say with apples or a molasses/grain block, and since deer season coincides with bear season, what if a bear happens upon your deer bait, while you're deer hunting, but you also happen to be in possession of a bear tag?

Not legal to shoot the bear.
Bears can become habituated very easily and can become a big problem when presented with easy meals.

[Machias]

Absolutely illegal to shoot the bear.

[Kola16]

Here's one of those Legal Vs. Ethical questions...maybe...

Since it's legal to bait deer, say with apples or a molasses/grain block, and since deer season coincides with bear season, what if a bear happens upon your deer bait, while you're deer hunting, but you also happen to be in possession of a bear tag?

I tried to bait deer with apples last year............that didn't work well Darn bears!

[Bob33]

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=77.15.245

"..it is unlawful to take, hunt, or attract black bear with the aid of bait."

[Annette]

Unless it's on your person...LOL ( Like my Anise oil perfume?)   Never done it, but........it's legal

[returnofsid]

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=77.15.245

"..it is unlawful to take, hunt, or attract black bear with the aid of bait."

I guess it kind of depends on how the law is interpreted...

(d) As used in this subsection, "bait" means a substance placed, exposed, deposited, distributed, scattered, or otherwise used for the purpose of attracting black bears to an area where one or more persons hunt or intend to hunt them.

The bait was placed, exposed, deposited, distributed, scattered or otherwise used for the purpose of attracting deer...by coincidence, a deer hunter also happened to be carrying a bear tag...

I don't think it would be worth the risk of being prosecuted but I sure wish the law wasn't as vague as it is.

[h20hunter]

The law is not vague. We asked the reps from Fish and Game at our spring bear meeting and they were very clear.

Anything that is scent or attractant is bait. You can't use a vanilla cover scent then shoot a bear. You can't bait deer with anythign and shoot a bear. You can't touch off a Buck Bomb and shoot a bear if it walks in. There is no gray area. If you have used any product for cover or attractant while hunting deer and shoot a bear instead they will consider it baiting.

I'f I'm hunting deer and have any scent, cover scent, bait, salt...anything.....I'm leaving the bear tag in the truck.

[Elkrunner]

It's not worth it people..when in doubt, don't do it.

I was using some COB last year because a friend said the deer like it.  All I got on my cams were pics of bears.  I ended up removing all of that food and hunting elseware, just in case.

Don't need Johnny law at my doorstep.

[_TONY_]

Funny, when i was at Sportmans in Fedway the other day, they had a whole rack of bottled bear bait... 

I guess it's still legal to sell, but you'd think that these guys would know better...

[xXLojackXx]

I talked to a fellow in the woods a few years back that had Gatorade in his water bladder. He took a nap under a tree and didnt realize he left the mouth piece open and was leaking out on the ground. He woke up a while later face to face with a bear sniffing him. Oh 

[billythekidrock]

Funny, when i was at Sportmans in Fedway the other day, they had a whole rack of bottled bear bait... 

I guess it's still legal to sell, but you'd think that these guys would know better...

They know better, but it sells.

[bobcat]

It's legal to use, just not for hunting. I suppose someone might want to use it for trail camera photos. Just don't use it during hunting season.

[kglacken]

It's legal to use, just not for hunting. I suppose someone might want to use it for trail camera photos. Just don't use it during hunting season.

Thats what I was wondering. Lets say you are baiting deer and you get trail cam pictures of a bear eating the apples or COB that you left out. If you remove the bait before the season starts is it legal to kill the bear in the same place the bait WAS at? I dont think i would ever attempt that but I am curious what the law states about that?

[bobcat]

There's nothing written in the law that specifies exactly what is considered baiting. It would be up to the discretion of the game warden.

[Machias]

It's legal to use, just not for hunting. I suppose someone might want to use it for trail camera photos. Just don't use it during hunting season.

Thats what I was wondering. Lets say you are baiting deer and you get trail cam pictures of a bear eating the apples or COB that you left out. If you remove the bait before the season starts is it legal to kill the bear in the same place the bait WAS at? I dont think i would ever attempt that but I am curious what the law states about that?

Had this exact situations a couple of years ago.  Good friend at work was baiting deer, had some monster whitetails showing up.  Day 6 a sow with two cubs shows up, Day 9 HUGE cinnamon boar shows up, I'm taking genuine 375 to 400 pounds.  My friend pulled the bait and decided to deer hunt somewhere else.  I called and spoke with the Warden for that area.  He said if the area is under surveillance, and the bear is still coming in or influenced by the bait you could and probably would be charged.  There is no time after the bait is removed when it becomes legal to hunt that spot.  It's too risky being charged.  I ended up not hunting the area at all.

[67 Halfcab]

I talked to a fellow in the woods a few years back that had Gatorade in his water bladder. He took a nap under a tree and didnt realize he left the mouth piece open and was leaking out on the ground. He woke up a while later face to face with a bear sniffing him. Oh 

.........but Brawndo has what bears crave.  It has electrolytes. 

[stevemiller]

Funny, when i was at Sportmans in Fedway the other day, they had a whole rack of bottled bear bait... 

I guess it's still legal to sell, but you'd think that these guys would know better...

They know better, but it sells.

They sell it because its legal to use for game cams

[lokidog]

Funny, when i was at Sportmans in Fedway the other day, they had a whole rack of bottled bear bait... 

I guess it's still legal to sell, but you'd think that these guys would know better...

They know better, but it sells.

They sell it because its legal to use for game cams

It is also legal in more enlightened states....

[stevemiller]

 

[DrakeKill]

Is there any more of a concrete definition of "area" given? or an indication of what could be considered a reasonable distance from a baited or previously baited site?

say for example: hill side switch back trail with usable entry points at either end. Deer hunter enters end A, goes back 1.5 miles and puts down apples to attract deer. Bear hunter enters the same trail on end B and goes back 1.5 miles, they are less than 1 mile apart; is the bear hunter now subject to prosecution?

[h20hunter]

Nope....there isn't. In you scenario you could encounter a game warden anywhere along the way. With a gun and tag it would be up to his or her discrection to cite you.