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The baiting dilemma
Published Sunday, March 30, 2008
NATCHEZ — The bill passed by the Mississippi Senate last week that would allow the hunting of deer over grain or other food, commonly known as deer baiting, continues a controversy that has been raging for a long time.
Should Mississippi hunters be allowed to hunt deer with bait?
The divisiveness on the issue was demonstrated even in the vote as the bill passed by a razor-thin 25-24 margin.
The bill now moves on to the House of Representatives, where it must be approved before heading to Gov. Haley Barbour’s desk for his signature.
Under the bill, food must be placed in a feeder.
The Senate amended the bill to require that feeders not be placed within 100 yards of someone’s property.
Another Senate change would allow for the use of spin feeders by the hunters.
Critics of the bill say deer baiting takes all the sport out of hunting while proponents of the bill say it will help control the state’s spiraling deer population, which is estimated at over 2 million.
“By allowing the hunters to use feeders and shoot over the deer eating, then they can selectively shoot certain deer,” Senate Wildlife Committee Chairman Tommy Gollot, R-Biloxi told the Senate during a debate before the vote. “You can control the population.”
Deer baiting is currently illegal in Mississippi and is punishable by a fine.
However, the law is almost impossible to enforce and many hunters currently bait anyway, local hunter Michael Petty said.
“Everybody is already doing it anyway,” Petty said. “There’s no way to stop people from doing it.”
Petty said he does not bait deer, but wouldn’t have a problem with it if the bill is made law.
“As long as people do it in the right fashion, and don’t let the corn pile up and sour, I don’t have a problem with it,” he said. “I have no problem if it will help people shoot deer and control the herd. It’s a situation that needs to hurry up and be resolved.”
While Petty is comfortable with the idea of baiting deer, Roxie resident and deer hunter Keith Whitehead is very much against it.
“I am absolutely opposed to it,” Whitehead said. “When I grew up and learned to hunt, I was taught to go out and find a food source, look for the trail and find a place to hunt. All that is out the window now.
“All you have to do is throw a pile of corn out on the ground and put up your shooting house there. It takes all the sport out of it. It ceases to become hunting and becomes killing.”
Whitehead also said he doesn’t put much stock in the argument that deer baiting will help control the deer population.
“The department of wildlife regulates the number of deer you can kill in a season,” Whitehead said. “Fifteen years ago you could kill 10, now it’s down to five or seven. If they want to control the deer population, why not just increase the limit?
“The argument that it will control the deer population just doesn’t wash from that standpoint.”
Whether to bait deer or not bait deer is a contentious debate that has been raging for a long time and promises to continue as the bill continues to pass through the branches of the state government.
Comments
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on March 30, 2008 at 1:14 a.m. (Suggest removal)
"The Senate amended the bill to require that feeders not be placed within 100 yards of someone’s property."
What does this sentence mean?
Posted by frogprincenessntz (anonymous) on March 30, 2008 at 1:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If they put a feeder near your back yard, the "hunters" who have to bait a deer to find one, will probably shoot up your house.
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on March 30, 2008 at 1:32 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Frog, I have been trying to get a select few hunters to harvest some deer near my yard. Of course, archery will be their only option since I live in the city.
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on March 30, 2008 at 1:34 a.m. (Suggest removal)
All a feeder is really far is to keep the deer in the area...Very few deer are killed under a feeder..
As far as them having a limit on how many deer you kill how do they know??
Posted by cherron (anonymous) on March 30, 2008 at 1:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
With as many deer as i see in the roads in mississippi, feeders are not a option, better shooters are. lol
Posted by iconoclast (anonymous) on March 30, 2008 at 6:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The fact that "baiting" is a top issue with our legislature shows what a backwards, hick state Mississippi really is.
Posted by SayItRight (anonymous) on March 30, 2008 at 6:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
That's what I was thinking iconoclast. Maybe "baiters" feel there is a conspiracy by "food plotters" to keep all the deer on their land so they must lure them out from the larger parcels.
