Create Fishing Report
Upload Photo Gallery Picture
Add a Classified
Fishing Report and More....
tell me what you think about the baiting laws for last year and this year. i personally think that they went a little over board on them. from what i know they had found one deer with CWD, and it was in a fenced in farm. so why the strick laws on baiting? tell me what you think. i am not a huge fan of baiting to begin with, but to each his own. tell me what you think about them.
The anit-baiting laws are great. It is not overkill I don't believe, and I would like the UP to ban baiting as well. Seperating the apples that fall from a tree is a little much, but the DNR needs to do whatever they can to keep Michigan's deer herd healthy. Even if it means taking drasctic measures like this. Although only one domestic deer was found to have CWD, it only takes one. One bad apple spoils the whole barrel. I would rather let Mother Nature decide if deer are goingt to pass CWD to one another, rather than a hunter. I am glad that baiting has been banned, and I hope the DNR does not change this policy because of pressure from hunters that bait, as well as farmers. They need to stand up for what is right.
If the deer found was a wild animal I would agree to the baitng ban, but it is a captive animal so instead of banning bait maybe they should ban keeping tamed deer. I do not use bait down here (zone three) were I hunt because of all the funnels and areas were deer do not frequent much during the day makes it much easier to get one up close in bow range. However I really miss baiting up north on state land were there is thousands of acres of forest. the deer up there browse through the woods, sometimes randomly and if you are a weekend guy you may never get a good clean shot opportunity. To me this promotes marginal shot at deer that are really a little out of range for most people. What a great tool for the anti hunters--hey mr. dnr come out to my farm and look at my sick deer. Also it makes no sense to ban bait in zone two when it is hundreds of miles from the sick deer, but I can go to zone one and bait by the wisconsin border were sick deer (CWD) are anly a handful of miles away. Also, why is it that the deer farm that had the deer was business as usual only 30 days later. Colorado has been dealing with this disease for thirty years and it is still a great place to hunt--I would hate to see this disease get into the michigan herd but wanted to point out that if it does happen it is not like all the deer will drop dead. Just an opinion that you asked for. Good luck on your hunts--however you choose to do it.
"Seperating the apples that fall from a tree is a little much, but the DNR needs to do whatever they can to keep Michigan's deer herd healthy. Even if it means taking drasctic measures like this"
Nice that you support banning bait, but not what caused the whole fiasco. Mybe you should be more in support of high fence operations banning and the animals they are bringing in. Its quite laughable that that you equate baiting to CWD when it had nothing to do with it to begin with, and if im not mistaken havent found anymore besides the 1 brought to the ranch but yeah ban baiting thats the ticket. You should also be in favor of a campaign to install signs at all corn, bean,and hay fields that says no more than 1 deer per field at a time and if you have CWD stay out.
Fish-n-Fool you are right that CWD was not caused by baiting. On the other hand baiting will cause deer to be in close proximity to one another where saliva can be exchanged and CWD passed on. The sign thing is a great idea I will get right on it! The difference in a field is the vast amount of food available, not a pile of carrots. Yeah deer will be around each other, but the chances are not as high that disease will be passed. How about spending some time in the woods and patterning the deer, then setting up according to how they move? We already have enough advantages to kill a deer (i.e. scopes, tree stands, scentless soap, guns, bows) now you want to feed them as you shoot them? If you want to bait so you can get a deer the one weekend you get to hunt, maybe you are in it for the wrong reason. Hunting is not all about killing, that's called murder. Hunting is about hanging out at deer camp, sitting out in the woods forgetting about the real world, and having a good time. If you get something great, if not at least you had a good time. I love when somebody says they shot a huge buck over a pile of carrots, like they accomplished something. You are not a good hunter you are a good shot. What happened to the old days when baiting was a bad thing and people were hush-hush if they shot a deer over bait? They didn't want people to know that they were cowards. Personally I hope that baiting is banned for the rest of my lifetime, because it will keep the honest people honest, as well as force people to be real hunters.
