I hate to open this can again but.....

[lokidog]

Jeez, loki, I never thought I was an "idiot" because I cared about our herd health before I cared about filling my tag. I'm sorry.

You said it I guess.  Give me any example of how the "herd health" is being damaged by baiting!

[billythekidrock]

I think we need to ban lead bullets, screw all of you who have it too easy using them.  Real hunters only use bows for hunting, and only bows they've made themselves.  We need to ban anything other than black powder and roundballs for muzzleloaders as well.

How stupid does that sound?  All of you "hunters" in favor of this ban need to take a deep down look at yourselves.  You are IDIOTS!  Simply one more step toward banning hunting altogether, after all the wolves can manage the wildlife just fine without us.               

 

[billythekidrock]

I've seen throughout my life that once something is taken or given away it's almost impossible to get back. Incrementalism has gotten us to where we are politically and economically. Hunting over bait may not be your cup of tea but it may be the only way some people can get out into the woods and enjoy the same thing you do, that is, hunt deer. You want to give away what may be the only way a disabled kid can enjoy what you do and that is hunt deer. We need to protect the rights and privileges that we still have and not let anyone erode them. Today may be baiting deer(unfair), tomorrow may be no tree stands or ground blinds(unfair). We've seen what banning generations long practices of hound hunting bear and mt. lion has done on ungulate populations. Coyotes were controlled the same way. Instead of getting in giant pissing contests how about we try to join forces and protect what we have and maybe get back what we've lost.

This is the bigger concern.

[archery288]

People who don't bait, that's their choice.  People who don't use trail cameras, that's their choice.  It's expensive to bait, and certain trail cameras aren't cheap either.  Add in all the tree stands, ladders, harnesses, warm clothes for tree stand hunting, and things that go in to hunting over bait, it gets spendy... (I'm referencing hunting whitetails in the late season with a bow.)

That being said, I can understand why some people don't bait because maybe they can't afford it.  I can assure you, if baiting becomes illegal, the number of whitetail deer harvested in Eastern, WA during late archery will drop dramatically.  It's tough enough to take a whitetail with a bow, and anyone who's hunted them with a bow in late season knows how skittish they are.  They will spook at the smallest noise which you yourself can barely hear, and they are going 90 in no-time.  I've blown opportunities on bucks just trying to draw my bow back, and they heard something and spooked.  It's not a slam dunk by any means, so those who say it is, I feel like you haven't tried it. Or maybe you're not hunting whitetails. 

As mentioned before in this post, trail cameras do help give you an idea of what type of animals are in the area.  There is a plus side to that.  Most guys that go out in the woods would shoot the first legal buck, or smaller 2 / 3 pt buck they see.  Maybe they don't care about shooting a big buck, great, that's their choice and I support them 100% in that.  By using cameras and locating a bigger buck, you can let those smaller bucks walk if they come in, therefore allowing them to get bigger.  Almost every person who uses a trail camera has some sort of "bait" out in front of it to attract the animals. 

We each have our own methods of hunting and the type of hunting we enjoy.  Yes, we all view this topic extremely different.  However, as hunters, unfortunately we are being outnumbered by anti's as each day passes.  We need to stand together and support our rights to hunt in general, otherwise NONE of us will be hunting if we keep arguing back and forth and getting privileges taken away.  Hunt how you feel is ethical, and do what makes you happy, it's all about being in the woods and having a good time at the end of the day. 

[Seabass]

When I read the stories about the baiting that happens on the east side, I have to say I'd be in favor of banning that. But I'm not sure it's a problem here on the west side, and it's a method that allows small, private parcels to be hunted when there really is no other way. If they could somehow ban the baiting practices that are detrimental to deer or elk populations, and not ban it where it's not hurting anything, I would support that.
[/quote
You have read stories....are all stories true? Has a hunter ever embellished a story? I hate it when crap like this gets circulated. How the hell would baiting on the East Side be any different than the West Side? Is the West side the only part of the state that has small tracts of land to hunt? Come on man!!!!!

