Is this against the ban

[6inchtrack]

This morning after all the snow, I found and followed some deer tracks.
I came across a small bait pile. not much Gallon or two by the looks of area that was trampled down. It looked like 4 or five deer had been there.
They came out from two different areas of a swamp, and all went back to the swamp along one run.
The swamp is about 150 to 200 yards from where the bait was.
I want to set my wife up in a pop-up so she could have about a hundred yard shot where the deer should come out if they used that same run.
That would put her about two hundred yards from where I found the bait.
Would this be against the law seeing how I know the bait pile was there?

[Fred Bear]

pick up the bait pile and get rid of it. Problem solved.

[6inchtrack]

pick up the bait pile and get rid of it. Problem solved.
That wouldn't be hard, there were only a couple of beet shells remaining.
And her hunting where that run enters the swamp wouldnt be breaking any rules, right?

[elvis]

sounds fine to me, just bury what little is left.

[Ieatantlers]

How about this. REPORT the bait pile. Too many horror stories around about people getting blamed for others baiting. Even if you get rid of the bait, who's to say the hunter doesn't put more bait out when your wife is sitting there. She wouldn't know until that CO walks up and he won't be happy. When you report the bait, ask their advance on how to approach hunting the area.

And in my opinion, if you set up on a trail leading to a bait pile, you are hunting over bait. Whether you put it there or not.

[swampbuck]

That would be baiting, If you decide too let us know what the fine is.;)

[DEDGOOSE]

And in my opinion, if you set up on a trail leading to a bait pile, you are hunting over bait. Whether you put it there or not.
I agree with the first part of your statement, but disagree with the above quote. I understand that this fellar is state land hunting. But on private ground if I found a monster run that was going to a neighbors hunting land and had a pretty good idea it was due to bait, darn skippy I am going to cherry pick.

[Pinefarm]

IMHO, it's baiting. You know the bait is there and setting up just out of sight of it doesn't mean that those beets still don't belong there, unless you're in the UP.
I'd report it's exact location and then mention you still plan on hunting in the area.

[Fred Bear]

get rid of the bait and you are not hunting over bait. Do what I said, throw away the bait and hunt. No violation.

[Michigander1]

You did not bait.I would not worry about it.Your hunting pretty far away.Its not like you put it there,Mich

[Ieatantlers]

get rid of the bait and you are not hunting over bait. Do what I said, throw away the bait and hunt. No violation.

Who's to say the person doesn't put more bait down? Or what happens when someone has already reported this, and the dnr is waiting for someone to walk up to that pile? I get your logic, but its def. flawed. Always err on the side of caution. Report it, then the DNR knows what side you are on.

[STEELCHASER5150]

If the bait is not on your property, but the deer you shoot IS, have at it, nothing nobody can do about it seeing as your not the one who put it down!!!

[SmittySlayer]

This morning after all the snow, I found and followed some deer tracks.
I came across a small bait pile. not much Gallon or two by the looks of area that was trampled down. It looked like 4 or five deer had been there.
They came out from two different areas of a swamp, and all went back to the swamp along one run.
The swamp is about 150 to 200 yards from where the bait was.
I want to set my wife up in a pop-up so she could have about a hundred yard shot where the deer should come out if they used that same run.
That would put her about two hundred yards from where I found the bait.
Would this be against the law seeing how I know the bait pile was there?

I like this question because where from the point a deer stands up to the point it does get to the bait pile is this wrong? Let's say these deer bed down in a place you can actually see them. What if you shot a deer right after they get up and take 5 steps in the general direction of the "bait" that is hundreds of yards away. Is that wrong? You could also argue that the deer wouldn't even bed where they are at if bait wasn't near by. What is the "magic distance" one can hunt if you know bait is in the area placed there by someone else? Heck, if someone put down a few piles it could keep all ethical hunters out of a very large area. I wouldn't pick it up then you look like the guilty party. What if you report it and a week later it is still there so it would be obvious that it wasn't going to be dealt with. You didn't put the bait down and don't put your stand by it, but I'd hunt what looked like a safe/ethical distance from it even if the deer used a path to go to and from the pile.

[Ieatantlers]

Heck, if someone put down a few piles it could keep all ethical hunters out of a very large area.

