Baiting on the chopping block

[jackelope]

Some of this is unfortunate....

In the last three years the Department has been approached by hunters and landowners that do not approve of the practice of baiting for the purposes of hunting deer or elk. Additional input was received as part of the 3-year hunting season package, public process in 2015. The non-random input the Department received via the website during the 3-year package process indicated that 23% of hunters wanted a ban on baiting with an exception for food plots and agricultural operations. Fourteen percent (14%) of hunters wanted to disallow the use of bait by hunting guides and restrict the manner and volume of baiting by hunters not using guides. A 63% majority of the hunters commenting wanted no change to the rules pertaining to baiting deer and elk. In a random telephone survey of deer hunters conducted as part of the 2015-17 3-year package, 59% either opposed or strongly opposed baiting for deer. Deer hunters that supported or strongly supported baiting for deer made up 21% of the respondents. Eleven percent (11%) of those surveyed were neutral and 9% didn’t know. In the same random telephone survey, 68% of elk hunters either opposed or strongly opposed baiting for elk. Elk hunters that supported or strongly supported using bait to hunt elk were 14%. Eleven percent (11%) of those surveyed were neutral and 8% didn’t know. Although some potential exists, the Department has no data at this time to suggest that the practice of baiting for deer and elk hunting has a negative population or natural resource effect. The Fish and Wildlife Commission discussed this issue in March and April 2015 and decided to not make changes to the existing rule (baiting for deer and elk hunting is allowed). Since then, the Department has facilitated further discussion with a group of hunters interested in the issue. That group met several times over the past year. Through that process, and input received from the Game Management Advisory Council in 2015, it is clear that there is no consensus on this issue other than scents and natural agricultural practices should not be considered baiting. Members expressed several points of view ranging from banning all baiting for deer and elk hunting to retaining the ability to bait using any quantity. The committee discussed alternatives to the “all or none” scenario, which resulted in several options that will be presented to the Commission for discussion and possible decision. The Commission will consider options that range from banning all baiting to retaining all baiting, including two specific options that consider a volume limit on the amount of bait allowed.

[lokidog]

Jackelope, I think it is fair to point out in comments to WDFW regarding this change that survey questions, especially telephone ones, can substantially skew the results depending on how they are phrased and what other questions are asked in association with the ones they choose to cherry pick for the results they want.

In my response, I quoted this sentence "A 63% majority of the hunters commenting wanted no change to the rules pertaining to baiting deer and elk." as it is the majority that feels strongly enough about the issue to go out of their way to make comments about it.

Even if a person feels there should be a limit to the quantity, the third proposal includes a minimum distance of 200 yards between bait  sites.  I'd have a hard time placing two effective bait sites on my 5 acre property that were that far apart.

[Axle]

Commented. I hope it isn't too late.
 

[tonymiller7]

Anyone know when the decisions are supposed to be made?

[bobcat]

Anyone know when the decisions are supposed to be made?

I believe it will happen at the March 18-19 meeting in Moses Lake.

[steeleywhopper]

This is just one more law to make a honest guy an outlaw, If you don't like baiting then don't. how Hard is that? Just one more regulation we don't need. I have never heard of a bow hunter that has said lets get rid of scopes or ban long range guns. What's next you can only have 6 decoys while duck hunting, The list could go on and on.

I agree!

[Rainier10]

Yep and normally they hear one last round of public comment if you show up in the morning and sign up to give comment face to face with the commission. I have seen them change their stance if enough people show up and say status quo/no change to the current rules

[pianoman9701]

This is just one more law to make a honest guy an outlaw, If you don't like baiting then don't. how Hard is that? Just one more regulation we don't need. I have never heard of a bow hunter that has said lets get rid of scopes or ban long range guns. What's next you can only have 6 decoys while duck hunting, The list could go on and on.

I agree!

I don't. If the regulations are changed, I'll follow them whether I like it or not and I have a choice not to hunt in WA. But, there's no fine line between poaching and not. If you take an animal through illegal means, you're a poacher. Anti-hunters love it when hunters advocate poaching. It's very easy to convince the general public to restrict the activities of those they feel are operating "above the law". This isn't the 2nd Amendment. This is a privilege.

I'll continue to fight against regulation changes for baiting even though I don't bait. But I won't be an "outlaw" and purposely break the law or ignore regulations. We have no moral high ground from which to do so.

[smalldog]

I agree with you 100% !!!!!!!!!!!!!  If you don't like a law, then by all means try to get it changed legally. This is a nation of laws and you are seeing a breakdown of them. Its because we have elected officials that pick and choose the laws they want to honor.  I will go by what they come up with. If I don't like the laws then I will go somewhere else to hunt. Its that simple !

