Black Bear Tips and Tactics UPDATED 9/13

[Trenton G.]

Hey guys, as the title says, I'm looking for anything and everything I can on bear hunting.
Next fall will be my last year in college, after which I don't know where I'll end up. I've got more than enough points to draw a first season bear tag up here, and plan to take advantage of it while I'm still here. I have zero bear hunting experience, although I see them up here on occasion. I'm planning on doing a baited hunt, and have another buddy who is applying as well so we can split up baiting duties. That being said, what should I be doing? Any baits that you've had particular good luck with? How to go about establishing bait sites? Running them? I know it's a lot of questions, but any advice that any of you have will be greatly appreciated! I haven't decided whether or not to hunt from a tree or not yet. I think hunting from the ground would be exciting, but my buddy wants to film it and I know he's not going to sit on the ground with a bear. Either way, it's something new and I'm looking forward to giving it a try!

[Terry Green]

Never baited for bear....if you were hunting them on foot...I could chime in.  Sorry I can't help
..want to go to stickflingers and bear quest bad though.

[Etter]

Check out the bear hunting magazine podcast. Clay newcomb did a few on the basics of baiting.

[durp]

You tube is loaded with how to's...some good some not so good...have fun with the planing and prep...if the videos don't answer ur questions u can pm me and I'll try to help ya

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Talk to people who sell bait in the area. They will tell you what's popular.  Trail mix is usually pretty good. Usually things like donuts, popcorn or bread withe coolaide powder or cherry juice work pretty good early but when acorns start dropping you had already switched to protein like peanut butter and trail mix.

Good luck. Oh and start doing homework for a taxidermist now. Visit their shop and see examples of their work. They can probably give you tips.

If you wait till after you killed something,  its possible the excitement will cause you to make a poor choice. If you end up not needing it, not much is lost.

[Crittergetter]

Best advice I can give is to hunt all day. They are a lot like mature bucks and will move more mid day than most people think. And the more secluded the better.  I shot mine around 3:00 in the afternoon but saw it several times mid day.
And for some reason my bear preferred skittles over everything else. Lol

[Trenton G.]

Thanks for the information so far guys, I'll look into all of those resources! I plan to go talk to the grocery stores this week and see if they'd be willing to sell me all the day olds from the bakery or something. I'm sure I'm not the only one with that idea so I'd like to get on it early. I know a couple DNR officers up here so I'll reach out to them as well and see how willing they are to share some information and what not.

I'll look into taxidermists, but I'm afraid mounting a bear would not be in my budget at that time unfortunately. It would be very cool to have on the wall though.

I'll log some hours in the stand then for sure Crittergetter. I'm glad you said that, because I've always been under the impression that bear hunting was more of a late afternoon thing.

As far as baiting goes, how careful are you guys with human scent? I've been reading that some guys want as much human scent as they can get so that the bear gets used to it and starts associating that smell with food.

[TURKEYFOOTGIRL]

ive baited about ten years or so. i dont get concerned with scent while baiting. i do when hunting. i spray cover scent on the barrel when i bait and then on myself when i hunt. try not to ever let your bait run out. i just use popcorn, dogfood, and used cooking grease. and boarmasters

[bowkill146]

Once you start baiting, make sure you put trail cams up on the baits.  There is a lot of great info you can get, multiple bears, time of day, size of bears, etc.  Where we hunt, it's unusual to have one come in much before dark.  The more bears coming in will force them to start coming in earlier.  When you are sitting at the bait, always a good idea to bait with something that they can't grab and run with.  Popcorn or candy or something works pretty good.  I watch videos of bear hunting up in Canada and places where there are really high numbers of bears and they come in all times of the day and many different bears at many bait.  That is not my experience but that all depends on what kind of numbers you have in your area.  When they come in, it's amazing just how silently they can come through the woods!  Also, even on a good hit, that thick hair on there body really soaks up the blood so I hope you're good at blood trailing.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

If you have a bakery outlet in town, talk to them. All the expired stuff will get sold cheap. We picked up a truck load for 20$

You are right, there is a lot of competition for bait. My lil bro bought 3 or 4 popcorn makers from good will.  He would sit up in his garage making a garbage bag of bait. 

