bear attractants

[jim113/wa]

is it legal to put bear attractants in front of  trail cameras and then stop when hunting season begins

[heronblu]

Nope,  it is considered baiting.

[Eli346]

I would think that if it's only for pictures it should be legal but the period in between when you pull the attractants and then start hunting would be the gray area that could probably get you in trouble. Maybe bigtex will chime in on this but I don't think it's using bait for hunting if the bait isn't there and hasn't been there for a few weeks to a month. Tagging this for future reference.

[oldleclercrd]

Im trying to find baits just to keep em away. Their an absolute nusince when your trying to inventory deer in your area.

[Turner89]

I dont think its illegal as long as you pull the bait, attractant 30 days before hunting season. Theres a fewguys on here that do that. I've done it in the past, but not anymore.......its to much work.

[jim113/wa]

I just was going to use a scent only no food products to get pictures on trail camera and not do it during hunting season . I see it may be illegal so I wont do it

[Soady]

Is it illegal to bait deer and have deer and bear come in front of the game camera, pull the bait 30 days before season then hunt deer and bear in the same respective area? How does one determine where the bear start and end in regards to deer or elk when baiting the latter? Or simply ignore setting up the camera and just hunt.

[oldleclercrd]

Is it illegal to bait deer and have deer and bear come in front of the game camera, pull the bait 30 days before season then hunt deer and bear in the same respective area? How does one determine where the bear start and end in regards to deer or elk when baiting the latter? Or simply ignore setting up the camera and just hunt.

I'm sure there are plenty of opinions on the issue but it all comes down to the warden in the area. When in doubt just play those kinda things safe. Not worth it. 

[KFhunter]

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=77.15.790



RCW 77.15.790

Negligently feeding, attempting to feed, or attracting large wild carnivores to land or a building — Infraction.
 

(1) A person may not negligently feed or attempt to feed large wild carnivores or negligently attract large wild carnivores to land or a building.

     (2) If a fish and wildlife officer, ex officio fish and wildlife officer, or animal control authority, as defined in RCW 16.30.010, has probable cause to believe that a person is negligently feeding, attempting to feed, or attracting large wild carnivores to land or a building by placing or locating food, food waste, or other substance in, on, or about any land or building, and the food, food waste, or other substance poses a risk to the safety of any person, livestock, or pet because it is attracting or could attract large wild carnivores to the land or building, that person commits an infraction under chapter 7.84 RCW.

     (3) Subsection (2) of this section does not apply to:

     (a) A person who is engaging in forest practices in accordance with chapter 76.09 RCW or in hunting or trapping wildlife in accordance with all other applicable provisions of this title or rules of the commission or the director;

     (b) A person who is engaging in a farming or ranching operation that is using generally accepted farming or ranching practices consistent with Titles 15 and 16 RCW;

     (c) Waste disposal facilities that are operating in accordance with applicable federal, state, and municipal laws;

     (d) Entities listed in RCW 16.30.020(1) (a) through (j) and scientific collection permit holders; or

     (e) A fish and wildlife officer or employee or agent of the department operating under the authority of or upon request from an officer conducting authorized wildlife capture activities to address a threat to human safety or a wildlife interaction as defined in RCW 77.36.010.

     (4) For persons and entities listed in subsection (3) of this section, a fish and wildlife officer, ex officio fish and wildlife officer, or animal control authority, as defined in RCW 16.30.010, may issue a written warning to the person or entity if:

     (a) The officer or animal control authority can articulate facts to support that the person or entity has placed or is responsible for placing food, food waste, or other substance in, on, or about the person's or entity's land or buildings; and

     (b) The food, food waste, or other substance poses a risk to the safety of any person, livestock, or pet because the food, food waste, or other substance is attracting or could attract large wild carnivores to the land or buildings.

     (5)(a) Any written warning issued under subsection (4) of this section requires the person or entity placing or otherwise responsible for placing the food, food waste, or other substance to contain, move, or remove that food, food waste, or other substance within two days.

     (b) If a person who is issued a written warning under (a) of this subsection fails to contain, move, or remove the food, food waste, or other substance as directed, the person commits an infraction under chapter 7.84 RCW.



[2012 c 176 § 38.]

[KFhunter]

this is the one I was after


http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=77.15.780



RCW 77.15.792

Intentionally feeding or attempting to feed large wild carnivores or intentionally attracting large wild carnivores to land or a building — Penalty.
 

(1) A person may not intentionally feed or attempt to feed large wild carnivores or intentionally attract large wild carnivores to land or a building.

     (2) A person who intentionally feeds, attempts to feed, or attracts large wild carnivores to land or a building is guilty of a misdemeanor.

     (3) A person who is issued an infraction under RCW 77.15.790 for negligently feeding, attempting to feed, or attracting large wild carnivores to land or a building, and who fails to contain, move, or remove the food, food waste, or other substance within twenty-four hours of being issued the infraction, is guilty of a misdemeanor.



[2012 c 176 § 39.]

[Machias]

There is no timeframe, i.e. 30 days after you pull the bait.  If it's 90 days later and the warden determines the use of scent or bait brought the bear back in you can and will be charged with illegal baiting.  If the bait or scent influences the bear in any way while your hunting, you are in violation.

[JohnD]

This is good information.

I have a trail camera that one bear seems obsessive about the past 6 weeks or so. He smacked it around a couple of times almost every day for a couple of weeks so I raised it a couple of feet. Now he comes and sits by it and paces around it a few times a week. Weird how a plastic box tied to a tree is so interesting to him (or her).
I wonder if that would be considered a bear attractant.

[Bob33]

There is no timeframe, i.e. 30 days after you pull the bait.  If it's 90 days later and the warden determines the use of scent or bait brought the bear back in you can and will be charged with illegal baiting.  If the bait or scent influences the bear in any way while your hunting, you are in violation.

That is correct. There is no time period as there is with waterfowl. If the bait had any influence on a bear that was being hunted, it could be considered illegal regardless on when it was placed.

[Jonathan_S]

Im trying to find baits just to keep em away. Their an absolute nusince when your trying to inventory deer in your area.

When they say bears are omnivores, they ain't lying

[Bob33]

Im trying to find baits just to keep em away. Their an absolute nusince when your trying to inventory deer in your area.

You might consider contacting some of the bear hunters on Hunt WA. They seem remarkably adept at keeping bears away.