Not just poachers, but stupid to boot!

[Pinwheel8]

Today I took my son into one of my best turkey spots in the DBNF to look around a little. We no more than drove in and there were two longbeards standing on the edge of the road, nice birds, both of them. After they seen us I drove by to the end of the road and turned around being confident that I could get out of my Jeep and not spook them. Well, guess what I found all over the place? Yep, yella yelper, or corn as more commonly called. Not just a little, probably about a 100 lb. bag broadcast right along the $%&! road. Now I have to call the KWDFR and report it and in doing so knocking off one of my best spots. Idiots :mad:. The turkey are already there, why screw it up for everyone?

The older I get the more I realize the Native Americans were right.

[turk2di]

Today I took my son into one of my best turkey spots in the DBNF to look around a little. We no more than drove in and there were two longbeards standing on the edge of the road, nice birds, both of them. After they seen us I drove by to the end of the road and turned around being confident that I could get out of my Jeep and not spook them. Well, guess what I found all over the place? Yep, yella yelper, or corn as more commonly called. Not just a little, probably about a 100 lb. bag broadcast right along the $%&! road. Now I have to call the KWDFR and report it and in doing so knocking off one of my best spots. Idiots :mad:. The turkey are already there, why screw it up for everyone?

The older I get the more I realize the Native Americans were right.

Had the same thing happen to me at the Gilbraltar tract of Peabody in 04. Riuned my best honeyhole of all time as it was opening day when i happened upon it. They shut the place down after that year & i never got to hunt it again. Called the local CO & told him where it was, don't know whatever become of it.

[thunderchicken09]

The DBNF is pretty big. How much of it can you not hunt now?

[deadaim]

Dont be suprised if animal rights Idiots arent doing this. Ive had run ins with them in the past in the DBNF. This is one of the tricks in there trick bag........................

[GSP]

Dont be suprised if animal rights Idiots arent doing this. Ive had run ins with them in the past in the DBNF. This is one of the tricks in there trick bag........................

I would be guessing that one too.

[Scott7m]

One of the farms I hunt is covered by turkey's in the spring, because they know it is illegal to feed the turkeys corn, they feed it to the cows a few weeks leading up to season, and let the cows disperse the corn all over the fields for them!

[yankeegonesouthern]

The DBNF is pretty big. How much of it can you not hunt now?:rolleyes:

Well he said "one of my best turkey spots in the DBNF" so he CAN'T hunt one of his best spots.

[kurzhaar]

The DBNF is pretty big. How much of it can you not hunt now?


I believe the baiting laws for turkeys state that you cannot hunt within 100 yds of the bait, is that not correct?

[maxcam]

One of the farms I hunt is covered by turkey's in the spring, because they know it is illegal to feed the turkeys corn, they feed it to the cows a few weeks leading up to season, and let the cows disperse the corn all over the fields for them!

It is perfectly legal for a farmer to pour a tractor trailer load of corn out in the field to feed his cattle during turkey season and hunt his own farm as long as its part of his normal farming operations......I heard Commissioner Angel pose that very question to the KDFW when the issue of baiting came up last Winter......

[buckfever]

I believe the baiting laws for turkeys state that you cannot hunt within 100 yds of the bait, is that not correct?

No, that is not correct. First, you cannot bait at all for wildlife from March 1st through May 31st.

http://www.lrc.state.ky.us/kar/301/002/015reg.htm

Second, you cannot hunt in a "baited area". There is no minimum distance. Even if there's "bait" (i.e. corn) present that is used for normal agricultural purposes such as feeding livestock, you cannot hunt turkeys that are in route to that feeding area. Regardless of whether you are using the feed for normal agricultural purposes, you can't shoot a turkey over a baited field.

http://www.lrc.state.ky.us/kar/301/002/140.htm

Some people have stated their belief that if you have bait anywhere on your farm, you cannot hunt that farm. IMO, that is not correct. You cannot hunt in the "baited area", but that doesn't mean the entire farm is necessarily off limits.

