legal ?

[vandeman17]

"bait" means a substance placed, exposed, deposited, distributed, scattered, or otherwise used for the purpose of attracting black bears to an area where one or more persons hunt or intend to hunt them. RCW 77.15.245

The officer and the prosecutor would have to prove that the salt was placed there for the purpose of attracting bears to an area where someone intends to hunt them. And this is always the sticking point for successful prosecution.

If someone is putting apples out for deer and it's the opening day of archery deer season and a bear walks in can you then legally shoot the bear? Well by the law you did not place the apples in the area for bear, but rather for deer. Now if you shoot the bear and around the corner walks the WDFW Officer are you going to have some explaining to do? You betcha.

In 2012 all fish and wildlife crimes became mandatory court appearances. But even before then bear baiting was already a mandatory court appearance (one of the few F&W offenses that at that time was a mandatory), it wasn't a ticket with a fine.

What about if you weren't even the one that put the bait down and you were just near it? Thanks for chiming in btw. Was hoping you would

[bigtex]

"bait" means a substance placed, exposed, deposited, distributed, scattered, or otherwise used for the purpose of attracting black bears to an area where one or more persons hunt or intend to hunt them. RCW 77.15.245

The officer and the prosecutor would have to prove that the salt was placed there for the purpose of attracting bears to an area where someone intends to hunt them. And this is always the sticking point for successful prosecution.

If someone is putting apples out for deer and it's the opening day of archery deer season and a bear walks in can you then legally shoot the bear? Well by the law you did not place the apples in the area for bear, but rather for deer. Now if you shoot the bear and around the corner walks the WDFW Officer are you going to have some explaining to do? You betcha.

In 2012 all fish and wildlife crimes became mandatory court appearances. But even before then bear baiting was already a mandatory court appearance (one of the few F&W offenses that at that time was a mandatory), it wasn't a ticket with a fine.

What about if you weren't even the one that put the bait down and you were just near it? Thanks for chiming in btw. Was hoping you would

Good question. The law does not specify who placed the bait, simply that bait was placed for the purpose of hunting bear. Otherwise I could have my wife put out bread and molasses for me so I could bait bear.

[bobcat]

Integrity?

Huh? All you're required to do is show your hunting license. Why would you volunteer information that could be used against you, even though you did nothing wrong?

[Bob33]

Integrity?

Huh? All you're required to do is show your hunting license. Why would you volunteer information that could be used against you, even though you did nothing wrong?

Hunting over bait is wrong.

[MtnMuley]

I wouldn't hunt it but because somebody else is and not because of the bait 

That's what I'm talking about right there.

You wouldn't hunt bears close to it since someone else might be hunting elk there later? Not me. If I was elk hunting and thought they would be too I would find a new area but not if I was hunting a different species in a different season. 

What I'm saying is that if I run across another hunters bait pile regardless of the animal he's baiting, I won't hunt around it at anytime.

[bobcat]

Integrity?

Huh? All you're required to do is show your hunting license. Why would you volunteer information that could be used against you, even though you did nothing wrong?

Hunting over bait is wrong.

I wasn't talking about hunting over bait. Just hunting near someone else's bait. Could be two or three miles from the bait.

[JimmyHoffa]

Integrity?

Huh? All you're required to do is show your hunting license. Why would you volunteer information that could be used against you, even though you did nothing wrong?

Hunting over bait is wrong.

Illegal, not necessarily wrong.

[bobcat]

Oh, and I'd have to disagree with hunting over bait being "wrong."  It's just illegal.

[rtspring]

I wouldn't hunt it but because somebody else is and not because of the bait 

That's what I'm talking about right there.

You wouldn't hunt bears close to it since someone else might be hunting elk there later? Not me. If I was elk hunting and thought they would be too I would find a new area but not if I was hunting a different species in a different season. 

What I'm saying is that if I run across another hunters bait pile regardless of the animal he's baiting, I won't hunt around it at anytime.

Exactly!  Why step on someones spot. 

[Woodchuck]

Integrity?

Huh? All you're required to do is show your hunting license. Why would you volunteer information that could be used against you, even though you did nothing wrong?

