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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Fritz the Cat" data-source="post: 390177" data-attributes="member: 605">In the video the fellow is wearing a National Deer Association shirt. <a href="https://deerassociation.com/about/position-statements/" target="_blank">https://deerassociation.com/about/position-statements/</a>BaitingThe practice of baiting and its role in deer management have grown in terms of controversy and complexity in recent years.  The NDA acknowledges the available scientific data surrounding this issue is incomplete and, at times, inconsistent.  Therefore, the NDA has used the available scientific data and the experience of professional wildlife biologists in formulating the following Position Statement.The NDA differentiates between baiting and supplemental feeding.  Supplemental feeding is addressed in a separate Position Statement. The NDA defines baiting as the placement of food to concentrate wildlife (deer) for the purposes of hunting, trapping, or viewing.Advantages<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Camera surveys – Baiting is an effective method for conducting camera surveys which aid deer managers in determining densities, sex ratios, age structure, recruitment rates, and appropriate harvest rates.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Achieving Harvest Goals – Baiting can be a useful tool to aid deer managers in achieving harvest goals, particularly in urban and suburban areas with high densities and limited hunting opportunities.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Hunter Recruitment and Satisfaction – Baiting may increase the quantity of game viewed per hunt and therefore may enhance the hunting experience for some hunters.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Scientific Research – Baiting is a common technique used by wildlife professionals and researchers to trap and study deer.</li> </ul>Disadvantages<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Disease – Baiting increases density around a single food source and therefore increases the potential for direct and indirect contact among individuals.  Currently there are 12 deer diseases that are thought to be spread by direct contact, two of which are bovine tuberculosis and chronic wasting disease (CWD).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Habitat Impact – Studies have shown that baiting can decrease the home range size of deer and therefore can also negatively impact the surrounding native vegetation.  Secondarily, many wildlife professionals believe that a reliance on baiting for hunting purposes may reduce native habitat management efforts.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Nocturnal Effect – Several studies have shown that baiting of deer <a href="https://deerassociation.com/which-deer-visit-feeders-and-when-new-research-is-out/" target="_blank">increases nocturnal activity</a> and decreases daytime activity.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Non-target Species – Scientific data shows that baiting for deer can negatively impact several non-target species, such as songbirds, game birds, and small mammals. Baiting can also increase predation at and around bait sites.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Artificial Increase in Carrying Capacity – Baiting can artificially increase a species carrying capacity.  This problem is exacerbated when the bait is only available seasonally, especially in the fall (hunting season).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Fair Chase – The ethical battle concerning baiting as fair-chase hunting continues to divide both hunters and wildlife professionals.</li> </ul>Position: The NDA opposes the expansion of baiting where not currently legal. The NDA will not work to repeal baiting where currently legal, except where CWD (or other known diseases) is present. The NDA supports the use of baiting by wildlife professionals conducting scientific research. The NDA supports continued research on the effects on baiting in deer management programs.Supplemental FeedingThe practice of supplemental feeding and its role in deer management have grown in terms of controversy and complexity in recent years.  The NDA acknowledges the available scientific data surrounding this issue is incomplete and, at times, inconsistent.  Therefore, the NDA has used the available scientific data and the experience of professional wildlife biologists in formulating the following position statement.The NDA differentiates between baiting and supplemental feeding. Baiting is addressed in a separate Position Statement.  The NDA defines supplemental feeding as the act of placing quality food resources for the purpose of increasing dietary quality. Advantages<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Agricultural Damage Avoidance – Supplemental feeding can reduce the impact on crop damage in agricultural areas.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Physiological Characteristics – Supplemental feeding during the growth season can have a positive impact on a variety of physiological characteristics in deer including increased body weights, improved nutritional condition of lactating does, more rapid growth rates for fawns, increased reproductive condition, and increased antler development.  The primary growth season for the deer in the United States is April through August.</li> </ul>Disadvantages<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Disease – Supplemental feeding increases density around a single food source and therefore increases the potential for direct and indirect contact among individuals.  Currently there are 12 deer diseases that are thought to be spread by direct contact, two of which are bovine tuberculosis and chronic wasting disease (CWD).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Habitat Impact – Studies have shown that supplemental feeding can decrease the home range size of deer and negatively impact the surrounding native vegetation.  Secondarily, many wildlife professionals believe that a reliance on supplemental feeding may reduce native habitat management efforts.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Migration Disturbance – In areas where deer exhibit migratory behavior, supplemental feeding can delay or prevent migratory patterns which can lead to starvation if supplemental feeding is discontinued.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Artificial Increase in Carrying Capacity – Supplemental feeding can artificially increase a species carrying capacity. </li> </ul>Position: The NDA supports providing adequate food and cover for deer through habitat management programs.  The NDA does not support supplemental feeding in known CWD and bovine TB areas or where this activity may disrupt natural migratory patterns of deer.</blockquote>

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