Dang. The original bill struck out the existing language of "baited field". Which would have allowed hunting dove on a baited field. But someone caught the mistake and put it back in the bill.

Dove are migratory. They fall under federal laws against baiting. State can't make dove baiting legal, just like ducks.

Gotcha

Don't care for the proposed legal hunting hours change at all. I see my biggest deer when others are already at the truck.

Yea cause you kill them all around midnight with a Q beam.

Y'all heard any thing else about the bait bill yet?

From what I am seeing on the innerweb, There is supposed to be a hearing today at 2:30.

Thanks for the update, will keep an eye out for the results.

New version of the bill:

1 174880-5 : n : 03/09/2016 : SANFORD / kr
2
3 AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION AND FORESTRY COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
4 FOR HB43, AS ENGROSSED
5
6
7
8
9 SYNOPSIS: Under existing law, by regulation of the
10 Department of Conservation and Natural Resources,
11 as it relates to hunting deer on private lands,
12 there is a rebuttable presumption that any bait or
13 feed located beyond 100 yards from the hunter and
14 not within the line of sight of the hunter is not a
15 lure, attraction, or enticement to, on, or over the
16 areas where the hunter is attempting to kill or
17 take the deer.
18 This bill would allow the taking of
19 whitetail deer at high fence deer operations or
20 feral swine by means of bait under certain
21 conditions.
22
23 A BILL
24 TO BE ENTITLED
25 AN ACT
26
Page 1

1 To amend Sections 9-11-244 and 9-11-245 of the Code
2 of Alabama 1975, relating to hunting; to allow the taking of
3 whitetail deer at high fence deer operations or feral swine by
4 means of bait under certain conditions.
5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
6 Section 1. Sections 9-11-244 and 9-11-245 of the
7 Code of Alabama 1975, are amended to read as follows:
8 "§9-11-244.
9 "(a) No person at any time shall take, catch, kill
10 or attempt to take, catch or kill any bird or animal protected
11 by law or regulation of the State of Alabama by means, aid or
12 use, directly or indirectly, of any bait such as shelled,
13 shucked or unshucked corn or of wheat or other grain, salt or
14 any other feed whatsoever that has been so deposited, placed,
15 distributed or scattered as to constitute for such birds or
16 animals a lure, attraction or enticement to, on or over the
17 area where such hunter or hunters are attempting to kill or
18 take them; provided, that such birds or animals may be taken
19 under properly shocked shucked corn and standing crops of
20 corn, wheat or other grain or feed and grains scattered solely
21 as a result of normal agricultural harvesting and provided
22 further, migratory birds may be hunted under the most recent
23 provisions established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
24 or regulations promulgated by the Commissioner of the
25 Department of Conservation and Natural Resources within the
26 limits of the federal regulations. The prohibition to the aid

1 or use of bait under this section shall not apply to the
2 hunting of whitetail deer at high fence deer operations or
3 feral swine.
4 "(b) A landowner or an agent, servant, employee, or
5 another person authorized by the landowner in writing may
6 lawfully bait the landowner's property for whitetail deer or
7 feral swine.
8 "§9-11-245.
9 "No person shall at any time make use of any
10 pitfall, deadfall, baited field, cage, trap, net, pen, baited
11 hook, snare, poison, explosive, or chemical for the purpose of
12 injuring, capturing, or killing birds or animals protected by
13 law or regulation of this state. This section shall not
14 prevent the trapping of animals classified as fur-bearing
15 animals by a duly licensed fur catcher. It shall be legal to
16 use a scaffold for gun hunting of all legal game species
17 except wild turkey and to use a scaffold for bow hunting of
18 all legal game species."
19 Section 2. This act shall become effective on the
20 first day of the fourth month following its passage and
21 approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.

So it would only be legal for high fences? Am I reading that right?

That is how I read it too. If that is the case, damn the deer may as well be tied to the damn feeder. Fish in a barrel for some poor sap to pat themselves on the back for shooting a GIANORMOUS buck! Big deer, small character!

Don't know. But the whole supplemental BS law they passed, was just a way to shut folks up that were complaining, about high fence operations feeding year round (And hunting) and getting away with it..

ya'lll quit reading too soon....

Dang, Now im even more confused. I will say that baiting would have been legal then because the GW would have no way to prove you were hunting for deer when sitting in stand over a swine bait pile.

But with that said doesn't the senate HB43 just make it a 100% free for all baiting with no restrictions about method???

You talking about (b) Fred?

Looks like (b) would legalize baiting. I wonder if paper companies would have to give permission in writing for a lease holder to bait? I thought a $50 per bait site was going to be charged.

Yes.

Probably be a good time to get with your reliable neighbors and agree not to use corn. (now this is a pipe dream).Feeding for the season is expensive enough with 3 or 4 feeders. This way, everybody will have their own feeder. Hopefully the money factor and the lack of imagined success will cut back on some of it.

Okay, for us simple minded, is it legal or not to have a feeder out while hunting? I've got the disc hooked up and ready to make some planting decisions about planting for the spring and summer. Just wish it would be as simple as yes or no.