Because the regs don't define what is a baited area, a lot of this is subject to the discretion of the game warden. I've had game wardens tell me different things, but to be completely safe, I think a good rule of thumb would be about 500 yards. I think that you'd be begging for a ticket if your were right at 100 yards from a big corn pile.

[grouseguy]

http://www.lrc.state.ky.us/kar/301/002/015reg.htm

Second, you cannot hunt in a "baited area". There is no minimum distance. Even if there's "bait" (i.e. corn) present that is used for normal agricultural purposes such as feeding livestock, you cannot hunt turkeys that are in route to that feeding area. Regardless of whether you are using the feed for normal agricultural purposes, you can't shoot a turkey over a baited field.


Buck,

I don't think you're interpretation is correct ... see maxcam's post above. It is my understanding that as long as the corn is being fed to livestock (normal agricultural purposes), it is perfectly legal to hunt that property.

Taken directly from your link:

but shall not include the establishment and maintenance of plantings for wildlife, foods found scattered solely as the result of normal agricultural planting or harvesting practices, foods available to wildlife through normal agricultural practices of livestock feeding if the areas are occupied by livestock actively consuming the feed on a daily basis, or standing farm crops under normal agricultural practices.

[big300mag]

Hey Matt! I feel for you dude. It's hard enough to find a good "honey-hole". To have somebody mess with it like that makes you wish they'de open a season on stupid people! :mad: If they did, based on past experience we've had, we would be able to fill our tags every year!:o What makes it worse is that I'm sure you were going to put your boy on a bird this weekend. Hopefully everything will fall into place so he can tag a big 'un. I'm planning on taking my oldest daughter for the first time, so hopefully we will be able to have some good luck ourselves. Let us know how you guys do.

[kurzhaar]

So, the 100 yds was off. I did read that someplace, but it may have been some time ago and an old regulation. My point was, there is a limit to the amount of area that will not be huntable due to some form of baiting. In the case of the OP, let's say a 400 yd circle around the baited areas is not huntable, most turkeys I have seen travel a much larger circuit than 800 yds in a day.

[Valley Station]

There is NO fixed distance defined by regulation.

[mcdenney]

There is NO fixed distance defined by regulation.

That is what I have been told as well. I would say if the birds are being effected by a baited area (regardless of distance) then you will get a ticket. Also, as some have pointed out if it is something that is done in a normal farming practice then you should be fine.

[Labrador]

I, too, have been told that there is no distance rule; it comes down to influence. If the birds are being influenced by the bait (coming to or going from), they're off limits. If your neighbor has a feeder within the curtilage of his home (and on his property), you cannot legally hunt birds that on your property if it can reasonably be assumed that they are being influenced by the feeder (going to / coming from).

I don't think that a farmer throwing out a large amount of shelled corn to feed his cattle one time during the year (March/April) would be viewed as "normal agricultural practices". It's subject to interpretation, as is "influence" above. Most LEOs use their better judgment and are darn good at figuring out what's going on. Don't expect to hunt the field-edge 50 yards from where the farmer is "feeding his cattle".

IMHO, the area is off limits to Pinwheel8.

[MikeKy]

That's a scary deal. I know there are deer feeders on three farms that join mine but I don't know if they have stopped feeding or not. I'm pretty sure that the feeders attract about as many turkeys as deer. If they are still feeding, which I know is illegal right now, that would make me vulnerable to being cited for hunting on my own place because of something I can't control or have no knowledge of since my place seems to be a popular roosting place. If a gobbler roosts on my place and I shoot him on his way to a feeder on an adjoining property, I could be cited according to what I've read here even though I don't even know where the feeders are located, just that they exist somewhere on the adjoining farms.:eek: That doesn't seem quite fair to me.

[deepfryum]

I Know For A Fact That There Is No Certain Coverage Area That Determines A Baited Area. 500 Yards Is Not A Safe Place To Hunt! If It Is Baited The Warden Will Close Whatever He Deems Necesary. I Had 2 People Very Close To Me Get In Trouble Several Years Back Buy Not Reading The Hunting Guide. And Not Following Specifically What It Says. They Were No Where Near The Baited Area (alot Farther Than 500 Yds) When The Warden Took Both There Guns, Fined Them , And Put Them On Probation For 2 Years. The Warden Posted A Sign On The Farm Saying This Farm Is Closed To All Turkey Hunting Do To Baited Area. This Was A 100 + Acre Farm.

