FYI had an incident on Saturday evening with a game warden not going to mention names or county . Sum may think I'm a complete dumb ass ! I was hunting a field on my deer lease at the front gate two wardens we're watching my friend and I from the road birds flew over I shot and got one it fell went to retrieve it picked it up and they pulled up to the gate . Not worried we did anything wrong I told me friend to unload his gun and they climbed over the gate and we walked towards each other they introduced each other and asked for the guns and three shells no problem then asked for our licenses I checked my bag and did not have my phone . I told him I needed to go to the camp hose and get it he followed me and we were talking I went into the house and got my phone he was looking across the other field looked at my phone said ok and handed it back . He asked me if that quail feeder was full and I said I don't know it wasn't mine he walked over and took a picture of it walked back and said you can't do that I said do what ? He said hunt by bait I said I wasn't I said I was over 200 yards from the feeder in anothe field separated by a tree line . I said I knew it was illegal to hunt by a feeder . He said it was illegal period and asked if we had deer feeders on the property I said yes he asked how many I told him I didn't know exactly but there we quite a few on 300 acres he asked if they we're throwing corn I said I'm sure so he said that was illegal to ! He said all feeders have to be turned off or empty for at least ten days with no grain on the ground prior to hunting migratory game birds on the property! Long story short we got tickets for hunting migratory game birds over bait even though we were not even close to any feeders and the birds were flying over and not going to the feeders in the front of the property! I didn't lie to them and told the truth on everything lesson learned have no idea what this is gonna cost I told him every piece of land in south Texas has feeders on it and I'm sure that they don't turn them off he said along side of hunters education tickets that was a close 2 nd . As ridicules as it sounds it's the law ! Sorry for the rant but I was shocked and never intentionally would brake the law .
This is not me, my nephew just sent this to me. This was a friend of his.

Never heard of the deer feeder rule. We hunt on our lease all the time that has feeders scattered throughout that are obviously up and running a few weeks out from bow season. That's insane. I'll take the ticket and proceed to do as I've always done.

it's definitely a BS catch all law. and i am not surprised.

Howdy Dammit said:

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Never heard of the deer feeder rule. We hunt on our lease all the time that has feeders scattered throughout that are obviously up and running a few weeks out from bow season. That's insane. I'll take the ticket and proceed to do as I've always done.

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I believe I'd do the same!

I kind of see their point regarding the quail feeder, but even that's a stretch. The deer feeder (anywhere on the property) rule is downright stupid.

Imagine having 5,000 acres, but you can't hunt dove on it because there's a feeder somewhere on the property with corn in it.

Make it make sense …

Saw this posted on PPLF. I have never heard of this law. I am probably guilty of breaking it 1000 or more times. Been stopped by GW many times and have never been asked about this.

Got stopped last year hunting over sunflower field that had been cut. He did not have a problem with that. I have never heard of someone hunting over a deer feeder.

What's the point of not releasing county and warden names? At a minimum, county name.

What's PPLF?

Have your neighbors fill a feeder with bird seed...

We got a warning from a game warden because the place next door had an active deer feeders. There were no feeders on the place we were on. He found it when he when over to check those hunters. When he got back to us he showed us where it was at, you could barely see it if you knew right where to look. He told us we should have known since it was visible.

This is straight up BS. The law should focus on "intent" and not be at the sole discretion of the warden.
They need to clarify the use of feeders and set a prescribed distance. How would they handle hunters in a cut milo field that had deer feeders set up in all 4 corners?

The 10-Day Rule and Distance The 10-day rule recognizes that removing bait does not remove the lure created, and that doves will habitually still be attracted to the same area even after the bait is gone. A baited area remains off limits to hunting for 10 days after all salt, grain, or other feed has been completely removed. How close to bait can you hunt without breaking the law? There is no set distance. Court rulings vary depending on the circumstances. The influence of any bait will increase or decrease depending on many factors, including topography, weather, and dove flight patterns, and can only be determined on a case by-case basis. Remember, however, that the law prohibits hunting if bait is present that could lure or attract birds "to, on, or over areas where hunters are attempting to take them."

Shoefly! said:

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FYI had an incident on Saturday evening with a game warden not going to mention names or county . Sum may think I'm a complete dumb ass ! I was hunting a field on my deer lease at the front gate two wardens we're watching my friend and I from the road birds flew over I shot and got one it fell went to retrieve it picked it up and they pulled up to the gate . Not worried we did anything wrong I told me friend to unload his gun and they climbed over the gate and we walked towards each other they introduced each other and asked for the guns and three shells no problem then asked for our licenses I checked my bag and did not have my phone . I told him I needed to go to the camp hose and get it he followed me and we were talking I went into the house and got my phone he was looking across the other field looked at my phone said ok and handed it back . He asked me if that quail feeder was full and I said I don't know it wasn't mine he walked over and took a picture of it walked back and said you can't do that I said do what ? He said hunt by bait I said I wasn't I said I was over 200 yards from the feeder in anothe field separated by a tree line . I said I knew it was illegal to hunt by a feeder . He said it was illegal period and asked if we had deer feeders on the property I said yes he asked how many I told him I didn't know exactly but there we quite a few on 300 acres he asked if they we're throwing corn I said I'm sure so he said that was illegal to ! He said all feeders have to be turned off or empty for at least ten days with no grain on the ground prior to hunting migratory game birds on the property! Long story short we got tickets for hunting migratory game birds over bait even though we were not even close to any feeders and the birds were flying over and not going to the feeders in the front of the property! I didn't lie to them and told the truth on everything lesson learned have no idea what this is gonna cost I told him every piece of land in south Texas has feeders on it and I'm sure that they don't turn them off he said along side of hunters education tickets that was a close 2 nd . As ridicules as it sounds it's the law ! Sorry for the rant but I was shocked and never intentionally would brake the law .
This is not me, my nephew just sent this to me. This was a friend of his.