I hunt in both the upper and lower penninsula and do not use bait in either location. A few years ago I learned to rattle horns and use a grunt call if you do it right and are in a good deer area you will see deer. It works good during mid day when deer are bedded down and not moving much. Another trick that I use is letting the movement of other hunters push deer to me by staying in my spot when the other hunters come out of the woods for lunch. I think bait piles have taken the hunting out of hunting. Bait or no bait good luck to all and be safe with your firearms.
Its nice that you equate deer hunting to some comradery of guys at a camp drinking beer and telling bullshit stories, but take it back to before your grandpa's started deer camp. Hunting is just that hunting for food not trophys. If you really want to press the issue, then maybe you should grab you a spear, or fashion your own recurve. You despise bait but have no problem going out with a high powered rifle or top of the line compound?
And steeliebob,
Its nice that you can spend the day in the woods while the average guy is at work. Since your grunting and rattling I take it you are just looking for bucks? I would say that would be far worse than baiting when it comes to CWD since its common knowledge that the Does far out number the bucks. Shoot some does and get the population in check, besides thats what hunting is all about anyways right killing for the food? when was the last time you, or anyone else sat down and had a 10 point rack for supper?
So before anyone else gets on a guy for shooting a deer over a bait pile, maybe you should take a long hard look at yourself and your outlook on what hunting is. It surely isnt how many points can i get, its can i get some meat for the family. Oh also it has been presumed that because im not against it than i must do it myself. Well lets be clear short of poaching i could care less what a guy has to do to get his kill.
Fish-n-Fool
That's funny, I say hanging out at deer camp and you automatically think drinking. Do you have to be drunk to have a good time? Sounds like you have a drinking problem. And you're right I will go out with a high powered scope, just because I have a scope doesn't mean deer are going to walk past. You are just afraid that you are going to come back to camp without seeing something, and you're buddies are going to make fun you. Another assumption you made was that deer meant steeliebob was targeting bucks. I noticed you talk about does, but think deer means bucks, have you ever seen a doe cause they are part of the deer family as well. Ok let's take it back to before grandpa had a deer camp, I still don't see a reason to bait. You are the person that is going to complain you can't bait, and then complain cause you want to use more bait. How can anybody satisfy a person like that. What is it with you? Can you try working for something? Go out in the woods and spend some time patterning deer. Try hunting by a deer trail, it's not like it was made on accident. How about your comment about 10 point soup, are you telling me you would pass on a 10 pointer HAH! YEAH RIGHT! You would take a shot right as it bent down to pick up a carrot.
Steeliebob
I like your comment about baiting has taking the hunt out of hunting. I'm willing to back up anybody that can say that.
Good luck to both of you this year, and be safe. Don't end up as a statistic nobody wants that.
I believe your reading comprehension skills could use some work. You are now arguing points i never made. I guess the 13 in your name is for your age? There is no reason to engage in discussion with you further as you cant even apparently read a few simple sentences.
Deer are social animals. They naturally feed together. Have you never seen deer lick at each others noses or feed under an apple tree with their noses in close proximity to each other. I don't fully believe that baiting is the issue as much as other hunters truying to push their beliefs on some one else. Who would teach a kid that the size of the animals rack is more important than the food harvested from any animal is beyond me. Sounds kind of disrespectful to the animal. As far as knowing the woods, I probably know them as well as any one. I know them enough to know that with some exceptions the big bucks are not coming from bait piles anyways. So if some one feels his year and a half old bucks are trophy's then who am I to say other wise, or tell them how to hunt. I hunt for food and am not afraid to say it, so yes, I want to harvest meat not antlers, although big racks are a nice bonus, I still feel all deer are trophy's. If you do not want to bait, then don't do it. If you don't want to shoot small bucks then don't do it. Why do people want everyone else to be like them is beyond me, sounds like a boring world. Happy hunting and if you happen to make your kill over bait, more power to you, if not, then each to their own.
