Bear Hunters

[Mayfly]

So who out there hunts bear? What time of year do you start baiting? I know Bowhunter73 was out today working on some stands....right?

[Brandon_Collins]

I guide bear hunters and also hunt them myself when i have time to. We dont start baiting till like at least the 20th of august because sometimes if you start to early the bears get sick of a bait and just leave. Plus it is way to early there is no reason to be baiting bear half a month before the season opens.

Brandon

[WoodChuck]

 :) most often  it is around the 25 or 26 , and start with 1 gallon of test bait. too much to soon and they get bait burn out. one hunter, same person to do the baiting and hunt the same bait only . bear get spooked easly and find more then one persons scent as  a reason not to come back.   

[Mayfly]

I'm going out this year for the first time ever. I am not going to be hunting but just observing. Excited, never done this before. We are hunting in the Hinckley area.

[Joe]

It's an absolute blast. Make sure to get involved in building the bait station and baiting as often as possible. It's almost more fun checking baits. The anticipation of checking the baits, as I made that 2 and a half hour drive was unbearable ::) at times. Here are a couple picks from one of the baits I ran. I saw 4 bears at this bait.

This picture shows the bait after I refilled it.


This is what I found when I came back 2 days later.


I know the pictures kind of suck. They were scanned images. This was before I went digital.

[WoodChuck]

check out my previous post ! if you are going to be an observer you might want to try the scent lock system as two diffarent scents can cause problems. or as an ob. , and a hunter each time you bait be sure to do it as a team and do not change your pattern on time of day or with the person you are hunting with(gun or camera)

[Joe]

I have to agree. The "two in, one out" method really works well. Make a little noise, bang them buckets around each time you check the baits, it's like ringing a dinner bell.

[WoodChuck]

 :-X ditto times 8 in ten years, my best is 245lb field dressed about 335 live weight before dinner.

[bowhunter73]

Some of you said that they might get sick of the bait or burnt out on it if you start early. I'm the only hunter on 160 aces in hinckley but i know the folks around me all hunt to and I'm Sure they have many bait stations. when i use only 2 . Would you still give the same advice

I'm afraid if i start later than the neighbors the bears could start a pattern that does not include me what do you think

                           Thanks

[WoodChuck]

you will have to use you rown thoughts as to what they are baiting with and how offten! but the advantage to waiting is the bait burn out can work in your favor.if your neighbors are in the same hunting clan, then they will use the same types of bait. so my advise is like a kid in a candy store, have at least3 types of sweet s to intice the bears back if they miss a meal. another bbuutt is dont get excited if they are comeing in good for a while and then stop, as a bear gets full the same as a human. as long as you give them a differant type of sweet to keep them guessing they will stay close by. i use to feed about 4 gal. in a bucket for a feeding if they hit the test baits. bread , buns , sweet rolls , doughnuts, and then top it off with a coffee can of beacon grease and fish oil from the deep fet fryer. hope thi will help you????  some times it is better to go to just 1 bait station if you hav a good paw print!!!!

[Mayfly]

So has anyone started baiting yet with success??