Q: A hunter stumbled across a salt block in the mountains on public land in his family’s traditional hunt unit for deer. He figured it would be considered baiting if he hunted in the area even though he did not place the salt lick. Was he right?
A: Bait for hunting is defined as something placed to attract wildlife. However, many ranchers use salt blocks to manage cattle movement within an allotment on public land. If the salt was placed for livestock and not to attract wildlife, it would be legal to hunt over.
If you find a salt block in your hunt area you will have to make that ethical decision whether you believe that salt was left for livestock or whether it was placed as bait to wildlife.
There is not a legal distance associated with the baiting law. The intent of the law is to prohibit hunting if the salt was placed to attract wildlife and if that salt has influenced or enticed wildlife on a path that allows the hunter the advantage.
Q: Can I set a temporary bait site in order to lure animals for the purpose of photography or wildlife watching?
A: Technically, yes. But please note that doing so may cause wildlife to move into areas in which they may cause problems for themselves, other wildlife, and people. For example, don’t set up a salt lick or other kind of lure for mule deer that draws them across a busy road or out of their preferred natural habitat.
Also, check with the appropriate land management agencies about their rules for setting salt licks and baits sites on public lands.
In the past we have seen hunters set bait to photograph animals, such as deer or elk, on their trail cameras. Then before the season opens, they pull the bait and hunt that area. The problem is that animals become habituated to the area — coming for the bait even if it is no longer there. This is still baiting under the definition. So the next obvious question is how much time must lapse between pulling the bait and hunting the area? There is no set amount of time. The safe bet is to simply not bait areas you intend to hunt (with exception to bear baiting as described above).