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You wrong. Most of the best old game wardens have retired. What they belching out of the academy now is revenuers.

This has always been a rule but I don't think it has been enforced a whole lot. While I think that this is probably a crappy ticket for you to get, it is a law... it is also hard to argue that if you're only 200 yards from a feeder that the dove aren't flying to one of the feeders. If you were hunting on the property and it was a reasonable distance away (I would say something like 500-600 yards or more) from feeders, this would be a non issue, in my opinion.

I am sure you can make a case and plead this down to a very minor fine.

ttha_aggie_09 said:

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This has always been a rule but I don't think it has been enforced a whole lot. While I think that this is probably a crappy ticket for you to get, it is a law... it is also hard to argue that if you're only 200 yards from a feeder that the dove aren't flying to one of the feeders. If you were hunting on the property and it was a reasonable distance away (I would say something like 500-600 yards or more) from feeders, this would be a non issue, in my opinion.

I am sure you can make a case and plead this down to a very minor fine.

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What about 300 yards? 400 yards?

If it is up to the discretion, then there is always a gray area and anybody can get a ticket at any time for any perceived reason.

It's also dumb as hell that you can hunt over a sunflower field, but having a deer feeder is somehow baiting in a bad way.

Most of our regs are really dumb when you apply solid logic to them, and they are designed to ensure the state has their thumb on everything and can levy fines at will.

Yes. You have to be careful. Why the guy that posted his dove on top of feeder was pretty stupid. I have heard of many folks getting fined in the last few years.

I always add a bag of milo to every filled corn feeder. Not to hunt over it but to help out the quail that have had it rough over the last few years in Encinal. They are many hundred yards from our Dove tanks, but clearly on same 2000 acre ranch.
I guess if your neighbor put up a feeder next door a GW could still fine you for hunting over bait. Dove fly many miles from feed to roost at times. Like I said, there was a time when GWs were here to help ranchers and sportsmen. These days I see revenuers.

Yup. Buts a okay to plant sunflowers and other crap. Shred them and hunt. But get that deer feeder out of here!

Well, that's dumb. Might as well name the county and officer.

Didn't say I agree with it but it's the law… it's absolutely up to their discretion. Put yourself in a position or flyway where it there is not really any doubt.

I had a teal hunt earlier this year that I couldn't drive through the rice that wasn't harvested because we would get a ticket for illegal baiting… driving though in a ranger was a no because it was manipulating the crop not related to harvest.

Furlock Bones said:

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Yup. Buts a okay to plant sunflowers and other crap. Shred them and hunt. But get that deer feeder out of here!

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No different than the Midwest where it is illegal to hunt over a feeder but no problem hunting over a 10 acre cut and shredded corn field. Both are baiting, one is illegal

I think the biggest stretch he told you was that the feeders needed to be empty. Depending on the feeder type they can be closed and you are just storing grain. I have always known not to hunt near a or in flyway of active deer feeder but enforcement like that needs to be addressed with the Texas Parks & Wildlife Commission. That type of enforcement of the law will lead to loss of hunting participants in the state. There is a major overlap in seasons here. In the past I have always seen wardens using appropriate judgment concerning this issue. If this is a change in enforcement policy in needs to be addressed.

Wish you would share where this occurred so I could have it addressed by the Texas Wildlife's Association's legislative commission.

They will receive the same amount of respect they hand out. I can't imagine it will be an enjoyable career dealing with a community the doesn't respect you.

It also keeps folks from being fully honest and transparent which makes their job more dangerous. Lose lose

CorpsTerd04 said:

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I think the biggest stretch he told you was that the feeders needed to be empty. Depending on the feeder type they can be closed and you are just storing grain. I have always known not to hunt near a or in flyway of active deer feeder but enforcement like that needs to be addressed with the Texas Parks & Wildlife Commission. That type of enforcement of the law will lead to loss of hunting participants in the state. There is a major overlap in seasons here. In the past I have always seen wardens using appropriate judgment concerning this issue. If this is a change in enforcement policy in needs to be addressed.

Wish you would share where this occurred so I could have it addressed by the Texas Wildlife's Association's legislative commission.

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I'll see if the young man wants to divulge info.

does this include protein feeders or cotton seed feeders for deer? If so, that law is broken on just about every ranch in the state.

