Bear baiting 101- Finding the spot

[mmgrode]

Hey Gang,
   I got my first taste of bear baiting this past fall and really enjoyed it. I also realized there is much to learn. I got to thinking it would be interesting to start a series of threads on bear baiting how-to and get experienced bear hunters input on tips and tactics. Later threads will detail bait material, setups, frequency, hunting, etc with another series on spot and stalk and still- hunting.   Let's start this first thread with comments on where to find bears and theory behind bait location(both in the east and west, spring and fall).  How do you go about finding baiting areas?
Looking forward to the discussion!

Matt

[Jon Stewart]

Matt, I also enjoy bear baiting here in Michigan.  I usually just go to edges of swamps and let the bear find the bait.  We can't container bait here so I bury  the bait and cover with branches and logs with a rock or two tossed on the logs.
As far as bait goes, chocolate.

[wingnut]

Matt,

Interesting thread!  I don't do any bear hunting now days.  We don't have them in Texas.  LOL

But back in the day, I used to some in Washington.

Locating bears is pretty easy usually.  Start with topo maps for the area you want too hunt.  Identify the water and when you can get out start scouting those areas.  Pick spots where you see bear scat and trees that have been marked.

Put out test baits in those areas when legal by hanging meat scraps from trees.  Rack the area under the tree so you can check tracks.

I used to put out 30 or so test baits and narrow to 6-10 bait sites later.  Of course we were running an outfit with clients coming in.

For one hunter, I would go with the 3 best spots and bait those.

Mike

[Kevin L.]

I'll add one thing to Wingnut's suggestion. When you clear out the area under the tree, use an old garden rake and mix some fryer grease into the dirt. Then just use the back of the rake to smooth it out and you'll get a good impression of the bears coming in, plus the scent carries quite a ways and when the bear leaves the site, it'll track the scent around a bit.

[wingnut]

I like the grease "good news trail" but only use it once I establish the bait site.

Mike

[AkDan]

In northern MN we'd drive around, (rice paddi areas), and we'd usually find where bears had been..or we'd see them around.   It helped family lived in the area year round and we had hunted it for quite a few years.  But every year we'd drive looking for good looking areas and then hike around.  Always amazes me at how many we'd see yet it's been quite awhile since I've seen one up here.   Once we started seeing sign (usually trees/bushes broken over is the dead give away), we started looking for a good bait site.

Bait consisted mainly of pastries and meat scrapes...in a pit covered with the heaviest logs we could man handle over the hole.  Keeps the small stuff out...any bear can get into it.  And generally the bigger or the more animals we had the more the area was tore up.  We'd also hang a bait to see how hight they could go...which was a terrible test looking back...the dang things climb trees duh!   It was still fun regardless.

[Gordon martiniuk]

we use any thing we can get our hands on donuts frying greese etc. if you can find a trapper willing to give you Beaver carcases hang a couple from the trees 5' up and your set some fellows like to have a honey burn, but I suspect they enjoy that as much as the bears .. a Bears nose will find your bait site and it is helpfull to have a 45gal barrel to put your bait in and only cut small holes for them to fish bait out unless you want to fill your site daily once they get hit if you just leave it out they will clean you out and you may never see them oh yea the barrel is often very helpfull trying to decide if bear is big enough to shoot as small bears are often the first to come in and unless you have a ton of experence it's darn hard to tell a small bear from a shooter,, oh yea watch out cuse they will often come in to bait site and jump up on tree your in and bark at you and sometimes pop there teeth thats what makes Bear Hunting with a Bow so much fun often the Hunted Becomes the Hunted !!          

[Brian Krebs]

Well.....

 First off if hound hunting for bears is allowed in the area you are hunting; then you have to insure that the scent from your bait; or of the bears circling downwind of your bait- will not be picked up by hounds.

 If your hunting around hound hunters; you are going to have to consider that if they see your vehicle every day or weekend.... or ravens circling around an area; they will take their hounds in and try to 'start' a bear off the bait. Its not all hound hunters; all it takes is one.

 You have to check your regulations; and see what you can use for bait; and what you cannot. You might be able to use a single metal barrel but not a metal barrel and a metal pan to burn your honey or syrup etc in.

 You have 4 things to overcome. The bear. The hound hunters; and your local fish and game officers; and other hunters. Officers rarely find baits; and when they do; they will check them for illegal baits or setups. They will check them daily with total disregard for their actions scaring off the bears. ( I am just saying).

 Other hunters cannot know they are walking up on a bait. I have been out stalking; and stalked right up on a bear- only to realize it was feeding on someones bait pile. I could have shot those bears; but didn't. I prefer not too.

 Other hunters might find your bait; and think its pretty cool; see your stand; go up in it just to check it out. If the bear coming into the bait sees it- the bear will probably not come into your bait.

 Bears cover a lot of ground; so if you set up your bait in an area where there are bears; do it too your advantage; and that means wind; and a way to get in and out undetected ( although you can use being detected later as an advantage).

 So; find a good spot that will not likely be stumbled upon; and that has wind that will take it to the bears in the day; and then when the thermals change; the wind will go over a ravine; or somewhere it dissipates - or if legal; over a pond or lake.

