Keeping a bait site running for almost 6 month before the season seems like a bit of overkill to me! I think if you started baiting one month before you actually started hunting you will be more then fine. Bait 3 times a week for the first 3 weeks and daily up until the opening day and through until you have your bears. Pick 2-3 bait sites and place your stands into them and then set up your baits so on the trails where the bears come into the bait, they will not be looking directly at the stands.
Your bait sounds OK, I would add Krispy Kreme Donuts to the mix, and I would add some rotted meat if you can. If your state allows it, and check first, Road Kill is really excellent bait!
I would use gloves and rubber boots and one of the best cover scents you can use is the small cans of Bear Bomb because they are filled with Beaver Castor Oil and Bears love beavers! If you know someone that traps, get a couple of carcasses and use those in your baits, again if the law allows!
The other cover scent I really like and also works as an attractant is Snow Cone Syrup! The reason for this is you can pour it all around the bait site and bears will walk in it and carry it out when they leave the bait site as a wagon wheel effect. Pretty soon you will have several bears that will be coming and going from the bait site pretty consistently!
BEST OF LUCK!
I am going to be bear hunting for the first time this year. I am picking up four 55 gallon drums of bear bait this weekend, as I plan on starting to bait as soon as the law allows. Here in Wisconsin that is April 14th. The bait consists of granola as a base coated in syrup with candies such as candy hearts and gummies mixed in. I plan on spraying the trees with some type of attractant/cover scent each time that I bait and when I begin hunting in early September. I have found gallon jugs of anise extract, peppermint extract, and vanilla extract. Which of these have you used and how successful have you been. Also I wouldn't mind some tips about how to go about baiting. I plan on baiting about once a week up until a month before season, twice a week for the next two weeks, and every day from two weeks before and through the season. I plan on putting out between two gallons and five gallons each time. I have a spot in mind that has swamp, a creek near by, woods, and corn fields near by. Last year I got pictures of bear in this spot hitting my deer corn during the day.
The questions I have are...
Which scent should I use or have you used?
Does this bait sound OK?
How does my baiting time frame and quantity sound?
Is it necessary to wear rubber gloves and boots when baiting?
Can I drive my 4-wheeler right to the bait sight or should I walk in the last 100 yards or so?
Thanks for any help and advice you can give me.