I bait with bakery products, apples, and used deep fryer oil. I put out a scent ball 1 month before season and donuts (topped with oil)and apples on the weekend. The apples get hit last but tide the bears over until the next feeding the following weekend.

1 week before season, I bait daily to help setup a routine. Donuts and oil keep them coming in even when the acorns start to drop.

My son and I have harvested three bears in the past 6 years and we've both filled our tags within 4 hours of the season opener. This year's bear was 380 lbs and we typically have 6-9 bear hitting our bait pile daily.