While baiting deer is a foreign and, for some, odious concept in the East, it is quite common in many parts of the country. (Shutterstock)
October 31, 2024
By Gerry Bethge
I’d finally made it to Kansas, the hallowed ground of giant whitetails, where the next buck you see could legitimately be the new world record. Brad Harris’ truck—corn feeder whirring—had barely gotten out of earshot when the critters began filtering in. There were young bucks, does, fawns and turkeys. My goodness there were turkeys. No doubt, all of them were familiar with the routine.
As a New Englander, this was not what I had envisioned deer baiting to be. There were no giant piles of corn or apples to be found. In fact, you would have been hard pressed to find a kernel of corn in the knee-deep grass. The deer knew where to look, though.
From my ladder-stand vantage point, I sat back and simply enjoyed the show. And it was a great show. Young bucks sparred with one other, does flailed at each other, and turkeys mingled among them.
When I heard leaves crunch behind me, everything got more serious. I’d not been on stand for longer than an hour when the 8-point popped up. As far as I was concerned, he was a stud buck. Once he turned his head, I raised my gun and fired. It was a solid hit. The buck wheelbarrowed into the woods. It wouldn’t be a long blood trail. Harris heard me shoot and was on the scene within minutes.
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“Let’s get your buck,” he said, matter-of-factly.
And we did just that.
THE BAIT DEBATE Baiting deer remains a contentious topic, especially in states and counties where it isn’t permitted. Even so, in nearly half of the country, it remains part of the deer hunting culture. Here is a short run-down on the status of baiting deer in the states that comprise the East region.
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In some Eastern states, like Delaware, Maryland and West Virginia, deer baiting is permitted but only on private land. (Shutterstock) Connecticut According to the Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, baiting is allowed only in Urban Deer Management Zones. In these areas, deer populations need to be reduced, and baiting is permitted to aid in that effort.
Delaware The state of Delaware permits baiting, but only on private lands, not public. As stated by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources, “It is lawful to distribute and hunt over bait while hunting deer on privately owned lands only.”
Maine In Maine, it is unlawful to use bait. According to a Maine statute, “A person may not place salt or any other bait or food in a place to entice deer to that place from June 1 to the start of an open hunting season on deer and, if all open hunting seasons on deer are closed before December 15 for that year, from the close of the last open hunting season on deer to December 15.”
Maryland In Maryland, deer hunters enjoy minimal restrictions around baiting. It is permitted on private lands, where deer hunters can use it to feed whitetails and in the aid of taking deer. It is not allowed on state-owned or state-managed properties.
Massachusetts Hunters in Massachusetts are not permitted to use bait. “In Massachusetts, it is illegal to bait deer during the hunting season,” according to the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife. “Bait is defined as anything the deer can ingest. So, if you spray an apple scent on something deer would eat, it is considered baiting and is illegal.”
New Hampshire According to the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, during baiting seasons, hunters who hold a baiting permit (plus hunting licenses and permits), can use bait to hunt certain species, including deer, in certain areas. However, this requires applying for a permit from Fish and Game, which requires a landowner signature and permission from that landowner.
Furthermore, special regulations exist for the special disabled deer baiting season, which applies to those who hold a permanently disabled veteran’s license. Additionally, permit requests for baiting deer on state-owned or state-managed lands must be postmarked between the first Monday in June and the first Monday in August.
New Jersey New Jersey defines baiting as, “Placing agricultural products, salt, or other edible lure in the woods, field, or wetlands to attract a game animal to approach closer to a hunter. Baiting for deer is legal except where prohibited by the landowner. Corn, mineral supplements, or apple-scented grain blends are examples of bait.” According to the New Jersey Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife, the legal use of bait in deer hunting was signed into law in 1999. Baiting is prohibited in certain zones and on most public lands.
New York Baiting for deer is not allowed in the Empire State. According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, “It is illegal to hunt with the aid of bait, or over any baited area when hunting big game, upland game birds, turkey, or waterfowl. It is illegal to place a salt block or mineral lick on lands inhabited by deer at any time of year. It is also illegal to feed deer.”
Pennsylvania Likewise, Pennsylvania (generally) does not permit the use of bait. While it is legal to feed deer under certain circumstances, it is not permitted in the aid of harvesting deer. All bait must be removed from an area 30 days prior to hunting the area.
That said, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, baiting is permitted for deer hunters in the five-county Southeast Special Regulations Area. According to officials, it’s allowed on private lands in this zone because “traditional hunting methods have proven ineffective here.” However, certain guidelines pertaining to types of feeders used, volume of bait dispensed per day and more must be followed.
Rhode Island The Ocean State does not permit the use of bait. Feeding and baiting wildlife is not permitted at any time. Bait cannot be used for any purpose except as defined by a few Rhode Island statutes.
Vermont Vermont deems it illegal to use bait to aid in hunting deer. It’s also unlawful to sell feed labeled or marketed for whitetails, which is in stark contrast with other states that don’t allow baiting. In most states, even if baiting is prohibited, the sale of feed is not. The only manner in which feeding wild deer is allowed is with a license or permit issued by Fish and Wildlife for research efforts, mitigation for wildlife damage and population reduction programs. Agricultural practices and wildlife food plot plantings are not considered baiting.
Virginia In Virginia, it is illegal to hunt deer over bait. The implementation of baiting or feeding of deer is illegal statewide from Sept. 1 through the first Saturday in January.
West Virginia Baiting is permitted in some areas of the Mountain State, but not others. It is prohibited in the CWD Containment Area and on public lands.</ p>
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