The stores by me are not allowed to give out or sell the expired stuff. It was explained to me but I wasnt listening. Something about taxes and lawsuits

[BAK]

And think about what your hunting, by and large a bear is a predator.  Their sense of smell is as good or  better than any canine.  It is often the case that they have circled the bait, and you, know where you're set up, then try to sneak in anyway using cover to get to the bait.  And like everyone says, they are QUIET.  It is nothing like hunting white tail. 

And as a side note, when you're sitting in your stand, watching the bear, holding your bow, never forget that if the bear decides to pluck you out of that tree there is not thing one you can do about it.   

[Ray Lyon]

My first Bear was harvested in Copper Harbor, so I know a little about your area. 

1) natural food sources can mess up even a good bait.  High berry production years can mean hit or miss on bait sites. 
2) Find a good spot where you can enter and exit with predominant wind in your favor.
3) dog hunters can mess up your hard work in a hurry. Try to find a spot off the beaten path.  Hound hunters will use roads and two tracks to travel with their strike dog mounted on front of the vehicle to cover a lot of terrain trying to hit a track.  It sounds like you have the first hunt period before the dog hunting starts for real, but they can train dogs up until a certain number of days before your first hunt starts and affect your work done on baiting up until that time by running a bear off. 
4) if you’re hunting a tree stand, find a pine tree with good cover in your bait area and then set up your bait site close to it on upwind side.  Keep your stand low as you want to keep shot angle low to make sure you get both lungs.  A double lung bear is down in less than 80 yards, a one lung bear will go miles.  Trail camera on bait is nice if you have access to one.  Make  ‘V’ out of logs at the bait to direct the bear in position for a broadside shot.  If bear is coming in at dark you don’t have 10 minutes to wait for him to turn into position.  Dig a hole to put bait into and cover with logs to keep wolves and raccoons out.  Cover the logs with bacon grease.  When bear goes to move logs off bait, what he didn’t lick off logs will get on his pads and he’ll lay a scent trail in woods for you potentially attracting more bears.  Competition at bait site is good. 
5) With competition point mentioned, once your bait is being hit, start tapering off food so there’s not a gorge going on.  You want competition to bring bears in earlier so it’s not nocturnal.  Big bears may have an every two or three day pattern, but that’s ok.  This is where trail camera is helpful.  Bear will get used to baiters scent.  Don’t have your buddy bait for you right before you hunt if he’s not been there all along. 
6) Don’t hunt with wrong or marginal wind.  You’ll spook a bear out totally or make him nocturnal.  Again, multiple bears working a bait help.  Having two or three bait stations out in different areas is best, but this becomes more expensive on travel and bait cost if you’re purchasing. 
7) bear season can bring warmer temperatures and bear meat can spoil in a hurry.  It is fabulous table fare, but must be cooled quickly.  Get the hide off and in coolers asap if it’s warm.

[Trenton G.]

Some more great information guys. Really appreciate it! I'll add it to my notes!

I have several cameras so I'll put those out on the baits. I also bought one of those cellular cameras specifically for the purpose of bear hunting, and one of those protective metal cases for it, although I'm not sure how bear proof it actually will be. I figure I don't necessarily need the cell camera since I'll be in baiting every day or so, but if I can avoid touching the camera with bait on my hands and can have the pictures sent to me, I'm hoping that might keep my camera from getting eaten. Just a thought I had haha.

The bears that I've seen have always surprised me with how quietly they show up. They sure don't seem to be worried about making a racket when they take off though!
I'm not super worried about one climbing the tree to keep me company, but I suppose it could be a possibility. Every bear encounter I've ever had they've turned and run as soon as they knew I was there.

Ray, that's a lot of good information! Especially since you have experience hunting this area! I don't think I'll make it all the way to copper harbor, but I'll be poking around in that direction. I see quite a few dog hunters up here, so I'll definitely be looking for some off the grid places. I'm really not sure what the bear density is up here. I see tracks fairly frequently which is encouraging. As far as size, I've never had a "big" bear on any of my cameras set for deer, but maybe one will show up once I start baiting. I'm really not super picky about size as long as it's a legal adult bear.
Keep it coming!

