Pay attention to the last sentence. We are setting ourselves up far a fall if we don't use reason. Ton's of apples and feeders will end baiting for us.
http://ckwri.tamuk.edu/fileadmin/user_upload/PHOTOS/Deer-Research_Program/Class_files/The_Nutritional__Ecological__and_Ethical_Arguments_Against_Baiting_and_Feeding_White-tailed_Deer_Brown.pdf
An interesting article.
http://missoulian.com/lifestyles/recreation/bait-hunts-cause-host-of-problems-for-wildlife-habitat-and/article_0ba87436-2524-11e3-aa82-001a4bcf887a.html
This is a highly controversial subject. If hunters don't step up to identify ways to make baiting more palatable to the middle of the road public. The middle of the road public may vote in a direction that will further destroy our heritage.
Regarding the Missoulian article..... Does this happen... Yes... undeniable.....but it is rare... it certainly isn't like lambs at a slaughter and leading to a large increase in the number of deer/elk killed... I would say no... and they don't have the data to prove that it does... the bottom line is that these predators will be making kills one way or another so they can sustain themselves so the impact on the population is not likely to be that great.
Regarding the Wildlife article.... They can cherry pick the data with the best of them.
1. The die off from supplemental feeding is not happening in the Nov/Dec time frame and it's not from bait that people hunt over... it is literally deer dying because people are feeding them in the dead of winter thinking they are helping the deer out.
2. The study regarding the forage is bunk because it was in a fenced area... A bait pile placed in and around hunting season (the majority of them are)... does not draw and hold deer from miles around... nor do most deer hit it as a primary food source.... I have plenty of evidence and data from personal observations to prove this as fact. The deer that primarily hit the bait piles are ones that live in that area.... Now food plots (which the department want to still allow)... can draw and hold deer from miles around and for long periods of time.... Bottom line... the deer eating the surrounding forage are the ones that already live in the area and eat the forage. The largest majority of bait piles are not maintained long enough to draw and hold deer from miles around (not to mention when there are many bait piles spread out it keeps the deer spread out in their normal areas)... now if you had the only bait pile for miles around and kept it maintained year round then perhaps this argument would have more validity.
3. I will agree that salt lick lead to a little bit of environmental impact... dirt gets turned up and holes are dug... there is some vegetation die off... but the real impact is minimal... Per the Missoulian article I am sure there are some large salt licks out there... But I have covered a ton of miles in the woods and the biggest one I have ever seen was maybe 6x6...and that was just one.... and while I do see them... it's not like I am tripping over them everywhere I go....and I have walked many miles in the Colville National Forest (I hate to say it because ranchers are usually our friends but the Cattle is what seems to harm the natural habitat the most)
4. The hunter to shooter continuum is laughable at best because it's completely subjective. I will take five of the most serious baiters I know and put them up against any other hunters knowledge of deer biology and behavior. On my continuum a "shooter" is someone who kills a deer that they never knew existed (which I think is nothing to be ashamed of) the maximum "hunter" on my continum is someone who kills individual animals they are very familiar with (i.e. they have history with, they understand a lot about the biology, behaviors and patterns of this animal). Of course baiting isn't required to achieve this but I can guarantee that a higher percentage of people who bait fall into that category.
That being said.. I don't think I am right... and I don't think they are wrong on the continuum .... I think it's a matter of preference which is why hunters should stop trying to take away what other hunters enjoy.
5. Regarding the "non-hunting" public" choosing for us... Perhaps... But I can guarantee if they see any weakness in our resolve on any issue they are going to take it away... So the reality is that it's our fellow hunters who attack other hunters right who will be to blame for our losses.. Yes... those opposed to baiting, and other issues.
Below is a direct quote from Gordon Whittington, Editor-in-Chief of North American Whitetail Magazine regarding this baiting issues. I don't know anyone more knowledgeable on whitetails.... and he is good friends with "Dr. Deer"... (Dr. James Kroll) so I am sure they have had many conversations on topics like this:
"Regardless of species or location, I feel hunting regulations should mainly be based on building/maintaining a population in balance with its habitat. Within that very loose framework, set regs to allow for maximum recreational opportunity. In short, if a population is healthy, allow a wide range of management and hunting tools that don't jeopardize the species (or human safety, obviously). I've seen nothing that suggests baiting whitetails is a threat to either."
I have said this before and I will say it again:
The WDFW's "random" sampling on the baiting issue is garbage. They have already admitted they do not have scientific data to support a ban and that instead this is a "social issue"...their words.. .not mine......
Let me demonstrate the flaw in their "population" (Deer Hunters) for the phone survey they are putting so much weight on and the flaw in their logic............ Imagine this...... If they randomly polled "deer hunters" and the majority said we should ban bowhunting (because the majority of hunters in WA only hunt with a rifle) then WDFW is saying this is a social issue that should be addressed by the commission and considered for banning.... That is literally the same logic they are using to address this baiting issue.
If WDFW does decide to do a study on baiting I bet they won't focus it on the average bait habits used by the largest majority of hunters..... if they did... I guarantee the impacts will be minimal to non-existent. There is a large percentage of deer in our national forest that are dying of natural causes...despite all the baiting.... I know this for a fact.
