Freaking awesome thread and ideas.
I too went ban baiting, not that it doesn't have its place but my neighbors with 1 and 2 ac yards and feeders aren't hunting ( and I'm not sorry if you think I am a dick for saying that) nor do I think everyone running corn in winter months and wooded regions do the herd a favor in terms of health. Its the common denominator for all of Ohio's deer drama. Outfitters cant plot the thousands of acres they grab up, garbage OOS folks wont buy 5 ac and put a feeder on it killing every 2yo that visits it for the week they're there in the fall, diseases wouldn't have such a prime opportunity spread, so on and so forth. It is just too easy of a way for killing to take place. I cannot get over the number of folks who dislike baiting but fall into "if you dont, your neighbor will" and other substantiations. The only reason anyone has for baiting is it is an easy direct result activity. Those that say it is the same as plots, trees, whatever have not spent their time growing and hunting plants/trees, nor are they smart enough to see the collateral benefits to which corn piles do not.
Local landowners are the root cause of leasing, some of which outfitting has driven to the point of where nonhunting landowners get on the wagon for. Very few leasers or outfitters ever put anything back into the land, herd, conservation, etc.
Here's the key one, and i state this spending so much time hunting in NY. Game law enforcement. If lawlessness is part of the culture, laws dont matter. All too often you hear about poachers, trespassers, this & that but there wasn't the timely response (or any at all) of the law. Once that chit starts, or is known for a region, its on a downward trajectory. Passing laws for only law abiding folks to follow will only drive more people out of hunting. It needs structure and support. When Ohio sees 2B worth of funds going into it- there needs to be
Quality landowners, whether locals or OOS, are where the resource benefits the most and subsequently everyone enjoying the resource sees the improvement.. Love it or not.