I thought that was you Duane. Nothing wrong with baiting bears where legal and providing that is the way you want to take them...hence my reference to CH ( I like to throw that one out there from time to time since it is rarely talked about these days. I don't wantthe establishment
to get complacent and think they won).
Any old moldy bread, rolls, donuts covered in molasses will usually bring them in. Lots of guys I know that used to bait before it became illegal here got their bread products from restaurants and stores after the due date. It is quite labor intensive to set up your bait station and lots of trips to refresh your bait pile or barrel will be necessary. When the bears start to come though it is pretty certain you will get a chance to take one. Once they start to hit the bait they are hooked and usually come just before dark. You will be able to evaluate them at close range since they usually will come to the bait providing they aren't spooked off. I would set up a trail cam on the bait to see what is coming so you don't spook them off before the season. I haven't taken a bear and probably never will. I have seen about 50 in the woods and many were at close bow range. Just for sport we used to go to the dumps before containers were mandated and watch the bears breaking open garbage bags and chowing down on garbage. It was a nightly ritual in those days to bring a 6 pack and watch the bears and I have seen hundreds that way. They sit like humans on their butts with legs spread and open the garbage bags, lick out the cans and eat whatever food stuff is there. Just one of those things I don't care to hunt just like ducks. I like to watch them in the woods and wild apple orchards while bow hunting for deer. I did help to stock bait stations on my last trip to Newfoundland. I got by Bou and helped the outfitter dispose of a whole pickup truck load of heads, hooves, skins and legs from the bou and moose that were harvested that season. All their bait stations were open 55 gallon drums set upright with a square 6” hole on the side near the bottom. They would take logs and run them through the top and out the side hole and often drive them in to the ground or chain them to a tree so the bears can’t drag the barrel off. Same set up in Maine and you run into the bait stands constantly when hunting the big woods. This was wilderness and no bread or pastry products were available so they used meat. I wouldn’t recommend doing that since the bread stuff is much cleaner and less mess. They are indeed a great animal and certainly worthy of respect. I like small game, turkey, deer, elk and caribou. Some day I'll probably get a moose but I am usually gone elsewhere when moose season comes here so I rarely put my name in the lottery. Taking one with a Trad bow would be a neat way to harvest one and knowing you it would certainly be fair chase. Let me know how it goes for you. Best of luck Duane from CI.