Now the poor deer will become victims of their own welfare state and not learn how to graze and find their own food. They'll be standing with their hooves out waiting for a free meal. ; }
Posted by larry332004 (anonymous) on March 30, 2008 at 7:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Baiting is already being done in Mississippi. You can find corn being sold at every convenience store across the state. Baiting hasn't hurt the whitetail deer herds or wild turkeys in the state of Texas. As a matter of fact, many people there place High-Protein deer pellets in their feeders instead of corn which has little nutritional value. High-Protein pellets such as Purina Deer Chow has inproved the health of deer.
http://wildlife.purinamills.com/DeerElk/...
Posted by marcuspi (anonymous) on March 30, 2008 at 8:21 a.m. (Suggest removal)
please tell me the difference between FEEDING and BAITING,,FOOD PLOTS VERSUS FEEDERS..rich folks feed,,poor folks bait??
Posted by fatherof4 (anonymous) on March 30, 2008 at 8:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
They have always let fishermen, use bait. Why not hunters?
Posted by colescreek (anonymous) on March 30, 2008 at 8:45 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Suppose, in the game of football, they decided to put two more sets of goal posts on each sideline. It would become a lot easier to get a touchdown, but the sport just wouldn't be the same. Those who like to shoot deer use bait. Those who like to hunt deer don't use bait.
Posted by emp (anonymous) on March 30, 2008 at 8:52 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Doesn't matter to me. Bait if you need to. But I wonder where the liberals are on this issue.
Posted by colescreek (anonymous) on March 30, 2008 at 8:53 a.m. (Suggest removal)
iconoclast, which state in the nation do you suppose has no hunting laws?
Posted by Whisper (anonymous) on March 30, 2008 at 8:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well something is going on. I guess with all of the land developments for more housing? Although you see for sale signs every where you go. Because I live in the country and every year could plant a nice garden. It was hard work, but I was able to put a good bit in my freezer. But now I have so many deer I had to give the garden up. Even with a ten foot fence around it. They were jumping or tearing through it. Eating everything, even the okra and tomatos. They are even eating my fruit trees and flowering plants. Now I don't hate deer. But they are leaving the woods to come eat everything in my yard. It's a common sight to see them grazing even during the day. This has become very frustrating.
Posted by mike8427 (anonymous) on March 30, 2008 at 9:39 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Excellent statement colescreek, I agree with that 100%. Baiting is a means to gather meat, not hunt.
Posted by fire39212 (anonymous) on March 30, 2008 at 9:41 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Same problem we had last year with our garden..They even ate the peppers.......
sayitright that was to funny...
Posted by freedom42 (anonymous) on March 30, 2008 at 9:54 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Deer love Okra - even the leaves and stalks!
Posted by destiny (anonymous) on March 30, 2008 at 10:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Time was when there were not too many deer in the woods because they were used for food. The government stepped in and made a sport of it. I can not understand how murdering an animal can be called sport by the human race. Young children are equipped with the latest modern gear and taken to the woods by their parents to kill these helpless animals for throphies. What a coup that is!!!! You will have to answer for this one day for murdering God's creation. He gave them to you for food, not sport.That's my take on it.
Posted by mrwdvl (anonymous) on March 30, 2008 at 10:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I DONT HUNT OVER CORN OR FOOD PLOTS, I HUNT TRAILS THAT THE DEER TAKE. IF YOU ARE A HUNTER YOU SHOULD KNOW THAT THE BIG DEER HANG AROUND IN THE WOODS NOT IN FIELDS.
