Yeah Bisch for the life of me I don't understand why they don't open the season around 9/15. I've hunted bear here just for the last 3 years and have had bears hitting the bait hard, daily up until around 9/21-9/24 and then they just disappear. They have a quota that they want to reach and once it's reached season is over so I don't know what difference it would make. You put in the work to bait, which is fun in itself but takes lots of time and effort, just to have them leave before the opener. I've had them hang on longer this year than the 2 before so maybe I'll still get a shot before it's over. Guess that's why they call it hunting.