What’s legal and what’s common practice?

[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.