WHY IS IT A BIG DEAL ABOUT BAITING WITH CORN? THE WAY I SEE IT HUNTING OVER RYEGRASS PLOTS AND OTHER TYPE OF PLOTS IS BAITING TOO. THE DEER LEAVE THEIR COVER TO COME TO THESE SOURCES, I FEEL ITS THE SAME
Posted by emp (anonymous) on March 30, 2008 at 1:57 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Looks like we found the liberal (destiny). I think you should look up murder in the dictionary. Murder is the unlawful killing of humans, therefore it is impossible to murder an animal. But I agree that hunting should be for food or protection of property. Some hunting is needed for population control also.
Posted by ijohnson (anonymous) on March 30, 2008 at 2:42 p.m. (Suggest removal)
We're about to open up a can of worms here!!!!
Let's see . . . we have the humane society, PETA, laws and advocates for punishment of those who kill animals and/or use animals in certain sports, i.e., dog-fighting (remember Michael Vick -- he's serving time in prison for killing dogs used in dog-fights). However, dogs AND domestic cats are not endangered species -- we have an over-abundance of them. Killing cows, pigs, hogs, and chickens are okay, though . . . . ummm . . . I wonder who makes these laws and who determines the value to place on an animal's life?!?!?!? Just some food for thought! (Pun not intended)
Posted by fatherof4 (anonymous) on March 30, 2008 at 5:23 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Make it fair...if you don't belive in baiting DON"T. If you do, then bait. Whats the arguement? Why should people who want to bait, not get to, just because someone else don't want to?
Posted by dottie (anonymous) on March 30, 2008 at 8:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Well said destiny.
Posted by wiseguy (anonymous) on March 30, 2008 at 8:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Shooting dear over a bait or food plot is just as sporting as shooting a cow grazing a field. People use high protein bait an area constantly for the purpose of creating antler growth. That makes it trophy hunting for braging rights. If your a sportsman and hunt the practise of learning what deer feed on and where to find them is part of the sport. If you just got to kill something put up a big fence and bait or feed the animals then you can brag about what a great deer hunter you are.
Posted by NTZglasshouses (anonymous) on March 30, 2008 at 9:03 p.m. (Suggest removal)
iconoclast you moron. Before you throw stones at the state of Mississippi, did you consider the fact that EVERY state in the nation has laws regarding hunting?!? So are all states "backwards, hick states?" All those laws had to be passed by the states. So you must be above the intelligence, or to snobby for any state. Where do you live...France?
Ugh.. I get so sick of people who don't think before they speak.
Posted by straightshooter1 (anonymous) on March 30, 2008 at 9:12 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I agree wiseguy, hunters should learn how to hunt first, then apply that knowledge in the woods. Todays "hunter" is no more a hunter than my wife is...and she is definitely not! Bait if you want, but I will stick with what my father and brother taught me...learn the deer in the area and then hunt them. It's a heck of a lot more challenging than baiting and waiting.
Posted by fatherof4 (anonymous) on March 30, 2008 at 10:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
The deer will be just as dead, if hes eating acorns or eating corn. Whats the difference in sitting by an oak tree and killing the deer when he comes to feed, than sitting next to a pile of corn? Most deer feed at night, so its not like a guarantee you will kill one by putting out corn. But like most places around here, we know they don't eat pine needles. So you need something to keep them in the area. I'm sure if everyone hunting in areas full of oaks, there would be no need in baiting.
Posted by bear45 (anonymous) on March 30, 2008 at 10:28 p.m. (Suggest removal)
All hunting is is a sport I guess it need to become a more expensive sport. As if it is not already expensive enough, now if you put corn out you need a feeder, rye grass is considered food isn't it so what is the difference in grass and corn or all this high protein stuff????? Will someone please explain the difference to me? Bait is bait and bait is food to deer if you put out food the deer are coming just like you plant grass they are coming. And please people don't tell me that most people that hunt now days don't hunt over bait or food. Go tell someone else because I just don't believe there are many that don't hunt over grass or feed.
Posted by gemccull (Gary McCullars) on March 31, 2008 at 12:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"we know they don't eat pine needles"
Well, this statement is not true.
Deer that feed on a lot of corn will eat young pine seedling for the roughage.
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