I am not sure that is true. Crows are exempt from many of the federal restrictions placed on migratory birds in the Code of Federal Regulations including baiting. States may impose no baiting rules and sometimes they misinterpret federal law which is pretty much impossible to argue against. Call the law enforcement division of your state wildlife agency or better yet e-mail them because then you will have their response in writing if they so it is OK which you may need if confronted by an officer in the field.
I am not sure that is true. Crows are exempt from many of the federal restrictions placed on migratory birds in the Code of Federal Regulations including baiting. States may impose no baiting rules and sometimes they misinterpret federal law which is pretty much impossible to argue against. Call the law enforcement division of your state wildlife agency or better yet e-mail them because then you will have their response in writing if they so it is OK which you may need if confronted by an officer in the field.
The Michigan Annual Hunting Digest (laws) has much to say about baiting due to a couple of deer diseases. It is very controversial. Some other species--turkeys come to mind--would not be sporting if bait were used so the practice is prohibited. Michigan hunting law does not address baiting for crows. The US Migratory Bird Act section on crows follows (my emphasis):
"§ 20.133 Hunting regulations for crows. (a) Crows may be taken, possessed, transported, exported, or imported, only in accordance with such laws or regulations as may be prescribed by a State pursuant to this section. (b) Except in the State of Hawaii, where no crows shall be taken, States may by statute or regulation prescribe a hunting season for crows. Such State statutes or regulations may set forth the method of taking, the bag and possession limits, the dates and duration of the hunting season, and such other regulations as may be deemed appropriate, subject to the following limitations for each State: (1) Crows shall not be hunted from aircraft; (2) The hunting season or seasons on crows shall not exceed a total of 124 days during a calendar year; (3) Hunting shall not be permitted during the peak crow nesting period within a State; and (4) Crows may only be taken by firearms, bow and arrow, and falconry."
So, nothing about baiting from the feds for Michigan, as Michigan says nothing about crow hunting with bait. Your state may differ. But, why bait? When we in MI were permitted to use bait (e.g., corn for deer) crows would eat it, but you wouldn't be able to shoot crows over deer bait because crows were out of season and even if you did take a shot during the season when baiting, you'd be there all day and they would likely not return. Our bait is decoys, to make the bandits think there's something interesting there on the ground. My $0.02.
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"Arms are the only true badges of liberty. The possession of arms is the distinction of a free man from a slave." -- Andrew Fletcher 1698
In a couple of cases, mostly while hunting in a dove field or near corn, I have picked a blind location and decoy spread that is close, but not near the actual stalks. Other factors (sun, tree line, flight patterns, etc.) ruled.
If time permitted, I have taken a few stalks and/or ears of corn over to the decoy spread to make for a more realistic presentation. True confession time... hope I wasn’t outside our game laws.
Demi
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The man who thinks he can, and the man who thinks he can’t are both right.