SRS -

The vote is actually "yes" - but with caution. As long as one uses what's in the system in which the baiting is done, I'm with the live-bait fishers. Catch the bait from the pond where you intend to fish, or get your bait from a local supplier - who can tell you that it's compatible with the local fauna.

Going to a pet shop and getting "mice" (generic and of unknown kind) stocked for feeding exotic pets, or even taking the "mouse" you caught in your kitchen into the woods, where there is any possibility of release and survival of the "bait," has the potential for making unforseen changes in existing food chain(s). Caution is advised, if you care about the ecosystem.

Gettin appropriate "warm-blooded" bait may be difficult for a casual trip.

It should also be noted that "baiting" is much less effective than most people presume, at least for short term use. To be effective, bait must be placed over a long enough term to attract the target species to the area and to make them accustomed to finding food there. Only then can the "strategically placed" bait be expected to bring individuals to that "best photo spot." The exception is that if you can easily catch suitable bait animals near where you want to take your shot the target species may already expect to find food of that kind there.

For a casual trip, planning where to go and knowing where the birds are will be more likely to produce good experiences than the vague expectation that you will be able to "throw some meat out" and get great pictures. Most critters have a life, so you need to know where they hunt, where the rest, where they sleep and when they change those jobs and move between them. That's why the people who do this sort of stuff regularly form clubs to talk about it, share experiences, write bylaws, have meetings, charge dues, make websites, and sell maps. (etc.).(etc.).(etc.).(etc.).

John