Baiting deer

[Billy74]

I was just wondering the ins and outs of baiting deer.  My goal is to bring them in to cams this fall and wondering what good home recipes are and how often you should be putting it down.  And if this is a good way to keep deer in an area once the season starts.  I’m not up on the regs but seem to remember baiting a certain quantity was ok.  I’ll be checking that but if it’s legal just wondering what methods and what outcome/results I should be excepting.


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[Bob33]

Here's the WAC:

WAC 220-414-030
Baiting for the purposes of hunting deer or elk.
(1) For the purposes of this section: "Bait" is any substance that could serve as a lure, food, or attraction for deer or elk.
(2) Except as otherwise provided in this section, 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.
(3) 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.
(4) Exceptions: Hunting on or over the following is not considered an unlawful use of bait while hunting deer or elk:
(a) Locally common agricultural and ranching practices including salt or mineral distribution, and feeding;
(b) Food that is available from undisturbed wild, volunteer, or planted vegetation; including fruit trees, orchards, vineyards, and food plots;
(c) Scents used for cover and attractant that are not consumed by animals;
(d) Naturally occurring mineral deposits;
(e) As authorized by a department permit issued to address a management objective; or
(f) Exceptions do not include accidental or intentional spills, dumping, or storage of agricultural produce, feed, or bait.
(5) 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 Unlawful hunting of big game—Penalty, if an animal has been shot or killed.

[smithkl42]

As for "what works", I'm going to be trying to figure that out myself this next season. I understand that it can vary a great deal from place to place.

I know that last year, I tried making some "deer cain", like what you see here:

And the blacktail ignored it entirely. I hauled buckets of it around, and every time I came back to check it, it was entirely untouched.

On the other hand, I threw down an apple core, walked around for a couple hours, and when I came back it was gone. Similarly, I left a dozen apples near a trail camera, and after a nice buck found them, he came back daily for the next four days, just to see if any more had magically appeared.

So next year, I'm going to try apples.

[Lucky1]

Apples.

[Scuffy]

Apples and molasses are the best attractants I have found. Problem with molasses is bears love it too. I’ve found baiting brings in a lot of does and young bucks during daylight hours, but not necessarily mature deer. Calls have lead to the most success for mature deer for me.

[BeerBugler]

Use salt and mineral licks when deer and elk are growing antlers in order to see what’s in the area. Just buy the cheap stuff at the feed store, no need to waste money on the wild game specific stuff. Good exercise and a lot of fun runnning cameras over salt. As soon as the animals get “hard horned” the majority of them quit showing up.

[Billy74]

To me it’s all part of the learning curve still.  Whatever I can pass on to my boys or learn with them.  We’ll have fun this summer checking cams and see what works and this fall.   


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[huntnnw]

in the fall you need feed, as the desire and consumption of sodium falls off drastically come August. I start with 50lb bags of trace salt from feed store and like mentioned above stay away from the gimmick hunting attractants what the animals are coming into is the salt and thats it.  Ill start as early as april and run those till july then if you have something you wanna keep seeing around or on cam I go to feed, apples, sweet mix, corn and falfa. Ill use falfa and pumpkins come november.

[Oh Mah]

Apples and molasses are the best attractants I have found. Problem with molasses is bears love it too. I’ve found baiting brings in a lot of does and young bucks during daylight hours, but not necessarily mature deer. Calls have lead to the most success for mature deer for me.

   Only put enough for daylight hours then the mature bucks will start coming in earlier.