DuckSouth.com

Don't know how many of you have seen this or how many care, but Bobby Cleveland of the Ledger had an article up on proposed bills on the house floor:

Legislation includes 5 baiting bills, 1 that would create 77-county riot

By Bobby Cleveland
Clarion-Ledger Outdoors Editor


One proposed bill would move the primitive weapon season ahead of the first gun season on deer.

Read the bills

All 2002 Bills can be researched and tracked on the internet at http://billstatus.ls.state.ms.us/2002/html/mainmenu.htm


Another would allow regular gun hunting through Thursday.

Five would allow some form of baiting deer with corn and other grains.

And one of those five would only allow baiting in five counties during a pilot program that would last through 2004.

Those are among the many hunting and fishing bills that have been introduced during the 2002 state legislative session.

What isn't included is a bill that would raise hunting and fishing license fees, but that doesn't mean there won't be one before the session ends. There's a different deadline for introducing bills that deal with revenue.

Plus, there is always the possibility that license prices could be attached to any bill already introduced.

Several bills dealing with licenses are up for debate, such as changing the criteria for certain non-residents to qualify for resident licenses, creating a five-year discounted sportsman license and changing the expiration dates of all licenses to one year from date of purchase.

Lacks support

Last year, when there were at least eight baiting bills introduced, one actually made it to the floor of the House. It was the first time that a baiting bill had made it out of committee.But when it went before the full House, members voted 74-44 not to consider the bill. That represented a 63-percent vote against baiting.

It is doubtful that anything has happened over the last 12 months that would make passage possible against that opposition.

Even if it did, it would then have to clear two more giant hurdles — getting out of the Senate Wildlife and Fisheries Committee, chaired by Lynn Posey (D-Union Church) and then pass the entire Senate.

A baiting bill could again make it out of the House Game and Fish Committee, where Rep. Clem Nettles (D-Jayess) is still chairman.

If one does, it isn't likely to be H.B. 860, introduced by Rep. Johnny Stringer (D-Montrose) that would only legalize baiting in Winston, Kemper, Smith, Jasper and Newton Counties. Montrose is in Jasper County.

I am anti-baiting, but I think I understand Stringer's thinking. If we're going to allow baiting against the best wishes of biologists and their strong warnings about spread of disease, it might be best to have a test case first.

But it is an idea that would be lost on the hunters in the 77 other counties, many (still a minority) of whom are pro-baiting.

They would go bonkers if this bill passed. They would demand baiting in their counties, either that or an open season on legislators.

One man's view

Here is my view of some legislative ideas:


Forget baiting.

Do not tinker with the deer season structure, especially not moving the two-week muzzleloader season ahead of the first gun season. Two reasons: it would close regular gun season during the Thanksgiving weekend, and it would eliminate the two-week break in hunting pressure that deer need after the first gun season.

Do not extend the gun season through Thursday.

Do not create a loophole for non-residents to buy resident licenses, and pass the proposed bill that would stiffen the penalty for non-residents caught hunting or fishing without a license.

Pass the bill to create a voluntary $5 license for exempt hunters. Many would buy it, and would count in our favor in getting federal funding.

Increase the sportsman's license to $50, and earmark some of the money for more public lands.

I don't care if you can bait or not bait. I have many friends in LA where baiting is legal and the state I moved from (NC) had legal baiting. It provided no benefit. Only thing that comes to the piles during shooting times is does. Most of the bait gets eating by crows, coon, and other critters. I think they should spend time debating how to fix our fiscal bugget instead of firing up people with baiting laws when baiting doesn't do anything for you anyway.

Arkansas and Texas have been pouring corn to the deer for many years with no ill effects. The argument that the grain feeding indirectly causes epidemic diseases just holds no water. In fact, clubs that are responsible in feeding supplemental grains have noticed a great increase in game and non-game species on their lands. Feeding grain is no different than planting greenfields except that the grains aid a much larger group of wildlife than the greenfields.

its all just a bunch of B_S!!!!! whats the difference between several deer eating from the same corn feeder, or several deer eating from under the same acorn tree thats dropping acorns like rain. THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE! it is just a bunch of B-S politics. baiting is something that 95% of hunters do any. (whether they admit to it or not)

they need to have a bill on how many non-residents are allowed to hunt in each county. in southwest ms, we are just overrun with them. they are driving us out of a place to hunt. but we all know that the only thing the state cares for is the revenue. no matter what they tell us.

FYI.... FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS, NONRESIDENT LICENSE HAVE OUT SOLD RESIDENT IN SOUTHWEST MS. 2 1/2 TO 1.

What's a deer?

I think that they are talking about those "Pine Goats" we've got a bunch of em around here [img]images/smiles/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img]
JT

I always thought you hunted Deer to have somthin to eat in the duck blind! [img]images/smiles/icon_razz.gif[/img]

A deer is what you hunt in order to make work seem exciting.

Well, as someone who also hunts in other states, I feel they also have a right to hunt here in our wonderful state! Besides, non-resident license fees provide valuable revenues which in turn benefit all wildlife in the state. Just something to think about. I know it is frustrating to have strangers in your area, but that is part of it. I hope everyone has a better season next year!!! It can't be any worse than this year for me!

You Mississippians may not want to hear this from an out-of-stater but even if the State of Mississippi did charge more for license, I would still come hunt there. You can't pay any amount of money and duck hunt in Georgia like you can in your state. I have seen more mallards on any given day hunting in Mississippi than I have seen hunting in Ga over the past 5 years combined. I could see where you may not like us coming in but it has to do wonders for the economy. I know I drop over $300 each trip in LeFlores County -- and I've been 3 times this year.

good one wildfowler "what' a deer."

I'm one of those "hybrid" OOS hunters: live in GA, but was born and raised in MS and you can't hardly get me lost anywhere in the delta...well, there was that one time in Panther Swamp when I was boy and I kept following a squirrell on a cloudy day...but, that's a story for another day! I don't care what it does for the economy, nobody likes to hunt all crowded up with other folks! The fact of the matter is that there are so many people hunting now, due to many factors including plain old population growth, that it's hard to spread out. There is only so much "quality" ground in and amongst all the public areas. It is just easier to get all mad at someone who "ain't from around here." Shoot, south GA folks hate Florida folks for leasing up their quail and deer land, too.

Ah, I yearn for the days of my youth where people thought you were downright odd if you claimed to be a duck hunter! I mean, you'd mention hunting ducks and people would get that smirk on their face; kinda like, "well, ain't you a plain fool." Now, thinking back on my years hunting these things...they might of been on to something!