Illegally hunting our bait in Idaho, photo of truck with WA plates

[CP]

I don’t see that any law has been broken based on what I've read in this thread.

Public land, right?  The word “trespasser” has been used.  Can someone “trespass” on public land?  Or, in Idaho, does putting up a legal bait site make that piece of public land yours?  Or give you more rights to it than anyone else?  Even temporarily?

Maybe there is a law forbidding hunting over bait without a permit.   But I don’t see anything in 13.01.17 that prohibits hunting over someone else’s bait site. 

I’m not saying that it’s the right thing to do, but I don’t see that a citation would hold up in court. 

[Fidelk]

Public land, right?  The word “trespasser” has been used.  Can someone “trespass” on public land? 

I said "trespasser".......I didn't mean it in a literal or legal sense.......just a figure of speech, as in "those who trespass against you". And yes, you can trespass on public land.......if it has been posted as "Area Closed" for a variety of reasons.

Someone came across an opportunity to possibly profit from the labor of others and took advantage of that opportunity.......at least until someone showed up and spooked him. It's one thing to be out hunting and come across a vacant "blind" but pretty bad when active baiting is there for all to see.

[GWP]

But, but, but, that guy has been hunting that area for 20 years! He could not BELIEVE someone else had put bait piles in HIS area!!!
Yes, that was sarcasm.
Could be though. Who knows?

[Fidelk]

I've encountered jerks running around loose in the woods.......what a surprise.

[Dan-o]

Some interesting/worrying comments.

Does anyone actually think it's OK for a guy to hunt someone else's bear bait?

[MADMAX]

Definitely the country has boarded the crazy train
 

[metlhead]

I wouldn't hunt somebody's bait station. Kinda like they have that spot. Imagine somebody unknowingly coming upon a bear that is actively using a bait, and blast it. I've literally stepped into elk baits before seeing them. Also, would it be legit to set up on a trail quite some ways off that leads to a bait station? Lot's of scenarios to ponder. The fella in the OP was over the line and knew it.

[huntnfmly]

Some interesting/worrying comments.

Does anyone actually think it's OK for a guy to hunt someone else's bear bait?

Sadly Dan-o we both know there are

[Stein]

I saw on another forum where someone called it in and the person they talked to said per d) you have to have a copy of the permit to legally hunt over an outfitter's bait.  For a regular guy, anyone can legally hunt over their bait.

That's according to some random guy and whoever they supposedly talked to.

[bearpaw]

  That's what we were told before regarding outfitter baits, but I was uncertain about how they considered a regular hunter's bait. I really feel it should be illegal for anyone to hunt any bait unless they have their own tag on the bait or they have written permission from the bait permit holder who's tag is on that bait.

However, I just learned my son was told by the warden he contacted this time that the warden would only check and see if the guy is properly licensed. So I guess its the wild west out there, I guess the only option anyone has if someone is hunting your own permitted and tagged bait is to let them have it, or some form of mountain justice, or publicly shame them.

I don't think this is right and I may pursue seeing if the legislature will stiffen the wording so it's black and white illegal to hunt another person's properly tagged bait. Not having black and white language making it illegal actually encourages scumbags to seek out other hunter's permitted baits.

[Fidelk]

Some interesting/worrying comments.

Does anyone actually think it's OK for a guy to hunt someone else's bear bait?

No, it isn't and I haven't read anyone here saying that it was.

[Dan-o]

Some interesting/worrying comments.

Does anyone actually think it's OK for a guy to hunt someone else's bear bait?

No, it isn't and I haven't read anyone here saying that it was.

You should probably read the thread....

[hunter399]

I'm not surprised at all by this hunters actions.
Happens more than it should.
Personaly had hunter sit 20 yards from me durring modern firearm.
So I know how it feels , it does suck.
At the same time I'm pretty big on public land is for everybody,hunter and non hunters alike.
What's ethical,and what's legal are sometimes miles apart.

I feel the same about some of my trail cam spots,but I've put up so many cams that I can't hunt all of them in our very short seasons.
So if somebody hunts it ,when I'm not there ,I'm ok with it.
It's public land,hope they get the one I can't.
Now I would never climb into someone's stand. That's kinda stepping over the line.
Always somebody trying to ride on somebody's coat tails these days.

[Fidelk]

Some interesting/worrying comments.

Does anyone actually think it's OK for a guy to hunt someone else's bear bait?

No, it isn't and I haven't read anyone here saying that it was.

You should probably read the thread....

I did read the thread. Can you point out the number of the Reply where someone actually stated that "it's OK for a guy to hunt someone else's bear bait". I missed that part.......

[bearpaw]

Some interesting/worrying comments.

Does anyone actually think it's OK for a guy to hunt someone else's bear bait?

No, it isn't and I haven't read anyone here saying that it was.

You should probably read the thread....

I did read the thread. Can you point out the number of the Reply where someone actually stated that "it's OK for a guy to hunt someone else's bear bait". I missed that part.......

I don't think too many have used that exact language, but there is a lot of excuses and beating around the bush that it's more or less not a concern for someone to hunt another person's bait. I know that I certainly learned a lot about some people's views, and it's pretty disappointing.

My son and I have been getting messages and phone calls from other hunters and outfitters, it's more of a widespread problem than I realized, most likely I will be offering some revised language to update the baiting law, it may or may not get traction, but Idaho is pretty proactive about hunting laws and IDFG is aware of the increasing problem of hunters hunting baits that belong to another hunter. Some very simple modifications of the language will make the law very enforceable.