Rumors and speculation have run rampant over the years among Tennessee deer hunters regarding the topic of legalized baiting in the state.
Then CWD reared its ugly head in the state, and all talk of pushing forward with baiting seemed to go quiet. In fact, a number of counties across the state prohibited feeding of any kind at any time of year, including salt and mineral, in response to CWD concerns.
Now, a few years later, the fear of CWD spreading seems to have subsided.
So much in fact the state has now made a move to legalize the baiting of deer during hunting season starting this fall.
That’s right! Deer hunters will soon be able to hunt over bait on private land starting in the 25/26 deer season, thanks to a law signed by Governor Lee earlier this month.
But there is a catch. The law creates a baiting privilege license that must be purchased for the freedom to hunt over corn on private property. Consider it a $50 add-on to your regular hunting licenses if you want to add corn to your game plan. The fee is $100 for non-resident hunters.
But the real kicker is that the permit would be required for everyone – even those who are ordinarily exempt from purchasing a hunting license, such as landowners and children under 13.
The bill (House Bill 938) was introduced by Kip Capley in the House and Joey Hensley in the Senate.
“A lot of other states allow hunting over bait anyway, like Texas and several other states, so that’s my reason for supporting it,” Hensley told Fox Chattanooga.
“I just don’t think that people should be penalized because they’re hunting over bait, especially on their property. That’s what this bill does, but it requires people to get a license that would generate additional revenue.”
Like other Tennessee hunting licenses, the new baiting license will be issued by the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency.
Questions from the critics include:
If baiting is okay for the state, why charge a fee? Is this another money grab by the agency? (License fees have just gone up again for Tennessee hunters)
Are we no longer concerned about CWD? Was that a real issue or merely another means of added revenue in the state?
Why should landowners hunting on their own land be subject to this fee?
“Baiting brings up many issues beyond dumping a bag of corn under a deer stand,” says Taylor Johnson, avid Tennessee deer hunter. “It’s going to change the entire deer hunting landscape, even for those who decide not to bait.”
“I do disagree with the bait permit fee. It feels like a money grab. Tennesseans already pay out the nose for a license compared to other states, and a bait fee shouldn’t be another thing hunters have to pay for.”
But what do you think? Is this a good move by the TWRA? Would you purchase a pay-to-bait permit for the opportunity to hunt over corn?
Comment below, and let us know what you think.
