Baiting

[bigtex]

Can you legally bait for coyotes?

You can bait for everything except bears and birds.

[fishnfur]

Overall that's not an bad view on the situation. But in reality, baiting has always been legal here and only a fraction of hunters choose to implement it.

When was the rules on baiting changed?  Genuinely curious as, since I've been on the scene, baiting has been illegal or rather defined as such by WDFW:

You cannot use bait to hunt black bear in Washington State.

In accordance with WAC 220-414-030, it is unlawful to hunt for deer and elk using any type of bait placed, exposed, deposited, distributed, scattered, or otherwise used for the purpose of attracting deer or elk with the intent to hunt them, if the volume of bait accessible to wildlife exceeds 10 gallons. Bait sites of an individual license holder cannot be placed within 200 yards from another known bait site or another bait site of the same license holder.

There are some exceptions to this rule. They include:

- Hunting on or over locally common agricultural and ranching practices, including salt or mineral distribution and feeding.

- Hunting on or over food that is available from undisturbed wild, volunteer, or planted vegetation, including fruit trees, orchards, vineyards, and food plots.

- Hunting on or over scents used for cover and attractant that are not consumed by animals.

- Hunting on or over naturally occurring mineral deposits.

- Using bait as authorized by a department permit issued to address a management objective.

The exceptions do not include accidental or intentional spills, dumping, or storage of agricultural produce, feed, or bait.

A violation of this section is punishable as an infraction under RCW 77.15.160 if no animal has been shot or killed and RCW 77.15.410 if an animal has been shot or killed.

For more information on baiting for the purposes of hunting deer or elk, see the most current Big Game hunting pamphlet, located on the WDFW website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regulations/.

Per Washington Administrative Code 220-414-090, it is illegal to hunt waterfowl, wild turkeys, or deer with the use or aid of electronic calls and battery powered or other electronic devices as decoys. This information can be found in the most recent Migratory Waterfowl and Upland Game pamphlet, located on the WDFW website at http://wdfw.wa.gov/hunting/regulations/.

This is taken from the help section of the WDFW website.

Like has been said, bears are off-limits, but deer & elk can be, from page 88 of the hunting regs on baiting deer & elk:

The change to the current rules occurred about three years ago if I remember correctly, just after the survey on how hunters felt about baiting.  I can't remember the possible options for an answer on the survey but it seems like it was something like "I neither agree nor disagree with baiting" as a third choice (after agree or disagree).  Prior to that, I believe you could use as much bait as you wanted for deer and elk.

IMHO, it seems a bit silly to ask people to lie about their opinions on a poll.  I think the result of this poll turned out to be a pretty reasonable solution.  That doesn't happen often at WDFW! 

[71Shovelhead]

Just some food for thought

Martin Niemöller

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

[huntnfmly]

Just some food for thought

Martin Niemöller

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

Every time someone posts this on threads about hunters against hunters I can't help but think just how right on point this is.
We are our worst enemy

[yakimanoob]

Agreed. What really divides hunters is the fallacy that hunters must all be of one mind on every subject, and if you don't agree with ME then you are an anti-hunter.

THIS. 

If you think it's stabbing you in the back to think your preferred way of hunting is detrimental to society, conservation, etc., then you need to get over yourself.  There are plenty of people in this world who think it's government overreach to have seasons and limits in the first place.  The fact that I think they shouldn't be able to go kill an elk at the Oak Creek feeding station in January doesn't mean I'm stabbing them in the back.  That's nuts. 

I don't have an informed opinion about baiting in the current context, but the fact that there's disagreement on whether it should be legal in no way implies we're stabbing each other in the back. 

[CougHunter]

While I agree that the regulations in this state are extreme a lot of the time, I feel like current concerns over CWD should trump the right for hunters to bait. I'd like to see CWD get in check before we revisit the idea of baiting.

[bobcat]

No CWD in Washington.

[bearpaw]

I'll stand by this:
"Americans are systematically advocating, legislating, and voting away each others rights. Support all user groups & quit losing opportunity!"

To expand on that:
Every time a hunter advocates for taking something away from another group of hunters your turn to lose some of your hunting methods is just a little closer to being the next to be banned.

Sadly, there are people who want to ban everything we do in the outdoors and they are winning by taking away one little thing at a time, we must support each other or we will continue to lose!

[jackelope]

Amen

[boneaddict]

I disagree with baiting, but do not lobby against it.  As with this thread if asked my opinion, I’d share it, so if it was on a survey from the Wdfw, I’d probably be part of the 59%.    Interesting enough I feel there’s a much better purpose for baiting bear than there is for deer and elk, but look which one we lost.

[71Shovelhead]

Abraham Lincolns Quote "America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves"
can be said for hunters and hunting.

HSUS and PETAs idea of divide and conquer from within is working. We hurt ourselves much worse than they do.

We did it to ourselves with bear baiting and hound hunting. The antis brought the issue to public light then set back and watched us tear ourselves apart.

[b0bbyg]

HSUS and PETAs idea of divide and conquer from within is working.

Sounds like some hunting activists should look to join up with PETA      Might be interesting.

[Mallardmasher]

hunting is hunting, like said before, how is a 500-900 yard shot, baiting, or hiding up in a tree, scent locked, anything other then ones choice of How they peruse game.
I would never begrudge any fellow Hunter on any legal activity he employ's. We need to stand united, in all aspects

[steeleywhopper]

The Anti's and Peta love seeing us destroy ourselves from the inside out. I don't care how you hunt as long as its legal and I would expect the same from you.

[Mallardmasher]

On survey's, or anything tha non hunting public can get their hands on. We need solidarity. Any hunting aspect showing less then 100% shows a crack in the armor, a place to pick us apart. And they will try to defeat us one by one. Stand united