Read my very 1st post. Yes you do where I hunt. Other parts of the country maybe you don't have to. My dad has shot bear in Colorado while elk hunting in the mountains, no baiting allowed there. Completely different hunting areas and woods. I could of shot a bear in Idaho in the mountains elk hunting, I wasn't baiting. Some areas of the country shooting a bear without bait can be done, depends on the surroundings. Other areas ain't happening.