Bear Baiting for Trail Camera

[WASHBCBOOK]

Just find a wild apple trees or cherry tres you`ll have a buil tin bait and you can legally hunt that spot
just my 2 cents

[bigtex]

Seems the only way it would be ok to bait bears into a trail cam setup would be if you were not a licensed hunter, and/or you are doing it in an area where hunting is not allowed. Otherwise, if you do it, even if your only intent is to bait deer or elk, the smart thing to do would be to simply not post the bear pictures on the internet.

 

I too have been told by several WDFW Officers that it is illegal to place bait, no matter if you plan to hunt or not. Just remember that a conviction of baiting bears will mean the suspension of your hunting rights for 5 years! Plus the additional court fines, lawyer fees, etc. I have even heard stories of WDFW Officers going on to private property to confirm reports/complaints of people baiting.

I think it would be hard to get a conviction if it was a deer feed block set in front of a trail camera.  I read it as the bait has to be used with an intent to hunt bears.  I have set deer feed blocks out in front of my cameras and bears love them.  Now if you have pics of bears and then kill one out of the same area then you might be in trouble.  

We are talking about bears...not deer....

[predatorpro]

dont worry if you get convicted im sure obama will have a bail out program for that too!

[Houndhunter]

look how they classify hunting now, my guess is they would write you up in a heartbeat

[Lowedog]

Seems the only way it would be ok to bait bears into a trail cam setup would be if you were not a licensed hunter, and/or you are doing it in an area where hunting is not allowed. Otherwise, if you do it, even if your only intent is to bait deer or elk, the smart thing to do would be to simply not post the bear pictures on the internet.

 

I too have been told by several WDFW Officers that it is illegal to place bait, no matter if you plan to hunt or not. Just remember that a conviction of baiting bears will mean the suspension of your hunting rights for 5 years! Plus the additional court fines, lawyer fees, etc. I have even heard stories of WDFW Officers going on to private property to confirm reports/complaints of people baiting.

I think it would be hard to get a conviction if it was a deer feed block set in front of a trail camera.  I read it as the bait has to be used with an intent to hunt bears.  I have set deer feed blocks out in front of my cameras and bears love them.  Now if you have pics of bears and then kill one out of the same area then you might be in trouble. 

We are talking about bears...not deer....

Thanks for clarifying that.    

[Machias]

Baiting bears for trail cameras is NOT illegal. The ONLY way you can get in a jam is if you HUNT the bears you have been baiting.  Read the whole RCW, not just parts of it.  And once again, just as in carrying a concealed pistol discussion, just because someone in Enforcement says it's so, doesn't make it RIGHT.

[Todd_ID]

Baiting bears for trail cameras is NOT illegal. The ONLY way you can get in a jam is if you HUNT the bears you have been baiting.  Read the whole RCW, not just parts of it.  And once again, just as in carrying a concealed pistol discussion, just because someone in Enforcement says it's so, doesn't make it RIGHT.

I agree...which raises the next logical question: how far away from a bait site can you hunt?

[Skyvalhunter]

1/2 mile

[Machias]

Baiting bears for trail cameras is NOT illegal. The ONLY way you can get in a jam is if you HUNT the bears you have been baiting.  Read the whole RCW, not just parts of it.  And once again, just as in carrying a concealed pistol discussion, just because someone in Enforcement says it's so, doesn't make it RIGHT.

I agree...which raises the next logical question: how far away from a bait site can you hunt?

Last year I had a friend put out a deer block for some deer and set up his camera.  Had some nice bucks show up and then three days into it a sow with two cubs showed up and then an absolute bruiser showed up.  Biggest bear I have seen in WA.  I e-mailed back and forth with a nice G.W. from the area.  He said best bet would be to pass the area up this year, which is what I did.  He said you never know which bait sites are under surveillance for hunting for bears over bait.  We even discussed distance, best bet is don't hunt an area you've baited for bears.  There was no set distance away you had to be.  Those were his thoughts and they seemed reasonable to me so I skipped the area....looking forward to seeing if I can call him in thie fall.

[backwoods_boy]

anything in a bikini!!
 
Carl

bears in bikini's   

[daiello91]

I emailed a while ago to ask this very question, here is the response;

There is nothing in the regulations regarding baiting to take pictures.  More than likely such activity would trigger investigation by an officer if found.  Make sure that you, or anyone else that may accompany you does not have a firearm in his/her possession.
 
Thank you,
 
Sean Carrell
WDFW, Enforcement Program
360-902-2936

[backwoods_boy]

I emailed a while ago to ask this very question, here is the response;

There is nothing in the regulations regarding baiting to take pictures.  More than likely such activity would trigger investigation by an officer if found.  Make sure that you, or anyone else that may accompany you does not have a firearm in his/her possession.
 
Thank you,
 
Sean Carrell
WDFW, Enforcement Program
360-902-2936

 

[Machias]

I emailed a while ago to ask this very question, here is the response;

There is nothing in the regulations regarding baiting to take pictures.  More than likely such activity would trigger investigation by an officer if found.  Make sure that you, or anyone else that may accompany you does not have a firearm in his/her possession.
 
Thank you,
 
Sean Carrell
WDFW, Enforcement Program
360-902-2936

THANK YOU!  Just as I said

[hucklebeary]

Last year set my cam in a Cascara patch and got good pics.  Had two different bear visiting it everyday.  Went and checked on it this year and the young berrys on the trees look promising.

[Curly]

That last pic is really good, Huck.  I wish I could get the bears to pose that well.  All I get on my cam is close ups of their eye ball or tongue..