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Calling all Baiters! What's your recipe?
Ok guys,can I get your advice onmethodand recipefor baiting the spring blackies. I won't be able to get into my spot and stalk honeyhole until mid to late May, bear season opened yesterday and I'd like to put a bait in this weekend near my home for some close to home bear bowhunting!
Thanks in advance and by all means throw some bear pix in with your info! I am amp'd about bear hunting, it just grows on me more and more every year. |
RE: Calling all Baiters! What's your recipe?
WOW when I went to New Brunswick they used Donuts in some barrels and rotten meat in other barrels One other thing go out and get a bunch of bacon cook it in alot of oil and throw that in to! They love bacon and grease!!
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RE: Calling all Baiters! What's your recipe?
Yep they like the sweet stuff. You need to hang something like carp or something so the smell will get there attention.
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RE: Calling all Baiters! What's your recipe?
I use all sorts of stuff.
I use doughnuts and rolls that I buy in bulk from the local bakery. I get all the old stuff for 6$ a box. I use chocolate syrup, and cover the rolls. I also get gummy candy in bulk, along with candy corn. I also get some bear mix that is "blueberrys and creme" at Gander MTN. I dump all of this next to a tree 20 yrds from my stand. I then cover them up with HEAVY logs, so that a coon can't move them, only the bear. I spray some HICKORY smoke scent all along the trails that they will walk to the bait on and really stink up the place the first day I put the bait out. My mom saves greese and I dump that along the trails too. The bears step in it, and bring scent to other bears. http://www.bearscents.com/bearscents.html I'll post pics when I go home this weekend from college, I have a pic with 5 bear on the bait at once. |
RE: Calling all Baiters! What's your recipe?
There's allot of ways Troy a person could go about it. Here's exactly what I do and use, this way works for me anyway. I use meat scraps that I get from the local butcher shop, bakery goods are awesome if you can find some, molasses, lots and lots of grease, liquid smoke- doesn't last a long time but its an excellent cover scent when hunting, code blue scents- just used them last year for the 1st time and love them!! A month or so prior to bear baiting I'll go and catch a bunch of bull heads and throw them in a black 5 gallon pail. I only fill the pail half full of whole fish and I then fill the pail half full of water and put a lid on it and let it sit in the sun and start fermenting. Keep it away from the house being the wife won't like the smell of it.;) I use this stuff right away the 1st week i start baiting being it works excellent for an attractant, put some of the liquid in a ice cream pale and start flinging it all over on the outside part of the bait, keep it out of the good stuff. Like Kyle said at the bait site when you put your meat and other stuff on the ground make sure you put big logs on them so the wolves or the yote's don't knock them off. Make sure you stack your logs nice and neat so you know exactly how they look when you go and check the bait the next time you check it. Allot of the times a big bear will hardly even move the pile when he is at the bait, then the next time he's pulls the whole thing out of the way, you just never know. I also hang meat in a tree in a gunny sack (burlap) about 7 to 9 feet or so to see what size of bear we have hitting the bait. The more claw marks on the tree the smaller the bear, less marks on the tree the bigger the bear. Put a good gallon or so of grease and molasses around the bait so they walk in it and spread it around the woods for other bear to pick up on. Also if you decide to use some sort of liquid scent like code blue that i use spray it all over the baiting area on the ground, in the tree's, anywhere you can. Throw a camera or a string timer up too if you have one to see when the bear is hitting the bait also. Mornings or evenings can very with some bear. When putting a stand up or setting up a ground blind try and stay on the opposite side where the bear generally comes in. Allot of times though it don't matter being they come in from the down wind direction anyway. In Minnesota we have so many people hunting in the same area that we follow that rule allot, you probably wouldn't have to worry as much. You can also buy sterno's that you can do some small burns with while your hunting. You can burn honey, bacon grease, anything for that matter that would put a smell out while your hunting. Another thing too while your hunting bring some liquid smoke or some kind of liquid scent and spray it where you are hunting. If your in a tree spray it all over in the tree, if your on the ground do it there. Its a good cover scent. Good luck you lucky SOB!!!;););):D:D:D
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RE: Calling all Baiters! What's your recipe?