No, because if ethical hunters knew of the piles they would have reported it. Part of ethical hunting is obeying the law, and reporting those who break it. Breaking laws only hurts fellow hunters

[swampbuck]

I guess the determination would be up to the c.o.. if it looked like you knew, tracks etc. But I think it would not look good. But trying it on the wife sounds like a good idea.

[6inchtrack]

IMHO, it's baiting. You know the bait is there and setting up just out of sight of it doesn't mean that those beets still don't belong there, unless you're in the UP.
I'd report it's exact location and then mention you still plan on hunting in the area.
I found the card for the CO who came and issued me my modified bow permit and put a call in, I have to wait for him to call me back.
I decided not to set her up tonight, My tracks in the snow go from where I found the bait pile, to the swamp, then to where I scouted to set her up and then back out to the jeep.
Guilty by circumstance.
I will ask the CO.

[stickem]

id hunt over it....quit being a women...:D

[6inchtrack]

I found the card for the CO who came and issued me my modified bow permit and put a call in, I have to wait for him to call me back.
I decided not to set her up tonight, My tracks in the snow go from where I found the bait pile, to the swamp, then to where I scouted to set her up and then back out to the jeep.
Guilty by circumstance.
I will ask the CO.
Going to meet him out there in the morning.

[symen696]

id hunt over it....quit being a women...:D
Thats funny...

[fairfax1]

Ah, Swampbuck, you are a bingo!! LOL
........"But trying it on the wife sounds like a good idea."

[SmittySlayer]

No, because if ethical hunters knew of the piles they would have reported it. Part of ethical hunting is obeying the law, and reporting those who break it. Breaking laws only hurts fellow hunters

So an ethical hunter reports it. Then what? If the guy isn't caught or if a CO can't get out there then what? Are the ethical hunters going to carry a bunch of bait out of the woods? You'd have about a 50-50 shot at trying to convince a CO that you weren't the one baiting if you didn't know the CO. I'm sure CO's have come accross some very hairy situations this year.

[Roosevelt]

I wouldn't carry the bait out cuz then you're in possesion. How is the CO gonna know if you're baiting or not. You'd be caught red handed.

I've went thru alot of threads about legal issues on this forum and basically the CO's don't really know what's legal or not. They just decide, based on the county, judge, prosecutor's perspective of whether or not they think they stand a good chance of getting you to pay the fine and restitution.

Too many rules and regs anymore for the sport to be fun and that's why less people are participating.

[6inchtrack]

Ah, Swampbuck, you are a bingo!! LOL
........"But trying it on the wife sounds like a good idea."

Now why is this so funny?
My wife and I are hunting buddies. I scout for her, set up her stands, gut and drag her deer, I always give her the best chances that I find.
Most years, she kills more deer than me.
She weighs 105 lbs and is 5 foot 3.
She hunts by herself some days by herself, all day daylight to dark.

I would be near, do all the work but let her make the kill.
I don’t know how this amuses you.
I'm guessing that your wives do not hunt.

[BlackRhino]

There's a bait ban??????????

[eagle_eye]

Now why is this so funny?
My wife and I are hunting buddies. I scout for her, set up her stands, gut and drag her deer, I always give her the best chances that I find.
Most years, she kills more deer than me.
She weighs 105 lbs and is 5 foot 3.
She hunts by herself some days by herself, all day daylight to dark.

I would be near, do all the work but let her make the kill.
I don’t know how this amuses you.
I'm guessing that your wives do not hunt.

I think you took it wrong. He was saying try it on the wife and see if she gets a ticket. He was being funny....

[slowpoke]

A little fun here----( The deer that eat off the bait pile would have CWD :yikes:) I wouldn't eat them:lol:

[Byron]

I don't think it is illegal to carry bait anywhere, so I don't see the fear of getting "caught red handed". The law says you cannot place it where deer can access it, not that you can't carry it around. I would suggest you clean it up, report the situation to RAP, and let your wife hunt.

[willy05]

Yeah all these law biding citizens I call on all the speeders and people who run stop signs. No one on this site breaks any laws.

[Byron]

Ahh, yes! The old speeding equals poaching argument. :rolleyes: