Baiting on the chopping block

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

I never got surveyed. Anyone here?

What survey?

Nope never saw it. Just take it all away and be done with it. Then im not sure what I will do?

I'm guessing one concerning baiting 

[724wd]

In my comments to the WDFW regarding the baiting changes, I took issue with the telephone survey.  Who the heck answers a number they don't recognize?  they also don't note how many respondents they had in their "poll."  It's all bunk.   

[singleshot12]

Of coarse the surveys are bunk. If you want to keep baiting legal then your pockets need to be deeper than the ones pushing to ban it

[tonymiller7]

So we should know baiting's fait by next Monday.  Here's to hoping nothing changes.

[Rainier10]

Yes according to the agenda they will be taking comments on baiting at 2:05 pm on Friday the 18th.  Generally you can get the feel of how comments are going and they either say at the end of that section what they think or at the end of meeting for the day as I recall.  My guess is we should know by Monday from someone who attends the meeting.  I have to work this weekend so I will not be going to the meeting.

http://wdfw.wa.gov/commission/meetings/2016/03/agenda_mar1816.html

[BULLBLASTER]

I've gone to the meetings to comment on the proposed baiting changes the last couple years, but am not sure I can get time off for this one. Also it seems like a waste of time anymore. If it's just going to keep showing up each year... 

[et1702]

Of coarse the surveys are bunk. If you want to keep baiting legal then your pockets need to be deeper than the ones pushing to ban it

This is my biggest question regarding the issue....who's backing it or requesting it and why did it come up again this year, especially after they had overwhelming response last year to leave it alone!  Last year they said it was large land owners that were backing it, but the proposed language last year exempted large land owners from the limitations proposed?  This year, they say it's an unresolved issue due to the conflicting surveys.  Well the random phone survey is useless and appears to be biased (i.e., not enough respondents, or respondents from the various hunter user groups).  I didn't get a call?  Again, Hunters who responded to the issue last year and showed up at last years WDFW meeting said "leave it alone" loud and clear!  So, again, I am at a loss as to why it's back again this year.

ET

[bobcat]

It's back this year because that was the decision that was made last year- to put it off one more year. I was at the meeting last year, which was in Tumwater, and I heard it all.

They simply weren't ready yet to make a decision. The commissioners, if I remember correctly, were about evenly split on whether any restrictions were necessary.

You have to remember, this isn't something the WDFW is pushing, it's hunters that asked for a ban on baiting deer and elk, and it's mostly due to the baiting that happens in Okanogan county.

[et1702]

Thanks, I didn't recall that they tabled it.  But, I still say LEAVE IT ALONE!  We don't need more useless regulations. 

I also don't buy that it was "hunters" asking for the ban.  If so, that's ridiculous and we need more education within our own ranks.

ET

[Lucky1]

I've gone to the meetings to comment on the proposed baiting changes the last couple years, but am not sure I can get time off for this one. Also it seems like a waste of time anymore. If it's just going to keep showing up each year... 

I think you are correct. Many in the WDFW leadership want baiting to be illegal and will keep working to ban it. They will keep it up until they wear out the people who want to keep baiting as a hunting and game management tool.

[cboom]

Has there been any talk of limiting bait to private property?

[Lucky1]

Has there been any talk of limiting bait to private property?

Yes. One of the proposals is to ban it completely. The other proposals limit the amount of bait allowed anywhere.
If you are against banning baiting, go to the WDFW website and comment on the baiting proposals.
I think the ultimate goal of the WDFW is to ban baiting all together.

[bobcat]

Has there been any talk of limiting bait to private property?

There are three options in the proposals, and none of them say anything about only allowing baiting on private property.

[JDHasty]

There are locations where individuals have placed way more than 10 gallons of salt over many years/decades and created salt licks that deer and elk visit regularly.  So can these locations not be hunted in perpetuity?   

[Bango skank]

There are locations where individuals have placed way more than 10 gallons of salt over many years/decades and created salt licks that deer and elk visit regularly.  So can these locations not be hunted in perpetuity?

One more reason why i feel that salt / minerals need to be clearly left out of the definition of bait.  I mean really, mineral sites have nowhere near the draw in the fall that a pile of alfslfa apples and corn has.  If somebody was hunting over a salt lick in november id say they are wasting their time.