Bear hunting tips

[Idaho hunter 58]

I need a little bear help here. I am going to try and do some bear hunting/baiting this year.

What do you use for bait?

I have seen some stuff on ebay that comes with a little stove that you heat up and is supposed to bring em in from a mile away.
Is this bull, or is it pretty good?

So any tips for a newbie would be helpfull!!!!!!!

Thanks,
Idaho

[Elkshed]

Cheap dog food,throw in some small marshmallows and pack in a portable 1 burner stove and small pan.Heat up some beef fat and mix in some cherry jello.The smell alone often draws them in immediately.Pour the jello mixture over your dog food and marshmallows and you are set.The smaller marshmallows seem to hold them there longer.
Elkshed

[pharaoh2]

The most important thing to take on any bear hunt are a .22 rifle and a hunting partner. If you get into trouble, shoot your partner in the knee with the .22 and run like hell! Come back later, instant bait pile! Sorry, couldn't resist!

[Porintree]

Idaho hunter 58, just curious as to what your hunting area is like, and how much of an area you have to hunt. Are bear densities high? What is hunting pressure like? If you are in a relatively secluded area with a lot of bears (and not too many other hunters/baits) you will likely need a lot of bait to allow your bait station to reach its potential. Grain (oats) mixed with used fryer/cooking oil works good and is cheap. Meat scraps work well and beaver carcasses might be a bear's favorite food.

If bear densities aren't that high and there is major competition (other hunters/baits) in the area, use as many different things as you can and you should find out what works best in your area. The more competition there is, the more important it is to use the most attractive type of bait. The less competition and higher the bear densities, the more important it is to use more bait to keep as many bears coming back as you can- thus increasing ur chances of the big bears being around.

[jamiebuck]

your vary lucky Idaho hunter 58 you get to bait, I live in MA. were baiting is not allowed. seen a few nice ones but not during the season their always one step ahead of me ,very low hunting pressure here. so hopefully, I can get my first one this year good luck. its a challenge.

[Idaho hunter 58]

Yep in idaho you can bait. There is not very much pressure where i am hunting. It is in public, but in idaho, public is good land. There are a few hunters who hunt this area, but i have never seen them while hunting. The area is huge, as far as you can see around. So pressure is not a lot, and there are plenty of bears. My dad has shot three while hunting for deer. With out bait, just kind of ran into them. So we decided that this year we would set up a stand for deer, and while at it we would set up for bear at the same time.

[marksmen outfitters]

all the bait that has been noted is all good, I don't know too many things that bears don't like. here's a typical bait set up...
45 gallon of oats mixed with used cooking grease from restaurants.
I like to mix beaver meat in small chunks with it.
pastries, small candies, sugar, dog food marshmelows and syrup mixed for a treat.
honey burns will atrract them as well.
Here is the key.
Don't use anthing big that the bear can come in and drag off to eat somewhere else.
put you're bait out as soon as you are allowed to.
check you're baits on a regular schedule as to not surprise them, This will also leave you're sent there so they get used to it.
put logs on top of the barel so that you can see that if they're knocked down the bait was hit.
Once you decide what you are using for bait, don't change anything. If the bait is getting hit then keep baiting with the same routine... don't put something different there the day you decide to hunt the bait. A large bear will know something is different.
Most bears wont come into the bait until evening time. An easy way to check this is set you're bait up in the morning and when you come to hunt it in the evening, the logs will probly be set up still. If no bear comes in that evening but the logs are down when you come in the morning then this means the bear is coming in the dark. This is when you might try honey burns and treats etc to get him to come in before dark. But I would only do this after a few days of sitting the bait knowing he'se not coming in until dark.
good luck. e-mail me if you need some help or have any questions.
mark

[Beareater99]

I have been bating with my dad and grandpa for many years so for my are this works pretty well. We usually put on a bucket or two or of rotten pastries and breads (these are five gallon buckets) first. Then we will usually put on a bucket or two of meat scraps second. Then we put the logs over the bait. After that we pour molassis over the logs and onto the bait. Then we will spray carmal by trees next to the bait or even brush we will spray it on. Check the bait regularly. If the logs are moved at all you have a hit. Plus you really don't need scent suits because the bear are already so used to human scent. If it is just you hunting only put out 4 or 5 baits. If you have more than 1 person hunting add 4 or 5 more baits per person.

Beareater99