[Stickerbush]

We are arguing the wrong issue, starting with banning dogs for hunting pretty small user group so not that much controversy. With this and that judgment of what's real hunting what's fair chase its just going to keep narrowing down our  with the gun issues I feel is similar. It just comes down to culture and society who essentially have no idea of how hunting is imposing their beliefs on the hunters because is not socially acceptable.

For the record I have hunted over bait, still hard! No easy harvest, no harvest at all yet hunting over bait

[WARHORSE]

Thers no law sayin you cant rub penut butter all over yer ba!!$ and invite yer nieghbors dog over for a snack either......but i dont see many guys jumpin up and runnin to the store for a jar of jiffy.   But if the game dept said you cant you all would probably argue it to!

[huntnnw]

 

Id be willing to bet that NE WA late archery deer will lose half the licenses sold within 2 years and those hunters will migrate to modern and some to muzzy. Ive already talked to a few that will quit bowhunting if it goes thru and go back to rifle. I personally dont care, I ve had far better success with calls in the rut than bait.

Trails cams will never outright be banned EVER....maybe during hunting season like MT.

[Seabass]

Stickerbush- the point you are missing is that this one is different from the hound debate. That came to a public vote where the rest of society voiced their opinion of hunting. This banning is coming from internal pressure amongst hunters.

[vandeman17]

What I find interesting is the guys who are against baiting have never hunted over bait but say how easy it is. Then you have the guys that have baited saying that it's not.... Seems like a trend and pretty easy who's word should be believed 

[MtnMuley]

Jeez, loki, I never thought I was an "idiot" because I cared about our herd health before I cared about filling my tag. I'm sorry.

You said it I guess.  Give me any example of how the "herd health" is being damaged by baiting!

As I've stated in many of previous posts, the north central Washington mule deer herds are being slammed by baiting during open seasons post rut when the mature bucks are very susceptible of being lured in by a dump truck load of bait. If that's okay with you then fine. It's not okay by me.

[Seabass]

Thers no law sayin you cant rub penut butter all over yer ba!!$ and invite yer nieghbors dog over for a snack either......but i dont see many guys jumpin up and runnin to the store for a jar of jiffy.   But if the game dept said you cant you all would prob throw a fit!

Simply ignorant

[vandeman17]

Jeez, loki, I never thought I was an "idiot" because I cared about our herd health before I cared about filling my tag. I'm sorry.

You said it I guess.  Give me any example of how the "herd health" is being damaged by baiting!

As I've stated in many of previous posts, the north central Washington mule deer herds are being slammed by baiting during open seasons post rut when the mature bucks are very susceptible of being lured in by a dump truck load of bait. If that's okay with you then fine. It's not okay by me.

Honest question but what central wa post rut mule deer hunts are you talking about? Permit hunts?

[MtnMuley]

What I find interesting is the guys who are against baiting have never hunted over bait but say how easy it is. Then you have the guys that have baited saying that it's not.... Seems like a trend and pretty easy who's word should be believed 

You crack me up. Always having something to say, yet other than being a forum regular, have nothing zero knowledge of what's going on other than trying to be involved. Keep on posting, but try to have some knowledge when you get in a debate that's obviously over your head.

[vandeman17]

What I find interesting is the guys who are against baiting have never hunted over bait but say how easy it is. Then you have the guys that have baited saying that it's not.... Seems like a trend and pretty easy who's word should be believed 

You crack me up. Always having something to say, yet other than being a forum regular, have nothing zero knowledge of what's going on other than trying to be involved. Keep on posting, but try to have some knowledge when you get in a debate that's obviously over your head.

No knowledge huh? Go ahead and tell yourself that all mighty one. You know all and everyone else here should bow down to your feet.  what in my post even remotely makes you draw a conclusion like that?