Do not call. Bear can be called in- but you're not ready for that.

Use a bait sight, and binoculars. If the bait isn't working don't be afraid to put some miles on your boots while glassing. If you've found berries, and thick stuff, there will be bears there.

If I were you I would probably ditch the bait entirely, find somewhere that you can glass from and hunt them that way. But baiting may be a good option for you anyway- just not how I personally would do it.

Once you find a bear feeding, plan your stock then execute your plan.

Having fun already I think. Glad you decided to go after them.

-Jake

IMO< bait and NO calling at all
calling in a bear is rare,,and there very smart and will circle down wind and more often than not wind you, while there trying to find the source of the calling!

when hunting over bait, Nothing else should really be needed minus you stay down wind and being as scent free as possible and same goes for your in and out of site and adding bait!
I also wouldn't be spending a lot of time in the bait area prior to hunting it, your only going to educate the bears that are in the area to your movements and could make them come in only in the dark!

if you wish to see what is hitting the bait, place a trail cam and check SD card after adding more bait when ever that is!

when baiting, you really want to get in and out as fast and leave as little scent as possible and spend as little time there as you can
a bears nose is just incredible in what they can smell!

so your really trying to beat there nose by luring them to food and lowering there senses to avoiding man made food sources
so the elss your there the better!

I agree with Jake and mrbb. Hunting over bait will give you time to look the bear over a little and have him focused on something else besides you and your call. With bait, you get to see if more than one bear comes into your bait. Since it's your first bear, you'll want a little extra time to make all those decisions for the first time. You're going to have a lot of fun.

Thank you both. I will not call then.

I’m also not gonna go to the bait site again until I am ready to set up on the 30th. I don’t want to educate the bears like you said.

So, I went to Cabela’s and picked up the ammo that @mrbb recommended. While I was there, I looked at the taxidermied trophies. I saw a stuffed black bear When I was at the spot, and I said I thought I saw a bear, I realize now that I was correct. The leg profile, the shape, matched what I saw through some bushes.

I saw a black bear.

Looks like the spot is going to work!

That's exciting.

Wait for a good shot, you do not want to rush and risk injuring the animal. I suggest googling bear anatomy and shot diagrams for bear. As well as check out you tube for shot placement. Their vitals are further back and more centered than I would have expected.

-Jake

I completely understand, and I already planned on it. Nothing worse than an injured bear!

I just finished sighting in the scope. Now I need to get my equipment and tag on the 25th.

I need some advice on something, and this may be just my anxiety and depression talking, but I would still like some advice. I am very scared that if I go out and set up my bait site in one week, that other hunters will show up, and try to claim the spot for their own and in a way kick me off of it.

OK, this may just be my anxiety and depression talking, I’ll admit that, but what do I do if this situation does come up?

first off I have no clue what the legal rules are in your state or area
but many states that allow baiting require you to post info about where YOU are placing bait, so no one unknowingly walking into a bait area and risks a conflict with a bear!

if your area/state has this, I would gather that also then means you are some what staking claim to that bait site
and THEN, if someone else showed up, you would be able to get the game dept. involved as you would have info showing you r BAIT SITE! over the other person(well unless they report same location too?)

if there is no signage needed to run a bait site and its on public ground, well, they the recourse of actions are not many is any, its a first come first serve basis, MOST HONEST and ETHICAL hunters will NOT sit on someone else's hunting spot IF they know its your's and well(wasn't there spot before you found it,a s that would make it well you in there spot HAHA!)

Typically when making a hunting spot or bait site, the name of the game is having it some place FEW if anyone would ever know its there, thus lowering the odds of anyone being there, this applies to any hunting spot and NOT justa bait site

but when your BAITING< again, you really want a spot where few humans are ever going to be, to keep the risks of a NON hunter or hunter, away from walking into a bear feeding and possibly adding risks to those NOT knowing bait is in the area, attracting bears, as again, females with cubs, and or younger bears ,and even larger bears can get upset when humans invade there meal time, or when a hum,an gets too CLOSE before a bear KNOW"S there there,,
this is why m,any experts will tell you to make noise when in bear area, to give a bear time to KNOW your there and leave before YOU get too close for there comfort

BUT when hunting your TRYING to be scent free and get as close as you can<
but if you have bait in an area hikers or walkers or humans just use often, you can be creating a \problem for those NOT knowing your bait is there!

so, back to what happens if a fellow hunter FINDS your bait and wishes to hunt over it??
it all comes down to what the rules and laws are in YOUR state, I would suggest talking to your local game dept and ask them?

other wise, like above, pick your bait sites in area's where few folks go, and or MIGHT find it!

Idaho is a BIG state, has to have lots of places more remote and less traffic from humans, to be able to find a spot ALL to yourself!, or I would think so!

keep in mind MANY hunters are LAZY, they hunt close to roads and in EASY to access places, when trying to avoid other hunters, MOST folks tend to hunt places harder to get into ,or farther back, this lowers the odds GREATLY on seeing other hunters , from MY experience