Is baiting deer/elk on national forest illegal?

[DBHAWTHORNE]

Those things are illegal on a National Wildlife Refuge but not on Forest Service.

[Curly]

Bigbucks, are you sure it was a WDFW officer?  Or was it a USFS law enforcement officer?  I could see USFS officer doing that more so than a game warden..............

[Sitka_Blacktail]

I've never had any issue with a USFS LEO. Drive like and idiot and get caught... you're going to get a ticket! Steal timber or firewood without a permit... you're going to get a ticket! Build a drunken bonfire during a burn ban... you're going to get a ticket!
Frankly I'm happy to see the enforcement action. It drives me nuts when idiots use public land like it's there own private party zone.

You need to spend some time in Alaska where there is a lot of federal land and see how the feds have recently become overzealous in their enforcement.  It's not so much about protecting things as it is about bringing in money via tickets.

I agree with you that anyone driving carelessly deserves a ticket, but with budget cutbacks, how exactly are forest service personal doing their job of protecting the forest when they are spending their time setting up speed traps and doing traffic patrol?

[buckfvr]

Thats why this state is multi-tasking every agency....its how they get more for less....WE NEED TERM LIMITS !!!!

[pendoreilleadventures]

I just got of the phone with Mike Borysewicz, wildlife biologist Colville National Forest said that it is not illegal to Bait wildlife on National forest you only have to stipulations to follow.

1. Follow Washington State Fish and Wildlife Laws pertaining to Baiting(Cannot Bait Bears)

2. You must remove the bait once you're done hunting or if you remove Camera.

Same goes for Trail Cams and Treestand,Blinds, ect.

[leed]

Why would you even want to??

[pendoreilleadventures]

I don't want this to turn into a battle of whose right or wrong its a matter of personal opinion. Many people including myself use bait to help increase the odds of see game when in a treestand or blind. Some people think it's cheating other don't if it leagal than who cares.

[jdurham]

Here is what I found so far on cameras on federal land.

http://utahwildlife.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=35347

[h20hunter]

I bait...im a master

[D-Rock425]

Oh yes you are.

[h20hunter]

Stop it...you are on thin ice buddy.....

Ps. I love anchor steam beer

[bearpaw]

I just got of the phone with Mike Borysewicz, wildlife biologist Colville National Forest said that it is not illegal to Bait wildlife on National forest you only have to stipulations to follow.

1. Follow Washington State Fish and Wildlife Laws pertaining to Baiting(Cannot Bait Bears)

2. You must remove the bait once you're done hunting or if you remove Camera.

Same goes for Trail Cams and Treestand,Blinds, ect.

Thanks for providing some solid info...

[bigtex]

Now days, you want to be real sure any activity in a National Forest is legal. The feds are hurting for money and the patrol officers are like town cops on steroids. They are writing tickets for just about everything including traffic tickets.

Had one in Alaska threaten friends of mine who were fishing near an obviously old fire pit. Was screaming at them trying to get them to admit they used the pit.  Know quite a few people who have gotten traffic tickets from them.

The whole "bringing in more revenue" saying for feds doesn't really apply. Federal agencies do NOT receive ANY money from any federal tickets. All federal citations (anything from military police to a National Park Ranger) have their funds deposited into a federal account that supports crime victims. Federal citations are not like your local city pd ticket where the city retains some of the money.

And as far as traffic tickets go, all federal land management agencies have the authority to regulate traffic on their lands. In fact in some areas traffic enforcement is all the federal land management agency officers do...

[jdurham]

I just got of the phone with Mike Borysewicz, wildlife biologist Colville National Forest said that it is not illegal to Bait wildlife on National forest you only have to stipulations to follow.

1. Follow Washington State Fish and Wildlife Laws pertaining to Baiting(Cannot Bait Bears)

2. You must remove the bait once you're done hunting or if you remove Camera.

Same goes for Trail Cams and Treestand,Blinds, ect.

Thanks for the info

Thanks for providing some solid info...

[muleracks2]

Wilderness areas may be an exception to the baiting and camera rule.  If you worry about that, I would check with a Wilderness manager at a F.S. District Office.  It is likely that bait and cameras can not be left unattended in the Wilderness for more than 48 hours.