Terry

Don!t you people have anything else to cry about then how he got live pictures. I am not in favor of baiting but get a life.

Gene51 Loc: Yonkers, NY, now in LSD (LowerSlowerDelaware)

Food is one of the strongest motivators - and animal behaviors are fine-tuned around not starving. When you inject yourself into that process you are causing potential harm to the animal you are baiting. All of this so an impatient photographer can show off a trophy image. Morally, ethically, and in many places legally wrong.

Anyone who thinks the ends justifies the means if the animal gets hurt has a fundamentally simplistic view of the animal kingdom and it's complexities. Birds of prey are particularly vulnerable due to food source and habitat loss, and most are either protected or listed as endangered. Sure, the owl eats the lure and lives. But now the owl is less likely to avoid future human contact - and while the individual "only wanted to get a great picture and cause no harm" the effect of even a single human contact in connection with food may hold future peril for the owl, when it comes in contact with a human with malicious intent.

So, NO, IT'S NEVER OK TO BAIT A BIRD OF PREY JUST TO GET A PICTURE. EVER!

Anyone who still believes otherwise should read and watch this:

https://www.diyphotography.net/baiting-animals-worth-shot-wildlife-photography/

WesIam Loc: Phoenixville, Pa

Is cheating the same as Photoshop?

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

This is such a complicated question. We would consider it very horrible to feed the birds at our wetlands - but the neighborhoods next door have bird feeders. So what disrupts natural behavior? In Maine it is illegal and consider "terrible unethical" to bait deer for hunting, and yet it is perfectly legal to attract bears with donuts and then kill them. No one there really seemed to appreciate the total hypocrisy of that....

Feiertag Loc: British Columbia, Canada

I would assume if you add something extra that wasn't in the shot in the first place, then I would say yes, you are cheating. Never have and will never will. What I see is what is illustrated with no steroids added.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Right! People should interfere as little as possible with nature. Look at what a mess we've made of the earth so far. There have been several threads here about baiting animals for photography, all with negative opinions.

jwest Loc: South Dakota

I agree.

GED Loc: North central Pa

You are right sb, it is unethical to bait deer and it is just as unethical to bait bears with donuts and shoot them. I don't see much of a relationship anymore between legal and ethical. There is money to be made from hunters who wish to pay a fee, climb up in a tree stand and shoot the bear when he comes in for the donuts. Then they go home and tell their friends how great a hunter they are. I am not against hunting whatsoever, however that is not hunting or fair chase in my opinion.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

I totally disagree with you. One can google lots of different opinions and they are just that. Where is the law against such actions. Only actually killing the bird is illegal.
Next as was pointed out baiting all birds including those in the backyard of ALL types is therefore immoral and wrong. So if I se another "Baited" photo on this site it should be reported and taken down as being unethical and immoral.
Interesting you complain about one form of baiting but condoe other forms. Can you say hypocrite?

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

As a hunter, I was more into the challenge of trying to find and track game in their natural habitat, definitely not on a deer, exotic species or where deer/animals are grown for their 'rack' farm, that's not hunting, just shooting. Never baited an area for game, in fact spending time in the woods was almost as important as taking the shot. Since I no longer hunt, except for an occasional trip or two, I would be just as happy to take my camera to the woods and try for the same shot except with the camera....to me, baiting would diminish the accomplishment. However, in captivity, I can see baiting (really feeding) for the shots.

Kinda like my Harley, its not the destination, but the ride....Cheers

Nalu Loc: Southern Arizona

Complicated subject and I can appreciate the opinions on each side. I definitely agree that baited subjects should not be allowed to wildlife photography contests. The hunt for the subject is understood to be a part of the process of obtaining the photograph and in such events should be considered illegal. I also understand the issues associated with disrupting normal behavior and the implications that can have on various parts of the subjects normal life style. Introducing artificial "bait" into the life style of the subject can be disruptive if done regularly. I have been known to call birds in to get an image. But, I do it rarely and once I know the subject is in the vicinity I quite the calling. I do not want the bird to think someone is invading his territory and cause the stress.

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

IMO, you are right. The baiters are WRONG. Baiting changes the bird/wildlife behavior and that is NEVER a good thing no matter the “reason”. The reason that baiting should not be done goes well beyond leveling the playing field for ethical bird/wildlife photographers. It’s about protecting the wildlife.

BTW, I saw a post here on the UHH by a member who admitted he got the shots by baiting the owls with mice purchased at a pet shop. In a word, I was stunned when I say that. Now I have to go find that post.

Blaster34 Loc: Florida Treasure Coast

MadMikeOne Loc: So. NJ Shore - a bit west of Atlantic City

Thanks Gene. You said it all perfectly.

Country Boy Loc: Beckley, WV

I think this is blown out beyond reasonable. People that bait deer or bear put a regular food supply out that draws the animal in day after day. Someone that buys 3 mice from a pet store (that raises them only for feeding to other animals) and uses them to get a great shot has not hurt the hunting and survival traits of the owl. If the photo was for a contest and the photographer violated the basic rules even if they require you to take the photo while standing on one leg, it would be wrong. Give it a break, this is no worse than a bird feeder or putting a hand full of corn on the ground to photo a deer (which I have seen posted here before) is not the end of the world.