As allot of you know I love my bear hunting. I've been bow hunting these bruins in Minnesota for 20 years going on this year, I've been around it all my life being my dad use to take me with him baiting when I turned 3 years old. I've seen and learned so much through out the years but I want to learn more. For the most part I've had great luck bow hunting bear and understanding them but I've got this one particular bear that tends to elude me come the opener of bear season the last 7 years. We are allowed to bait about 2 weeks prior to the start of bear hunting. I've got pictures of this bear at my bait during shooting hours but as soon as the season opens he goes nocturnal on me. He does this every year. He's the biggest bear I've ever seen on camera, he's smart and he just seems to know when the season opens. He's big for a reason! I want to know what some of your ideas and thoughts are to keep a bear hitting a bait during shooting hours. The last 5 years or so the bear are getting more and more nocturnal on me, I know its because of all the people around being there's more human scent in the woods and more competition with other baiters. Whats a guy do to change this particular bears mind just one time? I'm guessing this bear is in that 15 to 20 year old range, he's been there done that. The whole world would hear me celebrating if I finally get this bear. He's a monster of a bear and he's been by far the most challenging animal I've ever hunted including whitetails. It would be an honor for me to have one chance at him! My buddy had a chance at this bear back in 2000, he missed him at 13 yards so he's now educated in that department too. He figured then he weighed 400lbs dressed. We haven't seen him while hunting the bait since, just pics of him on camera. Give me your best ideas folks. Enlighten me!!

Here's a few pics of him. Bear hunting opens September 1st every year. As you can tell from the pics on my no flash cudde he hits the bait in the light right up till August 31st, the day before season. The rest of the pics are at night. I've got well over 100 pics and video's of this bear last fall, I'll just show you a few. Just for the heck of it, what do you think he'll dress out at? Skull size?

In the light during shooting hours.





Middle of the night.






A few video's of him.
http://s241.photobucket.com/albums/f...ogjam031-1.flv

http://s241.photobucket.com/albums/f...ogjam027-1.flv

Schultzy, I am no pro by any means I have only killed two bears in my life, But the guy I hunted with in Idaho said when he had a bear that went under he would find the one bait that drove him crazy and only put that out by it's self. Good luck on your quest!! Walt

After 7 years of eluding me, i think that a sort of bond would have developed between myself and the beast and would actually look forward to not seeing him that time of the year. To be able to pick out the same animal every year for that long of time is amazing, if you take him down this season, then you wont see him again next
season. but thats just me.

That's a nice bear. Good luck with getting him. Maybe he's patterned your bait pile to thetwo weeks prior to the season. Don't know if would help, but maybe start baiting him a few days before the season, and leave him nothing at nightScrew up his schedule, if he has one.Sounds like one smartbear to me though.

Did you notice that in that one photo he is sticking his tongue out at you?

Something must be keying him to the fact that season is open. Do you do anything diff. right b/4 season opens? Do you run the camera during season? How is your scent control? Does he keep a regular schedual b/4 season?

Man Steve .... those photos are awesome!!! Thanks for posting!!

Great post and awesome pics.I'd change the time I'm stocking bait and limit the amount.Mabe that would force him to get there early and beat the competition.I've yet to take a bear but have done a little studying,so my advice isn't the greatest.Thats a big bear,I'd guess #300+ and 20"+.Put a arrow thru him and we'll know for sure.

IF there are other baiters around, bears are notorious for hitting the best baitpile, and no other ones. If your smorgasboard(sp?) is the best around, you have a better shot at him. When the season starts, there is more activity everywhere in the woods, so it may not even be you that he is keying on, but if his home area is near another bait site, and he is traveling to yours, it could be completely out of your control. We are starting a similar saga with a giant bear, we've got pics 3 years in a row now, he's a genuine 500 pounder and probably will square upwards of 7.5'but we've never laid eyes on him, only have pics at night, from about 11:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. BEst of luck with your bear and hopeuflly you can get him, big ol' melon on him, definitely P+Y.

Schultzy, is that the same bear? Maybe its my eyes or something, but the ones at night look like a bigger bear.

If you figure it out, let me know...got the same problem.