Oh I understand that. I am just saying that some may have a sense of integrity that drives them to answer honestly when asked. If I know I am wrong I will tell you. That's all.

[vandeman17]

I wouldn't hunt it but because somebody else is and not because of the bait 

That's what I'm talking about right there.

You wouldn't hunt bears close to it since someone else might be hunting elk there later? Not me. If I was elk hunting and thought they would be too I would find a new area but not if I was hunting a different species in a different season. 

What I'm saying is that if I run across another hunters bait pile regardless of the animal he's baiting, I won't hunt around it at anytime.

Exactly!  Why step on someones spot.

So putting out bait and a camera means that other guys won't hunt my spot? Sweet! I am just going to put 10 cameras out so I can have a whole basin to myself!

I am exaggerating here but I think you see my point. Would I set up and sit over another guy's bait site, heck no. Would I even set up with a few hundred yards, most likely not but am I going to leave the area entirely because some guy has a camera and some salt out? Nope. 

[rtspring]

I wouldn't hunt it but because somebody else is and not because of the bait 

That's what I'm talking about right there.

You wouldn't hunt bears close to it since someone else might be hunting elk there later? Not me. If I was elk hunting and thought they would be too I would find a new area but not if I was hunting a different species in a different season. 

What I'm saying is that if I run across another hunters bait pile regardless of the animal he's baiting, I won't hunt around it at anytime.

Exactly!  Why step on someones spot.

So putting out bait and a camera means that other guys won't hunt my spot? Sweet! I am just going to put 10 cameras out so I can have a whole basin to myself!

I am exaggerating here but I think you see my point. Would I set up and sit over another guy's bait site, heck no. Would I even set up with a few hundred yards, most likely not but am I going to leave the area entirely because some guy has a camera and some salt out? Nope. 

I get what your saying. I would just wander off to another spot.  Luckily few go where I go so for me I doubt it will ever be an issue.  But we both know what SOME would do!! 

[NINEX19]

I thought about starting a new topic, but I think this fits in with this one.

So there is certain orchard in E. WA where the bears year after year are destroying trees. I have been invited to hunt there by the owner.
Would that be considered baiting or hunting over bait? I at first thought not, but I am now questioning it.
I did not plant the trees and they were not put there for attracting any wildlife, but owners report bear there on a weekly basis at least.

[vandeman17]

I wouldn't hunt it but because somebody else is and not because of the bait 

That's what I'm talking about right there.

You wouldn't hunt bears close to it since someone else might be hunting elk there later? Not me. If I was elk hunting and thought they would be too I would find a new area but not if I was hunting a different species in a different season. 

What I'm saying is that if I run across another hunters bait pile regardless of the animal he's baiting, I won't hunt around it at anytime.

Exactly!  Why step on someones spot.

So putting out bait and a camera means that other guys won't hunt my spot? Sweet! I am just going to put 10 cameras out so I can have a whole basin to myself!

I am exaggerating here but I think you see my point. Would I set up and sit over another guy's bait site, heck no. Would I even set up with a few hundred yards, most likely not but am I going to leave the area entirely because some guy has a camera and some salt out? Nope. 

I get what your saying. I would just wander off to another spot.  Luckily few go where I go so for me I doubt it will ever be an issue.  But we both know what SOME would do!!

Not trying to argue at all and I am the same way in that I don't step on toes. Its just that with the amount of cameras and bait sites these days, if you left the area of every bait site you found you could really hose yourself. I also tend to hunt away from where most people go and almost all my camera encounters are well before I get to my hunting area or on my hike out. 

[JimmyHoffa]

I thought about starting a new topic, but I think this fits in with this one.

So there is certain orchard in E. WA where the bears year after year are destroying trees. I have been invited to hunt there by the owner.
Would that be considered baiting or hunting over bait? I at first thought not, but I am now questioning it.
I did not plant the trees and they were not put there for attracting any wildlife, but owners report bear there on a weekly basis at least.

I think you're good.  You didn't plant the huckleberries in the woods, but can hunt them.