Also if you decide to use some sort of liquid scent like code blue that i use spray it all over the baiting area on the ground, in the tree's, anywhere you can.
to go along with what steve said, I like to soak some old towls in the scent (hickory smoke) and hang them all around the bait, and down trails. It will hold the scent longer. Good luck you lucky SOB!!!;););):D:D:D And yeah, good luck. We have to wait until sept.[&o] Also, I like to rake around the bait, and sometimes even haul in some sand.The printsgive me an idea of the size of bear hitting the bait,before or after I have my cam up. |
RE: Calling all Baiters! What's your recipe?
Steve when I finally draw a bear permit you best be ready to be my Guide buddly ol pal!
ORIGINAL: Schultzy There's allot of ways Troy a person could go about it. Here's exactly what I do and use, this way works for me anyway. I use meat scraps that I get from the local butcher shop, bakery goods are awesome if you can find some, molasses, lots and lots of grease, liquid smoke- doesn't last a long time but its an excellent cover scent when hunting, code blue scents- just used them last year for the 1st time and love them!! A month or so prior to bear baiting I'll go and catch a bunch of bull heads and throw them in a black 5 gallon pail. I only fill the pail half full of whole fish and I then fill the pail half full of water and put a lid on it and let it sit in the sun and start fermenting. Keep it away from the house being the wife won't like the smell of it.;) I use this stuff right away the 1st week i start baiting being it works excellent for an attractant, put some of the liquid in a ice cream pale and start flinging it all over on the outside part of the bait, keep it out of the good stuff. Like Kyle said at the bait site when you put your meat and other stuff on the ground make sure you put big logs on them so the wolves or the yote's don't knock them off. Make sure you stack your logs nice and neat so you know exactly how they look when you go and check the bait the next time you check it. Allot of the times a big bear will hardly even move the pile when he is at the bait, then the next time he's pulls the whole thing out of the way, you just never know. I also hang meat in a tree in a gunny sack (burlap) about 7 to 9 feet or so to see what size of bear we have hitting the bait. The more claw marks on the tree the smaller the bear, less marks on the tree the bigger the bear. Put a good gallon or so of grease and molasses around the bait so they walk in it and spread it around the woods for other bear to pick up on. Also if you decide to use some sort of liquid scent like code blue that i use spray it all over the baiting area on the ground, in the tree's, anywhere you can. Throw a camera or a string timer up too if you have one to see when the bear is hitting the bait also. Mornings or evenings can very with some bear. When putting a stand up or setting up a ground blind try and stay on the opposite side where the bear generally comes in. Allot of times though it don't matter being they come in from the down wind direction anyway. In Minnesota we have so many people hunting in the same area that we follow that rule allot, you probably wouldn't have to worry as much. You can also buy sterno's that you can do some small burns with while your hunting. You can burn honey, bacon grease, anything for that matter that would put a smell out while your hunting. Another thing too while your hunting bring some liquid smoke or some kind of liquid scent and spray it where you are hunting. If your in a tree spray it all over in the tree, if your on the ground do it there. Its a good cover scent. Good luck you lucky SOB!!!;););):D:D:D |
RE: Calling all Baiters! What's your recipe?
Steve I was hoping you would chime in....thank guys, this is great stuff, tips and pointers, method etc...many options for me to mull over and consider...
Do you guys use bait barrelsor not? Kyle, Steve? I know there are a few more veteran bear hunters surfing this site, I am looking forward to hearing more |
RE: Calling all Baiters! What's your recipe?
