OPPOSE ANY RESTRICTION ON BAITING - EMAIL TO WDFW

[Wazukie]

Yup, I support the use of dogs!


























To hunt cats!

[Steve Jo]

LIKE!   

[Jonathan_S]

you support a restriction on a legal method of hunting, then good on you for recognizing yourself as an anti hunter
I'm not here to mince words.  To be clear. You are hurting hunting, now go away, this is a save-able issue and I am trying to wake up the sleeping masses.

That this issue has devolved, internally from a few self righteous, arrogant individuals who call themselves hunters is repulsive to me.

I dig the energy bro.  However, I think you might want to channel a more positive energy if you're trying to enlist help.

I sent a - much shorter and amicable but equally heartfelt - email to the director last week.  Despite the temptation to rant, you have to keep it relatable just like in face-to-face dealings if you want to convince anyone.

If you call people anti-hunters when they are FAR from it, you are just alienating yourself further.  Just so you know, I share the same view on baiting with you.  It's not my thing but I don't want to limit anyone further.

[billythekidrock]

It's your forum to moderate Bob, and I appreciate your time here, but if someone joined this forum and civilly posted about being a vegan and how we are all a bunch of animal murderers, would you allow their membership?  Not a personal question, I'm just curious what Hunting-Washington's position is on anti hunting comments?

This is a privately owned site, so for an official position you will need to contact Dale/Bearpaw. With hunting seasons in full swing it might be best to contact him by pm.

As one of the earlier members, and a long time mod/admin, I can say that we have always allowed anti-hunters and non-hunters to become members. As long as they are respectful and keep debates civil we have no problem with them being members. Most can't control themselves and go off the deep end so we have to remove them, no different than any other member. Others just fade away. To be honest, the worst cases of drama we deal with are from hunters.

In my opinion, anti-hunting comments are appreciated as it keeps us reminded of who, what and why we need to be united as hunters.

[Jonathan_S]

Well, I recon baiting is legal this year, but then again, I remember when we had a game management department.  Just so ya know Jo, I am neither for nor against baiting.

With all due respect Sir, and for you it is quite a bit...to take no stance is to side with the aggressor.  In this case it is the WDFW attempting to remove baiting from the list of options.

[police women of America]

I agree. Baiting should be totally legal. How dare people try to take away my right to hunt the old fashioned way. Soon they will try to make us stop using any sort of call or anything that can attract them.

[jackelope]

Wow. Nifty thread. Tag!!

[Wazukie]

Well, I recon baiting is legal this year, but then again, I remember when we had a game management department.  Just so ya know Jo, I am neither for nor against baiting.

With all due respect Sir, and for you it is quite a bit...to take no stance is to side with the aggressor.  In this case it is the WDFW attempting to remove baiting from the list of options.

Now don't miss-understand me.  I am all for rights, and if I had a vote on the issue, I would vote to leave the rule as it is.  But, I do not have a vote on this issue, but I do have an opinion on the issue.

I still take the same stance, I am neither for nor against baiting for deer and elk.  If it is your thing, do it, if it is not your thing, don't do it and as it stands right now, it is your choice to do so of you so chose. 

[oldleclercrd]

I sent my email in, in support of baiting. Both to secure our current laws as a WHOLE in the hunting community,  and to do just that, support to keep it legal. I ask that if you are also in support of this to voice your opinion,  or forever hold your peace. I also respect the people who are undecided in this or who are against it. However, the rally for those in favor of it is now. Thanks for your time if you do email it in. ( I think the deadline for public comment is Nov. 17) Again their email is : sepadesk2@dfw.wa.gov

[DBHAWTHORNE]

There is no doubt.. hunters who vote in favor of banning baiting (or any hunter right) are taking an anti-hunter position. They are sleeping with the enemy. It would be the same as if all the rifle hunters supported the anti-hunting position of getting rid of bowhunting because they believe  too many deer are wounded in that manner.

The bottom line. This isn't about baiting. This is about hunter rights. I get that some of you might not like this particular method because it doesn't fulfill your ideas on the aesthetics of the hunt but for some people it does. Imagine your favorite method of hunting being restricted. Would you be upset? How upset would you be if a majority that didn't use your method of hunting jumped on board and supported the anti-hunting position? Make no mistake about it... this is an apples and apples comparison.

