Bating license in the news

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Disclaimer: I don't bait and will never bait but I think I remember..... TWRA: We have CWD in places, so we need to kill all the deer there to slow the spread....TWRA: Baiting can spread CWD.... TWRA: Now, for a fee you can bait, it's all good..... Did I miss anything? 🤣
What CATCHDAWG said. The TWRA did not want this. It was voted in by our state legislators (who suck the majority of the time).
 
As hands off as I normally am when it comes to other hunters and as little as I care about how or with what weapon people choose to hunt, this is just the dumbest thing. And it should be viewed as ominous foreshadowing to what will happen when the legistlators are running the show after TWRA gets folded in to some other agency in the future. And I do believe that's coming somewhere down the line.
 
As hands off as I normally am when it comes to other hunters and as little as I care about how or with what weapon people choose to hunt, this is just the dumbest thing. And it should be viewed as ominous foreshadowing to what will happen when the legistlators are running the show after TWRA gets folded in to some other agency in the future. And I do believe that's coming somewhere down the line.
Sadly, as EVERYTHING gets politicized, I think you're right.
 
As hands off as I normally am when it comes to other hunters and as little as I care about how or with what weapon people choose to hunt, this is just the dumbest thing. And it should be viewed as ominous foreshadowing to what will happen when the legistlators are running the show after TWRA gets folded in to some other agency in the future. And I do believe that's coming somewhere down the line.
I'm guessing they'll merge TWRA, and TN Forestry into a TN DNR. There are probably a couple of other agencies that could be pulled into that as well.
 
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I dont bait.

But, if you read that link to the Deer Baiting Privilege License it lists Salts as an unauthorized bait. So, salt is now banned?
 
I dont bait.

But, if you read that link to the Deer Baiting Privilege License it lists Salts as an unauthorized bait. So, salt is now banned?
Several products contain sugar. Then there is that deer cocaine that people pour on top of minerals that bubbles up ....all that seems to be banned.

How is putting out anything in front of a camera handled?
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I've said this before but TWRA doesn't get money from the states general fund. And that was always touted as a good thing. Cause at least the TWRA could pass rules and regs. That were dictated by a biological and secondary a Hunter/Fishermans needs. But at this point the cat is out of the bag. And we all know they will be told what to do. Same as if they did get funding from the general fund. So at this point in 2026 show me the benefits of keeping things separated.
 
Unfortunately, TFWC has the final say and often overrides TWRAs recommendations. And TFWC members are appointed by politicians. Regardless of what we may think of TWRA at times, their recommendations are usually science based, not political. Can't say that about TFWC.

I may just get the permit because I know the property next to the one I hunt has corn feeders. They aren't within sight of the property lines, and to the best of my knowledge, they are more than 250 yards away. Regardless, nothing prevents them from putting one up closer.
 
I doubt we ever hear all of the story just snippets, the biologists are in a tough spot, they have to have a job which are not on every street corner. What we hear a lot of times is probably worse case scenario's on baiting, years ago I seen film of turkey dying from moldy feed and was big flocks. Timed feeders that sling a certain amount out vs tube probably cause less chance for problems. Still can't believe politicians can control what they have no clue about and don't care that they don't know. $$$ is also what's driving the straight wall hunt also. Not sure why they didn't try to sell a permit for that also.Seems the hunting has taken some big hits for this season, I would think that all this could be shut off and go back to the old regs if it doesn't generate the $$ and drops the herd numbers. On the CWD a reduced herd will slow down the spread to some degree. Lot of If's coming down the pike.
 
I doubt we ever hear all of the story just snippets, the biologists are in a tough spot, they have to have a job which are not on every street corner. What we hear a lot of times is probably worse case scenario's on baiting, years ago I seen film of turkey dying from moldy feed and was big flocks. Timed feeders that sling a certain amount out vs tube probably cause less chance for problems. Still can't believe politicians can control what they have no clue about and don't care that they don't know. $$$ is also what's driving the straight wall hunt also. Not sure why they didn't try to sell a permit for that also.Seems the hunting has taken some big hits for this season, I would think that all this could be shut off and go back to the old regs if it doesn't generate the $$ and drops the herd numbers. On the CWD a reduced herd will slow down the spread to some degree. Lot of If's coming down the pike.
Going back on the bait bill would require politicians to admit that they or their buddies got it wrong. That doesn't happen without a change in majority representation.
 
