[Stringwacker]

Does your club bait? Pretty simple question.

For the purposes of this discussion, lets just say baiting means your club hunts over corn for the purpose of killing deer. I'm not asking for the ethical or supplemental feeding implications.... though feel free to discuss if you need to. I see supplemental feeding as a non-hunting arrangement of the dispersal of corn but I know that's not what everyone else thinks.

The reason I'm asking is that I'm looking for a new club after 40 years (my old one just started very limited corn usage) and I'm finding that it seems almost all clubs are now converting to a non-private stand policy (kind of an all for one, one for all arrangement) with the use of corn feeders. It's not really my cup of tea but if I had the chance to hunt a great club; I might could work around that if the club rules allowed. I guess I'm just saying I'm a bit surprised of the prevalence of it all. Just to clarify, I'm not looking to get in your club, I'm just trying to see if there are still non-baiting clubs out there.

So...does your club bait with corn?

 

[mossyman]

We have about 300 acres total with 4 members…but only two of us hunt it with any regularity. My dad is 74 and can’t get around like he used to so he likes to feed simply because he can see deer more frequently…he doesn’t have to be like me and hunt the trails and funnels. Do I care? Not a bit…as long as he’s enjoying himself then I’m good with it. I’m picky about what I shoot and in my experience I have a better chance of seeing my preferred caliber of deer in the woods and on the trails during daylight hours-so that’s what I do.

Every single landowner around us feeds. I know this because I’ve either talked to the landowner personally or heard the feeders go off. Unfortunately that’s the way it’s done in my neck of the woods. With the small amount of acreage we have if we didn’t feed the deer would simply stay on the surrounding properties.

The expected problem is I’ve heard a lot more shooting and seen less deer the last few years. The deer simply don’t have to go very far to find a feeder, whether it’s ours or the neighbors, so deer sightings have dwindled. I still manage to average 2 mature deer a season but our deer numbers are way down. I don’t know of anyone that hunts within 30 miles of me that doesn’t feed.

With more people hunting and feeding I don’t expect it to get better anytime soon.

 

[Stringwacker]

I understand what your saying. Improving your habitat will result in the best herd density for sure. I will even consider putting out a gravity feeder on my place this next year; but I'm likely the only guy in Mississippi that's going to use it year 'round without a stand even remotely close to it. It's just another habitat building block on making my own property the best it can be. I'm planning on planting 100 sawtooth oaks this month to make a contribution for the habitat in future years.

Like you, I don't see baiting (in most cases) doing too much more than serving a self benefit for the purpose of killing a deer. I think you harvest more deer than without it; but that incremental harvest has a detriment to the overall future of hunting on a specific property. To each his own as its legal and nobody is forced to resort to that kind of thing if they don't want to. I just would prefer a non-baiting arrangement if I can find it. I think people bait when their herd density is less than what they want it to be to see and kill more deer. I think it just excerbates a herd density problem which is probably the result on your own area observations.

 

[urbanbucks]

We do not feed at all on our club in Attala county, but we do try to plant nice plots. Everyone around us feeds, but it doesn’t bother us too much. It’s just not something we’re interested in. I have a smaller place locally I hunt by myself, same situation. All the neighbors bait; it is what it is. While I do know of a few landowners who supplemental feed (year round), most just “bait” 4 months out of the year.

 

[W]

We’re in a CWD zone in Madison Parish, La. Baiting is banned.

 

[Rancher]

We’re in a CWD zone in Madison Parish, La. Baiting is banned.

How was y’all season this year compared to when y’all fed/baited?

I always wondered how my 3 plots would do if I quit feeding and just did plots.

 

[W]

We had a lot less trail camera pics and morning hunting was slower, overall. Afternoons were great, as the deer went to the two ag fields on either side of us. Our kill numbers were about the same.

 

[Rancher]

We had a lot less trail camera pics and morning hunting was slower, overall. Afternoons were great, as the deer went to the two ag fields on either side of us. Our kill numbers were about the same.

Interesting. I bet it was a lot less work not having to deal with filling feeders and batteries and what not. We don’t have ag fields so I believe it would hurt me. We are all pine timber.

