Saskatchewan Traditional Black Bear Hunt

[Hummer3T]

Well sat for another 2.5, and nothing. Momma is still bringing the three cubs. This tells me there is not a lot of  big boars around mom stayed at the bait all night for three nights.  
Looks like (a boar?)came in the afternoon.
       

     

note the size diff in the three cubs.

     

trail cameras time and dates are off


I can only afford enough time to have one bait, should I stick it out here or move?  Season in this zone only open until June 1.

[jrchambers]

I wouldn't dare move now.  just hunt as much as you can,  you might be there when the one you want makes his first and last visit.  you now have 2 separate hitters so I would expect another or three soon.

[Hummer3T]

two more hours tonight, nothing again, looked like nothing touched the bait.

I will try tomorrow, but?

[Hud]

If the boar was around, won't the sow and cubs leave? Maybe they feel safe, and have laid claim to your free lunch. Just wondering. Good luck.  

[Hud]

If the boar was around, won't the sow and cubs leave? Maybe they feel safe, and have laid claim to your free lunch. Just wondering. Good luck.

[Hud]

If the boar was around, won't the sow and cubs leave? Maybe they feel safe, and have laid claim to your free lunch. Just wondering. Good luck

[Hud]

If the boar was around, won't the sow and cubs leave? Maybe they feel safe, and have laid claim to your free lunch. Just wondering. Good luck.

[Hummer3T]

wow, Hud you really mean it, LOL.

I was saying the same, an last night no hits, so maybe she took her cubs and left after the afternoon boar started coming.  I will go this afternoon to see if I can see him (if that was a boar and not her, without cubs.

[Hummer3T]

yummmmm! beaver

 

picking up the crumbs

 

 

[Brock]

that boar wont stick around once the rut kicks in unless you have another sow without cubs in area...that is in heat.  THat sow with cubs wont necassarily leave but without a sow in heat there is nothing to keep a big boar in area and he will move on once that starts up.  Should be within the next week or two it heats up.

Would give it a bit longer to see if the boar comes in during day but if no other bears show up other than the sow with cubs maybe a move is in order...but establishing a new bait is not easy and would be just luck I would think.

I would be tempted to stick the site out and see if other bears come to it...maybe put some grease on ground around bait so they track that off with them and others may smell and backtrack to your setup.  Plus that beaver carcass will start getting ripe and bears gonna eat something...LOL  I would have got some spikes and nailed it to the tree though to make it tougher to get or hung from wire over a limb as high as you can get it.  

[wingnut]

If the boars has taken over the bait he will be bedded within 50 yards or closer to it.  So if you have a buddy that can go with you.  Go in and bait and get in your stand while your buddy walks out.  They are smart but don't count well.  I've killed a couple old boars using this method.  I've actually had them follow me to the vehicle when baiting to make sure I left.

Mike

[Hummer3T]

Sat today for 3 hours in the afternoon.  Beaver and feed got eat that night but no bears hit the bait the last two days.  No trail cam pictures, sorry.  It has gotten windy, cloudy and cold here, but this week is supposed to get up to 24-28 so I hope that brings on something more.

[Brock]

Originally posted by wingnut:
If the boars has taken over the bait he will be bedded within 50 yards or closer to it.  So if you have a buddy that can go with you.  Go in and bait and get in your stand while your buddy walks out.  They are smart but don't count well.  I've killed a couple old boars using this method.  I've actually had them follow me to the vehicle when baiting to make sure I left.

Mike

do you think he is going to bed down to guard the bait with the sows coming into heat this week and next ...with that sow and cubs being there and no others around?  Maybe this week but the rut in that area happens early June to mid June if I remember right...it is about time for them to start wandering and chasing receptive sows I would think.

[Hummer3T]

Brock, I doubt the sows will be in heat until Mid June.  We are usually around that time with the rut and this year is really late.  I would guess as far as the sow with three cubs, that if any other bears show up, she would leave, due to the threat to her cubs.  If he is bedded in the area, he would be checking the bait if not eating from it. two days with no picks tells me that he was moving through, or it might have been the female with the three cubs (but the cubs were out of site?

I have talked to several other hunters and they saw a big slow down this weekend also. Likely due to the cold weather (no sun to heat the bait, or some redenning took place.  We are still ice fishing on three feet of ice.  A guy I was talking to drove his truck on the lake to ice fish this weekend (maybe crazy but happened).

We had a really cold weekend, so I'm hoping that is what the slow down is from.

[jrchambers]

I wouldn't be to worried about a boar leaving the bait for a sow yet.  A pile of food is a great place to look for a mate,  just think about when you were single and went to the grocery store, haha.  It seems to me that your area is just getting started,  I see this a lot in the beginning, its like they don't want or cant feed heavy every day.  They will all be back at some point soon.  
I would for sure try the 2 guys in and one leave.  also if you need to clear your trail so you can get in really quiet.  
once they get that plug out and start feeling the urge to eat all the time they will get brave and compete more while becoming more brazen and showing up in daylight.  Are you leaving your scent at the stand,  like a pair of socks or a shirt,  if you are a chewer leave some of that too.

[Hummer3T]

I agree JR, only trouble is the season in this zone is only for two more weeks.  Hoping the bears pick it up in a hurry.

[jrchambers]

if you sit every evening you will get him.  I bet you will see him at least once before he comes in.

[Hummer3T]

With my schedule I can only sit every second day, but I'm confident they are going to come.  Just started to feel a little beaten from seeing nil.....

[RickE]

That's hunting....  

If you have access to cooking grease or bacon grease dribble that all around the bait.  I think someone mentioned it already but any bears or other critters that visit your site will leave sweet smelling trails that lead back to the bait.  Free advertising!!!  Rick.

[Brock]

True Dat! ^^^^^