I use anything that is edible. I have found that the key is to smother it all in grease. The bears out of hibernation ar super hungry and will eat almost everything. The grease plays a key role as when the bears walk through the grease soaked earth, they get it on their pads and drag a trail off, pointing the way for passing bears right to the bait pile. I stay away from meat products early on though as it takes some time for the bears digestive system to build up. Advertisement will get you bears. I also like a good stink bait to carry on the thermals both up and down the mountain. We cannot use beaver in this state, so I substitute that with road killed rock chucks. They get to stinking real bad.