Bear Baiting

Are there any bear hunters on this forum? We have just about 2 months before baiting. Let’s hear about your favorite bait to get this going.

I had real good luck with dog food last year. Sweet corn was a good one also.

I could use some advise on baiting. We purchased some property up north that has bear. We hunted them last year and I am planning on hunting them again this year. I’ve heard many different things to try: donuts, ice cream, liquid smoke, old fish, grease from restaraunts. The bears were raiding the neighbors corn field so we had a “bait station” but had limited time to hunt and nobody in our party scored. What do you use keep the coons and other critters out of you bait stations?

I could use some advise on baiting. We purchased some property up north that has bear. We hunted them last year and I am planning on hunting them again this year. I’ve heard many different things to try: donuts, ice cream, liquid smoke, old fish, grease from restaraunts. The bears were raiding the neighbors corn field so we had a “bait station” but had limited time to hunt and nobody in our party scored. What do you use keep the coons and other critters out of you bait stations?

newt,
Hard to keep all the critters out, That’s why you need to put down enough bait to feed them all. Grease needs to be poured around the bait so when a bear walks threw, it sticks to his feet and will lay a sent trail for other bear. Use only fresh bait. Bait that won’t rot right away (dog food,bread,cereal). Bear will not eat rotten bait unless natural food is very very low. You can make up a stink bait to hang by your bait, But not in it. When putting out fresh bait take shovel to remove any rotting or molded bait. Hope this help’s a little. Any more questions just let me know and I’ll try to help you out. Remember, your bait has to be better than the natural food around them.

It’s getting closer By the day

newt,
Hard to keep all the critters out, That’s why you need to put down enough bait to feed them all. Grease needs to be poured around the bait so when a bear walks threw, it sticks to his feet and will lay a sent trail for other bear. Use only fresh bait. Bait that won’t rot right away (dog food,bread,cereal). Bear will not eat rotten bait unless natural food is very very low. You can make up a stink bait to hang by your bait, But not in it. When putting out fresh bait take shovel to remove any rotting or molded bait. Hope this help’s a little. Any more questions just let me know and I’ll try to help you out. Remember, your bait has to be better than the natural food around them.

It’s getting closer By the day

Here’s some thoughts:
One theory – use smaller quantities of fresh bait if you can and bait regularly. This keeps the bears coming back to search for more – more often. If you can’t bait regularly, pour it all on and do it just before you hunt (1-3 days). Then hunt all the time to catch them coming in. If using small quantitiles and you can bait regularly, bait in the early AM – no later than 10 AM each day. This will bring them in more likely – in the daylight. Another point: Use trail timers over the bait pile to determine when bears are coming in. Don’t waste time on a bait stations where bears only come in after dark. Point: Collect good quality fresh food stuffs and freeze them in small bread bag size plastic bags. Then when you bait, you can take one or two out to each station in a 5 gal. bucket and unwrap them on the site so “you” stay cleaner and keep from spreading “bad” scents. Point: Always walk in from the same direction and wear rubber boots and gloves while baiting. Try and only have one person bait the stations if you can to reduce bad scent. Point: Cover bait with a “crate” so critters can’t get into it. Make sure it’s vented good through. Throw a log or rock over it. This will make the bears move around the bait station and have to work to get into it. It will also give you more time and a better opportunity to get a good shot/placement – especially if hunting with a bow. Point: Use liquid smoke on an old rag/towel and hang it in a tree above your bait (6 feet +/- high) to spread scent. Bears can smell this from miles out. (Believe it or not,… I know a guide that uses tampons instead of an old rag. He says they hold scent longer and you get a tie off string with it!) Point: Watch the bear tracks to see what direction they come in from most. You can also judge size this way. Small bears come in early. ….Big ones later. If you see a small bear early, you may want to wait. Especially if the little one is very “antsy.” They may know a bigger one is out beyond your sights and ready to come in. Point: Don’t put all you effort into one bait station. Run at least 4 to 10 and only hunt the best ones. Try and keep them at least a mile apart if you can. Hope this helps a bit. Good luck!!

Here’s some thoughts:
One theory – use smaller quantities of fresh bait if you can and bait regularly. This keeps the bears coming back to search for more – more often. If you can’t bait regularly, pour it all on and do it just before you hunt (1-3 days). Then hunt all the time to catch them coming in. If using small quantitiles and you can bait regularly, bait in the early AM – no later than 10 AM each day. This will bring them in more likely – in the daylight. Another point: Use trail timers over the bait pile to determine when bears are coming in. Don’t waste time on a bait stations where bears only come in after dark. Point: Collect good quality fresh food stuffs and freeze them in small bread bag size plastic bags. Then when you bait, you can take one or two out to each station in a 5 gal. bucket and unwrap them on the site so “you” stay cleaner and keep from spreading “bad” scents. Point: Always walk in from the same direction and wear rubber boots and gloves while baiting. Try and only have one person bait the stations if you can to reduce bad scent. Point: Cover bait with a “crate” so critters can’t get into it. Make sure it’s vented good through. Throw a log or rock over it. This will make the bears move around the bait station and have to work to get into it. It will also give you more time and a better opportunity to get a good shot/placement – especially if hunting with a bow. Point: Use liquid smoke on an old rag/towel and hang it in a tree above your bait (6 feet +/- high) to spread scent. Bears can smell this from miles out. (Believe it or not,… I know a guide that uses tampons instead of an old rag. He says they hold scent longer and you get a tie off string with it!) Point: Watch the bear tracks to see what direction they come in from most. You can also judge size this way. Small bears come in early. ….Big ones later. If you see a small bear early, you may want to wait. Especially if the little one is very “antsy.” They may know a bigger one is out beyond your sights and ready to come in. Point: Don’t put all you effort into one bait station. Run at least 4 to 10 and only hunt the best ones. Try and keep them at least a mile apart if you can. Hope this helps a bit. Good luck!!

Wow! Great info guys. I’ll pass this along to the other land owners as we are meeting tomorrow for a couple . With four of us baiting this year we should be able bring something in. It will be interesting to see what the reaction to the tampon idea will be. I also have a trail cam that we will use to monitor what’s going on at some of the bait stations.

I’m looking forward to seeing some bear photos on this site!

Thanks for sharing.

Wow! Great info guys. I’ll pass this along to the other land owners as we are meeting tomorrow for a couple . With four of us baiting this year we should be able bring something in. It will be interesting to see what the reaction to the tampon idea will be. I also have a trail cam that we will use to monitor what’s going on at some of the bait stations.

I’m looking forward to seeing some bear photos on this site!

Thanks for sharing.