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CWD and "bait piles"?

Do you think or believe that CWD is connected with baiting? 🤔

The ODNR says that deer gathering in groups to feed like they do with bait piles, is not natural and it contributes to CWD. I never gave it much thought under those circumstances, but I suppose it's possible. Just the same, the ODNR could be completely off base with this train of thought, if there's no data to support it. :cautious:

I know one thing is for sure and for certain, it attracts way too many coons. (n)
 

Wildlife

Denny
Supporting Member
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Ross County, Ohio
I'm where Ted is on this topic.

 

Tipmoose

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
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Grove City
I'm where Ted is on this topic.

That pretty much sums up my thoughts too. What is a white oak tree if not a huge natural bait pile? I think people are drawn to easy solutions...especially solutions in search of a problem. Lotsa folks don't like bait for any number of reasons...so its easy to come up with reasons to get rid of it. Just my two cents.
 

finelyshedded

You know what!!!
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SW Ohio
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Chancegriffis

Active Member
1,451
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Salesville ohio
That pretty much sums up my thoughts too. What is a white oak tree if not a huge natural bait pile? I think people are drawn to easy solutions...especially solutions in search of a problem. Lotsa folks don't like bait for any number of reasons...so its easy to come up with reasons to get rid of it. Just my two cents.
I agree.
 
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I appreciate the replies, gentlemen. :)

I'll confess, I've put out some sweetened corn and bird seed for the deer. I can't say it ever had a draw to bigger bucks, unless it was very late in the season....and even then, it was after hours. I have no intentions of continuing this practice, for a number of reasons, but not the least of which is the amount of trash animals that it attracts. :rolleyes:
 

Stressless

Active Member
2,127
85
Keene, OH
I'm in favor on banning bait, CWD passes via close proximity, no question. But for me it would be refreshing to actually just hunt again with natural movement.

+1 on the pumkin sized trash pandas they create.

I wonder if there's a study on the 'coons etc health/population + due to deer baiting and predation of turkey nests? LoL but thats another thread....
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
Gonna need yall to stop with plots while we are at it. That makes deer congregate to an area. Yall creating bedding areas...yup, gonna need you to stop that too.

I do all of these things and I'm not going to sit here and try and put a finger at the bait piles. We have how many other post about feeders in our yards? Grape jelly for birds, seeds for other critters and what not. We also have tons of post about less government but here we are wanting them to step in again. They are going to do what they want anyways so let's not turn against eachother. Just do what is legal and be happy for your fellow hunters.
 

Wildlife

Denny
Supporting Member
5,248
191
Ross County, Ohio
Not CWD but here is a new article they are saying Aflatoxin's are causing deer and turkey declines. Basically a toxin created by a fungus that grows on grain (corn) used in bait piles and feeders. Seems the article could go further and explain more but it does make you think some.


Good info shared, Chuck!

I've been a subscriber/follower of these folks for quite sometime and I do pay attention in what they put out regularly.

Anyhow, the mold is one of the reasons why I pursued the feed troughs for the new year at the feed station here at home rather than whole corn being tossed on the ground on a regular basis. I also incorporated deer pellets this year for better nutrition utilizing one of the other troughs for the deer for them to get accustom to. Eventually, I will be phasing out the whole corn and use the much better quality deer feed at that location. I'm currently in the process of setting up an account with a main supplier where I can get what I want in bulk on a monthly basis rather than purchasing at a local retailer and a much higher cost.

The corn feeder at the other farm has a programmable dispenser on it that allows minimal amounts of fresh corn dispensed onto the ground for the number of deer that have been showing up regularly. That is why it took me a couple of frequent early visits at that location to get the program right based on the TC data observed the first couple of weeks. So far, it seems to be doing the trick and I do not have any concerns of mold developing there at that location. I now visit that location about once every 7-10 days to pull SD cards and replenish the feeder.