Oh no, Gobbler has drawn the pines on us!

the argument presented here is circular

So if a guy baits a deer which may endanger a deer, he should pay a fine of $5000. That is right at 20% of the percapita income in Alabama. If you look at the rural counties where most of the deer hunting takes place, it is no doubt well more than 20% of the per capita income.

Technically supplemental feeding does not replace a failed acorn crop since supp feed mostly is used in the growing season. Agree with primary plan except fertilizing native browse aint going to do much, nor are 2 season foodplots with the percentage of land they make up in most of Alabama. Managing native HABITAT is primary. Thinning, burning, pines... Imagine that this habitat is capable of producing trophy bucks. Lots of people knew it before Dave Morris proved it.

TRUE!!!

And anything else artificially manipulated is BAIT!

TRUE!!!

And anything else artificially manipulated is BAIT!

But managing native habitat for wildlife is artificially manipulating the land, isn't it? So is hunting a burned pine stand the same as hunting over a corn pile? I guess to some it is. No body can claim to be a purist anymore but it is and always will be a weak argument that feeders and foodplots are the same thing. Sure they could both be considered as bait, but a feeder used during deer season is only bait, nothing else. A foodplot is much more than just bait. Feeders are also much more effective when it comes to killing deer.

But managing native habitat for wildlife is artificially manipulating the land, isn't it? So is hunting a burned pine stand the same as hunting over a corn pile? I guess to some it is. No body can claim to be a purist anymore but it is and always will be a weak argument that feeders and foodplots are the same thing. Sure they could both be considered as bait, but a feeder used during deer season is only bait, nothing else. A foodplot is much more than just bait. Feeders are also much more effective when it comes to killing deer.

I guess if you can't afford to pay the fine then you shouldn't break the law...kind of my point.

I'll concede that 5k is steep (if I ever mentioned 5k in the first place) for baiting, first offense, BUT when was the last time the fine went up? Paying $250-$500 in 2012 for something perceived as magical to the lazy hunter as baiting isn't going to make many of them stop doing it. Also, should go without saying that just because the hunting is done in rural areas doesn't mean that most hunters live in those rural areas and/ or are barely making ends meet. If someone does hunt and doesn't make enough money to pay the fine then my advice would be not to bait... that self responsibility thing is a crazy concept

Sure they could both be considered as bait, but a feeder used during deer season is only bait, nothing else. A foodplot is much more than just bait.

Aawwwww.......Come on, Todd!

You know that you have to have a $50,000 4x4 truck, a $10,000 atv, at least $1000 worth of camo, the BEST scent-killer, an ozone machine AND a therma-cell, a $1000 gun with a $3000 scope on it, a member of a $2000/yr Club and be a regular Davy Crockett type outdoorsman to be able to walk 200 yds to a food plot and climb into the shooting house and shoot a doe!!!

LOL! Have mercy.

Why don't you folks spouting stuff like this just speak the truth for once. Here, let me help you.

Repeat these following statements.

"I think corn feeders are wrong simply because I've always been told they are wrong and I've never had the intellectual gumption to ask WHY?"

AND

"I think green patches are OK because I myself have hunted over them and therefore I will NEVER NEVER NEVER admit that there is actually no ethical different between them and a feeder because then I would be exposing myself as the massive hypocrite I actually am."

Some of you folks are in such a deep state of denial psychiatrists should be filming you as you discuss this topic for use as a future training guide in how to deal with people suffering from severe self delusion.

Still haven't heard one example of how it's more difficult; requires more skill; or adheres to a higher standard of ethics to hunt over a patch vs a feeder.

You hear a lot of diversion about nutrition and other nonsense but never an explanation of what makes one ethical vs the other.

hunting over corn piles is unethical because Charles Kelly said it was and he carries way more weight than you do Todd.....

ok Genius, if their is no advantage to hunting over bait then why do so many of you want to make it legal? I agree you can kill does all day long on a foodplot (another great reason to have foodplots) but I don't think that's really what baiters are after. Putting a timed spin cast feeder in the middle of a buck's core area in the middle of a thicket or hardwood stand, etc. and hunting over it is more advantageous than hunting a wide open foodplot. By the way why does B&C not recognize bucks killed over bait, but they do recognize bucks killed on a foodplot? Separate discussion but just saying you might want to tell the B&C guys that they need to see a shrink as well...

As for mature bucks coming to bait during the day time, I've had a lot of 3 year olds and in the past few years two mature bucks a mid 140 and a 160 that habitually came to corn all summer and early fall during the day, 3-5 days per week morning and afternoon. They continued to come to the corn up until the first of Oct. cause I quit putting it out. There is not doubt in my mind that had I continued to put out corn I could have killed both of these bucks during the 1st few days of bow season, assuming the wind was right. This might not have happened on a piece of land with a lot of pressure where a lot of young bucks are killed but this scenario is not uncommon on private land with low hunting pressure.

BAITING
Trophies taken with the aid of bait are eligible for entry in the Club�s Awards Programs and listing in the records books so long as the practice is legal in the state or province where the trophy was taken.