Food plots- got me to thinking
Contributors to this thread:West Virginia
From: Babysaph
15-Aug-15
I see talk on here about food plots I have some in the mountain where baiting is still allowed.,are they against the law in the no baiting counties?
From: WBowhunt
15-Aug-15
Not the way I read the regs, but that is a good question. Might have to email the LE office on monday just to confirm. What I don't get is I can no longer maintain my mineral sites. But I can pour all the foreign deer pee I can afford anywhere I want.
From: Babysaph
16-Aug-15
Well I see these throw and grow deer plots advertised all the time to make small deer plots. How would that be different than throwing apples out? The attorney in me wants to know. Lol
From: soundman
19-Aug-15
To me, a food plot (plants that do not naturally occur) are the same as bait. The whole subject is debatable, no pun intended, like, is hunting near an apple tree baiting? Or hunting over a water hole? I'm neither for nor against baiting. If it's legal, go for it if you have the time and can afford it. I pride myself in being able to read sign and set up accordingly. I don't usually harvest wall hangers, but always fill my freezer. Those who choose to trophy hunt, that's your choice and that's fine. For people with physical limitations that want to hunt, baiting is a good solution. If it's legal, it's the individuals choice. But the grey area is if you kill a bear while he's in your food plot or a fall turkey in a corn field, where do you draw the line?
From: Babysaph
19-Aug-15
I agree but Wha t we think doesn't matter. I need to read the regs better to see if it addresses food plots. I have 4 acres of clover in the front of my cabin simply because I did not want to have to cut grass. LOL. But those small throw and grow food plots are no different than baiting as you say. I am always trying to figure out how the DNR comes up with its regs. It says you can feed birds etc but deer will eat this stuff as well and congregate near to food and transmit the CWD. And after all this is the reason that baiting has been banned in some counties. Just ban all feeding of wildlife. Kind of insults my intelligence to say I can feed the squirrels and birds and assume the deer won't eat it. LOL. Oh well
From: WBowhunt
19-Aug-15
I emailed [email protected] and asked the question about the new regulations and food plots and I got an email back today that simply stated "Wildlife food plots do not fall under containment area regulations"
So there you have it.
But on a side note. Do not travel into VA if you have any deer per with you. VA actually also banned the use of deer per.
From: Babysaph
19-Aug-15
I saw that wvbowhunt about deer pee. Another unenforceable law. I guess they will hire deer pee sniffers to see if deer pee is near the hunters stand. Unbelievable. So if a deer comes in and pees near my stand in Va do I have to leave and hunt elsewhere? I van see why the small food plots would be allowed also. Deer won't congregate around them. Lol. I heard a guy say at the archery club that he will just be feeding the birds and squirrels. Lol
From: WBowhunt
19-Aug-15
Just gonna have to buy a few of these and put them up around the corn.