Woods & Waters

May 01, 1988|By John Husar.

With more deer hunters using bait in northern Wisconsin forests, the DNR wants to study the practice to see what impact it is having on hunting ethics. Wildlife biologists in Wisconsin and Michigan have noticed an increase of baiting since 1980. Hunters who once watched trails, stalked ridges or joined others in drives now find baiting to be more efficient. ``It`s definitely a growing trend in the north, but I don`t know if there is much we can do about it,`` said Stan Miller of the Wisconsin DNR`s wildlife bureau. ``It is effective. What we would like to know is its extent. Whether it`s a problem is something that has to be wrestled with.`` Tom Kieweg, a member of the Ashland County Board, said baiting isn`t a con-troversy now, but that doesn`t mean it won`t be. ``That`s a loaded question up here,`` he told Pat Durkin of the Osh- kosh Northwestern. ``It`s to the point where, if you don`t bait, it`s hard to get something. I would say the majority of hunters are baiting. ``It`s gotten to be a very big thing. Some people from south-ern Wisconsin drive up every weekend to drop off their apples or corn. Some do it all year. The feed mills around here like to see deer season come. They sell a lot of corn to the hunters.``