Like the waterhole we sit over during extremely dry conditions, the mock scrapes we create in our favorite buck woods, or the trail of doe urine we strategically plot out to cross in front of our tree stand, write this down: It is all bait. To listen to someone attempt to deny this is theater of the absurd in spades.
Too funny.
I certainly don’t need to consult old Mr. Webster to confirm that, like the worm on my hook, or the commercial food plot mix I plant, these wildlife attractants are as pure and unadulterated bait as was Mrs. Nugent’s exercise routine, hairdo, shaved legs, choice of clothing and make-up rituals in preparation for our initial encounter.
Know it. Admit it. Celebrate it. For it is natural, and it is perfect. And wonderful.
Deer do not need bait thrown around to have nose-to-nose contact. Their lives are nose-to-nose contact … nose-to-butt contact, nose-to-eyeball contact, nose-to-ear contact, with or without man’s involvement. Find a person who says otherwise, and you are looking at a liar or a fool.
Period.
I do it all, and I love it all. Including cleverly positioning an automatic feeder to spray corn into shadowy groves where I might get a close shot at a doe or a buck at some point. Not only are all these strategies over-the-top exciting and absolutely fair chase, but, astonishingly, we can find fellow hunters who would like to ban one or more of these legal methodologies for some strange, selfish, unsophisticated, small-minded and unfounded reasons.
Get straps, and get them the way you like. Whatever your personal choice in hunting, have at it, I am with you. This includes the farmer or rancher who could care less about “sport” or “challenge”, but simply wants some delicious, succulent venison for the grill. Enough with the “ethics” hysteria. You want meat … get meat. Buy a license. Eat venison. Have a nice day.
We are facing many problems in America, and hunting deer over bait is not one of them. In our beloved hunting lifestyle, the real problems are illogical, counterproductive gamelaws that are designed to impede recruitment and create attrition. Sunday hunting bans, minimum age limits, shooting hours, crossbow bans, bait, the vulgar practice of hiring sharpshooters and government hunters to kill our game, three shell limits on migratory fowl, bow and gun case laws, no hunting in state and national parks, and so many more inconsistent, nonsensical rules that have nothing to do with safety or science.
Deer corn is not on the list, or at least shouldn’t be. Believe me. Until we unite to open the gates to more and new hunters, we will be in danger. We must unite and focus on meaningful priorities and leave the squawking to the antis.
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