Food plot and WMA

Okay, I've heard arguments that a food plot is not considered baiting, and I've heard arguments stating the contrary. What are your thoughts considering things like Evolved Harvest Throw n Grow on a WMA? Legal or not legal?

Thanks

 

IMO, in the simplest term, if you put some sort of food out to attact an animal of any sort, it's baiting. You put peanut butter on a mouse trap, cat food for racoons (at least that works for me), grain or cracked corn for turkey, and plant food plots for deer. You are giving them a food source that would most likely not have been there otherwise.

Typically we don't make the laws, we just have to abide by them or pay the concequences. In many states baiting, planting plots, having feeders and licks is perfectlly legal. I personally don't think there is anything ethically wrong using any of those to attract or bait animals. The difference is the laws in each state that govern it. I can't even drop an apple legally here in CA so if you can, I would take the advantage and bait, plant, plot, or anything else otherwise legal in your state, no questions asked.

 

I haven't looked at your regs, but in Ky if you put something out to attract game it's baiting. So if it wasn't already naturally there than you can't hunt over it. I don't interpret our reg to include scents etc., just food or supplements.

 

I agree with Hillbilly.

 

I'd say there's no way it's legal.

 

So what about for example, Tinks salad dressin...not baiting cuz it's not a food source...but it's attracting deer cuz it smells like food...where does that fall?

 

Salad Dressing from Tink's is technically bait because the deer can and will eat it. You spray it on vegetation to attract the deer to that spot so it's bait. HOWEVER if you were to spray it somewhere it couldn't be eaten, say 10 feet off the ground, it would no longer be bait. It's a bit of a fine line.

As for food plots being bait, I think the only people who feel this way are those who have never planted or hunted over a food plot. It's far from a bait pile and by no means does it guarantee anything. I had 2 food plots last year that I hunted a lot and never saw a mature buck in them during daylight even one time.

 

It's the question of planting a food plot on WMA land, not if a food plot is bait.

 

I wouldnt plant throw and grow. Deer dont eat it VERY well. I plant food plots because it makes them healthier. Which makes better fawns and bigger racks. Plus if it can help my chances of seeing more deer to observe on stand then in my opinion it was worth it. I look at it as a factor to help deer have less stress through the winters and insure healthier heards for generations to come. I dont think its baiting. IMO