Got my deer hammer sighted in this afternoon

[5030]

5030,
Baiting is illegal unless you are handicapped....or so I believe

Food plots are legal. We would not get away with them if they were illegal. I have two, and my neighbor has over a dozen. All on less than 300 acres. Difficult to avoid detection.

Michigan rules anyway.

Food plots may be but you'd better check the MDNR website far as baiting. From what I read ANY baiting is illegal in Michigan now. Like my buddy says.. Apples under a pine tree is a 'Pineapple' tree.

Really, no need to bait at all. Pattern the deer and set up on a used path. Deer traverse the woods via the easiest route and it's easy to ascertain their routes with a little scouting. Deer and Frenchmen have a lot in common....lol

 

[Sigarms]

Really, no need to bait at all. Pattern the deer and set up on a used path. Deer traverse the woods via the easiest route and it's easy to ascertain their routes with a little scouting. Deer and Frenchmen have a lot in common....lol

You're missing the point of baiting...

Baiting is for lazy people who want to shoot something but don't want to work for it, yet they can call themselves hunters because they shot something.

 

[gsganzer]

You're missing the point of baiting...

Baiting is for lazy people who want to shoot something but don't want to work for it, yet they can call themselves hunters because they shot something.

I don't see it that way. You put bait on a hook to fish, don't you? Why is baiting a deer any different?

I prefer spot and stalk or still hunting, but I also hunt over bait. All three take different levels of skill. The purpose of most hunting seasons and game laws is to facilitate a "sustainable utilization" game management/conservation model. Baiting is a viable tool if they need to increase harvest success rates in proportion to the number of hunter manhours for that given area. You could also argue that hunting over bait is probably safer than everyone walking around in the woods doing spot and stalk or still hunting.

 

[widefat]

I hunted hog over bait once. One time.
I stood over the hog, who had been munching on dog food.
Felt pretty small.
Rules, laws, game management, etc, etc.
Didn't matter; I'll never hunt any animal over bait again.
Not casting my code on anyone else mind you; it's just not for me.

 

[5030]

I have no silly restrictions in northern MI so I use a .308. I do not need a .308 but it is what I have.

I don't have any 'silly' restrictions'; on my property in northern Michigan either, well, other than CWD which I don't have to deal with down here...yet., I'll take the silly restrictions. In fact, I hunt up there and out west with my Pierce built 308 and for those long distance shots a Pierce built 338 Lapua.

Busy November, Hunt opening day in Hillsdale County and the day after and the day after that, leave for Nebraska for a trophy mule deer hunt (180 plus). Life is good.

 

[5030]

BTW, just checked the MDNR website. Baiting is illegal for the entire stare, no exceptions. Food plots are allowed but open baiting (corn, deer pellets, salt licks, etc., are not allowed.

I believe the MDNR is trying to get a handle on the CWD which is spreading. It's now in the thumb, Gratiot County. Big article on the MDNR website (I subscribe btw), free ranging deer are travelling over a 45 mile circle yearly.

I suspect at some point CWD will be statewide and eventually the herd will be depleted to the point where getting a deer tag will become a draw situation. CWD is always fatal for s Cervid. Too bad really but I see that coming. Be like drawing an elk tag here in Michigan.

 

[5030]

I hunted hog over bait once. One time.
I stood over the hog, who had been munching on dog food.
Felt pretty small.
Rules, laws, game management, etc, etc.
Didn't matter; I'll never hunt any animal over bait again.
Not casting my code on anyone else mind you; it's just not for me.

Not a bait person either but I hunt out west so it's hunt and stalk, no baiting. I can go on a hunt and not shoot anything but my camera and be happy. My idea of hunting is, taking an animal is a bonus. being there and doing it and enjoying it is the real hunt for me. it's vacation in my view. Been in hunts and never loaded my rifle. I know that sounds corny but that is how I play.