Be aware of your hunting area

[ydeardorff]

Today i wen on walkabout, exploring new areas within tthe same place Ive been working over for weeks.

Half way through a gorgeous moss laidened thinned forest, I found a bacon grease jug, torn open and obviously chewed up by an animal.

Now, this frankly made me madder than hell. Ive busted my rump, studying my prey, their habits, food sources, times the food sources are in season, locations, geography everything to know as much as I can.

And then to find this....

What if i had dropped a bear in that area and a game warden walked up after hearing the shot?

I try to be a good hunter, and even police up the trash as I find it when out stalking around. This kind of behavior really irks me.

Anyway, be careful people god know what others have laid out in your area!

[JohnVH]

Ill bite,
 so is this a warning to not step into an open bacon grease jug? What should we be afraid of?

[h20hunter]

"what should we be afraid of"


I'll tell.......breakfast meats. I love the bacon. I love the sausage. I love them both at the same time with fried eggs, taters, good toast, and coffee. Going to die with clogged arteries and a smile.

I think he is referring to baiting and walking into an area and unknowingly shooting a bear in the vicinity of an illegal bait site. Bacon grease would obviously not be for deer.

[halflife65]

"what should we be afraid of"


I'll tell.......breakfast meats. I love the bacon. I love the sausage. I love them both at the same time with fried eggs, taters, good toast, and coffee. Going to die with clogged arteries and a smile.

I think he is referring to baiting and walking into an area and unknowingly shooting a bear in the vicinity of an illegal bait site. Bacon grease would obvious not be for deer.

What!?!  I'm obviously going to need to rethink my strategy...

[MuleySniper]

"what should we be afraid of"


I'll tell.......breakfast meats. I love the bacon. I love the sausage. I love them both at the same time with fried eggs, taters, good toast, and coffee. Going to die with clogged arteries and a smile.

I think he is referring to baiting and walking into an area and unknowingly shooting a bear in the vicinity of an illegal bait site. Bacon grease would obvious not be for deer.

 

[runamuk]

You obviously never hunted the capitol forest  there are illegal baits all over the place, then there are the baits(bear) used for trail cams (and the people who think that is ok)

[ydeardorff]

Sorry if I ranted a bit.

Its just frustrating when I come across this kind of thing.
Especially when Im trying to be good per-say.

[h20hunter]

It won't be the last time either. I say rant away my friend.

[mossy8352]

Sorry if I ranted a bit.

Its just frustrating when I come across this kind of thing.
Especially when Im trying to be good per-say.

You bring up a good point and people should be concerned about things that could cause them some hassle!

[sirmissalot]

Report it. Give the coordinates to your game warden.

I found a feed barrel while musshroom picking up in hancock a couple weeks ago. Looked pretty professional though and not at all active so I assumed it was put there by the timber company and never got any hits it was a black plastic drum tied to a tree with holes cut in it but no teeth or claw marks.

[rgalanti21]

Today i wen on walkabout, exploring new areas within tthe same place Ive been working over for weeks.

Half way through a gorgeous moss laidened thinned forest, I found a bacon grease jug, torn open and obviously chewed up by an animal.

Now, this frankly made me madder than hell. Ive busted my rump, studying my prey, their habits, food sources, times the food sources are in season, locations, geography everything to know as much as I can.

And then to find this....

What if i had dropped a bear in that area and a game warden walked up after hearing the shot?

I try to be a good hunter, and even police up the trash as I find it when out stalking around. This kind of behavior really irks me.

Anyway, be careful people god know what others have laid out in your area!

This type of behavior is very disappointing and I understand your frustration. You would have been doubted by Johnny law...

[ydeardorff]

Report it. Give the coordinates to your game warden.

I think I may.

But I still want to keep hunting the area. Ill go back out and get the GPS coordinates of the jug, and give them to WDFW , but the damage may already be done.

Ill be heading out tomorrow morning again. Perhaps this time Ill have some pics or videos to share. I pack my camera, but seem to reflect on I should have took a picture of that "AFTER" Im back in my car. LOL

[marmotsafari]

Think I would report it just for the record of who I talked to etc- say they don't do anything, but later you end up questioned on it by a warden in the area you can always refer to your effort to take the high road and put some distance between yourself and the "other guy"

I've been in the wrong place wrong time with the law as a teen. . and barely sqeeked outta a bad situation (funny now, not then!)