[redneck1377]

how many baited area will be hidden so that it can not be seen from 50 feet, I not talking about hiding it on purpose, we could be within 20 feet of a corn pile and never see it

[buckfever]

Buck,

I don't think you're interpretation is correct ... see maxcam's post above. It is my understanding that as long as the corn is being fed to livestock (normal agricultural purposes), it is perfectly legal to hunt that property.

Taken directly from your link:

but shall not include the establishment and maintenance of plantings for wildlife, foods found scattered solely as the result of normal agricultural planting or harvesting practices, foods available to wildlife through normal agricultural practices of livestock feeding if the areas are occupied by livestock actively consuming the feed on a daily basis, or standing farm crops under normal agricultural practices.

Mark - You're right. I went back and read the regs in the second link I posted. The section you quoted applies to baiting generally.

I thought the other section said you can't hunt turkeys over bait, period, but it doesn't. Heres' what it says:

Section 6. Baiting. (1) A person shall not hunt wild turkeys on a baited area or by the aid of baiting: (a) While bait is present; or
(b) For thirty (30) days after the bait has been removed.
(2) A person may hunt wild turkey on an area where grain, feed or other substance exists as the result of:
(a) Bona fide agricultural practice; or
(b) Manipulating a crop for a wildlife management purpose.
(3) A field shall be considered baited if grain, feed or other substance grown on the field is removed and later returned to the field.


It's kind of ridiculous that you can hunt turkeys over livestock bait, but I guess you can. IMO, people shouldn't be allowed to hunt turkeys over feeding stations simply b/c there are cows or other farm animals around.

[notimlmit]

I always check the stomach of each bird I kill to see what they've been dining on and more than once I've found corn - no one I know in the area is feeding corn to cattle or anything else that I know of so I guess the outlaws are closer than I realize - and I cover the 90 acres pretty good all season and have never found it there

[mcdenney]

That's a scary deal. I know there are deer feeders on three farms that join mine but I don't know if they have stopped feeding or not. I'm pretty sure that the feeders attract about as many turkeys as deer. If they are still feeding, which I know is illegal right now, that would make me vulnerable to being cited for hunting on my own place because of something I can't control or have no knowledge of since my place seems to be a popular roosting place. If a gobbler roosts on my place and I shoot him on his way to a feeder on an adjoining property, I could be cited according to what I've read here even though I don't even know where the feeders are located, just that they exist somewhere on the adjoining farms.:eek: That doesn't seem quite fair to me.

You got it! I had a friend get a ticket and loose his gun because an area near where he was hunting was baited, the next farm over to be exact. He got his gun back but it cost him. Luckily for me I was not with him that morning or I would have been cited as well.

[grouseguy]

It's kind of ridiculous that you can hunt turkeys over livestock bait, but I guess you can. IMO, people shouldn't be allowed to hunt turkeys over feeding stations simply b/c there are cows or other farm animals around.

Ballard,

I understand what you're saying, but that is the situation I'm in on my Mother-in-laws farm. She leases her pasture to an older gentleman who runs cattle and he comes out everyday and pours 50 lbs of cracked corn on the ground in several piles behind the barn for his cattle. If it weren't for this exemption, then I wouldn't be allowed to turkey hunt this farm at all.

Now don't get me wrong, I don't set up right over these corn piles, but the farm has a lot of acreage in the back that is not really directly influenced by the corn for the livestock.

Actually, his feeding area is closer to the neighbors line than the back edge of her farm, and I think it would be a real travesty if it were interpreted that the neighbor couldn't hunt his farm over something that he had no control over. Personally, I think the reg should be loosened to clearly state that the "area of influence" stops at the property line. Its simply patently unfair to have the actions of another, who is completely out of your control, to have any influence over whether you can hunt your own farm.

