Why I use a feeder

[txrdkng]

Some people don't like that I hunt over/near a feeder, use a rifle sometimes instead of a bow, ride a Harley instead of a Honda, carry a concealed weapon, drive a Chevy instead of a Ford...you get the picture. I have tried very, very hard but in the end I simply cannot care.

[down2hunt]

This sums it up fairly well:

Great vid thanks for posting that. Wish someone would have posted that on the AT thread. I don't understand criticizing the way someone hunts if it's legal. All the guys on my leave pull out their boom sticks if they aren't having success with their bows. I don't chose to do that, but I'm certainly not going to criticize them for doing so.

[Hogman]

Uncle Ted for president.

[Jackson357]

Uncle Ted for president.

I have been saying this for years.

[rut n buck]

If you love to hunt,HUNT if its legal n u enjoy it,JUST DO IT !!!

[Horitexan]

I didn't see the bashing post but if it was talking about the cliques on TBH, I can't argue with that. If you can't see the cliques on here you've got to be blind, lol! And, just the reaction to some misinformed post on another forum shows the cliquish nature of the green screen. I mean, I've seen a lot of bashing of other forums go on here so why would you be surprised that the same thing happens elsewhere? Really, WHO CARES?? Why make an issue of it and spend a bunch of time bitching about it? Seems pointless and petty to me.

As for the issues of feeders:

We are allowed to use bait because the habitat/terrain in our state makes it largely impossible to hunt effectively using the means that other states are able to use. And this is combined with a much larger deer population than any other state and our NEED to kill enough deer to keep the state's herd healthy/in check. People who have never been here and hunted here simply do not understand this fact. You can't blame them or get angry at them - you should try to educate them instead of getting panties in a bunch and taking a stance like, 'We're Texans and we're gonna do whatever we want.' Honestly, some of the replies since this issue came up have only justified the claims that we're a site full of rednecks - and I'm not talking about "redneck" in the good sense of the word.

C'mon folks, why play into the "Us against Them" arguement? Why not take the high ground and use this as an opportunity to educate instead of argue? Explain that hunting a narrow strip of woods bordered by bean and corn fields is the exact same as baiting and that if we had that kind of agriculture and terrain setup, we wouldn't be allowed to use feeders either.

I just don't understand the aggressive response to this issue. In the end we will still be using feeders and they won't; but, in the meantime, we're playing into an arguement that's pointless and only divides the hunting community - exactly what the anti-hunting movement WANTS!

[stickerpatch59]

I didn't see the bashing post but if it was talking about the cliques on TBH, I can't argue with that. If you can't see the cliques on here you've got to be blind, lol! And, just the reaction to some misinformed post on another forum shows the cliquish nature of the green screen. I mean, I've seen a lot of bashing of other forums go on here so why would you be surprised that the same thing happens elsewhere? Really, WHO CARES?? Why make an issue of it and spend a bunch of time bitching about it? Seems pointless and petty to me.

As for the issues of feeders:

We are allowed to use bait because the habitat/terrain in our state makes it largely impossible to hunt effectively using the means that other states are able to use. And this is combined with a much larger deer population than any other state and our NEED to kill enough deer to keep the state's herd healthy/in check. People who have never been here and hunted here simply do not understand this fact. You can't blame them or get angry at them - you should try to educate them instead of getting panties in a bunch and taking a stance like, 'We're Texans and we're gonna do whatever we want.' Honestly, some of the replies since this issue came up have only justified the claims that we're a site full of rednecks - and I'm not talking about "redneck" in the good sense of the word.

C'mon folks, why play into the "Us against Them" arguement? Why not take the high ground and use this as an opportunity to educate instead of argue? Explain that hunting a narrow strip of woods bordered by bean and corn fields is the exact same as baiting and that if we had that kind of agriculture and terrain setup, we wouldn't be allowed to use feeders either.

I just don't understand the aggressive response to this issue. In the end we will still be using feeders and they won't; but, in the meantime, we're playing into an arguement that's pointless and only divides the hunting community - exactly what the anti-hunting movement WANTS!

[bubba1]

The Nuuuuuge. He's the man. I agree 110% with everything he said in that clip.

[tx07]

Feeding animals-- draws animals. We are after animals. Some people are just smarter than others and have feeders that draw the animals. Such a silly discussion about feeders. If you dont like them then dont use them. No brainer. GREAT PHOTOS!!!

I think the problem is people from the states that cannot bait. So naturally the would shun feeder users and say that's not hunting. But the definition of hunting by TPWD does not have one thing about a feeder in the definition. I hand feed and use feeders. Don't have a problem with it at all. Long as it is legal. Then use everything to your advantage.

[Horitexan]

I think the problem is people from the states that cannot bait. So naturally the would shun feeder users and say that's not hunting. But the definition of hunting by TPWD does not have one thing about a feeder in the definition. I hand feed and use feeders. Don't have a problem with it at all. Long as it is legal. Then use everything to your advantage.

Your implying that people are just jealous because they aren't allowed to use feeders? I disagree. Everyone I've ever talked to thinks its "unfair to the deer and unsportsmanlike" - that's a far cry from jealousy - and it's based on their personal hunting experience in areas where baiting ABSOLUTELY WOULD be an unfair advantage. Those that have taken the time to investigate the habitat we hunt here in Texas (or come here hunting) have reversed their position on using bait to hunt Texas.

I also disagree that using any legal advantage is ethical. It's EXACTLY this attitude that fosters the belief that Texas hunters are unethical. I mean, seriously? Anything that humans can come up with ahead of legislation is, therefore, ethical and GTG? I know very few people that think hunting deer over the Internet with a remotely operated weapon was ethical; but, it took a couple of years after that started to get specific laws in place to make it illegal. So, by your rationale it WAS ethical and it only became wrong when the law was passed?

At some point I think (hope!) most of us can agree that technology can be created that gives hunters' an unfair advantage - whether it's legal or not. IF a significant portion of hunters have gotten to the point where 'anything goes that's not yet specifically banned,' then our sport is in some DEEP trouble. Make no mistake, technological advances WILL permit us to cross the line between hunting and killing- the line that divides a "sport" from an "act." IF the general public ever sees that we have crossed that line and are incapable of seeing that line, they'll turn on us in a heartbeat and the anti-hunting crowd will breeze to victory.

Baiting in Texas is 100% appropriate but it's not appropriate/ethical in many other places. Instead of getting defensive, take the time to understand the differences and educate those that are misinformed.

[Sideler]

I would rather hunt some farmers cornfield than a feeder I had to pay to fill with corn, but I don't have that option.

[tstrick1993]

I use corn feeders cause they work and its great for a quick hunt after work and school.

[JMenendez]

if it wasn't for corn feeders the deer in West Texas would have very little to eat!