What’s legal and what’s common practice?

[Meattoeat]

Here’s a picture of the set up I walked up on. To respect the person I didn’t go look inside the feeder or do any investigation cause if it’s legal than I don’t want to screw something up, but if it is legal than I might be interested in setting out something I’d my own.

Also, when setting up cameras for a while and then coming across someone else’s set up is it common to write your number down and leave it for them so you can link up? Plan to walk in same times or hunt off days to avoid screwing each other over? Just so new to the world of cameras and the unwritten ethics and what not.

[Meattoeat]

I’ll try again in a few, it’s not letting me upload photos

But it’s just a feeding trough mounted on a tree.
What’s legal to fill it with? I guess that’s where I’m at a point of confusion

[huntnfmly]

Pic did not post
If you set bait up for your camera it needs to be-200 yrds away from another bait site per law As for leaving a note I’ve never ran into that situation and no more than 10 gallons available to animals at 1 time

[Katmai Guy]

Up to 10 gal of feed, is the way I understand the law/rule.  As long as they dont screw or nail to the tree, they should be good to go.

[pianoman9701]

10 Gallons?
"Date
Apr 11, 2016
Contact
Commission Office (360) 902-2267
OLYMPIA - The Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission adopted restrictions on the use of bait to hunt deer and elk, but made few significant changes in state hunting seasons at a public meeting April 8-9 in Olympia.

The commission, a citizen panel appointed by the governor to set policy for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW), agreed to set a 10-gallon limit on the amount of bait hunters can make available to attract deer and elk at any one time.

The new rule, approved by a vote of 7-1, also prohibits establishing bait piles - usually apples, grain, or minerals - closer than 200 yards apart. Scents and attractants used by hunters are exempt from the new baiting restrictions.

Commission Chair Brad Smith said public meetings and opinion polls conducted by WDFW over the past year showed a diversity of opinions among hunters on the issue of baiting.

"This measure is not designed to prohibit the use of bait when hunting deer and elk, but rather to curb its excesses," Smith said. "Many believe baiting is a legitimate strategy in certain types of hunting situations, including those for youths, seniors, and disabled hunters."

The new baiting rule was approved along with a series of minor changes to hunting seasons initially established for deer, elk, bear, cougar and other game species last year as part of a three-year plan."

[pianoman9701]

It doesn't say anything about using a trough.

[7mmfan]

I’ll try again in a few, it’s not letting me upload photos

But it’s just a feeding trough mounted on a tree.
What’s legal to fill it with? I guess that’s where I’m at a point of confusion

Regarding the picture, if it's on your phone screenshot the photo and post the screenshot. Works virtually every time. The original photo is likely just too large.

[Meattoeat]

It doesn't say anything about using a trough.

I guess I just wasn’t sure how the baiting worked. As in if I set it now. Say ten gallons of apples in two or three weeks. If I come back up in august for bear if I can set ten more gallons and hunt it

[pianoman9701]

Total of 10 gallons in the bait site at one time, is how I understand it.

[Meattoeat]

I’ll try again in a few, it’s not letting me upload photos

But it’s just a feeding trough mounted on a tree.
What’s legal to fill it with? I guess that’s where I’m at a point of confusion

Regarding the picture, if it's on your phone screenshot the photo and post the screenshot. Works virtually every time. The original photo is likely just too large.

[jackelope]

It doesn't say anything about using a trough.

I guess I just wasn’t sure how the baiting worked. As in if I set it now. Say ten gallons of apples in two or three weeks. If I come back up in august for bear if I can set ten more gallons and hunt it

10 gallons of apples will be gone in a couple days if there are animals around. Once they find them, they’ll be gone.

And it’s totally illegal to hunt over bait for bears.

[Meattoeat]

It doesn't say anything about using a trough.

I guess I just wasn’t sure how the baiting worked. As in if I set it now. Say ten gallons of apples in two or three weeks. If I come back up in august for bear if I can set ten more gallons and hunt it

10 gallons of apples will be gone in a couple days if there are animals around. Once they find them, they’ll be gone.

And it’s totally illegal to hunt over bait for bears.

That was my understanding, so I guess what the grey area is. Is it I set the apples now. They’ll be gone before bear. Is that legal? I tried to get ahold of wdfw or a warden to ask. BecUse I have other specific questions as well but I can’t get any phone numbers.

[jackelope]

Find the contact for your local game warden or just email the question to wildthing@dfw.wa.gov and they’ll forward you on to the correct people. Don’t take the words of some dudes on a hunting forum. I’d wager they’ll tell you it’s legal if there’s no bait there but let them tell you that for sure.

[bobcat]

Just don't post any pictures of your bait and a dead bear on the internet. And of course be sure you don't have any bait out during bear season in a location that you want to hunt bears. As for deer and elk, the restrictions do not apply if you're not hunting at the time. So there's no limit right now to how much bait you can put out.

[Rainier10]

Find the contact for your local game warden or just email the question to wildthing@dfw.wa.gov and they’ll forward you on to the correct people. Don’t take the words of some dudes on a hunting forum. I’d wager they’ll tell you it’s legal if there’s no bait there but let them tell you that for sure.

If you are baiting for deer and then get a bear on camera at the bait site I think you are getting into a bad spot if you shoot a bear at that location  even if the apples are gone at the point you shoot the bear.

