Baiting on the chopping block

[Wacenturion]

Apples are cheap in Okanogan county, and very likely they get them for free. To take a truckload of free apples and dump them, on public or private land, is not even close to what it would take to put in a food plot. Especially with as dry as it is over there, some sort of irrigation system would be necessary. They're using the apples because it's cheap and easy. So I do think a total ban on baiting would have a big impact on the outfitters who are using this method. The limit on the amount of bait that can be used would affect the outfitters as well, but I'm not sure by how much. It seems it would be much more difficult to enforce than a total ban, but it does seem like a reasonable solution to the problem.

Why would it be much more difficult?  Apparently folks that have a problem with the excessive baiting have made it known.  Why would it be any less difficult to expose.  In fact, restrictions in excessive amounts for those guides might be just as easy as they would be watched closer.

With that being said, I'm opposed to restrictions on baiting, with the possible exception of amounts if indeed reasonable.

Why would a 10 gallon limit be more difficult to enforce than a total ban on baiting? Because, if there's any bait out there, it's an obvious violation. With the 10 gallon limit, someone who sees a pile of apples isn't necessarily going to call it in, but with a total ban on baiting it seems it would be much more likely for someone to report the violation. With the 10 gallon limit, who would really know if they're looking at 10 gallons on the ground, or 15 gallons? Someone would need to come out and determine the amount of bait on the ground. Isn't that more difficult than only having to determine if there's bait or no bait?

When I say reasonable, I mean what is obviously way too much material on the ground...i.e truck loads of apples vs. a couple piles of apples or other, such as alfalfa.  Most electronic feeders as an example hold a certain amount of feed...i.e. 55 gallon barrel or 200 lbs. of say corn.  Not an expert on what started the complaints against the guides, but truck loads of material laying on the ground, with a lot of it rotting,  in my mind would obviously be a red flag in determining what is excessive.

[Bango skank]

Imo the 10 gallon limit would be unenforceable except for gross violations. I'll use the example of a compressed alfalfa bail. It will almost fit into a 5 gallon bucket when all compressed and banded. But as soon as you cut the bands that thing gets big and can spread out over a 6-7 foot area and seem a foot deep. I doubt it would fit back into 10 gallons at that point.

It's a shame that a very small percentage of individuals can cause such a knee jerk reaction with consequences across the state.

Another good point regarding alfalfa is that even after a bail is all played out there is still a pile of stemmy crap left that is no longer food, its now just a mess.  So a guy would gave to pack that out before putting down a new bale.  What this means is that a 10gal limit would just make alfalfa unfeasible as a bait, and people would stick with things like apples and corn.  Less nutritious things.  This is not beneficial to the deer.

[Wacenturion]

Imo the 10 gallon limit would be unenforceable except for gross violations. I'll use the example of a compressed alfalfa bail. It will almost fit into a 5 gallon bucket when all compressed and banded. But as soon as you cut the bands that thing gets big and can spread out over a 6-7 foot area and seem a foot deep. I doubt it would fit back into 10 gallons at that point.

It's a shame that a very small percentage of individuals can cause such a knee jerk reaction with consequences across the state.

Could not agree more.

[BULLBLASTER]

Imo the 10 gallon limit would be unenforceable except for gross violations. I'll use the example of a compressed alfalfa bail. It will almost fit into a 5 gallon bucket when all compressed and banded. But as soon as you cut the bands that thing gets big and can spread out over a 6-7 foot area and seem a foot deep. I doubt it would fit back into 10 gallons at that point.

It's a shame that a very small percentage of individuals can cause such a knee jerk reaction with consequences across the state.

Another good point regarding alfalfa is that even after a bail is all played out there is still a pile of stemmy crap left that is no longer food, its now just a mess.  So a guy would gave to pack that out before putting down a new bale.  What this means is that a 10gal limit would just make alfalfa unfeasible as a bait, and people would stick with things like apples and corn.  Less nutritious things.  This is not beneficial to the deer.

That's a very good point also.

[pianoman9701]

Imo the 10 gallon limit would be unenforceable except for gross violations. I'll use the example of a compressed alfalfa bail. It will almost fit into a 5 gallon bucket when all compressed and banded. But as soon as you cut the bands that thing gets big and can spread out over a 6-7 foot area and seem a foot deep. I doubt it would fit back into 10 gallons at that point.

It's a shame that a very small percentage of individuals can cause such a knee jerk reaction with consequences across the state.

Could not agree more.

There are other interests at work on this, too. Anti-hunters will chip away at our privileges one piece at a time. They are involved in this.

[KFhunter]

Well to be fair they called hunters and got a lot saying to ban it, more than 50% for deer and higher for Elk.

[JimmyHoffa]

Results of low harvest percentages.  Resources get scarce and you have to fight others to get 'yours'.

[KFhunter]

Results of low harvest percentages.  Resources get scarce and you have to fight others to get 'yours'.

That, but hunters are also very happy to condemn everyone who doesn't hunt just like they do 

[BULLBLASTER]

Results of low harvest percentages.  Resources get scarce and you have to fight others to get 'yours'.

That, but hunters are also very happy to condemn everyone who doesn't hunt just like they do 

Unfortunately this is very true. And is evident on huntwa frequently

[Katmai Guy]

Next it will be trail cams being outlawed.

[Bango skank]

Next it will be trail cams being outlawed.

SHHH!   

[tjthebest]

Next it will be trail cams being outlawed.

You mean there is a way to have photographic evidence of deer activity 24/7 without the need to actually be present? that seems totally unfair and should be outlawed immediately!

 

[Dan-o]

I'd hate to see bait or trail cams outlawed.

I do both, primarily as a hobby.

I don't even bait or use trail cams in the GMU's I primarily hunt.

[singleshot12]

Maybe not such a bad thing? Hunting should stay as it has always been for thousands of years. Back to the basics of actual hunting with stick and string. Getting hunting back closer to the way it was may be a good for the natural scheme of things.

[JimmyHoffa]

Maybe not such a bad thing? Hunting should stay as it has always been for thousands of years. Back to the basics of actual hunting with stick and string. Getting hunting back closer to the way it was may be a good for the natural scheme of things.

Or further back then that when you would light the forest on fire and chase herds off cliffs.  Spears and atlatls are where it's at.