To bait or not to bait.

[stelmon]

I have something to addmit. I hunt bait. yep.
I was talking to my uncle this week though and he got me thinking, hese right. He said the deer turned nocturnal. If u remember about 10 yrs ago the deer had to go searching for food but now all they have to is search for a bait pile and eat it at night. All my bait piles are eaten at night. then what pissed me off good this week was I was hunting DMU 452. Found all thse gut from earliar this mourning and followed to a place where the whole ground was pawed in with a BAIT PILE. We hunted this hard trail but didnt c anything. This was in some thick cover. I use to not want bait to be banded but now thinking of it I wsh they would ban it for good. Sorry if you dont agree.
Lets hear some other opinions.

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Stelmon, the only one.
Keep those bullets flying and reels screamen

[StrutnSpur]

I personaly don't bait and don't think it is worth it. I think baiting should just be used for bears.
I do plant foot plots though and then again I believe they use them a lot at night also.
Baiting is still legal,so I will not condem those that do bait.
I like to hunt deer using the topography and the habitat of the land to my advantage. I believe the hunt is more of a challenge and I get a better feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction from hunting this way..SnS

[nightstalker]

They only come out at "NIGHT" :D

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In the wind he's still alive!! Fred Bear

[bonasabuster]

i dont beleive in baiting i just grow corn or wheat and leave a little for the critters!
all in the name of agriculture mine ya. so grow it or throw it if you beleives it works then ya probaly hunt harder and longer wich makes it work rather ya bait or not.

[Fred Bear]

I used to bait too. But I got tired of the deer coming to my bait pile at night and then I'd just have to refresh it. I could care less if they make baiting illegal or not.

[Erik]

As it stands now, many people don't know any other way to get deer. Especially in the far north country. Who am I to say they shouldn't hunt over bait? I'd rather have deer killed over a bait pile than to have them slowly die of starvation. Still, I won't be hunting over bait, I prefer other methods. As long as people follow the law and make good shots, and don't trespass, they can hunt the way they want.

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Phish

[BowDad]

Hey Stelmon – I’ll give you my take on the baiting issue. Personally I think that it’s a waste of time. I don’t condemn anyone that does it legally, to each his own. I’ve done it both ways and have come to the conclusion that I’m wasting my money on produce that is gone the next morning. I now hunt travel routes exclusively. The pursuit of my October-November buck starts on January 1st each year. I hunt a large tract of state land in the Northern lower and have been successful almost every year. My advice to you is to get out in the woods and find the deer. Snow is great for finding fresh tracks. Start in the morning and find a fresh set of tracks. These tracks will almost always lead you to the bedding area. Come back in the evening and find another set of fresh tracks; these will lead you to the food source. Plot the bed and food on a map and hunt the travel route between them. Deer are creatures of habit and once you put the pieces of the puzzle together you will have a very good chance of scoring. You also have to take into consideration that food sources change from year to year and even from season to season. But there is one constant, they need to eat and they need to sleep. Pinpoint these areas and you will become successful. Good luck young dude, and don’t let some of these guys around here discourage you. Just get out into the woods, it’s a great place to be!!!

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"We shall never achieve harmony with land, any more than we shall achieve absolute justice or liberty for people. In these higher aspirations the important thing is not to achieve, but to strive." Aldo Leopold 1887-1948

[CT]

I am leaning more and more to not wanting to bait. Unfortunately since I've been hunting in Michigan these past 3 years, I've found that you won't see too much if you plan on trail hunting. Everyone surrounding my land baits by the truckloads and suck all the deer away. It makes me sick. I'll scout the fields in the summer out in front of our property and count close to 30 deer and quite a few bucks coming off our property. When bow season hits, it's like somebody turned off the lights and all of a sudden there's no deer anymore. Baiting within reason has always been fine with me, but the fact is too many people still bait by the truckload in Michigan. I think this is a big cause for many hunters getting turned off of baiting and wanting it banned. You can't compete with those who spend thousands of dollars to suck deer on there land. The best chance you have is during the rut.

