Hunting Laws, Hunting Regulations
Notice the feeder near the stand.Deer hunting laws are similar throughout the country, but there are some important differences. Hunting allowed in one state may be totally banned in another state.Such as: Driving of deer with dogs.This is legal in some states where it has been a common practice with hunters for many years. In other places hunters would consider it little better than spotlighting or poaching. Feeding takes the natural from nature, the wild from wildlife, and the hunt out of hunting.Feeding or bating deer is not legal in some states. Some state wildlife departments view most feeding as a bad idea.Read: Don't Feed The Wildlife (a pdf) Other states hunting laws require that the feeders be removed or turned off before the hunting season. Sadly some states actually allow deer to be taken at the feeder.   Wildlife such as deer survive by finding food and cover from predators or hunters. That natural behavior is why we have a sport of deer 'hunting'. Deer behavior is mostly controlled by food sources; sometimes sex. Using such an easy source of food it is possible to lead deer out in the open during the day. Using a feeder is manipulating deer
Livestock, domesticated animals, are fed, and can learn to come when called. They learn to come at certain times of the day when fed. If a farmer has been feeding cattle they come when the pulls into the field. Young deer will learn to behave in about the same way if trained with food for a long enough time. This is not a part of authentic hunting. |
