Baiting

[buckfvr]

I know a guy who lost his license for 5 years for " intent to hunt bear over bait", and was told also that if you are even hunting deer/elk over bait and have a bear tag in your pocket, you are guilty of intent.  Make no mistake, if you get the ticket, you wont get out of it even with a lawyer.

[HillHound]

Looks like you may be on the west side but over here on the dry side I have definitely seen Who I believed to be the Yakima tribe with bait barrels in the back of their trucks up in their regular jerky slaying grounds. I don’t ask too many questions anymore after I did speak up to a warden and was told I would be ticketed for harassing them when I questioned a mass slaughter of elk out of season. Not sure if this was a barrel bait or if they just put it in a slash pile. If it was tribal I would definitely say there would be a barrel and they probably wouldn’t be too worried about hiding it since they can’t get in trouble. I’m not sure about bear baiting but if it was for coyotes you would think there would be a viewing point from a pretty long distance away especially if they are using thermal at night I don’t think the blind or tree stand would be set up 40 yards away.

[fishngamereaper]

Guess since baiting is illegal in most of Mnt Baker/ Snoq. NF it's not to long before all other land follows so we won't have to worry about the grey areas or interpretation of rules.

As for the OP I'd relocate spots. Not worth the trouble.

[HillHound]

I would also look for a different spot for sure. And unfortunately I think this time next year baiting is going to be the last thing we’re even talking about. Looks more like we’re gonna be talking about the good ol  days when we could even shoot a bear or a coyote, or any predator with the way our game commission is going. Well we will probably all shoot a lot more actually. Except they will be in our yard in the act of deprivation and we will be constantly calling WDFW to come pick their property up and take it to the dump Instead of us paying them for the tag and putting it in our freezer

[dilleytech]

Its only illegal if they shoot a bear,  until they make all baiting illegal its all good.    I think tribal can also bait bear.  I dont know that for a fact, but they can run hounds so why not?

I believe it’s illegal if you have a bear tag in your pocket. Which to them could show intent to kill a bear over bait.

[hunter399]

Its only illegal if they shoot a bear,  until they make all baiting illegal its all good.    I think tribal can also bait bear.  I dont know that for a fact, but they can run hounds so why not?

I believe it’s illegal if you have a bear tag in your pocket. Which to them could show intent to kill a bear over bait.

Good to know,cause of I ever archery hunt over bait from a tree stand. Maybe I'll hold off on buying my bear tag.

[Klickitatsteelie]

As long as your bear tag is not on your person while hunting deer or elk over bait you are ok. Leave it in the truck and you will be fine.

[hunter399]

As long as your bear tag is not on your person while hunting deer or elk over bait you are ok. Leave it in the truck and you will be fine.

Nice to know too.
It would be nice of wdfw to clear up this stuff up.

[callturner]

Sounds like a croc to me. My tags are always with me and always will be. I'll take my chances.  Im not going to bend down and  kiss the depts ass every time they squat to take a leek. I will hunt legally. Next someone will say your shooting a 30 cal rifle so you must be bear hunting. Or you have boots on so you must be bear hunting. Sheesh, whats next?

[hunter399]

Sounds like a croc to me. My tags are always with me and always will be. I'll take my chances.  Im not going to bend down and  kiss the depts ass every time they squat to take a leek. I will hunt legally. Next someone will say your shooting a 30 cal rifle so you must be bear hunting. Or you have boots on so you must be bear hunting. Sheesh, whats next?

Well I kinda agree.
That's why I said wdfw should clear it up some.
I've never left a tag in the truck,or at home.
I'm not an archery hunter, Haven't hunted over bait,(for deer or elk) in a long time. I've hunted near the salt blocks  for deer or elk,I place for deer and elk. (Not over them).
Never shot a bear near my trail cam spots that have salt.
Never seen a bear eat a salt block,always come in a sniff the area around it. Then try to eat my cams.
And I have picture proof of that.
Heck even the cubs climb the tree and attempt to eat the camera over the salt.

I guess if I could ask a warden is.
See a bear while checking my cams that have a block of salt with nothing eles,can I hunt it.
I know a lot of guys will say salt is an attractant.
I don't believe it is for bears in block form.They won't eat it. They will flip it over,then move on to trying to eat the cam.
Like said I have picture proof of that.
Most bears I get on cam,is like one or two times a year.(if it was an attractant they would be there daily,weekly,even monthly)
I believe they are just sniffing the site,due to ungulates in the area.
Just like cougar or any other predator. I suppose cougars are eating my salt blocks too. Bobcats too.
Rabbits do eat on the block at nite.

But at the end of the day,my interpretation of attractant,and a warden vision of what an attractant is may be totally different.
That's probably my biggest gripe.

That's why I use salt in block form,cause other methods was costly due to bears eating the bait,I was placing for deer and elk.
Thank God I've only seen one bear ,while checking a cam,and didn't have a rifle or weapon anyway.

[dilleytech]

Sounds like a croc to me. My tags are always with me and always will be. I'll take my chances.  Im not going to bend down and  kiss the depts ass every time they squat to take a leek. I will hunt legally. Next someone will say your shooting a 30 cal rifle so you must be bear hunting. Or you have boots on so you must be bear hunting. Sheesh, whats next?

That’s fine but the fact remains. It’s pretty simple. You’re sitting over bait bears are eating. You have a bear tag in your pocket and you say “ nuh uh! I’m not bear hunting” true or not its irrelevant in that moment.

Those other examples are pretty far from the same realm of reality though lol

[Westsideelkchaser]

I am very happy I got a response I did not have my phone to take pics of the sight but was able to use onX to basically pin point coordinates and after enough emails with my phone number included I got a call from an actual officer and was able to give all jists of the situation and how many times I’ve came across this persons bait in previous years and sounds like they have a case however I was obviously told not to hunt close to it a real distance was not identified just basically don’t sit the bait no brainer…was also told it’s near impossible to make a case on baiting which is sad they know who it is but can’t make a case unless undoubtably the bear is killed on bait but I do guess that makes sense for Wa but this officer gave me hope he had heart and still wanted to proceed so even if I don’t hear back hopefully I don’t see bait in there next year I mean I also wouldn’t mind bonus points but that’s not the goal I would just like to be able to hunt comfortably in an area I know bears are heavily populated without worrying about getting hit for bait in the area

[Westsideelkchaser]

FYI for those saying it may be native hunting I mean could be but baiting outside of the res is not legal for them atleast on the peninsula my ol lady is native and if that was possible she’d have some big bear on the wall

[huntnnw]

Depredation permits start when damage occurs in the spring through early summer.  They aren't issued beyond early July, and they aren't just for large timber companies. They are available to any timber owner experiencing damage.  They also are boot hunts only, no bait, no dogs, no traps.  The only ones able to use such methods are government agents.

If anyone is seeing bait in the woods this time of year, it needs reported.  No doubt illegal for the 99%, but maybe tribal?

Report a bait ? There’s thousands upon thousands of people baiting deer and elk right now.

[buckfvr]

I know a guy who lost his license for 5 years for " intent to hunt bear over bait", and was told also that if you are even hunting deer/elk over bait and have a bear tag in your pocket, you are guilty of intent.  Make no mistake, if you get the ticket, you wont get out of it even with a lawyer.

This is a fact, it happened to a guy I know, its not some random thought I had.