The Effects of Baiting on Deer Hunting in Wisconsin. Mark A. Toso June 2001
Hunter Success Rates
It is widely assumed that baiting increases a hunter’s chance of seeing and harvesting deer. In fact, 92% of Wisconsin hunters surveyed believe baiting increases a hunter’s chance of harvesting a deer (Petchenik 1993). Remarkably the percentage is the same for baiters and non-baiters. However, studies conducted in the Midwest do not support this perception. The 1993 WDNR survey found that 50% of hunters were successful with bait, while 54% were successful without bait. Michigan DNR surveys also repeatedly bear this out. A 1984 survey found that hunters who used bait were no more effective than those who did not (2.4 vs. 2.2 deer harvested per 100 hunting days, respectively), and a 1992 survey had similar results (3.8 vs. 3.1 deer harvested per 100 hunting days). A more recent 1999 Michigan DNR survey found that 44% were successful using bait, while 52% were successful without bait (Mich. DNR 1999). Clearly there is little distinction between baiting and non-baiting success rates when hunting in areas where baiting is practiced. What is not considered is if success rates would be higher overall without baiting.
Changes to Deer Movement Patterns
One behavior change frequently observed with deer baiting is increased nocturnal activity (Charles 1993). A study of captive deer in Michigan documented that a majority of feeding at supplemental food sources occurred at night, and daytime feeding was almost nonexistent (Ozoga and Verme 1982). In Texas, a controlled study of similar baited and non-baited hunting stands indicated the use of baited stands by deer became more nocturnal as the hunting season progressed (Wegner 1993). It was also noted that deer, especially mature bucks, learn quickly to avoid baited sites during daylight hours. Incidentally, most of the bucks (77%) harvested from baited stands were yearlings. A Mississippi study also reported that the daylight activity of bucks decreased as the number of bait sites increased (Wegner 1993).
Baiting and recreational feeding have even negated the usual effects of winter stress and mortality on deer in the northern forested region, thus compounding the population problem (Mytton 2001).
Conclusion
Despite the overwhelming perception, there is no evidence that deer baiting increases the overall success rate.
Baiting provides a concentrated source of food thus reducing deer activity. This causes deer to be less vulnerable to hunter harvest which will lower the success rate as it does for other factors, like the weather. Baiting also causes hunters to see less deer and can explain why so many deer hunters question the WDNR deer population estimates.
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