Bowhunting bear, stand locations

[22lex]

I'm going to pro-actively believe that I am going to be drawn for a bear tag this year. What would be the optimal distance from my bait site to shoot a bear with my bow? I feel really comfortable at 30-40 from a tree stand, but of course you never know what the woods will throw at you.

Another question; how should I set my baitsite up for a quartering, or broadside (breadbasket) shot? What is a good way to funnel the bear; ie logs, brush, etc...?

[bowhunter73]

  I would say if you are good at 40 I would shoot 40, you will have more time (undetected) to shoot. After picking a good tree to put your stand in and getting that completely set up. I would then and only then design my bait station because you are right about a good broad side shot. Baiting means only one thing for sure when and if he comes in you will know where his head will be. Now you just need to place his rear end where you want it. I personally use piled up logs in a V shape so he can only get in from one direction and hopefully not see you draw back on him. If you are using a rifle, I would back off even more and the bait setup is not as importan

  Good hunting

[Big E]

With bear the main thing is the wind because they have the BEST noses. Their eye sight is very bad and they can't see clearly beyond 10 yards. I hunt 15 yards from my bait because that is the only set up I have in the jungle that I hunt in. I've never had a bear see me yet and I always bring out a cover sent like the cherry spray you can buy at Gander MT. I've had bear come into that when I just moved my bait that afternoon. I spray some every time a bait too so they get use to coming into the smell of it. Do the same thing every time you go bait like bang buckets together or drive the wheeler right up to the station to bait then do the same thing when you hunt. I had my cousin drop me off on the 4 wheeler at my stand and she banged buckets together as I climbed the tree. She was down the trail about 300 yards and a bear was already coming in. (I didn't chamber a shell and all the bear and I heard was click.....bye bye bear) They get into a routine and if one thing is off they wait until night. They a lot of times will bed within a 100 yards of the bait.
I agree with the "V" shape with logs because with a bow you want a quartering away shot. They have a bigger and harder shoulder blade than a deer so I always aim a little bit further back on a bear. I also put some big logs over the bait so coons can't get at it and a bear can. If you put a camera over your bait don't put it right next to the bait I've had a lot of bear get mad at the smell or flash of them and rip them down off of the tree.
 I wasn't sure if you wanted tips on hunting and baiting as well so I just thought I put some things that have worked for me in here. You may already know this but I hope it helps a beginer reading this. Good luck this year.

[22lex]

It's all great info. no doubt. What I learned from my guided hunt was exactly what E said, use the same approach ie. knocking buckets together every time, then have your friend do the same when he drops you off when you plan on hunting.

In the area we are going to hunt (yes we will get drawn) I don't think I can stretch anything longer than thirty mainly 'cause of the density of the trees.

I was also told by the guide I used in '03 that the bear more than likely knows you are there, it's just the urge to pack on pounds is what gets him to come in. I don't know if I agree with that, but he has been doing it for around 25 years, and if anyone is familiar with Mille Lacs Guide service you know who I am talking about.

It's also funny too how you can talk to one person who religiously will bait every other day, or every single weekend leading up to opener, and the next person will only bait the weekend before. Both ways from people I have talked to seem to produce in their own right.

Thanks for some different insight.

Alex

[kenhuntin]

This little tactic is hard for alot of guys to take because of the belief that you need to be in your morning stand before shooting hours. Going in in the dark is actually more detrimental to a sucessful hunt. The dark times are usually when the bear are actively hitting the bait. Set your bait pile so that when you approach at legal shooting time you have the longest shot possible.  Such as coming around a hill or being able to see the bait from coming out of a sudden turn in a trail. More guys I know of that have done this have got their bear walking in than sitting all day. A morning with a light rain is optimum because it silences your steps. All getting in early does for you is permeate the area with your scent as well as run the animal off.
 Another little trick to help your bear find your bait and is inexensive is get a package of raspberry gelatin and sprinkle it over your bait. You know how strong it smells to you if you have ever opened one.

[DOUBLELUNGER]

I've shot both my bears at under 20 yds and quartering away. I prefer closer to insure complete pass through with my arrow. Each bear expired less than 50 yds. from my stand. Also remember to not be too high, this will give you too much downward angle which could result in only one lungs  being hit. Besides it way more of a rush to be up close to those beasts.

[rem]

USE RIFLE TELL YOUR BUDDIES U USED A BOW 

[MagicOPromotion]

thats why i asked at bowhunting ranges. a 60lb compound bow will not generate 800 lbs of energy and the data listed above at 50 yards is good. thats the farthest id personally take a shot with my G35.

[willy4003]

My stands are set up within 20 yards of my bait stations.  Last one I killed was at 17 yards quartering away.  Wait for the closest, front leg to go forward to slide that shoulder blade out of the way of the vitals.  My stands are around 16 feet up.  I didn't draw this year.   

[Cody Gruchow]

lex everyones spot on here, i agree with willy though its very important that they slide the shoulder forward, like a right handed bear(beleive it or not they have dominate paws like we do hands) put your bait so he HAS to use that paw to get at the bait so he slides his shoulder forward, your arrow will not make it through the shoulder very far if at all. good luck!