Unfortunately, TFWC has the final say and often overrides TWRAs recommendations. And TFWC members are appointed by politicians. Regardless of what we may think of TWRA at times, their recommendations are usually science based, not political. Can't say that about TFWC.

I may just get the permit because I know the property next to the one I hunt has corn feeders. They aren't within sight of the property lines, and to the best of my knowledge, they are more than 250 yards away. Regardless, nothing prevents them from putting one up closer.
Great question. Used to be, you couldn't hunt within 250 yards of bait/feeder. I once turned in my neighbor for baiting because he poured it right on my property line, which prevented me from hunting my own property within 250 yards of the bait. Will this rule be removed? I will NOT be buying a permit.
 
I may just get the permit because I know the property next to the one I hunt has corn feeders. They aren't within sight of the property lines, and to the best of my knowledge, they are more than 250 yards away. Regardless, nothing prevents them from putting one up closer.
Wait...what? Buy a priveledge permit to hunt your land because a neighbor might be baiting on their land....I do understand and appreciate the spirit of your statement and I understand the 250 yard rule and all....but I'm not buying a baiting permit because of something my neighbors might be doing...(but thankfully the main neighbor that hunts who borders us has the same thoughts on baiting as we do so I wont be faced with this scenario)...but I dont see TWRA trying to bust people on neighboring propertys of those who bait. In other words, I have stands and shooting houses within 250 yards of property lines and would have no way to know if someone is or is not baiting...and again, I respect your desire to hunt legal, I do as well, but Im not buying the permit for a maybe or what if....that 50 bucks will buy a lot of chainsaw gas to do something actually benifical for wildlife.
(Just venting Joe2Kool...my comments are not directed at you, just general conversation on the topic)
 
Great question. Used to be, you couldn't hunt within 250 yards of bait/feeder. I once turned in my neighbor for baiting because he poured it right on my property line, which prevented me from hunting my own property within 250 yards of the bait. Will this rule be removed? I will NOT be buying a permit.
I get what you are saying, but most things aren't a problem until they are. Do you really think a reasonable Game Warden, would keep you from hunting your own property because of someone else's crime? I'd like to see that court case. Property rights still mean things. Someone else's crime should not a affect your rights to your own property.

My friend's place is adjacent to state land. Would he get in trouble (if he had a permit) to put a feeder right on the line? Would a potential public land hunter be penalized because he did? I just think these laws are absurd to try and enforce.
 
If any neighbor baited the line I wouldn't have anywhere I could hunt besides public property. It would be nice to have that kind of property but not happening here.
 
Hmm, I thought you needed a permit for every property you hunt? It seems that you need just one license to cover it, but everyone that hunts the property needs a license?

Regardless of whether you like the law or not, requiring a person that OWNS their own property to buy one seems nuts. You spend thousands and millions of dollars to buy property and the government wants you to spend more to do something on your own property.

The other thing is this. Seemingly things like having hog exemptions are benign. However, it allows TWRA to come on your property (probably without a warrant since you signed up). I'm not saying that they are evil or anything, it is just you gave up your property rights and the right to privacy because you wanted to shoot the hogs that are in your backyard legally. After you have spent a million dollars on the property you always wanted so you could have privacy.
How long before this law is challenged in court. A private land owner may hunt on their property without buying a license. I do not see how the government can legally charge a fee for this same land owner to have the right to bait on their property.

I don't use bait, but fear over regulating statutes such as the baiting bill could expand to even the practice of using food plots.
 
I dont bait.

But, if you read that link to the Deer Baiting Privilege License it lists Salts as an unauthorized bait. So, salt is now banned?
Salt blocks were on the list of things we could no longer put out in CWD zone anyhow. Baiting license does nothing in CWD zone, it's not allowed here anyhow.
 
We know the TWRA is against it; so do you think they will enforce it? There's no way it would provide a decent revenue stream for them because they'll only get 10 bucks for each violation. The courts will get the rest.
 

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