Baiting Restrictions

[jhawk13]

Anyone else see the restrictions they put on baiting this year? Only a matter of time till its banned all together.

I can kinda get the argument for the banning of it within 200 yards of each other, but at the same time you give an inch and then its all banned.

[jhawk13]

http://wdfw.wa.gov/news/apr1116c/

[bigtex]

There's about three different threads on this....

[jhawk13]

There's about three different threads on this....

I didn't see anything on the elk part of the forum, I apologize if it has been posted before!

[bobcat]

I wouldn't worry about it being banned altogether. This is something that had been studied for a full year before they came up with the proposals, and with an 8-1 vote, the Fish & Wildlife Commission adopted the proposal that will soon become law.

[bigtex]

I wouldn't worry about it being banned altogether. This is something that had been studied for a full year before they came up with the proposals, and with an 8-1 vote, the Fish & Wildlife Commission adopted the proposal that will soon become law.

I don't see an outright ban coming from the Commission. However, I wouldn't be shocked if sometime down the line a voter initiative is passed, or maybe even the legislature outlaws it.

The Commission enacts regulations. Initiatives and the legislature enacts laws. Laws override regulations...

[dreamunelk]

Funny how the States many say they will spend their money in have already banned!  Food for thought.

[LeviD1]

Is alfalfa considered a grain? I don't consider it to be? Grain is oats corn and such. If all it says is apples, grains and mineral, theres plenty other things I will can think of. And are they talking about 10 gallon limit in a automated feeder? If someone shoots a deer eating their 800 lb bale of alfalfa out in their field is that considered baiting because its sitting out?.............. Is it all going to be up to an officer to determine everything..... What a joke.

[Jonathan_S]

Funny how the States many say they will spend their money in have already banned!  Food for thought.

Those states offer excellent draw odds and exponentially longer seasons. When a hunter can chase deer for three months in Idaho with a regular tag and the overall hunter success rate is 50% I guess baiting would make it too easy.. Food for thought 

[bobcat]

LeviD1-

No, alfalfa is not grain, but it's bait if used to attract deer or elk for the purpose of hunting.

The 10 gallon limit applies to the amount that's actually on the ground.

And no, alfalfa in a field is not bait unless it was intentionally placed there to attract deer or elk.

I certainly wouldn't call it a joke. I'm glad they put these restrictions on baiting instead of banning it completely as the majority of the western states have done.

[Duffer]

LeviD1-

No, alfalfa is not grain, but it's bait if used to attract deer or elk for the purpose of hunting.

The 10 gallon limit applies to the amount that's actually on the ground.

And no, alfalfa in a field is not bait unless it was intentionally placed there to attract deer or elk.

I certainly wouldn't call it a joke. I'm glad they put these restrictions on baiting instead of banning it completely as the majority of the western states have done.

Agreed. Personally, I just want to understand the new rules so I can comply. I'm good with the's new rules

For instance, one of my feeders is a 30 gallon barrel with a timer/dispenser which drops about one cup of alfalfa pellets twice a day. Does the 10 gals rule apply to the dispensed feed or the barrel volume?

[huntingfool7]

It's the volume on the ground.  You can have thirty gallons of bait in a feeder as long as there is less than ten on the ground.

[Jonathan_S]

LeviD1-

No, alfalfa is not grain, but it's bait if used to attract deer or elk for the purpose of hunting.

The 10 gallon limit applies to the amount that's actually on the ground.

And no, alfalfa in a field is not bait unless it was intentionally placed there to attract deer or elk.

I certainly wouldn't call it a joke. I'm glad they put these restrictions on baiting instead of banning it completely as the majority of the western states have done.

  plenty of Eastern states as well.  Oh and for anybody curious, alfalfa is a legume 

[OutHouse]

I think you are right about that. When laws are being drawn back, that regression is usually a one way street. I see it all the time when the law changes and I have to re-advise clients. By they way, were you the guy on the cover of the game rules a few years ago? That buck and pic look mighty familiar.

[Bob33]

I haven't seen the new RCW but I suspect the definition of bait will follow the definition used for bears.

d) As used in this subsection, "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.