Jonathan Kaiser
NR 320 Blog
There are many individuals on both sides of the pro-baiting and anti-baiting of whitetail deer discussion, including hunters and non-hunters. Despite the merits of not baiting, I would argue that there are many situations and reasons for why an individual would choose to ethically and legally bait for whitetail deer.
First of all, many individuals, both anti-baiting hunters and non-hunters, utilize depictions of illegal and grossly misrepresented baiting in order to inaccurately further their anti-baiting argument. I would challenge anyone to find a legal, pro-baiting hunter who would call these illegal and misrepresented depictions of baiting ethical. These depictions are simply not accurate of what legal baiting is. Therefore, they are ruled out as accurate depictions of ethical and legal baiting.
Also, many anti-baiting individuals claim that whitetail deer would be more healthy without baiting. Specifically, many say that diseases such as bovine tuberculosis are spread by concentrating deer near a pinpoint food source. Often times though, food plots go unmentioned, yet for the most part, food plots are merely extra large bait piles that only land owners and the well endowed can have access to. The largest difference between traditional baiting and food plots is that food plots are legal almost everywhere, whereas baiting is not in many areas.
Many individuals also claim that humans would be better whitetail deer managers without baiting as well as would harvest just as many whitetail deer without bait. The majority of the time, the critics of whitetail deer baiting cite no specific study that proves that hunters would see just as many whitetail deer without bait. If you really want proof, go hunting. As a whitetail deer hunter, I can personally attest that I have seen many more whitetail deer the last few seasons hunting by legal bait than I would have without bait. Of course, these instances took place while baiting was still legal in the areas which I hunted. I encourage you to try the same test for yourself if the law allows. Therefore, although it would most likely differ from place to place, a whitetail deer hunter would then be able to legally harvest more deer according to the region's specific regulations, thus potentially managing the deer herd more effectively.
Lastly, I will briefly address the issue of hunter public image and the fight between pro-baiters and anti-baiters. Legal and ethical pro-baiting hunters are grossly misrepresented by inaccurate images of obvious illegal baiting as well as by relatively unsupported and over exaggerated opinions regarding all that is wrong with the legal practice of whitetail deer baiting. This commonplace practice then fuels a public, anti-hunting out cry. Thus, pro-baiting hunters as well as the hunting community in general are being slandered and misrepresented, often inaccurately depicted as unethical and non-law abiding citizens. Simply put, the battle between the pro-baiting and anti-baiting hunting community could be solved if we simply accepted our different preferences as far as legal hunting practices are concerned.
4 comments:
You did a great job of showing the good points about legal baiting. You made it clear that baiting like many other things if done legally and in moderation can be useful. I don't bait myself but with recent deer seasons of seeing very few deer I can see where baiting might help to attract deer in order for a young person to have the oppotunity to shoot a deer. Very well done.
Keith Bollinger
Not being a hunter myself, I am new to how much controversy there is over deer baiting. You helped me understand the issue better and have a well thought out argument. I come from a hunting family that choses not to bait. For them, it takes the sport out of hunting, and they have not been in a situation where they felt they needed to bait in order to lure deer in. They usually have a successful hunt without baiting. I would agree with you that as long as the deer herd is not harmed, it seems to be a matter of personal preference rather than a question of it being right or wrong.
Joann Elizalde
Thoughtful post. In Mississippi/ Alabama, I have bowhunted over greenfields and in locust forests. How different is that from legal baiting? I think you are right that careful regulations should be the deciding factor.
Comment from Joann: Not being a hunter myself, I am new to how much controversy there is over deer baiting. You helped me understand the issue better and have a well thought out argument. I come from a hunting family that choses not to bait. For them, it takes the sport out of hunting, and they have not been in a situation where they felt they needed to bait in order to lure deer in. They usually have a successful hunt without baiting. I would agree with you that as long as the deer herd is not harmed, it seems to be a matter of personal preference rather than a question of it being right or wrong.
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