[jackelope]

Bobcat is right. Don’t post 37 pictures of bears on your bait site then post a picture of the bear you shot that’s the same bear that was in all of your bear cam pics.

[Farmer72]

The regulations used to state a timeframe that bait had to be gone before you could hunt the area but I am not sure if it does anymore.

[Meattoeat]

Find the contact for your local game warden or just email the question to wildthing@dfw.wa.gov and they’ll forward you on to the correct people. Don’t take the words of some dudes on a hunting forum. I’d wager they’ll tell you it’s legal if there’s no bait there but let them tell you that for sure.

If you are baiting for deer and then get a bear on camera at the bait site I think you are getting into a bad spot if you shoot a bear at that location  even if the apples are gone at the point you shoot the bear.

At this point I’m going to just play it safe. There’s plenty of food in the area and they’re happy

Just curious about sharing my number with that other camera to maybe link up or if that’s weird

[huntnfmly]

Find the contact for your local game warden or just email the question to wildthing@dfw.wa.gov and they’ll forward you on to the correct people. Don’t take the words of some dudes on a hunting forum. I’d wager they’ll tell you it’s legal if there’s no bait there but let them tell you that for sure.

If you are baiting for deer and then get a bear on camera at the bait site I think you are getting into a bad spot if you shoot a bear at that location  even if the apples are gone at the point you shoot the bear.

[jackelope]

Is the goal to bait bears with your camera and apples?

[Meattoeat]

Is the goal to bait bears with your camera and apples?

No real goal just new to this trail camera side of things and not sure if that’s a thing if you’ve got animals on camera to do apples or anything. At this point I’m just deciding to leave them up and if it’s a good spot I don’t have to do anything if they want to be there... they’ll be there. No sense in muddying up the waters

[Jpmiller]

I asked a game Warden this once as my dad puts out bait blocks and the deer hit them hard but he has a few bears that seem to come by every day too. I was told the bear and I had to both be a distance away (I think it was 200 yds? Don't take that as gospel) or the site had to have been depleted for 10-14 days (again, not gospel).

We decided to just not put out the bait blocks until September now to avoid anything unnecessary

[Meattoeat]

I asked a game Warden this once as my dad puts out bait blocks and the deer hit them hard but he has a few bears that seem to come by every day too. I was told the bear and I had to both be a distance away (I think it was 200 yds? Don't take that as gospel) or the site had to have been depleted for 10-14 days (again, not gospel).

We decided to just not put out the bait blocks until September now to avoid anything unnecessary

Solid thought process

[bkaech]

[/quote]

At this point I’m going to just play it safe. There’s plenty of food in the area and they’re happy

Just curious about sharing my number with that other camera to maybe link up or if that’s weird
[/quote]

I don't think there is anything "wrong" with leaving your number. But don't be offended if they never call you, I wouldn't call you if it was my camera/setup. But that is just my personality and not wanted to make a phone call to a stranger. If the other guy is not as introverted as me and thinks it is a good idea it might work out to leave your number. Also be aware that some may have a view that they "own" that set-up and will hate to think anyone else is within 500 yards of "their" spot. It all depends, you don't know till you try, sink or swim give it a whirl.

[avidnwoutdoorsman]

The regulations used to state a timeframe that bait had to be gone before you could hunt the area but I am not sure if it does anymore.

This is true.... I searched high and low for it in the Turkey/Bear regs and the big game regs...even looked at a few RCW's.

In the Migratory/Bird Regs though the following is stated which would be a good rule to follow, which is 10 after all "bait" has been COMPLETELY removed.

"HOW LONG IS AN AREA BAITED?
A baited area remains off limits to hunting for 10
days after all salt, grain, or other feed has been
completely removed."

If you use a salt or mineral lick... that goes into the dirt, would take ages for that to be "completely" gone. Food for thought.

[jackelope]

It’s not legal to “attract” black bears using bait at all, regardless of the purpose.

https://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=77.15.245

(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of RCW 77.12.240, 77.36.030, or any other provisions of law, it is unlawful to take, hunt, or attract black bear with the aid of bait.

[Meathunter06]

It’s not legal to “attract” black bears using bait at all, regardless of the purpose.

https://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=77.15.245

(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of RCW 77.12.240, 77.36.030, or any other provisions of law, it is unlawful to take, hunt, or attract black bear with the aid of bait.

not baiting or trying to attract bears I put the apples out for deer and a bear keeps trying to steal there food not my fault even put up a sign that says deer feed only 

[jrebel]

Just build a metal jungle gym that you would find at the park and put it in the woods.      Bears are very curious animals and love to play and climb on anything. 

[jackelope]

It’s not legal to “attract” black bears using bait at all, regardless of the purpose.

https://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=77.15.245

(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of RCW 77.12.240, 77.36.030, or any other provisions of law, it is unlawful to take, hunt, or attract black bear with the aid of bait.

not baiting or trying to attract bears I put the apples out for deer and a bear keeps trying to steal there food not my fault even put up a sign that says deer feed only 

Yep. Really that’s the problem. It’s impossible to keep them away, and once they’re there...you could probably be cited for attracting them if an officer really wanted to.

[hunter399]

It's definitely a slippery slope
With that said........
I've heard of archery hunters taking bear,while in there deer stand in September.
No one really ever second guess them.
But the second you pick up a rifle - your baiting.
That's just observation, not really calling out archery hunters,
More of a common practice for archery to bait deer,so other end of the spectrum goes unnoticed.