[Machias]

Report it. Give the coordinates to your game warden.

I think I may.

But I still want to keep hunting the area. Ill go back out and get the GPS coordinates of the jug, and give them to WDFW , but the damage may already be done.

Ill be heading out tomorrow morning again. Perhaps this time Ill have some pics or videos to share. I pack my camera, but seem to reflect on I should have took a picture of that "AFTER" Im back in my car. LOL

Here's the problem, you are now aware of the bait site, you cannot hunt that area.  I spoke with this very thing last fall.  A friend of mine was baiting for deer and had an absolute monster of a bear show up.  I asked how far away I could hunt without getting in a jam or how long after all the bait was removed I could hunt it.  The answer was there is no set distance and there is no set time.  If it can be determined the bear you killed was going to that bait site, even to sniff what USED to be there, you can be charged with illegally taking a bear over bait.  I ended up not even trying for that bear last year.

[backyard bucks]

now I'll throw in something else to think about... did you find a actual bait site? or just that one jug that contained bacon grease?
my question is that could this of been from someones campground and a animal took it form someones tent side fire pit? or was it a actual bait pile.. i only saw that you found one tore up jug that had bacon grease in it. i myself have dumped grease from bacon into jugs to try to contain the smell up on the pack in hunting trips in the wilderness before to prevent the smell getting uninvited animals coming into camp.
if it was one jug in your spot you have been scouting then i myself wouldn't stop hunting the area because to me that doesn't really scream out "bait site" that is just my 

[Knocker of rocks]

If it can be determined the bear you killed was going to that bait site, even to sniff what USED to be there, you can be charged with illegally taking a bear over bait. 

But not to argue the point, I do think you could get it dismissed in many cases.  The science of forensic analysis of the thought pattern of deceased bears is lacking.  If the bear does not keep a written journal or calendar, which most if not all bears do not do, how could anyone what the bear had planned out for his days routine? 

[Machias]

If it can be determined the bear you killed was going to that bait site, even to sniff what USED to be there, you can be charged with illegally taking a bear over bait. 

But not to argue the point, I do think you could get it dismissed in many cases.  The science of forensic analysis of the thought pattern of deceased bears is lacking.  If the bear does not keep a written journal or calendar, which most if not all bears do not do, how could anyone what the bear had planned out for his days routine? 

I agree with you, but who wants to spend the money to defend themselves along with all the other associated pain that comes with being arrested and charged.

[Fl0und3rz]

"I say . . . take off and nuke the site from orbit. It's the only way to be sure."

Seriously though, you could build a small fire and burn it.  Problem solved.  There is no longer any bait there. 

Then, report the coordinates as a site of suspected bear baiting and the fact that you destroyed or disposed of the suspected bait or trash. If you are concerned about destruction of potential evidence, it might be considered evidence of baiting. But unless they are going to investigate and prosecute someone, it is not evidence.  If they are going to investigate and need evidence to prosecute someone, then you could always offer to testify to the location and character of the bait. To be sure, you could call beforehand to verify that they agree removal/destruction of the bait is warranted.

Chances are, though, that they will do nothing, and you would have your site to hunt without worry of being accused of the "use of . . . bait to hunt black bear . . . ."  Otherwise, I see it as no different than harvesting a bear brought into an area looking for human trash and food scraps.  It happens all the time.

[buckfvr]

DO NOT risk your future hunting.  The wardens write 'em up as they see 'em.....you can then do all your explaining to the judge..........outcome is never good.  People have been convicted solely on " intent" to hunt bear over bait.........bear tag in pocket, big gun, bait in area.......

[Holg3107]

If it is manageable why not just take the jug out of the woods with you when you leave? Seems to me you are removing garbage / waste from the area. I pack garbage out of areas all the time when I'm hunting doesn't seem like this is much different. Now if this is a 50gal drum set up thats a different story but a 1 gal milk jug with some bacon grease get thats all torn up, take it home and throw it away.

[backyard bucks]

[quoteIf it is manageable why not just take the jug out of the woods with you when you leave? Seems to me you are removing garbage / waste from the area. I pack garbage out of areas all the time when I'm hunting doesn't seem like this is much different. Now if this is a 50gal drum set up thats a different story but a 1 gal milk jug with some bacon grease get thats all torn up, take it home and throw it away][/quote]

  that is what i was asking.. sounds like one piece of garbage.. not a bait site, just pick it up and toss in truck and dump it. done deal your spot is good to go if that was all it was.