[MikeKy]

Its simply patently unfair to have the actions of another, who is completely out of your control, to have any influence over whether you can hunt your own farm.

Sure seems that way to me also. The three farms that join mine and have feeders are all posted. I can't go on them to look for the feeders and check them to see if feeding is still going on and I'm pretty sure of the answer I would get if I ask the owners if they are baiting. My best guess is that two of the places have stopped feeding but I don't have a warm, fuzzy feeling about the third one.

[Labrador]

MikeKy, if you're overly concerned about adjoining properties creating an unhuntable situation for you, contact your local CO and voice your concerns. Tell him what you know and ask him to give you the "thumbs-up" or "thumbs-down" as to whether or not it would be safe for you to hunt the property from a legallity/baiting standpoint.

That's just what I did on a farm I hunt. The neighbor keeps a cornpile out during this time of year that is considered to be within the curtilage of his house. I know this cornpile influences the turkeys' movement through the farm that I hunt adjoining his. I asked the game warden to take a look at the situation for me. He met me at the farm and told me not to hunt a particular ridge...the one that leads to this guy's cornpile. Other than that, the rest of the farm was huntable.

This is what he said in my situation; yours may be different.

[Pinwheel8]

Hey Matt! I feel for you dude. It's hard enough to find a good "honey-hole". To have somebody mess with it like that makes you wish they'de open a season on stupid people! :mad: If they did, based on past experience we've had, we would be able to fill our tags every year!:o What makes it worse is that I'm sure you were going to put your boy on a bird this weekend. Hopefully everything will fall into place so he can tag a big 'un. I'm planning on taking my oldest daughter for the first time, so hopefully we will be able to have some good luck ourselves. Let us know how you guys do.

Thanks Scott, hope you two have a great time. Holler at me sometime at the store and we will try to hunt this year.

After giving it some thought I have an idea of what may be taking place. The corn is right beside the road. The turkey are actually scratching leaves into the road getting to the corn. How likely do you think that someone is wanting to hunt the place by themselves and put the bait out not to hunt over, but to run off other hunters. I mean it is really obvious and all they would have to do is walk in 50 yards and nobody could have seen it from the road. Oh well, it worked on this hunter anyway. I hope they get bit by a copperhead, sprain and ankle, or get a really bad case of chiggers.:mad:

[MikeKy]

MikeKy, if you're overly concerned about adjoining properties creating an unhuntable situation for you, contact your local CO and voice your concerns. Tell him what you know and ask him to give you the "thumbs-up" or "thumbs-down" as to whether or not it would be safe for you to hunt the property from a legallity/baiting standpoint.

That's just what I did on a farm I hunt. The neighbor keeps a cornpile out during this time of year that is considered to be within the curtilage of his house. I know this cornpile influences the turkeys' movement through the farm that I hunt adjoining his. I asked the game warden to take a look at the situation for me. He met me at the farm and told me not to hunt a particular ridge...the one that leads to this guy's cornpile. Other than that, the rest of the farm was huntable.

This is what he said in my situation; yours may be
different.

Didn't mean to sound overly concerned. It's just kind of frustrating. The first time I ever heard of this situation, it was Feds and dove hunters involved, not in KY, and the basis for issuing the citations was so ridiculous that I don't think any of the charges stuck and I actually thought that some baiting laws were revised after that fiasco because the intent of the law had been stretched so far. I won't be making a call to the CO as I have no knowledge that any of the adjacent property owners are still feeding and I wouldn't want to cast doubts on their character with no proof. I'm going to hunt my land as I normally do. If I were to be cited because of the illegal activities of others I guess we'll all just meet down at the courthouse one day where I'll tell my story and the issuing officer can tell his side and we'll let 12 reasonable people decide if I can hunt on land that I bought and paid for or not.

[big300mag]

Sounds good, Matt. I'll get up with you sometime this weekend.

Just a case of chiggers is too good for him. He needs to get a good case of them plus poison oak on his privates.:eek: That'll teach him.:D