 

[W]

We really can’t run feeders due to bears. Rice bran and corn from a spreader down lanes in CRP was the way to do it.

 

[Rancher]

We really can’t run feeders due to bears. Rice bran and corn from a spreader down lanes in CRP was the way to do it.

Gotcha

 

[dzsmith]

club ive been a part of the last 2 years feeds. private plots , 2 a piece, 8 or 9 members. I hate feeding, but i understand why many have felt push came to shove on it. i know an individual who runs 18 feeders on less than 100 acres. is this overkill, yes. but dont think there isnt 100 more doing it because there is. so think about it. if hes your neighbor what are you gonna do.this is the reality we live in now in mississippi. i use my club as a place to have plots to hunt in the evenings, i mostly hunt public land but on years with an acorn drought hunting public can get tough quick, and its nice to have a back up plan. Ive hunted with and without feed on private in the past, and as much as i hate to admit it makes a difference it does, even with the necessary acreage to hold large amounts of deer it still makes a difference unfortunately.

 

[randywallace]

Most every club and private land I have visited for the past 15+ years had/has corn or protein feed out to varying degrees. In some places, it was simply to hold deer. In others, the feeders were 30 yards from stands in the middle of plots. The only exception I can think of would be a handful of old ATCO properties I visited.

 

[Mr Drysdale]

Our county was placed in a no feed zone this year. I did not feed a single kernel of corn. I saw less deer except for my plots in the evenings. I went to replace some batteries in one of my cameras this past Sunday and saw more sign than I had all year and after replacing the batteries in my camera I am getting more pics than I did all season. I say all of this to say that my neighbors did not comply with the “no-feed” regulation.

 

[W]

We had a neighbor that wasn’t complying, but I think they got several visits from the warden.

 

[Stringwacker]

My purpose in asking the question was to see to what degree the area clubs bait....I now see its about all of them. My club of so many years was very late to the baiting party (passed by 1 vote after years of trying a couple of years ago) and even now only a handful of folks bait. They understand that many members oppose it and don't like it. I guess when the MDWFP surveys were done years ago before passage showing about 50% of the hunters opposed the idea of baiting; they changed their mind

A fellow isn't bound to follow whatever everyone else does (as my momma told me about a zillion times growing up). It looks like the whole club scene has passed me by unless I find something truly different than the standard that is out there today. Rules that cover 20 pages from A to Z hardly instills confidence in a club by a prospective member. They wouldn't have that many rules if they didn't need to. Says a lot about the membership I think. I'm grateful to the few that said I could join, but I think they are running on 'zig' while I'm running on 'zag'. Probably best for all of us if I pursued a different path.

Public land rarely allows baiting but its never been my cup of tea as I don't like the drama that I have gotten into in the past from others who claim an area. Not to mention the occasional vandelism. I think I've been more unlikely than most in that regard.

Looks like I'll be looking for another tract of land to buy; a place where I can forbid baiting, firearm hunting, and a place where I can place my 'private' stands where ever want them without fear of another person being in the area. I like the tracts of land I own today, but they are scattered and they aren't large enough to hunt daily.

Admittedly, I guess I'm pretty selfish. I sort of wish in retrospect that I wasn't leaving my old club; as the old club was pretty much rooted in the old ways. I guess my age dictates a change regardless.

You guys have been helpful. I really appreciate it.

 

[Rancher]

String, not sure on how long ago or where your public land disputes came from but I’ve had nothing but great encounters with fellow hunters on public. I actually find the public I hunt to have less pressure than my club I’m in.


100% if you have the means to afford your own place then do it and don’t look back! That way you are doing what you wanna do. If that means no baiting then don’t bait. That means mid November if you changed your mind and wanna put a feeder out guess what, put a feeder out.

Good luck with whatever decision you make bud!

 

[mossyman]

Admittedly, I guess I'm pretty selfish.

