Food plots are not the same as bait piles.
If a landowner has 40 acres and wants to improve his hunting he can either bait or manage the land for deer.
By managing the land the owner must balance food AND cover. So he can plant a food crop, but the more suface area he covers with food the less cover he provides for deer. There's a balance point at which his food plot ruins the hunting.
By baiting the land owner uses someone elses land to grow the food while he maintains his land for cover.
By managing the land, the land owner improves hunting by boosting population thus improving hunting for his neighbors as well.
By baiting the land owner draws deer off the neighbor's property potentially ruining hunting for neighbors.
With a food plot the deer are required to cover more ground to seek their needs. The food is scattered in an open area. The open area does not provide cover. The deer must move from spot to spot to get food, water, avoid bugs, get out of the rain and wind, and hide from predators. By moving they will more likely cross property boundaries and other hunter's.
A bait pile on the other hand can be placed in the midst of good cover. The deer can bed down a few yards away from the bait pile. They don't need to move as much. It is more likely that the deer can meet all their needs within a 40 acre parcel.
When a food plot is eaten, it's gone until next year. The deer must go elsewhere for food. Simply not so with a bait pile.
I don't think there is anything unethical about baiting. It's done for bear.
I just think it's rude. It certainly does affect other hunters. There's actually some schmucks who think that placing a bait pile on public land is the equivalent of reserving a site! :eek: If it isn't banned on private land it should be banned on public land strictly on this principal.
Nothing more crass than thinking you can stake a claim on a piece of property without paying for it or even paying taxes.
I think I'll go build a house in Yellowstone Nat'l Park then tell people to get off my land! :roll:
