GW Settle This Turkey Hunt Dispute

[Zen Archery]

One of the Counties I hunt does not allow Turkey hunting over bait.
There is a food plot that I call "bait."
The turkeys frequent the location.
Person on the property told me he was planning on hunting the food plot.
I told him that was hunting over bait.
He disagreed.

GW Please settle this or if anyone has the real answer.

[Antlers86]

Same as if you were dove hunting. If there is fresh seed on the ground then it's hunting over bait. If the food source has already grown in then it's not baiting.

I'm no GW and could be wrong but that's how I see it.

[BBBGP]

No GW but bait is bait and crops are crops. Crops are not bait. IMO

[boh347]

I don't think that would be considered bait.

[Playa]

Definition of bait from the outdoor annual.

Bait:
Minerals, vegetative material, or any other food substance placed to lure any wildlife resource.

I don't think a field crop planted and sprouted qualifies as bait. There might be some gray area if it's not harvested and intended solely for the benefit of wildlife. But oats and wheat are planted for winter ground cover as a normal agricultural practice and never intended for harvest, so how could the state prove its wasn't planted for that purpose ?

[tbeak]

Unless you place something there to lure them in it is not bait. If you place milo, for instance, on the ground a few days before you hunt that's baiting. Hunting a field is not baiting. That's ridiculous

If a bird came to the feeder would it be shot. **** right

[bentman]

Pimp

[demtx]

Don't think a growing food plot is considered 'bait'. That's what they use in some states where feeders aren't allowed.

[Thumper]

Planted crops just for hunting is not baiting for turkeys. But it is baiting for water fowl where the planted crop must be part of normal agriculture practices. Jmo

Very good question to ask a GW.

[IowaHunter]

People dove over sunflower fields don't they? Food plot should be fine but I don't hunt turkey or dove.

[N.DaWoods]

Id say he's right on this one. Bait is put out. Crops are planted.

[CabezaBlanca]

That's not bait.

[AgHntr10]

If you don't want him hunting it dump a pile of corn there.

[Pushbutton2]

GW Settle This Turkey Hunt Dispute

Which one of you is the landowner?
Not that any of this matters but here's my .02 and MY OPINION

If you're the landowner he shouldn't hunt because you've asked him not too.

If he's the landowner he can hunt it.

If you're both just hunters I think this is a great question for a GW.

I did a quick google search of tx game law bait vs crop

This is on of the hits.
It deals with migratory birds and bait.
I don't know if it's relevant to your question OP.

https://www.fws.gov/le/pdf/50_CFR_20.pdf

Bottom of pg 6 and top of pg 7

Here's a screen shot

[Dillakilla]

If you don't want him hunting it dump a pile of corn there.

The answer you were looking for