ORIGINAL: peakrut Steve when I finally draw a bear permit you best be ready to be my Guide buddly ol pal! ORIGINAL: Schultzy There's allot of ways Troy a person could go about it. Here's exactly what I do and use, this way works for me anyway. I use meat scraps that I get from the local butcher shop, bakery goods are awesome if you can find some, molasses, lots and lots of grease, liquid smoke- doesn't last a long time but its an excellent cover scent when hunting, code blue scents- just used them last year for the 1st time and love them!! A month or so prior to bear baiting I'll go and catch a bunch of bull heads and throw them in a black 5 gallon pail. I only fill the pail half full of whole fish and I then fill the pail half full of water and put a lid on it and let it sit in the sun and start fermenting. Keep it away from the house being the wife won't like the smell of it.;) I use this stuff right away the 1st week i start baiting being it works excellent for an attractant, put some of the liquid in a ice cream pale and start flinging it all over on the outside part of the bait, keep it out of the good stuff. Like Kyle said at the bait site when you put your meat and other stuff on the ground make sure you put big logs on them so the wolves or the yote's don't knock them off. Make sure you stack your logs nice and neat so you know exactly how they look when you go and check the bait the next time you check it. Allot of the times a big bear will hardly even move the pile when he is at the bait, then the next time he's pulls the whole thing out of the way, you just never know. I also hang meat in a tree in a gunny sack (burlap) about 7 to 9 feet or so to see what size of bear we have hitting the bait. The more claw marks on the tree the smaller the bear, less marks on the tree the bigger the bear. Put a good gallon or so of grease and molasses around the bait so they walk in it and spread it around the woods for other bear to pick up on. Also if you decide to use some sort of liquid scent like code blue that i use spray it all over the baiting area on the ground, in the tree's, anywhere you can. Throw a camera or a string timer up too if you have one to see when the bear is hitting the bait also. Mornings or evenings can very with some bear. When putting a stand up or setting up a ground blind try and stay on the opposite side where the bear generally comes in. Allot of times though it don't matter being they come in from the down wind direction anyway. In Minnesota we have so many people hunting in the same area that we follow that rule allot, you probably wouldn't have to worry as much. You can also buy sterno's that you can do some small burns with while your hunting. You can burn honey, bacon grease, anything for that matter that would put a smell out while your hunting. Another thing too while your hunting bring some liquid smoke or some kind of liquid scent and spray it where you are hunting. If your in a tree spray it all over in the tree, if your on the ground do it there. Its a good cover scent. Good luck you lucky SOB!!!;););):D:D:D |
RE: Calling all Baiters! What's your recipe?
ORIGINAL: shed33 Steve I was hoping you would chime in....thank guys, this is great stuff, tips and pointers, method etc...many options for me to mull over and consider... Do you guys use bait barrelsor not? Kyle, Steve? I know there are a few more veteran bear hunters surfing this site, I am looking forward to hearing more Which reminds me of another tip. I usually put out a measured log near the bait where the bear will be standing, and also another mark on the tree so I get a better judgement on how big he is. They are one of the hardest animals to field judge IMO. |
RE: Calling all Baiters! What's your recipe?
ORIGINAL: shed33 Steve I was hoping you would chime in....thank guys, this is great stuff, tips and pointers, method etc...many options for me to mull over and consider... Do you guys use bait barrelsor not? Kyle, Steve? I know there are a few more veteran bear hunters surfing this site, I am looking forward to hearing more |
RE: Calling all Baiters! What's your recipe?
Use Honey, wait no dont do that you may kill "winnie the pooh"sorry I had to..
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RE: Calling all Baiters! What's your recipe?
By the way, it's not even my turkey season, and now my mind is on bears. (well it always is, but even more now[>:]):D
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RE: Calling all Baiters! What's your recipe?
I'll give you what knowledge I have, after I start supper.....[&:]
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RE: Calling all Baiters! What's your recipe?
ORIGINAL: _Dan I'll give you what knowledge I have, after I start supper.....[&:] |
RE: Calling all Baiters! What's your recipe?
When you were allowed in PA to put out bait [not for hunting] just to attract and observe purposes. I work for the School District of Trashadelphia and I would go to the High School cafeteria's and collect the grease that they would dump in 55gal barrels to be picked up. I would pour the grease over logs and in the feeder and the bears would go nuts over it. Maybe you could go to a High School or resturant near you ang get some. It works great and it easy to apply!