 You can test this with a smoke bomb or cigar. Shoot a line over a limb and tape a cigar on it and start it up; and haul it up in the tree you want to sit in; or the area you want to bait in; then walk around before dark and note where you can smell that cigar when the wind is just thermals; or with a given direction wind.

 Check dead grasses and notice which direction they fell in - it will give you an idea what the main wind direction is.

 You ideally want a pinch point. An area where the bait is in cover; thick stuff where it feels safe in daylight- and where travel is restricted.

 Restricted by an open area or obstacle; where the bear has to go around the open area; and where you can use that to your advantage. If you can bait near a lake or pond; put your bait close too it; so that if a bear walks the edge of the pond; it will have to walk in range.

 Figure out if you will be on the ground while hunting; or in a tree. Then pick the best tree; and the next best. You will not want to be outlined by the sky from the bait or the trail in. If you are using a ground blind; flatten a spot and clear the ground of twigs etc; and make yourself aware of the wind.

 You want more than one 'option tree' so that if you are detected; you already have a plan for it. Don't sit there realizing your being seen; and look around and realize -- this is the only tree big enough.

 But plan for that; plan that bears will come in; and when they do; have a close by alternate area - like where the bears will lay in the evening downwind to smell the bait before coming in.

 Get your license and bait tags if you need them; and be ready.

[AkDan]

man I got to thinking....and I know this isnt for the faint of heart..but what works sweet for a bear bait...a hole pig staked to the ground, no joke!   Boy they get stinking terribly bad!  I know of an outfitter in MI who does this with some great success!

[MnFn]

Sorry, not an expert but I do have some experience. I don't think this was mentioned:

One of the best sites I have had was a newly planted field of oats. They love oats when it is in the milk stage. I had portions of my field completely flattened by bear. So I would think a farmer would love to prevent that damage.

A successful bear hunter I knew suggested getting chicken/poultry guts and sealing them in a 5 gallon pail then placing it on top of your roof for a few days in the sun. Never tried it- not worth the "discussion" I would have had with my better half afterwards.

Gary

[mmgrode]

Thanks for the responses so far! Good stuff, fellas. Fine advice from folks who know.  

A few more questions for consideration:
- What makes prime black bear habitat?
- Are there any topographical considerations besides wind when scouting and setting baits? (ie-steep hill placement vs. bottoms, altitude differences, etc.)
- How far in from the trailhead/parking do you typically place baits?
- Will bears normally approach baits from one direction or come in from various directions?
- Are there any considerations on bait placement in spring vs. fall hunting?  
- Is it wise to bait near berry patches in the fall or avoid these (competition w/bait)?
- Anyone start baits with honey/bear crack burns?

Bear guide Wingnut     - Have you seen any difference in areas with lakes, ponds, or streams?   How often do you check your test baits after placement? How long would you leave test baits out before giving up on it?

Dan- would the bears feed in the rice paddi or would that be an area of more obvious movement?

Gordon- I've heard those beaver carcasses work great and stink up a storm!  
 
Brian- Great information right there!  Do you typically try to keep your baits as far away from human traffic as possible, or more locally avoid detection by humans? I have heard of baits being disrupted by hound hunters both in ID and WI.  Pretty scummy. You mentioned setting up so the wind went to the bears during the day, but was towards you when the thermals shifted in the evening. Do you have many bears come in during the day?  

Gary- Would you typically set up a bait near the oat fields or hunt right over the oats?

Here's a picture of some bear sign in an area I hunted:
   
Unfortunately this area was closed to baiting as grizzlies were present, but had bite marks and claw marks all over the place.  Black bears would scurry up the firs when grizzlies showed up.    
Looking forward to more, fellas!  
Cheers, Matt

[wingnut]

Matt,

The first time I check the test bait is one week after setting them.  We usually had enough hits on baits to keep us busy.  Remember we want to narrow it down to jsut the best spots.

The areas we hunted usually had water involved.  Along creeks, edges of lowland or swamps and along lakes.  We didn't have trouble with hounds as the area we hunted had limited access.

Get away from people and traffic as much as possible.  

Mike

[mmgrode]

back up

[HARL]

I bear hunted for 12 years and always had lots of action.I usually started every season with lamb guts to get a good stink going.It never took long to get the 4 baits I used going.I got most of my bait from a local grocery store that still had a couple of butchers in the back.They saved me all the trimmings and their expired meats from the shelves.I have seen bears push a pork chop or steak aside to grab a piece of chicken.Why the bears here loved the chicken so much was always a mystery.My baits where also set up on the edges of swamps.

[MnFn]

Sorry for the delay, forgot to check back on this topic. Yes, I had a bait site set up just off the field as well. My site was surrounded by 6 miles of forest on three sides, with a large swampy creek bottom about 75 yards away. I think if you could determine where they enter the field and then set up back in the woods aways that would be the best.

That same year, I helped a friend of mine set up a treestand about 20-30 yards in the woods just off a major trail leading into a cornfield. He shot a bear the same evening.