[ICEMAN]

Well yesterday I came upon a site - tree stand (need spin in spikes) 2 barrels, one tire and one old large coffe can that was absolutely a bear bait site.  Nice lead in was McD bag and two large peel back can tops - tuna or cat food I suspect.  I will be calling it in tomorrow.  That pisses me off.  I won't be hunting that area. 

I was cheered up by my wife's 8 point ~300 lb blacktail later that morning :-)

8point 300lb blacktail? Pics please.

[backyard bucks]

  for pics 

and now that i would call a bait site 

[billythekidrock]

Report it. Give the coordinates to your game warden.

I think I may.

But I still want to keep hunting the area. Ill go back out and get the GPS coordinates of the jug, and give them to WDFW , but the damage may already be done.

Ill be heading out tomorrow morning again. Perhaps this time Ill have some pics or videos to share. I pack my camera, but seem to reflect on I should have took a picture of that "AFTER" Im back in my car. LOL

Here's the problem, you are now aware of the bait site, you cannot hunt that area.  I spoke with this very thing last fall.  A friend of mine was baiting for deer and had an absolute monster of a bear show up.  I asked how far away I could hunt without getting in a jam or how long after all the bait was removed I could hunt it.  The answer was there is no set distance and there is no set time.  If it can be determined the bear you killed was going to that bait site, even to sniff what USED to be there, you can be charged with illegally taking a bear over bait.  I ended up not even trying for that bear last year.

[billythekidrock]

You obviously never hunted the capitol forest  there are illegal baits all over the place, then there are the baits(bear) used for trail cams (and the people who think that is ok)

Yep.
Found this snare site (bear) in the CF on opening weekend of modern deer this year.
 
This one is legal, but there was still trash left behind.
 
 

 

 

 

[Skyvalhunter]

Report it. Give the coordinates to your game warden.

I found a feed barrel while musshroom picking up in hancock a couple weeks ago. Looked pretty professional though and not at all active so I assumed it was put there by the timber company and never got any hits it was a black plastic drum tied to a tree with holes cut in it but no teeth or claw marks.

Hancock is private property and in the past they have intentionally set bait stations to attract bear so they can be removed. Treee damage is a big issue on their properties

[bobcat]

The problem is that you posted on the internet that you found a bait site. NOW you can't hunt the area for bears. If you didn't post it on the internet, you could hunt bears there and nobody would ever question you about possible bait in the area.

[turnloose]

Two to three tablespoons of bacon grease into the water before you boil fresh grab.

[ICEMAN]

I always add bacon grease when I boil my fresh grab.

[rasbo]

I always add bacon grease when I boil my fresh grab.

I like my grab fresh

[ICEMAN]

Sometimes I feel like my grab is sort of greasy...

[rasbo]

Sometimes I feel like my grab is sort of greasy...

damn Im gonna have a smoke now

[ICEMAN]

Careful, grease and flame.... just sayin'! 

[Helix]

A fresh grab will get you 5-10 if she isn't into it.

[longknife]

I like my grab with some red snapper!

[Ridgeratt]

Ok so color me stupid! Just how do you keep your "Grab"  fresh?
Ice? Salt?
 

Nothing worse than Spoiled Grab!

[ICEMAN]

Make sure she showers every day. Some of us consider "our grab" differently than others...

[runamuk]

Ok so color me stupid! Just how do you keep your "Grab"  fresh?
Ice? Salt?
 

Nothing worse than Spoiled Grab!

Ice might be fun...errrr useful ......

[ICEMAN]

Ok so color me stupid! Just how do you keep your "Grab"  fresh?
Ice? Salt?
 

Nothing worse than Spoiled Grab!

Ice might be fun...errrr useful ......

I am both.

[Ridgeratt]

Just how do you know when your "Grab" goes bad?

Is it like yogurt? You just never know?

I'm needing some help here.

[Helix]

Ridgerat, when in doubt get out!

[runamuk]

Ok so color me stupid! Just how do you keep your "Grab"  fresh?
Ice? Salt?
 

Nothing worse than Spoiled Grab!

Ice might be fun...errrr useful ......

I am both.

so you are fun and useful on ice ....awesome

[Ridgeratt]

Ok so I will quit pushing this!