Tennessee Deer Talk: Just wondering

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#2001270 - 07/20/10 08:28 PM

Just wondering

boogerthumper
4 Point

Registered: 12/28/09
Posts: 261
Loc: tenn

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Since I asked the jello question the other day my mind has gone haywire and made me curious about a lot of things so I have another question,no jello this time lol. Why is baiting deer illegal in Tennessee but not in some other states? Please don't answer with "because the law says so" but what is the main reasoning behind not allowing baiting in Tennessee?

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#2001271 - 07/20/10 08:29 PM

Re: Just wondering [Re: boogerthumper]

boogerthumper
4 Point

Registered: 12/28/09
Posts: 261
Loc: tenn

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Professional twra guys respond only please

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#2001354 - 07/20/10 09:10 PM

Re: Just wondering [Re: boogerthumper]

scn
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Registered: 02/05/03
Posts: 7088
Loc: Brentwood, TN US

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It has been the law for the past 30+ years in TN. There are many issues dealing with disease, ethics, and even management that have positioned the agency firmly against allowing hunting over bait.

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#2002052 - 07/21/10 11:50 AM

Re: Just wondering [Re: scn]

boogerthumper
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Registered: 12/28/09
Posts: 261
Loc: tenn

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Well I figured that much, I was just curious why Tennessee is different than a lot of other states,some of which border us. I would imagine all the reasons you listed are issues to those states. Am I wrong?

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#2002118 - 07/21/10 12:35 PM

Re: Just wondering [Re: boogerthumper]

Wes Parrish
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Registered: 06/12/02
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Loc: Knoxville-Dover-Union City, TN

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Originally Posted By: boogerthumper

I would imagine all the reasons you listed are issues to those states.

The "issues" can differ quite a bit from state to state.
We have relatively high humidity here in Tennessee,
which is a significant factor in increasing the development of aflatoxin when feeding corn to wildlife.

Compare some differences to Texas where corn feeders dot the landscape.

1) In Texas, very arid climate, with much less chance of developing aflatoxin.

2) But then, in Texas, it is illegal for Wal-marts and entities such as our County Co-Ops to sell aflatoxin-tainted corn. Guess what they do with it when aflatoxin is discovered?

By the way, there has been much recent talk about wildlife feeding becoming banned in KY because of some of these concerns. Don't know much about the other states.

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#2002218 - 07/21/10 01:44 PM

Re: Just wondering [Re: Wes Parrish]

BigGameGuy
TWRA Biologist
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Registered: 05/14/04
Posts: 6359
Loc: Nashville

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Don't forget different political make-up as well. Many of the other states that allow baiting have legislative bodies creating most of their wildlife laws. We are lucky here in that folks with a vested interest in wildlife are the ones passing most of the wildlife laws (TWRC). That could be the main reason why we don't legalize something that is detrimental to the resource.

FYI - I will be moving this to the Serious Forum for discussion. It's a good topic but if we want to continue, I would rather it be discussed in the other forum.

_________________________
If given the choice between education and regulation, I'll choose education every time.

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#2002300 - 07/21/10 02:27 PM

Re: Just wondering [Re: BigGameGuy]

boogerthumper
4 Point

Registered: 12/28/09
Posts: 261
Loc: tenn

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Thank you big game guy and wes for your thoughts. Any thoughts about Mississippi due to it's similar high humidity climate where it is legal to bait?

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#2002424 - 07/21/10 04:05 PM

Re: Just wondering [Re: boogerthumper]

Wes Parrish
16 Point

Registered: 06/12/02
Posts: 17068
Loc: Knoxville-Dover-Union City, TN

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Originally Posted By: boogerthumper

Any thoughts about Mississippi due to it's similar high humidity climate where it is legal to bait?

Politicians in Mississippi vs. Wildlife Biologists in Tennessee.

Some will also ask why "feeding" wildlife is not illegal year-round in TN instead of just during hunting season for hunters. The main reason is the "political" climate. TWRA carries a lot of clout regarding the "hunting" issues, but not as much regarding all the non-hunters who want to feed all the little deer in their backyards.

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