By FRANK CAMPA
Mo. Dept. of Conservation
With our fall Missouri archery deer and turkey season well underway and the firearms deer portion just around the corner in November, there are more and more people taking to the woods as our temperatures slowly cool down in the mornings and evenings.
While you are out exploring new areas to hunt or putting up tree stands, you may stumble across something that should not be there, and that is bait.
Any food substance that is not naturally occurring in the field on its own would be considered illegal to hunt over or near. This includes sugars and juices (and yes, even rice bran/hulls, which have gotten very popular).
Hunters on private land may put out bait such as corn or food blocks to take game pictures and such, but all food placed in your hunting area must be entirely cleaned up 10 days prior to hunting that area. This is not an option on public properties such as Missouri Department of Conservation, U.S. Forest Service or U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lands.
There have been problems in recent years with hunters putting bait out on forest service and other public properties during archery season with no intention of hunting it until firearms deer season, thinking that they would be legal. However, it is strictly illegal to place that food or bait out on public property causing someone else to be illegal, or creating a situation where a certain area cannot legally be hunted.
What do you do if you find a baited area? Leave it alone. Most baited sites have cameras set up nearby, so call your local conservation agent. Conservation agent's cellphone numbers are listed in the back of the 2017 Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting pamphlet by county, and they're also listed by county on our Missouri Department of Conservation home page.
Baiting is considered to be unethical, giving the hunter an unfair advantage, and highly illegal. If you have been putting attractants out in front of your stands/game cameras, you may want to re-evaluate the situation. Check the ingredients in your attractant and/or make sure it is removed completely well in advance of hunting (10 days).
Hunting near pure salt and straight mineral rocks is legal.
All hunters using trees stands on public property must have each labeled clearly with their name and address. The stands also may not be nailed or screwed into the tree in any manner, including steps, on public property. Using such an illegal stand on public property is a violation. Also, all ground blinds on MDC properties must be removed daily.
Always remember to tell someone where you are hunting and when you will be back, and be safe out there.