Baiting:
Twenty some years ago I began a program of habitat, food and water to bring deer to me instead of chasing them. It was a private thing and in my area I was probably one of the first. When I asked game and fish if I could do this 20 some years ago the person in Bismarck started laughing and told me all the rest were also laughing as the deer would come, eat the feed and you will never see a deer in the daylight. you betcha you, so fine go for it they said.
Latter I got into food plots, planted hundreds of trees and developing various sites for wildlife (Only problem was to many coons and elk found these spots). Food plots work well and really well when you have a weapon that kills 3-500 yards out. Not as good for a weapon going out 25-40 yards.
I assume they will not ban food plots but not sure why not. No different than a pile of corn. I think we all can agree that deer do herd up and even without baiting they will eat in the same spot and out of the same pile of hay or whatever the farmer/rancher has left out there. Or maybe the same tree twig.
I have hunted more years with a rifle until I gave it up in 98 for a bow but I think we can also all agree that rifle hunter and bow hunter are at odds for various reasons with some of those reasons wrong.
Over the years I have learn not to take game and fish words as gospel. Does baiting add to CWD, I would assume it does not help out. Does a year round habitat development along with food plots and providing food in the winter to help deer stay alive with more deer on hand? I would think so.
I am sure game and fish and others want baiting outlaw for a lot more reason than CWD. Neighbors got all the deer, the only effort I will put into deer is shooting at a box on Friday morning and then shooting a deer were ever I find one, so called ethics, ect.
For those reason in time baiting, food plots will be gone using CWD control as the reason.
Will be interesting when it happens and how all the baiters will survive. There will be changes with some good and some not so good.
I will adapt and survive as I will need to if I am to continue. DB
- - - Updated - - -
My personal agenda is that game and fish and Canada need to work together on what the goals our with elk in the turtle mountains.
A different habitat and environment on each side of the line. db