Baiting Bill HB1618/SB1942

[Snake]

I'm saying that "leveling the playing field" is a fallacy and one not worthy of pursuing. The pro baiting arguments feed into this "oppressed vs privileged" dynamic in our society today. I'd just as well keep that out of my hunting. It may be an unpopular opinion but it's mine.

If my neighbor has more equipment, more and/or better land, and more time to manage theirs, any amount of bait doesn't negate that. If anything, they'll keep doing what they're doing and still be able to put down more bait than I can afford, furthering the gap between me and "them" and I resent them more because of it.

And even if it did "level the playing field" why should that be a concern of the TWRA? Shouldn't they concern themselves with equal opportunity instead of the perception of equal outcomes?

Apparently this is not TWRA'S ideal . I just made a comment brother that's all . I have a right to my opinion as you do ! My decision to vote as I did was because of the surrounding states doing as they do if they wasn't I wouldn't have voted that way. Look as one member put it you do you and I'll do me !!!

 

[Hymie3]

Can't we all just get along? Wait. That's already been used. Good calm debating without hating is what we should be about. Opinions differ. Just be cool. On the same team. ( well most of us. ). Apparently there are six who are commies…..

 

[TNTreeman]

And what I was talking about those that don't have the means you do , which is ok I never denied that and the work it requires to put out a foodplot . And only if it's deemed legal to bait would I condone it . Lots of people do it on these surrounding states and I haven't heard any negative things about those...not that there aren't any. Most of you that put the time in on making the plots have even stated its not an advantage so .....why do it ????? Of course it's can advantage ! Bet there's not a food plot that's made that hadn't got a stand watching it !! So its NOT just for the deer its also to hopefully kill one off it .Not much said about those who feed the deer to supplement feeding when there is not much food available which some do and make sure the feed is gone before season. It's just different if someone is hunting over it , that's the beef right ?

My buddy in Georgia has multiple feeders going almost year round , it costs a fortune . If you hunt acorns you hunt around food sources too, some of those oaks were planted by somebody , like a food plot. I voted no because I don't think most bait ( corn) is good for the wildlife.

 

[deerhunter10]

Not for it for mainly turkeys more than anything.

The argument that people make that food plots are the same as baiting is a stretch I understand it but a stretch.

5 or 7 years ago I would have said it's coming, now with cwd and the turkeys it won't happen.

At the end of the day learn to hunt teach your kids how to hunt and read sign.

Also at the end of the day since this is on private only the public land guys will get but hurt.

the people that don't do food plots are butt hurt because they can't or just to lazy to and have a giant misnomer about food plots anyways and bait. I would say a big percentage of mature deer aren't killed on foodplots nor will they be killed on corn piles.

I believe mega has been talking about the challenges on his Mississippi club surrounding baiting its not magic.

 

[Bear15]

I'm for it. I supplement this time of year until green up, then I feed thru the summer to inventory and hold them until they shed the velvet. I cut it off before the season rolls around. I also plant several food plots. Some as destination and others as 1/4 acre kill plots. I thoroughly enjoy planting and farming my wildlife, . In my opinion there is absolutely no difference in a 1/4 turnip or oat patch strategically planted close to bedding. I plant them to bow kill deer on. It benefits my deer right up until I deflate them. It's not gonna greatly affect me either way. I'll still plant even if legal to bait cause I enjoy it and it's good for my deer. I hunt middle GA every year as well. It's 3 1/2 from the house and I don't have any plots on that piece. It's 350 acres of pecan trees and nasty thick cover with roads cut thru the thick. With strategically placed feeders on the roads thru the thick. It's a way better place than my ground in TN. I have more deer. I see more deer, and they're way bigger. It's fun too and I enjoy it. It's different. But if I kill a deer standing in a corn pile is it really any different than if I kill a deer eating corn off a Cobb that grew there ??? It's a lot of fun either way!

 

[Rockhound]

90% of the hunters out there are doing it anyway so you might as well legalize it.

 

[Rockhound]

aflatoxins and it's negative effective on turkeys is a fact and the already decline in population is also a fact. So until they require aflatoxin levels to be tested in wildlife corn I say no. But I also hate when the government puts restrictions on what I can do on my one land. Less government is better government in my opinion but one also has to think of the sustainability of wildlife so there of course has to be laws to keep healthy population of animals. But if that was in the hands of the general public well we would be screwed because people are stupid

Your turkeys are already eating corn on your or your neighbors property anyway, guarantee it. It doesn't suddenly become a problem when it's labeled bait, instead of feed. It's already happening and will continue to happen.

 

[Rockhound]

How does bait even the playing field?

And since when is it the government's job to regulate fairness?

Pro baiting arguments are borderline socialist. Prove me wrong.

It has been my experience you can't out food plot a pile of corn. And we can go totally to opposite side of the field with your questions.

Since when is it the governments job to have that much reach onto my private property?


Anti baiting arguments are borderline communism, prove me wrong.

Honestly I couldn't care less if they did or not, you don't have to "learn to hunt" to kill a deer anymore. Most folks sew a bag of winter wheat on any open area they have and have plenty of opportunities. It takes 0 skill to kill a deer anymore. It takes a lot of skill and luck to kill a mature buck, but that corn pile isn't gonna help you with that anyway so the point is moot.

