Antis trying to ban state-wide baiting - S2369

[Haskell_Hunter]

From the NJOA:

 

NOTE: As previously reported, HSUS and other animal rights groups are attempting to ban baiting of deer and bear in New Jersey. These groups include HSUS, NJ Sierra, and local fringe groups. The initiative is part of a comprehensive HSUS strategy targeting many states.

 

Recently in New Jersey, a parliamentary procedure was used to circumvent appropriate committee oversight and have the baiting ban bill heard so that it would provide the inevitable votes to pass. This maneuver is part of a campaign that is also using Op-eds and "Letters to the editor" by local animal rights fringe groups to give the baiting bill ban public profile. Keep in mind, the bill would unilaterally remove deer baiting as a wildlife management tool, potentially throughout New Jersey.

 

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I know a lot of folks here bait, and if we don't speak up you may soon find that baiting becomes illegal in NJ.

 

As usual, our esteemed legislators in NJ have conducted themselves above the law and allowed this law to go into the wrong committee, around the proper checks and balances, and allowed a vote to secure entry of the bill into the legislator for a vote.

 

http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bills/BillView.asp?BillNumber=S2369

http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/2012/Bills/S2500/2369_I1.HTM

 

Specifically look at:

 

Notwithstanding any provision of subsection a. of this section, no person shall use bait in a municipality identified as being located in black bear habitat pursuant to section 2 of P.L.     , c.    (C.        ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) to attract, entice, or lure a deer for any purpose. 

 

The bill is very confusing (like most NJ laws) and more than likely will result in an all-out ban on baiting.  The synopsis of the bull...er...bill cleverly disgusts its true intent--an outright ban on all baiting in NJ.  The first couple of sentences are about trash cans, the rest of it talks about baiting.

 

It is important that we start notifying our legislators about this bill and don't let it silently pass and then realize the consequences when F&G changes the game code to make baiting illegal.

 

The same usual suspects have signed onto the bill again.  We need to vote these people out of office.

[BowhunterNJ]

To be honest, I have mixed feelings about baiting.

 

It is indeed a management tool and as such is applicable for areas where that tool is needed/required to meet management goals.

In that respect, I don't think it should be banned, and I don't think NJDFW will allow it to be (if they can help it).

 

But I do feel it should NOT be permitted on WMA lands, they are some of the most heavily hunted areas and as a result, don't required that type of aggressive management.  There is plenty of sustainable habitat for the deer populations there, and unless they deemed those specific areas (maybe smaller/newly purchased WMAs) to be overpopulated, WMA lands should have a better and more conservative management approach IMHO.  Factor in that baiting adds a level of hunter "territorialism" to hunting grounds (time, money, effort invested in baiting an area...not quite as easy to just pick up and move somewhere else) and pretty much significantly controls/alters deer movement patterns (which is what is intended to do in drawing deer OUT of areas that CANNOT be hunted into ones that can be, i.e. heavily populated private areas)...it tends to create more bad than good (hunters cutting other hunters bait piles off, etc).

 

Just my .02 on it.  Personally I miss the days of no baiting, but I understand it's purpose.  Unfortunately with it being legal, on many pieces that are heavily hunted and baited, you have to bait to keep deer on or moving through your area in a lot of cases.  It's not to say you can't hunt without bait, but I've experienced on more than one occasion and more than one piece, deer getting completely "pulled off" by bait, and the only way to "compete" was to bait as well.

[Gruntmaster]

I feel if your choice is not to bait...

Then that's your call.

But on the other hand we as hunters in this state "MUST" stick together for the common good of our sport and not let anything go the way side.

I never plan on hunting on Sunday, but stand fast in support from day one.

Also crossbow not my choice of weapon, but will go out of my way to support it in my sport.

We cannot give them one inch or you know what can happen...

 

Just my two cents...

[Matty]

I'm right there with you Matt. I had originally written a similar post and decided against posting because I assumed my opinion on the subject would not be popular.

 

I feel very much the same way as you, but I couldn't stand for an all out ban on baiting. Not even sure I would want to ban it on public lands, but I would love to see some kinds of limits, or other means of action that could prevent or decrease all of the problems you mentioned.

 

I too see it's merit in management and I also see how it can help promote hunting for youths and newcomers to the sport. However, I do see a lot of problems caused by baiting too.

 

I oppose this bill, but would love if we could look into ways to curb the issues somehow.

[BowhunterNJ]

Well, baiting or no baiting doesn't (shouldn't) have a bearing on our ability to hunt.  I'll never advocate banning hunting.  But baiting is a parameter that contributes towards achieving management goals...and sometimes those parameters need revision in order to meet those goals.  Season duration and bag limits in given zones are examples of such annually revised parameters.  I realize there is apprehension about "giving up ground", but my point is more of one that is of benefit to the hunters and wildlife conservation efforts in certain/specific areas (namely WMAs), as much as baiting is for the same benefit in other high deer density areas (namely high deer density private lands that are unhuntable and require bait to draw deer into huntable areas).

[BHC]

if the baiting is banned fully, the deer herd will be back up to 200,000 mark within a few years....many deer will survive

[Axiom]

IMO if baiting were outlawed, that would force NJ hunters to actually learn how to hunt instead of playing king of the corn pile...However, in this state of suits, not many men really want to hunt, or have time to learn. They just want to go out and bag something, and so the corn pile rules.. And thats ok with me.. to each his own is my motto...

[robnj]

I find baiting mature bucks more of a challenge then not. I think I must be the only person who thinks this. The buck I shot this year ran by chasing does during the rut . Not as rewarding as the one I attracted with bait the year before last. finding a buck and killing it is hard and rewarding but finding one and making it come to you and killing it on high alert is definitely a rush for me. I would miss baiting if it goes away.

[Haskell_Hunter]

I don't like bans, it cramps my freedom.

 

However, if NJDFW wants to regulate baiting as part of their management plan, that's their call, not the legislators.

 

This bill is definitely about baiting, but remember, it's backed my the Antis.  There's no way in heck I'm going to let emotional drivel trump science and allow the Antis to regulate wildlife in this state.

 

IMHO.

[BowhunterNJ]

Yes, I absolutely agree with that. There's no way politicians/legislators nor antis should be making wildlife management decisions…ever.