Fish-n-Fool
Well first of all, I am not 13 but that was clever. Second of all the point I was arguing is that I said "Hunting is about hanging out at deer camp, sitting out in the woods forgetting about the real world, and having a good time." You came back by saying "Its nice that you equate deer hunting to some comradery of guys at a camp drinking beer." Nowhere in my statements in that post or any other post do I talk about drinking. All I got out of your last post was that you were giving up the debate. Maybe you were afraid because you thought you were arguing with a 13 year old. I don't know, it just seems like you ran out of an arguement and couldn't find anything to say so you threw in the towel.
Free4all
You are right, hunting for meat is what I do as well. If the deer I shoot has a rack well then its my lucky day, but I don't go out there looking to only kill a massive buck. I don't want Fish-n-Fool to be just like me, I was just questioning his form of hunting that's all.
To set the record straight I will hunt at best 6 days this deer season, I own a business and do not get paid time off to deer hunt. I do have two doe tags for Ogemaw County so I plan to go down there and hunt. I will fill a doe tag if the opportunity and the right deer presents itself. Using a grunt call and rattle horns will attract the attention of antlerless deer as well as bucks. There is still a few weeks for practice before the firearm season opens. I would like to shoot the massive rack buck this year who wouldn't. If I shoot an antlerless deer I will be just as happy as I will have tome tastey venison in the freezer. I will hunt for an antlered deer in the UP toward the end of season. When I go into the woods I will get to my spot before daylight and stay until dark. I have very little time to hunt and I will be in the woods every minute of it.
Hell you all are arguin circles - the important thing is the hunting, as long as you can hunt it is fine - when limitations are put on hunting that is a problem - WI has CWD so in CWD area they say kill lots of deer - this is good as lots of good meat goes to all kinds of folks from jailed one to homeless ones to the regular hunters - all the deer get tested and if it got CWD out goes the meat - no big thing. IL is same way in Northern Area - kill lots of deer and keep CWD from spreading.
As far as bait goes - well most of the folks are still doing it and if they are not caught well great now you trained a former law abider to be a criminal - plus most of em will just plow a 1/2 acre and plant corn or beets or whatever - better anyway than a pile of carrots. Plus the big old smart bucks don't go grazin at the local bait pile, you have to be in right spot for them
You have to call in the big ones - they will not respond to a pile of carrots or a buck bomb (nifty marketing but not very effective) or get the big ones to eat somewhere regular like a year round food plot - droppin some apples day before you hunt ain't gonna work
As far as I am concerned what tool you use or how you hunt is up to you - deer are food and it does not matter as long as you are successful. You cannot murder an animal. Hell if you need the food I could even care less if you kill the deer out of season. Whatever, hunt and enjoy hunting - better yet become a member of local pro gun and pro hunting groups and make a difference and support and protect gun and hunting rights.
I personally think the baiting ban is unfair..I know for one it has killed michigan farmers who always banked on alot of their crops selling as deer feed. Personally i dont bait i hunt in calhoun county by jackson and the area is so full of farm fields it wont help anyway. We used to try and bait a little but only thing that would come in was does, not saying it isnt possible but u most likely will not shoot a trophy over bait.... But i honestly think it i unfair the dnr taking this away from a captive deer having this disease i believe it was just a plot to eliminate the baiting so they had a half way decent reason although i could be wrong
The Dept. of Agriculture had the baiting ban law in the books 6 years ago. If there was ever a deer in Mi. that tested positive for CWD the law would go into effect. The Mi. DNR didn't write the law they are only responsible for enforcing it.
Either way the UP has the let em grow (so the wolves can eat a fatter deer) laws and the lower has no bait. The DNR should seperate the apples that naturally fall to the ground so the deer don't eat too close togather. The DNR has some stupid laws mostly influenced by PETA members within its staff that make it a challenge for us to hunt and fish. It is a wonder more people don't hunt in the high fence operations. They really hate those high fence hunting places because you don't need to buy a license to hunt there