Baiting for deer

[ffbowhunter]

I am new to Washington State and in Texas we can bait for deer year round.  I plan on bow hunting near in the Chiwawa unit and was wondering can I bait when I go scouting next month? 

[DBHAWTHORNE]

Baiting deer and elk is legal...but you can't hunt bear over bait.

[carpsniperg2]

 

[ffbowhunter]

Perfect!  I am going on my first bear hunt Aug 1 in that unit crossing my fingers I atleast see one.  Has anyone ever hunted the 245 unit?

[Button Nubbs]

I've watched the herd there decline over the last few years, I have also seen a spike in hunters in the last few years. There are animals to be had. Try using the search feature and PM some of the members that have talked about it.

[h20hunter]

Here is a little advice from one who knows. If you are using bait and a trail cam don't wait, get a bear box sooner than later. My Bushnell has went two rounds so far and is heading in to see if it can be fixed. Bear 1, Bushnell 0. Also, be very carefull when hunting bear anywhere remotely close to your bait area. You could be looking at some major headache if the gamies suspect you are baiting/hunting bear in the same location. I've got bears coming into my deer bait and wouldn't even think of hunting within a mile or two of the location. Good luck and be safe.

[CP]

Unless you have access to some private land, baiting in 245 will probably not be too effective because someone is going to find your bait and they will either steal it or mess with it.  Salt mixed into the dirt is pretty much tamper proof and it is effective now, but it won’t be effective come Sept. 

Why would you bait now anyway?  Whatever patterns the deer have will change a couple of days before the season opens when all the trucks start rolling around the back roads.  There are more hunters than deer in that unit, early on anyway.

[Maverick]

where did you deer hunt in texas? Got any pics of some good size bucks or sheds you could share with us? We also love to hear stories!

[ffbowhunter]

where did you deer hunt in texas? Got any pics of some good size bucks or sheds you could share with us? We also love to hear stories!

I hunted two different leases.  One in Bertram mainly for doe, most bucks are small in that area.  I would hunt bucks in an area called Sonora in W Texas.  When I saw my first deer in Wa compared to down there I was amazed by the body size of the deer here.  I have yet to kill a deer with my bow but have had some nice deer with a rifle out of Sonora.  Here is a picture of my buddys deer last year with a bow.  We were in our blind and this 11 point was chasing a doe and I grunted and he stoped and my buddy got a perfect shot on him.

[carpsniperg2]

That's a dandy

[oldleclercrd]

In Washington we call that a 6x5. 

[cem3434]

In Washington we call that a 6x5. 

We ain't in Kansas no more Todo!

[ffbowhunter]

In Washington we call that a 6x5. 

I mean 6x5

[1buckdown]

    Nice pic though

[ffbowhunter]

I wish it was my deer

[Maverick]

I'm hoping to hunt down by lubbock on some property that didn't burn this november.

[ffbowhunter]

Enjoy Texas!  You will definitely enjoy it and are almost guaranteed a doe.

[Maverick]

idc about the doe. I want a buck. Someone told me it's not uncommon to see 140 class bucks. I'll shoot a doe as quick as I can and then look for a buck. Do you think it would be safe to drive down there in a car around thanksgiving?

[ffbowhunter]

idc about the doe. I want a buck. Someone told me it's not uncommon to see 140 class bucks. I'll shoot a doe as quick as I can and then look for a buck. Do you think it would be safe to drive down there in a car around thanksgiving?

I don't know what the regs are out there but you have bag limit of 5 deer no more than 3 bucks I beleive (white tail) and one mullie.  What do you mean by safe driving down there?

[CP]

TX varies by county.  I have a small piece of land in Brown Co.  bag limit is 5 WT there, Regs are:

White-tailed Deer
Special Antler Restrictions

Archery Only: October 1-November 4, 2011. No permit required to hunt antlerless deer unless MLD permits have been issued for the property.
Bag Limit: 5 deer, no more than 2 bucks, all seasons combined.
General Season: November 5, 2011-January 1, 2012. No permit is required to hunt antlerless deer unless MLDP antlerless permits have been issued for the tract of land.

Special late general season: January 2-15, 2012. Antlerless and Spike deer only.

Special Youth-Only Season: Early open season: October 29-30, 2011. Late open season: January 2-15, 2012.

Bag limits, provision for the take of antlerless deer, and special requirements of the county, shall be as specified for the first 2 days of the general open season.

Licensed hunters 16 years of age or younger may hunt deer by any lawful means during this season.


Special Antler Restrictions do not apply to properties for which Level 2 or Level 3 MLDPs have been issued. For counties with Special Antler Restrictions, a legal buck deer has:

at least one unbranched antler, or
an inside spread of 13 inches or greater. The inside spread requirement does not apply to any buck that has an unbranched antler.

Not more than one buck with an inside spread of 13 inches or greater may be taken.

[ffbowhunter]

 

[Maverick]

what I meant was would it be okay to drive car down to texas and back in november? I think I'd be hunting king or cottle county. Not sure though.