Hatchet jack |
RE: Calling all Baiters! What's your recipe?
Lots of stuff works, doughnuts, old bread, restaurant grease poured over it. I think the best thing is Fresh Meat scrapes. Not rotten!! The stink might attract them but I guarantee they prefer the fresh.
I've even baited with dated twinkies, and fruit pies. Well at least the ones I didn't eat between the baits;) Dan |
RE: Calling all Baiters! What's your recipe?
ORIGINAL: MeanV2 Lots of stuff works, doughnuts, old bread, restaurant grease poured over it. I think the best thing is Fresh Meat scrapes. Not rotten!! The stink might attract them but I guarantee they prefer the fresh. I've even baited with dated twinkies, and fruit pies. Well at least the ones I didn't eat between the baits;) Dan |
RE: Calling all Baiters! What's your recipe?
Ahhh Steve do I sense fear factor style of bears?:D
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RE: Calling all Baiters! What's your recipe?
Some good tips from the other guys so far....hopefully I can add a little to this discussion.
First, I believe that the amount of bait you use is as important as what you use. If at all possible, I will only use 5 gallons per day and bait every day. This way it creates a competition for the bait and brings the older big boars out before dark. I also run every bait in the same pattern each day....same time and in the same order. This way the bears know when to expect food and develop a routine. I also make a lot of noise while baiting, as well as drive right to a lot of the bait sites with my quad. I believe this gives them a chance to leave the bait before they see me.....if they hear me, fine....if they see me, I believe they may become nocturnal. As for what I use, mostly sweet stuff. I mix bulk cereal, froot loops, gummy life savers, candy hearts, and sugar cones with pie filling. I prefer a pie filling that is wet and runny. Last fall my best filling was blueberry and strawberry. Mixing the dry stuff with the pie filling makes a very heavy, sweet and aromatic mixture. 5 gallons will weigh about 30-40 pounds. Oh yeah, I don't like to use things like doughnuts and bread. I feel they are too big and have had lots of bears walk into a bait, grab a chunk and walk away....returning to do the same thing and not offering much of a shot. I like to keep my bait in small peices and moist, this way the bear has to sit at the site and eat, giving my hunters a good chance to judge the size. For scents I use a variety of things. I carry spray bottles of liquid smoke, maple flavoring, vanilla, and anise and spray down the trees and also put up sponges to soak. Like others have said, bacon grease works fantastic as a scent and a bait. I'll take 5 pounds of bacon and fry it lightly. I then take the bacon and hang it from branches and smear the grease on trees. One other thing I'm a big fan of is used cooking oil. I get a lot of this from people in camp after they fry fish....I actuall have a 55 gallon drum for them to pour it in. With the cooking oil, I throw it all over the bait site and pour it on the ground all around the bait itself. Like others have said, they walk through it and get it in their paws, dragging scent all over the place. As for the set-up. I like to keep the baits about 15-18 yards for bow hunters. I also stack logs in a manner so that the bears can't face the hunter. They either have to be broadside or quartering away. Here's a pic of one of the bait sites. Hope this helps and I'm sure I'll think of a ton more.  |
RE: Calling all Baiters! What's your recipe?
ORIGINAL: _Dan First, I believe that the amount of bait you use is as important as what you use. If at all possible, I will only use 5 gallons per day and bait every day. This way it creates a competition for the bait and brings the older big boars out before dark. I also run every bait in the same pattern each day....same time and in the same order. This way the bears know when to expect food and develop a routine. I also make a lot of noise while baiting, as well as drive right to a lot of the bait sites with my quad. I believe this gives them a chance to leave the bait before they see me.....if they hear me, fine....if they see me, I believe they may become nocturnal. Good Points. I drive my quad to the bait, and even when I'm going to hunt it drive it away and walk in. Then it is a waiting game, usually they come in like clockwork, same time every night, starting with the sows and cubs. |
RE: Calling all Baiters! What's your recipe?
