just for kicks

is there a difference between shooting a deer in a "harvest" food plot and shooting a deer at a feeder?

and if you can, tell us why its the same or why its different.


I think its the same because its put there to shoot a deer.

and so we're clear i don't have a problem with either.

[Predator]

what exactly is a harvest food plot compared to a food plot?

[Hunting Man]

I think the question was, any difference between a baited/feeder and food plot kill. If you're hunting over either one then there's no difference in my mind. I'm not too big on hunting over either one, but thats just me. I really think there is a giant difference for the hunter that bags his/her deer one on one vs pulling one into a baited spot. Then there's the question how far away from a bait/plot do you hunt and not call it that, or does anyone really care? I know one thing, every hunter has to face up to this question sometime. If there was a prize and two equal deer were shot my vote would always go to the hunter who harvested it without bait/foodplot involved to award the prize. I do separate natural food sources like acorns and even farm fields from hunters planting/baiting solely for the purpose of shooting animals. I might have went a bit farther than the origional question, but maybe ronn knew he'd draw some additional discussion on this one.

pretty much on the money hm. there are nutrition plots and plots to shoot over. two different animals. some places they feed the wildlife in the rough times or they run feeders all the time some folks hunt over them some don't. so if you do a nutrition plot or run a feeder but don't hunt over it its a little different than doing so.

it comes down to one's rationalizing or reconciling it in their own mind. as i said i got no problem with hunting over a feeder or not hunting over a feeder. its was just a question to think about.

[Predator]

OK, its just the word harvest(emphasized) that threw me.

It is different in Illinois, basically because hunting over bait is illegal. and hunting over a food plot is not. go figure
ethically, I beleive you should be allowed to hunt over bait just as you can hunt over a planted plot an agricultural field a stand of nut laden oak trees or a decoy oooozing of estrus. we basically are allways hunting over some form of bait. regardless of how it gets there it is inherently the same.

i believe if it, it being anything that would change the deer pattern if it wasn't there, was put there by a human its all the same thing, plot, feeder, orchard, bean field, pile of corn, water tank, all the same. i also believe hm is right, and i also believe someone thats sits over a pile of corn is right. its something that is right if its, first legal, and second the hunter believes its right.

[Predator]

In the core essence of it all, I am in the field do one thing. Acquire venison. legally, ethically and cleanly. everything else, without constraints, adds to the greatness of hunting.And it doesnt matter if its a deer just meandering down a trail or one chewing on the core of an apple I finished a half hour ago. deers, deer.

[Hunting Man]

I started to go down the trail of most bait hunters in all reality forgot or never learn how to really hunt, I have seen this with my good buddy up north. Has returned to scouting and hunting in the more traditional way and loves it. There may no difference in the outcome of the hunt but one of the hunters truly earned their harvest, the other simply shot a lured in animal. All i'm trying to say is I see a more traditional old style hunter vs many today that have transformed into foodplot/baiting style of hunting. I'm not downing anyone who hunts legal, however, there is a difference. I can't see Ole Fred Bear sitting over a pile of corn, but he may have scouted a thick swamp and discovered a nice used trail with rub/scrape lines and ended up shooting a nice buck. I clearly see a difference. Its up to each to make their choise!

[timetohunt]

I choose Yes, there is a difference, although there is no black and white hear other that what is legal in the location the hunting is occuring. I'll try to explain this. In my opinion, hunting over a bait pile of corn does not take much work nor could a pile of corn occur naturally. Planting a food plot usually takes a lot more time, thinking, and sweat. Deer eat things that grow. Whether its a plot of alfalfa, corn, wheat, or even a stand of oak that was planted years ago with the purpose of feeding deer. For me, its all about the expierence and the adventure that led up to the harvest. Working on a food plot seems like it would add to the end result ( I have never done this nor do I have the land or resources to), hunting over a bait pile doesn't seem natural nor rewarding. Thats just my thoughts and feelings.