Hate to hear that! Ive always wondered about this though. It's a law that has always been there but never been enforced in Texas. I guess someone has decided that's changing.

Anyone that gets this ticket should be aware that the feds will sometimes pick up the case too. Baiting cases have the potential to turn into pretty heavy situations with steep fines and penalties. It's not just a, pay your $250 and go about your business type of thing.

Two sides to every story….. bet there is more to it?
Heck. I have had our local wardens out hunting doves at our place numerous times….. they knew we had protein feeders. Never said anything. Maybe they think doves don't like pellets.
With CWD continuing, I think it will be only a while till Texas follows other states and prohibits feeding someday.

Puro Pinche Low Fence Hunters facebook page. It is not for everyone.

Had a cool outcome on Burnet county on a baiting charge. Hunters out around a disced and broadcast winter wheat seed field. Both state and feds came in and wrote them all up for hunting over bait. Landowner was pizzed so she fought it.
Proved that this is customary method to plant wheat in the region and all charges were dropped.

I'm not saying it hasn't happened, and maybe it's a product of the dove size in my area over the years, but 99%+ of the dove we shoot aren't big enough to digest a full kernel of corn that would go in a deer feeder. And we have never noticed any pattern where they stop at a feeder for corn. They are more interested in the water. I guess a stock pond will be considered baiting in the future once they figure out how to make money off the tickets.

What kind of dove are you shooting and have you ever checked their crops when cleaning them? Mourning dove will absolutely devour corn, as will white wings and ring neck/collared dove.

They will also specifically seek out feeders, especially as you get later into the fall. I see this every year north of Uvalde and watch as the dove show up 10 minutes before a feeder goes off, across the ranch at multiple feeders.

I'm not saying I agree with the ruling dished out by green jeans, but you've got your head in sand if you don't think dove take advantage of yellow corn being scattered on the ground.

Yeah, I have killed plenty of damn dove full of corn over my lifetime.

CS78 said:

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Hate to hear that! Ive always wondered about this though. It's a law that has always been there but never been enforced in Texas. I guess someone has decided that's changing.

Anyone that gets this ticket should be aware that the feds will sometimes pick up the case too. Baiting cases have the potential to turn into pretty heavy situations with steep fines and penalties. It's not just a, pay your $250 and go about your business type of thing.

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I've dove hunted in multiple counties, and have been checked regularly for the last 20 years. Almost every time there's a conversation about deer feeders, and if they're in sight the warden always walks over to see if they're filled.

As for the actual regulation, TPWD refers you to federal law. here's what fws.gov says about dove hunting and baiting:

Quote:

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Baited area means any area on which salt, grain, or other feed has been placed, exposed, deposited, distributed, or scattered, if that salt, grain, or other feed could serve as a lure or attraction for migratory game birds to, on, or over areas where hunters are attempting to take them. Any such area will remain a baited area for 10 days following the complete removal of all such salt, grain, or other feed. Baiting means the direct or indirect placing, exposing, depositing, distributing, or scattering of salt, grain, or other feed that could serve as a lure or attraction for migratory game birds to, on, or over any areas where hunters are attempting to take them.

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There's definitely room for discretion, but for someone in the OP's position it sounds like something that could be fought.

Quote:

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If the feed could serve as a lure or attraction.... or over areas where hunters are attempting to take them..

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That part doesn't really seem to apply. When you look at what they say about manipulation of crops I'm surprised we get away with what we do in Texas, but I've never seen a game warden bat an eye at a grain or sunflower field with paths shredded around it and through it.

ttha_aggie_09 said:

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What kind of dove are you shooting and have you ever checked their crops when cleaning them? Mourning dove will absolutely devour corn, as will white wings and ring neck/collared dove.

They will also specifically seek out feeders, especially as you get later into the fall. I see this every year north of Uvalde and watch as the dove show up 10 minutes before a feeder goes off, across the ranch at multiple feeders.

I'm not saying I agree with the ruling dished out by green jeans, but you've got your head in sand if you don't think dove take advantage of yellow corn being scattered on the ground.

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We mostly get dove with sunflower seeds with no planted sunflowers on our property or within visibility as far as the eye can see. After sunflower seeds they usually eat wild grass seed. Smaller broken pieces of corn every now and then. I haven't killed a white wing on our property in 5+ years or a ring neck ever. They seem to mostly stick to town and fly very high. Central Texas I-35 corridor in the Waco area for what it's worth.

ghollow said:

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Puro Pinche Low Fence Hunters facebook page. It is not for everyone.

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Gotta believe this has the highly likely chance of just being a troll for that band of slap dicks

From TPWD website under definitions:
Baited area
Any (public or private) area where bait is found. For migratory game birds, this could include adjacent properties. There is no set distance from a baited area that a bird/animal may be hunted if the flight path or behavior is altered by its placement. It is the hunter's responsibility to know if an area is baited. These areas are unlawful for all migratory game birds and eastern wild turkeys and Public Hunting Land.

So I guess it's up to an opinion as to flight path.