Baiting, feeding ban getting more support
Wednesday, December 27, 2006 11:07 AM EST
By Dean Bortz
Editor
Stevens Point, Wis. — If a research report that linked the transfer of CWD to saliva started the balling rolling on talks of a feeding and baiting ban, then DNR chief warden Randy Stark’s 16-page report on deer hunting violations linked to baiting and feeding gave that ball a push.
Now, the Conservation Congress Big Game Committee has taken a kick at that ball. Committee members passed a resolution - unanimously - on Dec. 15 that asks the Conservation Congress Executive Council to take a position in support of a statewide ban on deer feeding and baiting.
The 24-member Executive Council will meet Friday, Jan. 5, in Stevens Point.
Executive Council member Al Opall, of Rib Mountain, said he expects the council to take up the matter on Jan. 5, based on the Big Game Committee’s Dec. 15 vote.
“If the Big Game Committee has asked for it, it could come up (on Jan. 5). As far as the outcome, I don’t know,” said Opall, who is not a fan of a feeding and baiting ban. Opall said that if conservation wardens believe they will be able to curtail cabin shooting problems with a baiting and feeding ban, “then they had better ban food plots, too.” Opall said backyard feeders will be replaced by food plots if a feeding ban is enacted. He said people who are willing to violate now are going to continue to violate, even with a ban.
Opall also is concerned that any action by the Executive Council on the Big Game Committee’s motion will take a voice away from the general membership of the congress.
“This way, the floor membership doesn’t get a say, “ he said. “We would be acting without rank-and-file input.”
Kurt Thiede is the DNR liaison with the Conservation Congress. Thiede said the motion was passed as much because of the possible transmission of CWD as concerns over violations and negative hunter behavior.
“The Big Game Committee recommended the Executive Council take a position to ban deer baiting and feeding statewide as a result of (research showing) CWD transfer by saliva, and based on input from (DNR chief warden) Randy Stark,” Thiede said.
“The Big Game Committee also noted that the baiting that’s done by sharpshooters should also be included in the prohibition,” he said.
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