[STICKBENDER98]

Trenton, Ray's advice is spot on, I've hunted the U.P. twice for bear with a good buddy, we were hunting around Naubinway. I was lucky the first time we went, and he got one the second time we went. I was able to get day old donuts from the local grocery store, I shot sporting clays with the store manager, and he would bring them to me already frozen in a big garbage bag at no charge!!!  We also used bacon grease on the logs covering the bait, and on the ground around it, used cooking oil would work also if you could get some from a local restaurant, they'll step in it and get it on their feet and as they walk around leave a scent trail for other bear in the area to follow back to your bait.  I also used anise oil mixed with a little water and sprayed it on the trees, to help add some scent, and also tried to cover our scent a bit, vanilla would work also as a cover/attractant.  I have also heard of people using the bacon grease to do a burn with a small camp grill, and metal coffee can just to put the scent into the air, we never tried this.

I have also gone to New Brunswick and hunted with an outfitter, and the advice about the bears getting used to the baiters scent is spot on also.  My hunt was a 5 day hunt which started on a Monday, we arrived Saturday evening, had breakfast Sunday morning and met the guides, there were 3 hunters per guide, and went with them as they baited.  We were only allowed to go as far as the treestands so we knew where they were, and climbed in to make sure everything looked ok, the other 2 hunters waited at the truck. They are allowed to use barrels there, so as they were baiting, they were banging the buckets they used for the bait around and banging the barrel, they would do this as we were going in to hunt also.  While we climbed into the stand they would freshen the bait, and it wasn't long after they left that bears would start to show up. 

Also, a point on clothing, bug tamer suit or something equivalent, and a thermacell or two.  I actually used two while in New Brunswick, I would use 2 when I got in the stand then shut one off after 10-15 minutes and use one up then start the other when I needed it.  I also used black nitrile gloves for my hands, they'll make your hands sweat but the mosquitoes, and black flies couldn't get through them.  Good luck on your hunt when it gets here and keep us posted as things play out for you!!!


Jason

[Cyclic-Rivers]

Bear proof box is good. If you dont have enough bear proof boxes put the camera up high and out of the way. Dont touch it with bait hands. Fresh rubber gloves is a good idea. Bait can be expensive but my family had 4 cameras chewed up this year. One still kinda works.

[Trenton G.]

Jason, thanks for the info!
I will have to figure out a way for my buddies and I to split up baiting duties, maybe a designated pair of baiting boots and clothes that we share or something haha.

I've seen the oil on the bait logs come up a couple of times now, so I will definitely be giving that a try. I've also heard about banging on the barrels and what not to make noise and let the bears know that food is there. I'm thinking I'll have someone drop me off when I'm hunting, do the baiting and leave while I'm getting up in the tree.

Hopefully the bugs aren't too bad, but it can definitely be warm and buggy that time of year!

I've had them spin my cameras around but luckily never had one destroy a camera. I know a buddy who lost a couple though.

[stevem]

Just a couple of things- On a baited, guided hunt I found the bait that was placed in the morning was gone when I got there in the afternoon.  I decided to hunt the same site the next morning just after the bait was placed, and took a nice boar about 10:30 in the morning.  Lastly, if funds are not in great supply, consider having the hide tanned.  Later when you have a bit more pocket change you can have your rug made.  Good luck.

[Trenton G.]

Stevem, would you recommend doing my baiting in the afternoon then if I'm unable to hunt mornings often? I want to keep it consistent, and with registration for fall semester coming up, I need to determine how to schedule my classes in order to make this work. I usually try to get my classes out of the way early in the day so I have the afternoon free. I never considered tanning and getting a rug made. I might look into that! I found a couple of taxidermists in the area. One was pretty reasonable, but his bears looked kinda like odd...

[Ray Lyon]

Trenton, baiting afternoon is fine. Consistent is probably best.  I’ve baited and hunted same time before.  Getting hide tanned and then finish down the road is good plan.  May want to have the better taxidermy person do that portion as well.  Whomever you’re planning to do it with, talk to them up front about hide care from moment animal is down.  Also, look into having skull done.  My taxidermist who was also an old friend had a guy who had the beetles that cleaned skull.  It doesn’t hurt the skull at all.  Here’s mine from 2008 bear taken in northern lower peninsula.  18 3/4” which would qualify for P&Y. 

[Ray Lyon]

And you’ll appreciate this one.  My first Michigan bear taken in Copper Harbor in 1986.  I skipped a week of classes at Michigan State University to go up there with my buddies and we camped at Lake Fanny Hoe campground (they were all 100 level psychology and sociology classes in 200-600 seat lecture hall’s, but MTU and upper level engineering classes are a whole different story so no cutting classes recommended !!)