Originally Posted By: Fishduck
Originally Posted By: ikillbux
Originally Posted By: Fishduck
You can follow this line of reasoning as far as you like. I fertilize honeysuckle which is non-native and hunt it. Also used to fertilize certain white oaks. What about cutting lanes in thick areas to establish a travel corridor? All the same as a kill plot because they are only utilized to harvest deer. There are 2 differences between all of these and a corn pile. #1 and most important, baiting is not legal. #2 all these "improvements" are still there after Feb 1st.

If it becomes legal then I may use it. The deer certainly eat it in February. Right now I choose not to and really don't want to hunt around those that do. Hard to avoid corn piles when you don't know where they are. Judging by stand placement, the best place to hunt is always near the landline. grin


Not disagreeing with you. But let's unpack it and see what's really there...

Really, the only difference is the legality. Again, it's stretching to find a debatable (at best) distinction between a corn pile and those things you mentioned. OTHER than the legality of "bait" (corn, in this example), is there some other universal/defensible reason you dislike it? You said don't want to hunt around those that do. Is this solely because of the illegal nature of their hunting tactics? I flatly agree with you about that. But I reject the notion that bait is unsportsmanlike (if otherwise legal).


My main focus is duck hunting. The rules and regulations are much stricter and there are lots of gray areas. The local game wardens are good people that do a great job under stressful conditions. I don't want to associate with lawbreakers because I value my relationship with the wardens and don't want to put that in jeopardy. So I don't hunt with or around the corn pilers.

As far as corn. My opinion is it is a food source. Grew up hunting food sources both manmade (food plots) and natural (honeysuckle and acorns). If it is legal then I don't feel morally opposed. There are several places on my property that are too shaded for plots and would be more hunter friendly with a strategically placed food source. Just wish more would feel compelled to feed an extra month.


Really all it boils down to is how simple do you think it should be to see, kill a deer and have the government coddle to the whims of the too busy but want a participation trophy every time they go "hunting"? Once that is answered in your own mind then you can determine if hunting really is for you or not. For me playing the game and understanding what, where, when and how deer live, move, eat, hide and woodsmanship are a hell of a lot more interesting, important and enjoyable than making it easier and easier so I can call myself a hunter while I am more interested about staying on my cell phone playing games and texting while I "watch" a bait pile.

"After all, it is not the killing that brings satisfaction; it is the contest of skill and cunning. The true hunter counts his achievement in proportion to the effort involved and the fairness of the sport." Dr. Saxton Pope