baiting deer with apples allowed/legal in Ontario?

S

shotgun

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Hi

I'm just trying to figure this out. I can't see anything in the hunting regs that disallow baiting deer b ut maybe I'm missing something??

I've got access to hunt at the edge of a corn field on private land, and I'll be going there for my very first deer hunt. I just want to make sure I don't do any stupid (illegal) mistakes.

I have liquid attractant that I intend to put in some strategic spots (smells like apples I think). I figured if I pour some liquid on a tree stump that smells like apples, wouldn't it also be smart to put a few apples next to it as well? I have a ground tent type blind I intend to use, so maybe a small "bait site" on either side about 50 to 60 yards away from the blind?? I'll be shooting a muzzleloader.

Can anyone clarify if the above mentioned is atleast legal, if not the most effective. Of course, I'll take advice on any other techniques too.

Thanks much

Shotgun
 
I believe there is a 5 day period you have to wait after baiting. You'd have to double check on the wait time but I don't believe you can bait and shoot em in the same spot same day
 
There are no limitations on baiting deer in Ontario (yet). Have at it - you can hunt directly over the bait. In Ontario the only thing you can't hunt over bait is birds (waterfowl and turkey).
 
daveg01 said:
There are no limitations on baiting deer in Ontario (yet). Have at it - you can hunt directly over the bait. In Ontario the only thing you can't hunt over bait is birds (waterfowl and turkey).
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:agree:

Sounds goofy but if your putting apples out ahead of time, put them out in the morning so deer can find them & get accustomed to coming during the day. If you put them out in the evening they'll change their feeding schedual to hitting the apples during the night. At least that's what I've found :cool:
 
senior said:
Sounds goofy but if your putting apples out ahead of time, put them out in the morning so deer can find them & get accustomed to coming during the day. If you put them out in the evening they'll change their feeding schedual to hitting the apples during the night. At least that's what I've found :cool:
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Good tip senior.

Another good one that I found that works great when baiting with apples.

I start out putting out a good number of apples(20L pail), then less, and less(8-10 apples) comming into the season. I have found that this will bring the deer out earlier to your stand.Sometimes hours earlier.
I think it tricks them that other deer are getting the apples before them. Not sure about that, but it does work great.
 
I always smash a couple of apples so that the scent is more obvious. I usually use apples to get them to stop for a photo in front of the trail cam.
 
captonion said:
Good tip senior.

Another good one that I found that works great when baiting with apples.

I start out putting out a good number of apples(20L pail), then less, and less(8-10 apples) comming into the season. I have found that this will bring the deer out earlier to your stand.Sometimes hours earlier.
I think it tricks them that other deer are getting the apples before them. Not sure about that, but it does work great.
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tapering off bait does wonders when bear hunting as well.
Gets those big fellas rolling in early to get some of the goodies,instead of just a whiff of them... ;)
 
Thanks for all the great advice, I feel better knowing that my idea isn't all that stupid afterall.

Should I be putting out apples say a week before or opening day? I'm not really hunting big bucks. We have a couple of antlerless tags so I'm happy with tagging any legal deer.
 
shotgun said:
Thanks for all the great advice, I feel better knowing that my idea isn't all that stupid afterall.

Should I be putting out apples say a week before or opening day? I'm not really hunting big bucks. We have a couple of antlerless tags so I'm happy with tagging any legal deer.
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I put some yesterday & there all gone today.
I'll put them out every 2nd day now till season starts.
We use them more to keep deer around than to shoot over bait.
I noticed acorns & beach aren't as plentiful this yr.
 
just make sure your blind i9s down wind of were the deer willl be coming out to your bait pile ,if thy smell you thy will,not come out good luck DUTCH
 
I have a question pertaining to baiting... What if you are out hunting and you haven't been to the spot for a while and you shoot the animal and then see a baiting site that some other hunter has set up without you knowing, does this still count as baiting and is it illegal? This is of course provided that you honestly didn't see the baiting site.

And no, this has not happened to me, I haven't had the opportunity to hunt yet :( but just wondering if this could get you into some trouble?
 
I find spreading out( not in piles) whole or crushed corn, with just a few apples to add some sweet scent works better than just apples alone. Since I have no four wheeler, I find lugging apples to my spot a pain, and a couple buckets of corn seems to last longer because all the animals eating it have to work a bit harder to clean it all up. Its amazing how many apples a single squirrel can take and hide in the trees.
 
slick39 said:
I have a question pertaining to baiting... What if you are out hunting and you haven't been to the spot for a while and you shoot the animal and then see a baiting site that some other hunter has set up without you knowing, does this still count as baiting and is it illegal? This is of course provided that you honestly didn't see the baiting site.
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Baiting is still not illegial in Ont, :confused:
If you shot a deer honestly not knowing another guy had a bait set-up. No harm, no foul. If you are activly hunting over some-one elses spot, no illegial but I would not want it done to me, so would not do it to someone else..simple!
 
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Also
If you seeing lots of turkeys and think its an easy deal so you go and buy a tag, then you shoot a turkey that is at your deer bail pile. That is illegal.
I actually had to sit someone down and explain that turkeys don't know its not for them.
 
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