Northwest Fishing Reports

I don't know the answer to this because I bow stalk but is baiting deer legal in washington? I've seen that c'mere deer in stores lately which I thought was weird. Guess I always thought is was illegal here. Anyone know?

Yes it is. It is in the regs.

Called it in to WDFW not to long ago because I didn't see that you couldn't in the regs. The kind folks down there informed me that you CAN, i repeat, YOU CAN BAIT for deer and elk in the state. Baiting for bear and birds is illegal.

I talked to a game warden last year and yes you can bait all wild life and hunt over the bait.

Don't listen to what these other people have posted. All of thier info is just word of mouth and can't be trusted. You CANNOT hunt for any animal you want to in Washington with bait. I know for a fact it is ILLEGAL to hunt for bear or cougar with bait. I am still doing research on elk and deer, but I am 99.9% sure it is illegal to hunt for them with bait as well.

This is excactly why unknowing sportsman get in trouble with the law in the first place. They read what is on random forums and take it as fact.

Here is a link to the actual regs on the WDFW website which states it is illegal to use bait for bear or cougar. Scroll to page 58 and you will see it.
http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/hunter/huntregs2008.pdf

Please read the regs for yourself and follow them.

BTW if it were LEGAL to hunt for elk and deer with bait, don't you think that everyone if not most people would use bait?????
I have never in recent years seen anyone use bait in Washington. Wierd!!!:salut:

deer and elk baiting is legal. I used to haul salt and mineral blocks into the Glacier Peak Wilderness with a game warden.

It never gave us an advantage but did benefit the critters later in the season.

zen leecher aka Bill W wrote:deer and elk baiting is legal. I used to haul salt and mineral blocks into the Glacier Peak Wilderness with a game warden.

Used to you say. How many years ago was that? Rules change.

Yes it is still legal to bait at least deer. Elk I have no idea as I do not hunt them. Know the rules for what you hunt.

mallard83 wrote:Don't listen to what these other people have posted. All of thier info is just word of mouth and can't be trusted. You CANNOT hunt for any animal you want to in Washington with bait. I know for a fact it is ILLEGAL to hunt for bear or cougar with bait. I am still doing research on elk and deer, but I am 99.9% sure it is illegal to hunt for them with bait as well.

This is excactly why unknowing sportsman get in trouble with the law in the first place. They read what is on random forums and take it as fact.

Here is a link to the actual regs on the WDFW website which states it is illegal to use bait for bear or cougar. Scroll to page 58 and you will see it.
http://wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/game/hunter/huntregs2008.pdf

Please read the regs for yourself and follow them.

BTW if it were LEGAL to hunt for elk and deer with bait, don't you think that everyone if not most people would use bait?????
I have never in recent years seen anyone use bait in Washington. Wierd!!!:salut:

I emailed WDFW a while back if baiting deer is legal in washington and why it isn't in the regs and this is the response I received.




Baiting is legal. However, not everything is in the pamphlet since it's only a synopsis of rules and regulations. Such a document that listed everything would 100's of pages.

Thank you,

Enforcement Program
360-902-2936

Poaching holtine 1-877-933-9847
WDFW website: http://wdfw.wa.gov/
Enforcement website: http://wdfw.wa.gov/enf/enforce.htm
Report a Poacher (TIP): http://wdfw.wa.gov/enf/poaching.htm

Come on guys#-o all guides have feeders and many lay out grain Period but always have your Lawyer handy pressing game
Match your hatch:cheers: that applies to everything even 2 legged deer:cyclopsan !!!!! LOL
40 yards with the puffer stick bow:@: not bad for a one arm blind man walking!:colors:

[/quote]
I emailed WDFW a while back if baiting deer is legal in washington and why it isn't in the regs and this is the response I received.




Baiting is legal. However, not everything is in the pamphlet since it's only a synopsis of rules and regulations. Such a document that listed everything would 100's of pages.

Thank you,

Enforcement Program
360-902-2936

Poaching holtine 1-877-933-9847
WDFW website: http://wdfw.wa.gov/
Enforcement website: http://wdfw.wa.gov/enf/enforce.htm
Report a Poacher (TIP): http://wdfw.wa.gov/enf/poaching.htm[/quote]




I left myself .1% room for a reason. LOL! I was always told that it was illegal to bait for anything in this state so I assumed on the no baiting side for everything. You really can't be to hard on me for being wrong about the deer because this state is usually pretty strict when it comes to stuff like this.

This is what really pisses me off about this state and it's rules and regs. They say the did not print the baiting thing in there basically because they can't get to detailed and have a huge regs pamplet. That is some major B.S. I understand that they can't fit everything in the pamplet, but can't they put it somewhere else? Oh, let's see, mabey on their freakin website!!! As far as I know the internet is pretty endless and you can fit a lot of info on it, so why not an extension to the already unclear regs.

It really makes me wonder how many rules are not in the printed regs that unknowing hunters/fisherman can get screwed over.

Way to drop the ball WDFW.:bball: