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

[PolarBear]

The disabled, elderly and youth hunters are such a tiny, minuscule portion of those who are baiting.  We are going to wind up like Maine and have to get special permits for certain user groups to use bait.  I can see them changing it to bait only for the disabled but probably not for those over 65 or youth.

[Bob33]

The disabled, elderly and youth hunters are such a tiny, minuscule portion of those who are baiting.  We are going to wind up like Maine and have to get special permits for certain user groups to use bait.  I can see them changing it to bait only for the disabled but probably not for those over 65 or youth.

They could adopt a program where only qualified individuals can bait. Perhaps only those who are masters at it.

[vandeman17]

The disabled, elderly and youth hunters are such a tiny, minuscule portion of those who are baiting.  We are going to wind up like Maine and have to get special permits for certain user groups to use bait.  I can see them changing it to bait only for the disabled but probably not for those over 65 or youth.

Do you think this is an ethics issue or a herd health issue?

[h20hunter]

The disabled, elderly and youth hunters are such a tiny, minuscule portion of those who are baiting.  We are going to wind up like Maine and have to get special permits for certain user groups to use bait.  I can see them changing it to bait only for the disabled but probably not for those over 65 or youth.

They could adopt a program where only qualified individuals can bait. Perhaps only those who are masters at it.

I've got a tshirt that proclaims my prowess.....however, it is fishing related. I'll need a second tshirt for hunting. Off to Walmart I go.

[jackelope]

Is using scents ,non scents, also considered baiting?

It is for bears in Washington.

Yes, it is "non scents".

That makes no sense.

[Bob33]

Is using scents ,non scents, also considered baiting?

It is for bears in Washington.

Yes, it is "non scents".

That makes no sense.

Nonsense.

[h20hunter]

Non scented scent items are not non scents at all.

[Derailed]

Personally I grew up thinking that baiting was bad, but hunting deer in South Dakota I never had a problem being able to fill a tag.  I see hunting shows when they are hunting over bait, and think that its not hunting. However I have been Hunting black tails for three years (I know it’s a long time) and I have yet to fill a tag. Maybe I am doing something wrong while hunting. I have taken apples and corn out to sit over but I did not see anything while I was watching the bait, again maybe I am doing it wrong.  To get to my point and one others have made, it is a method of hunting like it or not. I do not want it to be banned. Any common sense regulation is one step closer to a complete ban. I cannot and will not support any things that adds limitations to what we can do.

Show me some unbiased scientific evidence that it is harmful to the health of the herd and I might be persuaded to change my mind

[PolarBear]

The disabled, elderly and youth hunters are such a tiny, minuscule portion of those who are baiting.  We are going to wind up like Maine and have to get special permits for certain user groups to use bait.  I can see them changing it to bait only for the disabled but probably not for those over 65 or youth.

Do you think this is an ethics issue or a herd health issue?

I personally think that it is all of the above.  I have talked to several wildlife biologists who are also hunters about the whole baiting debate.  From their stand point, it is a heard health and environmental issue.  They stated that their concerns are the introduction of feed and chemicals/additives that the animals are not accustomed to, the introduction of invasive and noxious weeds that can be transferred through hay, the redirecting/concentrating of wildlife during certain times of the year, the creation of dependance on supplemental feeding and the ending of that feeding usually during the most critical time of the year, elevated harvest levels and so on.  There are also a lot of hunters, like myself, who HATE the practice of baiting, however I would never vote or rally against it simply because I disagree.  Some folks have too much intolerance in them and want to ban every single thing that they find distasteful wether it winds up biting them in the but or not.  Our state is becoming more and more liberally biased by the second which leads to more and stricter restrictions on outdoor activities such as hunting and shooting.  Many of the folks on the far left loathe guns and hunting and will do anything to eliminate it.  This baiting thing could possibly be another way for them to take one more chunk out of us.

[bobcat]

This will be even worse if the ban on baiting deer/elk is the same as the ban on baiting bear. No more doe in heat scent, etc.

[vandeman17]

Think this might be the final straw for me, I might be done with hunting washington state after this season. My money will now go to Alaska and Idaho.

Right there with ya. Already started building points in Montana, Oregon and Wyoming. I will only bird hunt here and all big game will be elsewhere.

[PolarBear]

The sky is falling, the sky is falling!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[CoryTDF]

We only get one tag. As long as you dont shoot more than one animal what is the problem. Or should we just make it like Oregon and control the amount of people who "Get" to hunt.

[PolarBear]

We are headed in that direction as well. My buddy in Prineville cant hunt his own land. He draws a tag once every 2-3 years

[Stalker]

The disabled, elderly and youth hunters are such a tiny, minuscule portion of those who are baiting.  We are going to wind up like Maine and have to get special permits for certain user groups to use bait.  I can see them changing it to bait only for the disabled but probably not for those over 65 or youth.

Do you think this is an ethics issue or a herd health issue?

I personally think that it is all of the above.  I have talked to several wildlife biologists who are also hunters about the whole baiting debate.  From their stand point, it is a heard health and environmental issue.  They stated that their concerns are the introduction of feed and chemicals/additives that the animals are not accustomed to, the introduction of invasive and noxious weeds that can be transferred through hay, the redirecting/concentrating of wildlife during certain times of the year, the creation of dependance on supplemental feeding and the ending of that feeding usually during the most critical time of the year, elevated harvest levels and so on.  There are also a lot of hunters, like myself, who HATE the practice of baiting, however I would never vote or rally against it simply because I disagree.  Some folks have too much intolerance in them and want to ban every single thing that they find distasteful wether it winds up biting them in the but or not.  Our state is becoming more and more liberally biased by the second which leads to more and stricter restrictions on outdoor activities such as hunting and shooting.  Many of the folks on the far left loathe guns and hunting and will do anything to eliminate it.  This baiting thing could possibly be another way for them to take one more chunk out of us.

PB, I would submit that the points made above are not founded concerns but more pre-scripted points that will be used to sell the decision to the hunting community.  I say this because I believe that if these were true concerns the DFW would have had ample time to conduct the necessary field studies to be able to present empirical data to justify such a ban; after all baiting is not a method employed recently.  I believe that if the data to support such a ban were presented most of the community would support such motion.

Not that I don't trust DFW to be forthcoming to the community..........  Oh who am I trying to kid, I have zero faith in DFW to do what is in the best interest of game animals and those of us who pay their bills.  Just MO....