Regulation Question - Baiting

[Monsterbuck]

I was thinking about making some mineral licks on the property I hunt. They would be mixed into the soil in a few spots on or near major trails.

According to the DNR regs they consider minerals "bait" but I don't see anywhere if there is a distance restriction.

Surely mineral licks aren't illegal as long as you're not hunting right over them are they? I mean if I have a stand hung on the same trail as a mineral lick but the lick is 80 yards away is that considered baiting and illegal?

 

[jkratz5]

The way the regs. read it would be illegal if you are transporting the bait into the area in order to attrach deer or changing the deers pattern. I guess it depends on the officer but to be safe I wouldn't be hunting anywhere near one.

Kratz

 

[GunnerJon]

Your best bet is to contact the CO in your area and ask.

 

[huntdoc]

This may not matter, but depending on the soil, I stop putting any mineral out now and by season it is pretty much gone and deer are showing it no interest. I also try to put it away fromstands as well.

 

[Monsterbuck]

Well I am a bit late getting one set-up this year but I have heard of guys setting them up late and not getting any activity at it that year and then the deer start using them right away the next spring. Ideally I would like to freshen them every year in early spring.

I don't think the deer use them during hunting season, mainly during spring and summer I believe. I'm not planning on hanging a stand over one but the property isn't real big so the stand may only be 100-150 yards or so from the mineral lick location.

Just don't want to get in trouble, someone thinking I'm trying to bait them to a stand or something. I thought maybe there were some clear regs regarding how far away you have to be hunting from a mineral lick.

They are beneficial to the deer and yes they do attract deer to a property but it's not like I want to hunt over a salt block or a pile of corn.