HB 1618

[MidTennFisher]

you plant food plots correct??

He probably does because, unlike piles of moldy corn, food plots are excellent for all sorts of wildlife. While they both serve the same purpose, luring deer for us to kill, one is largely beneficial for deer, turkeys, and a whole list of other game and non-game species as well as requiring a significant amount of effort to create and maintain.

Whereas piles of corn require no effort other than going to Walmart to buy it, dump it on the ground, and it comes with a long list of negatives for many game and non-game species. This has been discussed at length by folks on here well versed in land/wildlife management.

 

[chris1976]

He probably does because, unlike piles of moldy corn, food plots are excellent for all sorts of wildlife. While they both serve the same purpose, luring deer for us to kill, one is largely beneficial for deer, turkeys, and a whole list of other game and non-game species as well as requiring a significant amount of effort to create and maintain.

Whereas piles of corn require no effort other than going to Walmart to buy it, dump it on the ground, and it comes with a long list of negatives for many game and non-game species. This has been discussed at length by folks on here well versed in land/wildlife management.

Ok, just hear me out. What if I rented equipment and spent weeks clearing out a few one acre plots in the woods. I kept them mowed and maintained all season. Then once season arrives instead of throwing some seeds on the ground I just broadcast corn. No piles, no turkey killing mold, deer no more concentrated than if it were a planted plot and I can replenish or not as season goes along. What would the argument be against this?

 

[MidTennFisher]

Ok, just hear me out. What if I rented equipment and spent weeks clearing out a few one acre plots in the woods. I kept them mowed and maintained all season. Then once season arrives instead of throwing some seeds on the ground I just broadcast corn. No piles, no turkey killing mold, deer no more concentrated than if it were a planted plot and I can replenish or not as season goes along. What would the argument be against this?

That you would be baiting deer or turkeys just like that would be considering baiting for doves or for waterfowl. It's just that you intentionally scattered the bait instead of putting it in a pile.

The aflatoxin problem may be reduced by doing this but it's still not beneficial to wildlife, all it does is make it really easy to kill a deer or turkey.

 

[chris1976]

That you would be baiting deer or turkeys just like that would be considering baiting for doves or for waterfowl. It's just that you intentionally scattered the bait instead of putting it in a pile.

The aflatoxin problem may be reduced by doing this but it's still not beneficial to wildlife, all it does is make it really easy to kill a deer or turkey.

If baiting is legalized this seems one of the best ways to do it. Absolutely no different than a harvested corn plot. If one acre is too small then just expand it. Any argument other wise is just arguing morals.

 

[timberjack86]

He probably does because, unlike piles of moldy corn, food plots are excellent for all sorts of wildlife. While they both serve the same purpose, luring deer for us to kill, one is largely beneficial for deer, turkeys, and a whole list of other game and non-game species as well as requiring a significant amount of effort to create and maintain.

Whereas piles of corn require no effort other than going to Walmart to buy it, dump it on the ground, and it comes with a long list of negatives for many game and non-game species. This has been discussed at length by folks on here well versed in land/wildlife management.

Why not just learn to hunt deer without any bait at all? I'm not directing this at you but this goes to all that plant plots and throw out bait.

 

[MidTennFisher]

Why not just learn to hunt deer without any bait at all? I'm not directing this at you but this goes to all that plant plots and throw out bait.

I don't see an issue with food plots simply because they provide so much benefit to game animals. I've killed deer in hardwoods and I've also killed them over a food plot. Food plots provide so much benefit for the deer and other wildlife without all the negatives you get from a pile of corn. Sure it's easier than hunting hardwoods but as more and more hardwoods disappear to be turned into crappy subdivisions and strip malls, something has to be done to keep a solid, huntable population of deer in the areas where people want to hunt them.

Even in the rural areas we're seeing a lot of hardwoods completely demolished so that people from California can buy 5 "pasture" acres for $300k because they're scared of bugs.