Good stuff Dan!! You and I bait allot alike. I know I got more to add but my mind isn't all there today.[8D]
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RE: Calling all Baiters! What's your recipe?
You guys are making me hungry;)
I wish PA had a spring bear season. But boy would that make me REALLY busy. Trout & turkeys are enough as is. |
RE: Calling all Baiters! What's your recipe?
ORIGINAL: MN/Kyle ORIGINAL: _Dan First, I believe that the amount of bait you use is as important as what you use. If at all possible, I will only use 5 gallons per day and bait every day. This way it creates a competition for the bait and brings the older big boars out before dark. I also run every bait in the same pattern each day....same time and in the same order. This way the bears know when to expect food and develop a routine. I also make a lot of noise while baiting, as well as drive right to a lot of the bait sites with my quad. I believe this gives them a chance to leave the bait before they see me.....if they hear me, fine....if they see me, I believe they may become nocturnal. Good Points. I drive my quad to the bait, and even when I'm going to hunt it drive it away and walk in. Then it is a waiting game, usually they come in like clockwork, same time every night, starting with the sows and cubs. |
RE: Calling all Baiters! What's your recipe?
ORIGINAL: Schultzy Good stuff Dan!! You and I bait allot alike. I know I got more to add but my mind isn't all there today.[8D] Here's one more. I know guys were talking about using rotten meat and meat in general. From my experience, the only rotten meat a bear will eat is beaver. They love the castor (sp) oil. As for fish, the only fish I would use is salmon.......and they're a long ways from me! I never use meat or fish.....don't need to. |
RE: Calling all Baiters! What's your recipe?
ORIGINAL: _Dan I know guys were talking about using rotten meat and meat in general. From my experience, the only rotten meat a bear will eat is beaver. They love the castor (sp) oil. I've seen them eat rotten meat, but as I said before they definitely don't prefer it. The fresher the better!!;) Dan |
RE: Calling all Baiters! What's your recipe?
About the only thing I can add to whats already been said is,that if I know Icant getback to bait a spot befor they finish off a bait pile, I will take a hand drill with a 1" bitt and drill a bunch of holes in hard downed trees and fill the holes with powdered jello, pie filling, cake frosting, honeyor something along those lines to keep them coming into the site, but this is more of a pre season thing.
If your packing the bait a long ways (even if its a short walk) and there is a slaughter house by you, you cant hardly beat cracklings, light weight and the bears love em. The cheapest is probably old bread and molasses mix from the local feed store unless you have been collecting stuff for months.But Im sure you already know what your gonna use. Since season is in already, just worry about getting one or 2 good baits out,I would spend my time looking for good sign, scent posts, rubs and things of this nature where you have a better chance of getting your bait hit the first night. And a good long distance scent lure! My setups look like Dans, If its leagal where your at, I like to put a 5 gallon buckett in the ground and a 2 1/2 or 3' X 3' pice of louvered steelwith a large rock on top of it, they can still smell it and it keeps the varmints out. Man this has sure given me the bug, wish I was out there hunting with Ya. Good luck Troy, Hope you stick a big one. |
RE: Calling all Baiters! What's your recipe?
We cannot bait in my home state so I don't have experience in this area other than what I have read in books and magazine articles and forums such as ours.I have read a book by Dr.Ken Nordberg about bear hunting where he devotes a lot of time to discussing baiting.All the things that have already mentioned for the most part mirror his writings.He does mention the use of watermelon as being something they are highly attracted to.He doesn't use it as his primary bait but as a positioning bait with bacon strips hanging over a branch.
We have had garbage problems with bears in the past and I have noticed that when their were watermelon rinds in the garbage that they would clean them until the rind was very thin. In that Cameron Hanes book Troy their is a recipe for Bear Crack that he seemingly swears by.I have an interest in hunting bears kind of more on purpose than accidentally as has it has been in the past,so I have an interest in any scent related non bait itemsthat folks have used,liquid smoke,anise,vanilla,the code blue lure that Schultzy mentioned,we have a pretty decent bear population and I would like to go after them quite a bit more aggressively. |
RE: Calling all Baiters! What's your recipe?
