I have only hunted bear for one week in sept of 02 in ontario. They had wooden ladder stands built at each site which seemed would be very easy for a bear to climb ha. Being from the south and not acoustomed to bears I felt safer in the ladder. Started out with bow and after several days (getting close to end of week) switched to muzzeloader. My son and I both got one on evening of sept. 11 02. We did do some hunting from ground but not at a bait site. (honey burns)