And I'm a big fan of food plots being maintained on WMAs. I'd never hunt over them because I wouldn't expect to see anything once the pressure starts, but with such an increase in hunters on a decreasing resource, I'm glad TWRA works with farmers to plant plots to keep a healthy deer herd.

 

[FARMTOFIELD]

What if I like to spotlight? Or if I don't believe in bag limits? Can I still hunt my hunt?

Both completely permissable now under the guise of depredation permits, which are easily obtained. The local warden told me if he denied ANY permit for deer depredation, he would likely lose his job. Deer hunting, and "ethics" are laughable any more. It's a no holds barred free for with the deer population anymore. Deer hunting is a joke. Why do we still restrict the ones footing the bill for it? Heck one local warden rides with the farmer while he shoots from the public road. They would hang anyone else for the same.

 

[Bell3wv]

Maybe I'm getting and and cranky but I would find little joy in killing one I'm theowing corn at.

 

[turkey32]

He probably does because, unlike piles of moldy corn, food plots are excellent for all sorts of wildlife. While they both serve the same purpose, luring deer for us to kill, one is largely beneficial for deer, turkeys, and a whole list of other game and non-game species as well as requiring a significant amount of effort to create and maintain.

Whereas piles of corn require no effort other than going to Walmart to buy it, dump it on the ground, and it comes with a long list of negatives for many game and non-game species. This has been discussed at length by folks on here well versed in land/wildlife management.

can you please explain to me if the corn left scattered in the field behind a combine has. aflatoxin. should i check it this fall before i let the deer eat it ??? guess ill have to do alot of samples over that 60 acres

 

[Strict]

I'll vote for freedom. It's your private land. You pay property taxes on it. Do what you want!

 

[DoubleRidge]

I'll vote for freedom. It's your private land. You pay property taxes on it. Do what you want!

You mean in relation to baiting with corn...or literally do anything you want?

 

[BigJohnJTP]

Can you please explain to me if the corn left scattered in the field behind a combine has. aflatoxin. should i check it this fall before i let the deer eat it ??? guess ill have to do alot of samples over that 60 acres

Exactly. The current mandates about no-baiting are largely basically unenforceable and often very hypocritical. Though I haven't gone in a few years I used to go dove "hunting" (really just pass-shooting) on WMA's and also where TWRA paid farmer's to "prepare" huntable fields. So what would you do a week ahead of the opening day? Go to the TWRA Web site and see what fields they had planted (BAITED) with food "plotted" grain. The best were often where sunflowers had been planted and you could go hunt those fields that were right next to the BAITED/planted sunflowers. Now if a bird flew toward/over the sunflowers and you shot it it could drop into the tall sunflowers where it would be hard to find. So why not just get a handful of sunflower seeds and toss them into the open "huntable" field in front of you? BAD BAD BAD – you are now probably guilty of "placing bait for the purpose of hunting" or something similar. Did TWRA remove all evidence of the sunflowers "10 days prior to hunting"? Nope. This stuff has gotten ridiculous. When people think laws are ridiculous they just start ignoring them.

Enforcing strict harvest limits and bag limits (typically 2x the daily bag limit) goes straight to the issue of working toward regulating herd/species/sex game levels. Making it illegal to sell corn that is not tested for aflatoxins would have a good impact. TWRA should be able to ask for the invoices from Walmart and other sellers of corn to assure that they are complying with such a mandate. Intense education campaigns can have a very positive impact on many many people including our youth. This should start with educational programs about properly utilizing our natural resources in public and private primary and secondary education schools. Having limited numbers of stressed out TWRA officers running around trying to keep up with this often complex and hypocritical issue is a looser for everyone.

 

[MidTennFisher]

can you please explain to me if the corn left scattered in the field behind a combine has. aflatoxin. should i check it this fall before i let the deer eat it ??? guess ill have to do alot of samples over that 60 acres

Nobody has ever made the claim that scattered corn from a combine will grow aflatoxin. Many people have made the claim that a poured pile of it will grow aflatoxin and that is backed up by numerous scientific studies that have concluded it can, and often will, grow enough to reach levels fatal to young turkeys, song birds, and quail.