Absolutely awesome info guys,this is one I will print out and take notes on...and that pix for a visualis perfect Dan, thanks! great stuff for my close to home set up....
Silver, let me know if you ever want to come out, your welcome at my bear camp anytime. :DNeed to get you and Steve out here some Spring.. Dan you too.. you know that.. I have invited many guys out for bear, only had one come and he killed a beautiful red chocolate color phase.. One other noteI would like to hear you guy's take on.....My honey-hole bear spot which is a good month away from being able to access. It's in the high country...land of the biggestboars I have killed thus far...(a 19 14/16, 19 1/16 and 18 6/8) I have never baited it and I honestly think it would be insane in there if I ever did. There was a HUGE color phase in there that I had to check over very carefully to make sure he wasnt a griz... anyway I have had no luck on catching him but right at last light the pastthree springs...and its always been from across the canyon glassing.. Before he gets to old and dies on me, I would consider trying to pack a bait into this steep "backpack" only area... I was wondering what you guys would adjust or tweak with your bait or set up...if you wereforced to pack a bait into a remote area (1 mile hike steep and thickly timbered...and you can only access it on the weekends?????The set up wouldhave to go in onmypackframe .....??? I can pack about 80 lbs max..Yes I could spot and stock bear with my bow in there but not abear that wont show himself till the very last light.. I am just thinking outloud and considering baiting the place as well, or would it be worth it??? Would there be any negative side effects to an already "NATURAL" great placethat attracts bears... I have always worried that a hound hunter would find a bait in there and get on my bears easier??? |
RE: Calling all Baiters! What's your recipe?
I have never packed any bait in, anywhere. And I have no idea about the negative effect, such as the hound hunters and what not...but if you WERE to bring in bait:
A5gal pail of rolls, or doughnuts wouldn't be extremly heavy. A bottle of scent spray, and maybe a jug of jelly or mollases should be enough.I'd spray the area down, really, really good. But I'm sure these guys will add something. |
RE: Calling all Baiters! What's your recipe?
I was thinking about molassis and popcorn???
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RE: Calling all Baiters! What's your recipe?
ORIGINAL: _Dan ORIGINAL: Schultzy Good stuff Dan!! You and I bait allot alike. I know I got more to add but my mind isn't all there today.[8D] Here's one more. I know guys were talking about using rotten meat and meat in general. From my experience, the only rotten meat a bear will eat is beaver. They love the castor (sp) oil. As for fish, the only fish I would use is salmon.......and they're a long ways from me! I never use meat or fish.....don't need to. |
RE: Calling all Baiters! What's your recipe?
I dont think I can legally use beaver (No pun intended) on bears, I was reading through the baiting regs last night..
Hahaha GERM, before I started this thread I thought about saying.. "Calling all Master-Baiters.. then figured I'd better not.. ;) |
RE: Calling all Baiters! What's your recipe?
Well all I know is we use Donuts, bacon grease, molassis, and bread.
Good luck |
RE: Calling all Baiters! What's your recipe?
How far away is this pack in trip?
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RE: Calling all Baiters! What's your recipe?
Steve... About a mile hike in... pretty much straight up and side hilling ..
little over a125 miles from my home |
RE: Calling all Baiters! What's your recipe?
Do you know what a Sterno is?
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RE: Calling all Baiters! What's your recipe?
These damn bears eat better than most humans.
I wish I knew where all your bait sites were - I'd never have to buy groceries again! |
RE: Calling all Baiters! What's your recipe?
ORIGINAL: Schultzy Do you know what a Sterno is? Burn some bacon? :D |
RE: Calling all Baiters! What's your recipe?
ORIGINAL: shed33 ORIGINAL: Schultzy Do you know what a Sterno is? Burn some bacon? :D |
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