Gary10ec1

Still new to the board but I don' t have any probs with baiting. A little corn scattered on the road along a shooting lane never hurts. I see the point of the purests though. But, truth be told some of us don' t have the time to scout as much as we would like. Also, in my case I hunt a property in Charleston SC with some friends but live in FL. So on a 3 or 4 day trip I do whatever I can to increase my chances of success. Granted my kind of hunting is very fun and exciting, but not the same as working the property year round to pick up movement patterns, glassing, or looking for sign. So folks I respect each camps views on the subject but don' t make it a habit to look down on other hunters. By the way I have no qualms about catching a big fat FL Largemouth on a shinner either! Happy huntin...... Gary

Georgetownboys

Just for the record. . . .we are running the feeders year round. Also tend foodplots year round. We provide mineral blocks and grain blocks during the entire year. In reality we help alot more animals than we shoot. During the 3 years we have been working this ranch we see more deer and rack size is growing.

tj_cubin

im pretty sure it is illegal in NY, but either way, we don' t bait. I wouldn' t bait deer anyway. I would prefer to just hunt natural food sources. I may not agree with it, but if you want to bait deer, and it is legal, i won' t judge you because of it.

BTW, i dont consider myself a master hunter, or a master baiter, but i would prefer to be known by the former

austinbrian

I hunt feeders in Texas Hill Country.

I would like to comment to some of you who say you would never hunt a area where there is bait. Well guys you are not going to ever hunt texas hill country and have anything to show for it.

Another comment. Someone made in this thread. In the hill country lease I am on we have 640 acers. There are about 50-100 head of cows at any given time and they keep preaty much everything ediable eaten. In the last 3 years me and a couple of the other guys there have been keeping salt licks out there, feeders going year round, and got a protein feeder out there as well. We have seen a stronger herd, better antlers, about 20% more weight and the population as a whole has benifited. 4 years ago the deer were scrappy little twigs. We got a 8 point buck with a 14 inch spread and people were high fiveing each other. Now with the feeder, slat and protien along with a couple of ATV made food plots the catel can' t get to and I think the Hill Country deer are better for it.

That being said i have been hunting the last 5 weekends here in texas. I have hunted 2 blinds on my lease (mine with one feeder and another with two) and I have yet to harvest a deer. It' s not shooting fish in a barrel. Might be where your from but the deer know what a feeder means. They know where your blind is. They know your shooting lanes. It' s like they have perfect recon of the whole situation. And since I believe in one shot one kill I have yet to harvest a thing.

When is Rome!

PAHUNTER21

Personally, I am against shooting deer over bait. I grew up in PA where hunting over bait is illegal.

Baiting exceptions:

I enjoy watching deer from my back window come to the feeders and/or salt blocks. This can be a very educational and exciting experience for those who have never been exposed to such wildlife as well as seasoned hunters. Baiting to watch = ok with me. Baiting to shoot = against my morals.

Natural food sources or agricultural planted crops (corn, alfalfa, and even food plots) are a different story in my book. These entities contribute to the whole environment, rather than throwing a pile foriegn food in an already established environment.

As far as providing nutrients necessary for a herd' s survival or QDM, I am ok with that. But hutning over these un-natural food sources, I am against.

But hey, to each is own. If it' s legal where you hunt and you want or need to do it, go ahead, your allowed. As for me, I' ll stick to my ways.

Good Luck Out there,
-BJ

badshotbob

I' ve hunted over bait many many years, nothing wrong with it. You will however be taking many doe or 1.5 year old bucks and rarely if ever a bruiser, but that' s what the other stand is for! Put one in the freezer, then go hunt the monster.

Georgetownboys

Hi 5 to AustinBrian. . . . .I also commented in this thread and it is true. I have been in the blind 10/12 times this season and have taken but 1 nice 8 point for myself. I have many hunting sessions where the deer never even go near a feeder but instead you see them in other areas.

Question for AustinBrian. . . .are you mixing the Protein with the corn, if so what brand have you selected to keep the throat of the feeder from gummin up with the dust from the protein pellets. What seed are you using, soil is poor and dry at times to say the least. Planted imperial no plow but had only limited success this season. I don' t have cattle on the 300 I hunt but they are all around us, so I have a nice haven for the deer to bed down in and a place with only limited hunting presssure.

LouisianaHunter

I hunt in Louisiana, I have a corn feeder and I can attest that deer come when they want...not when the feeder goes off. I have a motion camera at the feeder that shows the deer feeding at night 90 or so percent of the time. Just because you put corn out doesn' t mean that you will kill a deer over your bait. It is more of a supplement than a primary food source.

burniegoeasily

I have hunted over bait, I see nothing wrong with it. If those who feel it is wrong, consider me a rancher. Instead of cows, I have deer. When I want a deer I might hunt a feeder. This grip has gone on as long as I can remember. Same as the old gripe as to who is the true hunters bow hunters or rifle hunters, compound bow hunters or traditional bow, High fence or no fence etc. etc. etc.. I personally dont care how someone hunts as long as it is legal and ethical. I do them all. I will stalk, ambush, or set over food. I bow hunt most of the time, pistol some of the time, and rifle when looking for a big buck. I guess you can call me opportunistic. My goal is to harvest a deer, how it gets done depends on the opportunity set before me.



Good point badshotbob


I have a question for those who cant stand the idea of hunting over a feeder: Do you ambush? If so, where do you think these deer are going? Food or water, most of the time. A feeder is just about as productive as a good trail.

NE Hunter

burniegoeasily , I' ve read many threads on this topic and you have in my mind given THE best answer.