[Joe Archer]

I have taken deer with bait and without bait. In both cases I hunt travel routes between bedding and feeding areas. In both cases I wait and take only high percentage shots. In both cases, it is the interaction with the deer that creates the excitement. You have to become a tree. You wait for that buck to turn broadside at 20 yards. The adrenaline in your veins causes your heart to echo in your ears and throat. The huge buck slowly turns, and you make the perfect shot. The kill is as humane as possible. Upon recovery, you are compelled to a moment of tearful reverence and appreciation. This happens with or without bait, and honestly it doesnt make a bit of difference to me. <----<<<

[deerless]

I have hunted both with and without bait. I find that it makes little difference if you have it or not. Deer don't just appear at a bait pile they have to walk the trail I hunt on to get to it. Also, a deer at a bait pile is very suspicious. I find that most deer are always on the look out when the are feeding at a bait pile. One more thing, baiting is expensive. I've given it up for good.

Deerless

[rrbuckmaster]

I use to put out bait but it was more or less for the fawns/yearlins and a few does.That was about 3-4 years ago.It was kind of nice at least it gave you something to watch which, it its self is very interesting and a good way to learn body language,movements how they react to each other. I find just watching deer just as enjoyable as bringing one down. I know that sounds funny but what i try to teach my son is that hunting is not only the killing of an animal Being in the woods with family and friends, tracking your game, tring to out smart them. I guess what a am tring to get at is there is so much in the build up of hunting that taking a deer is like a cherry on a sundie.So in some ways i wish i could put out bait, keep in mind i only put out 4-6 bags of carrots. All in all its no big deal there are other ways. And thats my opinion.

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HAPPY AND SAFE HUNTING TO ALL.

[Tom222]

I hunt over bait about half of the time. The only reason that I do is that I have a limited amount of space to hunt on, an I don't like to over use a stand, so bait lets me see deer in areas that I normally wouldn't see many deer in.
Bait also gets a deer to stop long enough to make a standing shot.
I enjoy seeing deer nearly as much as taking one, which is why i put out food all winter long, especially from Feb through March, when the herd is at it's most vulnerable point
I'm sure that there are those who feel that baiting is wrong, but as long as bait is legal, I'll have some out there.
If and when baiting is outlawed, i will re adjust.
By the way, I saw one of your other posts today. You admitted making a mistake. For a young man of 15, that shows maturity and character.\
Keep asking questions, and keep an opened mind.

[BowHunt10]

I dont hunt over bait, but have in the past. I have never taken any of my bigger bucks off from a bait pile. I feel that a truely big buck comes down wind of the pile checking for the does that hit it, that might be in heat. I like to move to much for a pile of food.

[lawnboy]

I only hunt over bait is during gun...and they do hit mine during the day! But I go deep into the swamp and set up bait piles. Were talking in water thats at least 4" deep. Most people would never do this...and I see deer all the time...bad part is that most of the time I can't get a shot off do to the thick stuff.

[The Nailer]

Stelmon, I'm in agreement w/ most of the responses you received. I like many of the others have baited in the past. I stiopped before it was illegal in 452. My take is as follows; When you bait you create an easy meal that can be taken at any time. So when there is any pressure at all the deer go nocturnal because they know they can satisfy their hunger w/o worry. If everyone stopped baiting you would force them to browse more around the clock and eveyone would have a better chance of seeing deer, provided they did their homework first and found travel routes etc. This is a hot issue to say the least and I don't want to add fuel to the fire for the anti's. If it's legal to each his own if it's not PLEASE STOP!!! That's my $.02 worth.

[stelmon]

Thnaks everyone... I agree with all your responses and repect all of your decidsions. 2bad we couldnt have the deer like we did 10 yrs ago though.

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Stelmon, the only one.
Keep those bullets flying and reels screamen

Bow

BowDad, I could not have said it better. I have been deer hunting for 56 years and have yet to bait. I seem to get my deer without and I wouldn't have the heart to shoot a deer over a bait pile anyway. But hunting in farm country there is no need to bait, just good scouting before the hunt, wheather it be in bow or gun season.

[Pat Eddinger]

Stelmon,
Where I'm at,I'm surrounded by corn and bean fields with my woodlot at the center.
Bait makes no sense to bother with.
With the TB scare jury still out,and all the conflicting reports of how it is spread,and wether or not it's a thing to worry over I can't see keeping baiting legal at all.If the TB thing isn't another DNR faux pas,some folks are gonna feel stupid for contributing to the spread.If it is another blunder,so what?after all is said and done and the all clear is given,we can always legalize it again AFTER we know for sure.In some areas baiting is he only way to get deer in the open for a shot.I have the same situation but bait wont work so I must do the sneak in and sneak out routine to get where the deer are.I'm with you.Ban it till we know!Cheers!Pat