No shame in being selfish…I’m the same way. I pass on deer with great genetics every year only to see them get shot by other people…mainly my dad. It chaps my behind as he’s killed way more than me but what do you do? The main reason I hunt where I do is because of him…whenever that stops I’ll more than likely find somewhere else with a better quality deer herd.

 

[Stringwacker]

Rancher, I really have enjoyed my own places to hunt. I bought my current home with 86 acres back in October. It doesn't have hardly any pressure except on the western side (which isn't good deer hunting anyway) and has a small but beautiful deep clear lake on it. I enjoyed leaving the house by foot and having some easy hunts. I killed one deer, missed one, and almost got a good buck with my recurve on it. It's only downfall is that its too much open land and I'm planting in pine and sawtooth oaks in the next week or so. I might have a little benefit from the oaks when they produce acorns in 7 years; but I'm really planting them for the next owners one day given my age.

I really miss my old place in Newton County After the birth of one of my grandchildren in Jackson, my wife wanted to move so that's how I landed in Leake County. My old place (which is the best deal in the state and is still listed) had such a diversity of wildlife. Turkeys, deer, waterfowl and small game abounded on the 69 acre tract of land that I also got to hunt out my backdoor. I made one hunt there late in the year and missed a PIG. Never saw one there before. If anybody wants the deal of a life time, PM me

I might put a feeder out this year on the new place but nobody will hunt it. I've only ever killed one deer in a food plot in my entire life so its pretty unlikely I'm shooting one over corn. I plant plots and rarely hunt them.

I have had really bad luck on public land. I've had my friends tires slashed and I had to go get him at midnight, had the air let out of my tires, been told to go back and hunt something closer to where I live.... and been cussed out for being to close to someone else's spot even though I was there first. My efforts in going to the sheriff lead to a camp out by federal agents....where they were subject to guns being shot over their heads. It all ended in the suspects (3) arrest and a federal conviction. It made the papers several years ago.

I realize I'm rambling. I will add that owning land is a big joy but keeping it yours as opposed to the tresspasser's is a constant worry. Its always better if you live on it versus having it at a distant location.

 

[scott]

Rancher, I really have enjoyed my own places to hunt. I bought my current home with 86 acres back in October. It doesn't have hardly any pressure except on the western side (which isn't good deer hunting anyway) and has a small but beautiful deep clear lake on it. I enjoyed leaving the house by foot and having some easy hunts. I killed one deer, missed one, and almost got a good buck with my recurve on it. It's only downfall is that its too much open land and I'm planting in pine and sawtooth oaks in the next week or so. I might have a little benefit from the oaks when they produce acorns in 7 years; but I'm really planting them for the next owners one day given my age.

I really miss my old place in Newton County After the birth of one of my grandchildren in Jackson, my wife wanted to move so that's how I landed in Leake County. My old place (which is the best deal in the state and is still listed) had such a diversity of wildlife. Turkeys, deer, waterfowl and small game abounded on the 69 acre tract of land that I also got to hunt out my backdoor. I made one hunt there late in the year and missed a PIG. Never saw one there before. If anybody wants the deal of a life time, PM me

I might put a feeder out this year on the new place but nobody will hunt it. I've only ever killed one deer in a food plot in my entire life so its pretty unlikely I'm shooting one over corn. I plant plots and rarely hunt them.

I have had really bad luck on public land. I've had my friends tires slashed and I had to go get him at midnight, had the air let out of my tires, been told to go back and hunt something closer to where I live.... and been cussed out for being to close to someone else's spot even though I was there first. My efforts in going to the sheriff lead to a camp out by federal agents....where they were subject to guns being shot over their heads. It all ended in the suspects (3) arrest and a federal conviction. It made the papers several years ago.

I realize I'm rambling. I will add that owning land is a big joy but keeping it yours as opposed to the tresspasser's is a constant worry. Its always better if you live on it versus having it at a distant location.

Back in 1990. You and I had a pm exchange about this before. I knew the folks involved.

 

[Stringwacker]

Scott, I actually remember that! That was a long time ago. I don't recall hunting Homochitto after that....or too much other public land in the state for that matter.

Good to hear from you. Been a while since you have hung your hat here.