For those of you riding the fence...wishing to remain neutral on the baiting issue... I understand... but I do ask that you don't remain neutral on upholding a fellow hunters rights... that lethargy and laissez-faire neutrality will one day lead to you losing the things you cherish....and if not in your time certainly in your children's time.

As far as baiting goes...it provides a unique and rewarding experience for many.... I ask that you don't take that away from your fellow hunter and instead speak out immediately against this attack on our liberty.

[billythekidrock]

There is no doubt.. hunters who vote in favor of banning baiting (or any hunter right) are taking an anti-hunter position. They are sleeping with the enemy. It would be the same as if all the rifle hunters supported the anti-hunting position of getting rid of bowhunting because they believe  too many deer are wounded in that manner.

The bottom line. This isn't about baiting. This is about hunter rights. I get that some of you might not like this particular method because it doesn't fulfill your ideas on the aesthetics of the hunt but for some people it does. Imagine your favorite method of hunting being restricted. Would you be upset? How upset would you be if a majority that didn't use your method of hunting jumped on board and supported the anti-hunting position? Make no mistake about it... this is an apples and apples comparison.

For those of you riding the fence...wishing to remain neutral on the baiting issue... I understand... but I do ask that you don't remain neutral on upholding a fellow hunters rights... that lethargy and laissez-faire neutrality will one day lead to you losing the things you cherish....and if not in your time certainly in your children's time.

As far as baiting goes it provides a unique and rewarding experience for many.... I ask that you don't take that away from your fellow hunter and instead speak out immediately against this attack on our liberty.

I completely agree. We need to be supportive and open minded to how others enjoy the outdoors.

Think about this way,  I am not a duck hunter but if they were going to outlaw manufactured duck calls I would stand by your side and help you keep calls legal.

I am not into the 500-1,000 yard "hunters" and I think it is even less sporting than baiting, but I would not support a ban on long range "hunting".

[billythekidrock]

This spring I put out a cam and apples in a small cut on public land. For 6 months I got pictures of 5 blacktail bucks several nights a week. Not once did I get pics in the day. I set up a blind, and later a tree stand for archery, but only does came in during the day. Several times I passed on the does in the hopes of a buck coming in. Just before rifle season I moved the blind farther back for my wife.

This was the first year that my wife took her rifle and drove to the woods by herself and walked to the blind overlooking a clear cut. Never in 20+ years has she done that. She sat 21 times and for a total of 70+ hours this rifle season, mostly after work. Every couple of nights the does would come in and she would be excited to watch them but also hope that a buck would join them. It kept her engaged and enthusiastic about coming home from work and immediately heading to the blind. Finally on the 28th a small 2x3 came out during shooting hours and she was able to take him, but he never came to the apples that day. Even though he knew they were there, he actually walked past them while he was 30 beyond them.

The point is, my wife was able to have a focal point to help keep her from getting bored while sitting in the woods. Checking the camera every other day was exciting for her and kept her interested in hunting the area despite the brush pickers, illegal quad riders and nearly 2 dozen other hunters that were regularly hunting the area (including sitting right in front of her blind). But she was able to get out and hunt.

We also set up a blind, cam and apples in a cut for my brothers girlfriend. She just passed hunters education this year and had never been hunting or done much shooting before. One morning she had a spike and small two point eating during shooting hours, but with a little fog, bad eyes and a small fir tree in the way, she passed on the shot at 30 yards. It is never a slam dunk. She also put in a few hours a night for several nights a week and several hours in the mornings on the weekends. After two weeks she was able to harvest her very first deer.

Baiting did not pull the bucks out during daylight hours.
Baiting for my camera and for hunting gave me enough hope and information on the local deer to pass on legal deer and my tag went unnotched. If we could not bait I would have shot the first adult deer (most likely a doe) that I had a shot at).
Baiting kept my wife interested in hunting at a time when we are considering not hunting any more.
Baiting helped hook a new hunter who will be supporting hunting rights and purchasing a license and tag next year.

[DBHAWTHORNE]

BTKR,

Great story and exactly why we need to protect our rights.

[billythekidrock]

BTKR,

Great story and exactly why we need to protect our rights.

Not to mention the retention of older or disabled hunters.

[Bob33]

I hope you communicate that story to the Commission. That is the type of information they need to hear.