PA is considering almost the same exact thing in "urban areas." In fact, they may beyond consideration because it appears to be up for a vote at this month's PA Game Commission meeting:

"Agricultural deer damage continues to be a challenge in the Commonwealth’s more developed areas. Special hunting regulations exist for these areas, but hunting and permitted control provisions at times create conflicting regulations. The amendment to § 141.1(d)(6) will permit hunters to legally harvest deer during any deer season through the use of bait on properties authorized under a valid deer control permit(red tag farms) in WMUs 5C and 5D in the southeastern Pennsylvania special regulations areas."

http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=514&objID=563329&mod...

Is there such thing as an 'urban area' in Wyoming??

Thanks for posting this Scott, I knew the mule deer were in trouble in the state but hadn't known whitetails were becoming so prevalent.

As a resident of one of the Counties cited by the game and fish I can say that this is starting to be a major problem. The Wyoming G & F is ignoring the major reason the deer are moving into town. Much of the surrounding area has been subdivided making rifle hunting nearly impossible. Worse is the private landowners not allowing hunting on their property. The carring capacity of a paticular tract of land is exceeded and the deer that get run off move into town. Too much hunting pressure on the too few public land access areas close to town have moved all the deer to that private land that restricts hunting.

+1 MaxPower. I can't imagine that there are many urban areas in Wyoming.

Seems like a reasonable way to cull deer in problem areas. But my bet is that it won't have a significant impact on the target population.

From:
"AskAGFC"
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To:
Clay Cooper

During the fall of 2008, AGFC personnel collected over 200 samples of corn from deer feeders and bait sites across the state. Few samples had levels of aflatoxin that would be considered dangerous for turkeys or deer. However, there are other effects from baiting such as increased risk of nest predation near bait sites or the possibility increasing mammalian predator populations by providing bait that are not well understood.

Brad Miller

Asst. Chief, Bureau of Wildlife

E: bfmiller@agfc.state.ar.us | P: (501) 223-6395 | M: (501) 580-3428

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

2 Natural Resources Drive | Little Rock , AR 72205

P: (800) 364-4263 | F: (501) 223-6452

www.agfc.com

Kim Cartwright

Media Specialist

E: kccartwright@agfc.state.ar.us | P: (501)-978-7334 | M: (501)-246-0822

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

2 Natural Resources Drive | Little Rock , AR 72205

P: (800) 364-4263 | F: (501) 223-6447

www.agfc.com

www.Facebook.com/ARGameandFish

www.Twitter.com/ARGameandFish

BAD IDEA!

I'd say it's worth a shot. Why? Because it still involves HUNTING! What I mean is, a lot of state's refuse to rely on hunters to control deer, and go to expensive and ineffective methods. So I say give the "urban baiting" a shot. At least it will keep hunters in the drivers seat for population control.

15,000 is a big city

PLUS 1 Chuckles. And in addition, Baiting didn't make a heap of difference in Georgia this year.

Scatter the bait out all over the ground then its no divverent than a food plot!

Baiting of deer has been legal in WV forever. I don't think it is legal in Colo. and that is where CWD started.
Deer have found a home in the sub-divisions of the cities and small towns. One way of getting them out of the sub-divisions onto property where they can be killed is through baiting. Whether you like it or not it is a good way to lure deer away from the populated areas. As someone said scatter the corn out like a food plot and don't put it in a pile the deer don't care they will find it. I live in a town of 2000 people and there are deer in the field between my house and the hospital every night. However with corn they can be lured across the river where they can be killed. My wife is glad because she is tired of having her flowers eaten.

I have no interest in baiting any animal except for perhaps a troublesome grizzly. I personally don't consider baiting deer, using scent cover, the latest camo clothing, checking out the photos from the trail cam, and hiding in a tree for the kill to be hunting. I doubt the bill will pass anyway. Even if it does the Wyoming F & G will have few problems with the location piece since they have dealt successfully with this same area/bait issue for black bears for decades. Frankly I agree in that I see hundreds of mulies but not an excessive quantity of whitetails since the die off from "blue tongue" about 5-6 years ago. I suppose some parts of the state must have not got their share of this disease in addition to CWD.

Just a couple of thoughts...
1. We have had CWD for decades and I am not convinced that this is an issue here in Wyoming in terms of baiting.
2. Just cause we're small doesn't mean we don't have "urban areas.' We just define them differently than the rest of the country.
3. Habitat, and access to it, is becoming a big issue in terms of controlling populations. Until the landownders in the affected areas are willing to give a little latitude to hunters, I don't see as much population control as WGFD wants even iwth baiting. I think that if the landowners want thier $$$, they need to work with WGFD on this issue. It isn't just whitetails, it is affecting elk, muleys, antelope...
4. "earn a buck" system might be a thought, again, hunters will still need access.
5. Budget year for the legislature... so this is probably a moot conversation!