 

[DoubleRidge]

Bet there's not a food plot that's made that hadn't got a stand watching it !! So its NOT just for the deer its also to hopefully kill one off it .

Not entirely true...but would agree that most, not all, food plots have a stand or blind near them. We have two plots on the farm that do not have stands or blinds on them and they are not hunted. Another difference is that right now deer are using our food plots and have been the last two months since we stopped hunting the farm. The cereal rye and winter wheat is green and they are hammering it right now....then this spring the crimson clover will come in and the deer and turkey will benifit from it....completely different than if we poured out some bag of cheap corn which may or may not have or develop aflatoxin. When baiting most people will stop when their hunt is over unlike a food plot that continues to provide benifits. Also bait concentrates deer making them more susceptible to predators and disease where food plots do not...and massive ammounts of farm equipment are not required to put out food plots but it does take effort and work, unlike pouring out a bag of corn on the ground...so I agree that the better question is whats best for all wildlife? Bait piles or no bait piles? I vote no bait piles.

 

[Dave hayes]

What's the difference between a man dumping a bag of Big&J out and all you that hunt over your plush food plots? Not everyone has the land or money and equipment to grow food plots. You're hunting over food that you put there!

 

[philsanchez76]

Not for it. It could possibly make things harder for me as a public land hunter. Most of the land I hunt is surrounded by private. Im sure if more folks were baiting than do now, we could potentially see even less deer on the public. But like others have said, it wouldn't hurt my chances at getting a good buck. Maybe just hurt my chances for taking several does for meat though.

 

[Flintlocksforme]

Setting in a shooting house over a food plot teaches young hunters what ???

They will just grow up enjoying hunting and buy 2-3k$ boxes. Maybe they will grow up just like the one taking them. There are plenty of ways to hunt and thank God we have the freedom to choose. There are plenty of deer my counties (Benton) harvest was almost 1/2 what it was 10 years ago. Not because a lack of deer either. CWD transportation rules stopped people from driving across TN River to get processed. Maybe a lack of hunting. Who cares? If hunters don't kill them, TWRA will.

 

[hammer33]

Hmm interesting opinions and the reasons for them. Personally I think as long as you aren't dumping it in a pile to mold it doesn't matter. The row croppers on our farm rotate beans and corn. Deer, turkey, and small game feed on the wasted grains all winter, or as long as it lasts. How much different is that from running a corn slinger/feeder? Not much.

Think about how much money is involved in the current non baiting deer culture. Food plots, fertilizer, lime, fire, timber management, consultants, spraying, tilling, $$$$$$$$ its a lot of money spent to "farm" deer. How much of that market share is at risk if baiting is allowed? Instead of spending a couple thousand dollars per season on food plots, you could buy a feeder for $200 and 10 sacks of corn at $8. So there is a huge institutional push back against baiting based NOT on herd health, but on $$$$ and market shares. I wonder how much of our "information" regarding baiting (well any subject actually) is really propaganda influenced by vested interests and NOT straight facts?

 

[Flintlocksforme]

There are plenty of ways to hunt and thank God we have the freedom to choose. Who cares how they do it? If hunters don't kill them, TWRA will especially if you are in or near CWD zone.
Back when I was younger I took ( short cuts ) to kill game like many. Back in those days the GW could enter private land like they owned the place. It always added a little extra excitement to the hunt. Fast forward to now, the kids are grown and flown, I am seeing the reality of retirement. I got more time to hunt and I don't want to take short cuts. Everyone is not in the same situation. Just like everything else hunters argue about since the beginning of time. The Bible says " Arise, Kill and Eat" it's not a sin to bait if it's legal guys.

 

[timberjack86]

Don't care, I don't, and won't do it for deer, but what I have heard is many do it now anyway, legal or not. Besides, once CWD spreads, it will be a moot point.

My thoughts exactly, I guess I lean more to keep it like it is now.

 

[Hillbilly Hunter]

My buddy in Georgia has multiple feeders going almost year round , it costs a fortune . If you hunt acorns you hunt around food sources too, some of those oaks were planted by somebody , like a food plot. I voted no because I don't think most bait ( corn) is good for the wildlife.

Mother nature "plants" way more trees than people.

 

[Hillbilly Hunter]

The bait pile is the same as a food plot argument is weak and nowhere near the same thing.

 

[NChunt1]

Your turkeys are already eating corn on your or your neighbors property anyway, guarantee it. It doesn't suddenly become a problem when it's labeled bait, instead of feed. It's already happening and will continue to happen.

There is no doubt about that. But what I'm saying is they should require the levels to be tested in wildlife corn that they sell for deer and turkeys just like they do livestock corn and if the laws do allow baiting require people to buy tested corn. Of course there will be a lot of people who buy regular corn and do not care but making it a law and making people aware of the problem could not possibly hurt if made legal

 

[diamond hunter]

Is this something that is being voted on? Im in the dark here.

 

[TNTreeman]

Mother nature "plants" way more trees than people.

I totally agree. I said " some" of those oaks. My point was hunting around food sources no matter who planted them.