[popeshawnpaul]

Some of this is unfortunate....

In the last three years the Department has been approached by hunters and landowners that do not approve of the practice of baiting for the purposes of hunting deer or elk. Additional input was received as part of the 3-year hunting season package, public process in 2015. The non-random input the Department received via the website during the 3-year package process indicated that 23% of hunters wanted a ban on baiting with an exception for food plots and agricultural operations. Fourteen percent (14%) of hunters wanted to disallow the use of bait by hunting guides and restrict the manner and volume of baiting by hunters not using guides. A 63% majority of the hunters commenting wanted no change to the rules pertaining to baiting deer and elk. In a random telephone survey of deer hunters conducted as part of the 2015-17 3-year package, 59% either opposed or strongly opposed baiting for deer. Deer hunters that supported or strongly supported baiting for deer made up 21% of the respondents. Eleven percent (11%) of those surveyed were neutral and 9% didn’t know. In the same random telephone survey, 68% of elk hunters either opposed or strongly opposed baiting for elk. Elk hunters that supported or strongly supported using bait to hunt elk were 14%. Eleven percent (11%) of those surveyed were neutral and 8% didn’t know. Although some potential exists, the Department has no data at this time to suggest that the practice of baiting for deer and elk hunting has a negative population or natural resource effect. The Fish and Wildlife Commission discussed this issue in March and April 2015 and decided to not make changes to the existing rule (baiting for deer and elk hunting is allowed). Since then, the Department has facilitated further discussion with a group of hunters interested in the issue. That group met several times over the past year. Through that process, and input received from the Game Management Advisory Council in 2015, it is clear that there is no consensus on this issue other than scents and natural agricultural practices should not be considered baiting. Members expressed several points of view ranging from banning all baiting for deer and elk hunting to retaining the ability to bait using any quantity. The committee discussed alternatives to the “all or none” scenario, which resulted in several options that will be presented to the Commission for discussion and possible decision. The Commission will consider options that range from banning all baiting to retaining all baiting, including two specific options that consider a volume limit on the amount of bait allowed.

A lot of us question the legitimacy of a random survey by an outside agency on this for many reasons.

[jackelope]

Some of this is unfortunate....

In the last three years the Department has been approached by hunters and landowners that do not approve of the practice of baiting for the purposes of hunting deer or elk. Additional input was received as part of the 3-year hunting season package, public process in 2015. The non-random input the Department received via the website during the 3-year package process indicated that 23% of hunters wanted a ban on baiting with an exception for food plots and agricultural operations. Fourteen percent (14%) of hunters wanted to disallow the use of bait by hunting guides and restrict the manner and volume of baiting by hunters not using guides. A 63% majority of the hunters commenting wanted no change to the rules pertaining to baiting deer and elk. In a random telephone survey of deer hunters conducted as part of the 2015-17 3-year package, 59% either opposed or strongly opposed baiting for deer. Deer hunters that supported or strongly supported baiting for deer made up 21% of the respondents. Eleven percent (11%) of those surveyed were neutral and 9% didn’t know. In the same random telephone survey, 68% of elk hunters either opposed or strongly opposed baiting for elk. Elk hunters that supported or strongly supported using bait to hunt elk were 14%. Eleven percent (11%) of those surveyed were neutral and 8% didn’t know. Although some potential exists, the Department has no data at this time to suggest that the practice of baiting for deer and elk hunting has a negative population or natural resource effect. The Fish and Wildlife Commission discussed this issue in March and April 2015 and decided to not make changes to the existing rule (baiting for deer and elk hunting is allowed). Since then, the Department has facilitated further discussion with a group of hunters interested in the issue. That group met several times over the past year. Through that process, and input received from the Game Management Advisory Council in 2015, it is clear that there is no consensus on this issue other than scents and natural agricultural practices should not be considered baiting. Members expressed several points of view ranging from banning all baiting for deer and elk hunting to retaining the ability to bait using any quantity. The committee discussed alternatives to the “all or none” scenario, which resulted in several options that will be presented to the Commission for discussion and possible decision. The Commission will consider options that range from banning all baiting to retaining all baiting, including two specific options that consider a volume limit on the amount of bait allowed.

A lot of us question the legitimacy of a random survey by an outside agency on this for many reasons.

Agreed. I was more referring to the "less informed" folks who will read this and paint their own picture based on the results of a potentially bunk survey.

[pianoman9701]

I never got surveyed. Anyone here?

[jasnt]

I never got surveyed. Anyone here?

not me

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

I never got surveyed. Anyone here?

What survey?

[Jonathan_S]

I never got surveyed. Anyone here?

What survey?

I'm guessing one concerning baiting