Baiting Birds

[WaCoyote]

I've been following the "shooting in the roost" thread and I notice how just about everybody is totally against it. I'm actually a little surprised that this is such a hot topic. I can't see myself doing it but I'm not sure I'd care if somebody I knew did it. I'd definately poke a little fun but thats about it.

I'd like to know what you think about baiting birds. I've seen footage of guys shooting birds at feeders and I think this is just obscene. In fact I'd rather shoot a bird out of a roost than shoot one over bait. At least you have to go to the bird this way rather than sitting in a blind at a feeder.

What are your thoughts?

[MrWiggely]

Well, I would think baiting birds in the spring would be tough with all the natural feed around for them.

Not to mention my opinion is it would be unethical - just my opinion,

and illegal in my state.

I feel shooting birds off of the roost is just as unethical as baiting birds. It is much more fullfilling to take a bird using your knowledge of the woods, and birds, and applying that knowledge allong with calling ability. But that is my opinion.

Wigs

[wtnhunt]

Not legal here, but am pretty sure some people probably do it.

[huntn4bucks]

Baiting turkeys in Alabama is illegal but that doesn't stop some people from doing it. I'm totally against it because to me turkey hunting is more about the hunt and less about the kill. Getting to squeeze the trigger is just part of the reward. There's so much more to it than that. JMO

[hutchies]

You can bait anything in TX. There is not much for the animals to eat where we are at except corn, cactus, or very little grass. Early in turkey season is when the guys hunt feeders. Here is the deal though, I will only hunt a feeder if I can't get anything to come in within shooting range. Personally I don't have a problem with baiting. Some states that is the only way you will see an animal at all.

[mossyhorn]

In kentucky it is illegal too. The soft purr of a hen is bait enough for these tom's around here.

[Strut10]

Illegal in PA.

I'll do it with a turkey call.............no other way.

[huntinguide]

no bait for me!!!

i think a hunter should earn the bird.

[py_archer]

[ QUOTE ]
Baiting turkeys in Alabama is illegal but that doesn't stop some people from doing it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Same here. I once tried for 2 mornings to call in a gobbling bird that was just down over a rise on an old logging road with no success. He would answer my calls but would not come up there. On the third day I said thats it and deciced to go in amongts them. As it got light I could see corn husk everywhere and where someone had dismantled a makeshift blind out of pine boughs, obviously they had already got their bird before I came along and was long gone. Knowing the baiting laws I knew I had to get out of there in case a GW came along and gave me the ticket. You don't even have to know it's there and they can give you a ticket, you have to be so many yards from the bait site (same for waterfowl). I was not happy.

[Bruce Schmeck]

Another practice that I find to be highly unethical.

[snapper]

If it is legal in your state to do so, and you have no problems doing it...have at it! I'm not against someone else doing (as long as its legal) just not for me.

[py_archer]

Feed em or Fool em????

[Squirrelhunter91]

Wigs, are you sure it's illegal here in NYS? I'm pretty sure that we are aloud to feed turkeys, just not deer. But the only problem is that deer eat the same stuff for the most part that turkeys do, besides bugs and frogs. I'm not saying that I think baiting is ethical nor do I do it, but I;n pretty sure that we are aloud to feed turkeys here in NY.

[BowtechTurkeyHunter]

[ QUOTE ]
Wigs, are you sure it's illegal here in NYS? I'm pretty sure that we are aloud to feed turkeys, just not deer. But the only problem is that deer eat the same stuff for the most part that turkeys do, besides bugs and frogs. I'm not saying that I think baiting is ethical nor do I do it, but I;n pretty sure that we are aloud to feed turkeys here in NY.

[/ QUOTE ]

New York Regs

Scroll down to baiting ... you cannot in New York


Just thought I would clear the air there...

Steve

[Squirrelhunter91]

Ok. I'm wrong. Sorry for any confusion I may have caused.