Why do Baiting Laws differ between the Piedmont and Coastal Plain of South Carolina?
Biological Issues
Baiting has the potential to unnaturally increase the survival of individual deer and when used in extreme amounts, baiting has been demonstrated to cause unnaturally high local deer populations due to increased survival and reproduction (Figure 1).2 Artificially high deer numbers is contrary to the goals of SCDNR’s deer management program and is not in the best interest of the state’s natural resources nor the general public.
Figure 1. Relationship between deer population density and the amount of bait or supplemental feed that is provided. Note that as more food is available deer numbers increase.
Research has demonstrated that baiting can change natural movements, distribution, and behavior of wildlife, including deer. 3 It has been documented that changes in deer movements and behavior related to baiting lead to increased levels of nocturnal activity by deer and that younger animals are most susceptible to being seen/harvested during legal hunting hours (Figure 2). 4
Figure 2. Visitation to supplemental feeding sites by deer monitored in South Carolina. Visitation rates were approximately 25:1 night versus day, a situation that can obviously impact the ability of hunters to harvest deer efficiently. Based on approximately 30,000 observations.
Also, as the availability of bait increases and ultimately moves towards supplemental feeding, there can be increased physical condition of deer at the local level (Figure 3).5 As body condition increases, deer become more selective as to what they eat and they can spend less time feeding (Figure 4). Both of these factors, increased selectivity of foraging and decreased time spent foraging, reduce deer movements. Anything that decreases deer movements makes the animals less available to hunters and negatively impacts hunter success and deer harvest rates.
Figures 3 and 4. Physical condition of deer will increases as the availability of bait increases towards supplemental feeding and as deer condition increases deer movements decrease which decreases the success of hunters.
Changes in deer movements and distribution can increase the probability of spreading diseases and parasites because animals are concentrated at bait sites where they repeatedly come in contact with one another.6 In 1994 bovine tuberculosis (TB) was detected in deer in an area of Michigan. It was determined that high concentrations of deer around bait sites were a primary factor in maintaining and increasing the prevalence of the disease. Similarly, chronic wasting disease (CWD) has recently emerged as the most significant disease threat that North America’s deer and elk populations have ever faced. The disease is similar to mad cow disease that has been so devastating to Europe’s livestock industry. CWD has been diagnosed in 13 states, however, it has not been detected in any Southeastern states in the vicinity of South Carolina.
Each of these diseases pose a significant risk to South Carolina because of the potential negative impacts it could have upon the deer resource, the deer hunting tradition, and the State’s economy (200 million dollars in annual retail sales related to deer hunting). Due to changes in deer movements, their congregations and behavior, baiting presents a major hurdle in managing these diseases. As was the case in Michigan with TB, states that have detected CWD and allow baiting have been forced to take immediate steps to address the issue.
Deer are normally selective browsers with feeding activities occurring widely over their home range. However, due to changes in movements associated with bait, deer concentrate their foraging activities around the baited area and research has documented that the habitat around artificial feeding locations can be negatively impacted due to this concentrated foraging.7 The unnatural movements and congregations of deer associated with bait sites may suppress the ability of plants to regenerate which can change plant species composition and ultimately affect the entire local ecosystem.8
The inferior quality of typical deer bait (corn) is also a concern since it is being consumed by many species of wildlife including deer. Although the effects of certain feed contaminants are documented in livestock, the effects are not well known in wildlife. Research conducted by the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study at the University of Georgia indicates that aflatoxin, one contaminant of concern, has been found at “above acceptable” levels for animal feed in approximately 50 percent of deer bait sites sampled in South Carolina.9 Although deer appear to be somewhat resistant to low levels of aflatoxin, it is documented that birds and monogastric mammals are more susceptible than ruminants.10 Therefore, the effects on these “non-target” species are a concern. (Note: the national incident in 2005 with contaminated pet food and mortalities in dogs was related to aflatoxin).
Finally, the baiting of deer may artificially increase, or at least concentrate, the local population of turkey and quail nest predators such as raccoons, opossums, foxes, etc.11 These animals may affect local turkey and quail nest success and/or contribute to pathogens contaminating such a site.