baiting and atvs?

[jay83196]

I'm wondering if people using an atv drive up to bait station or park and walk to it? I understand I want to be consistent and do the same all the time even when hunting starts. Just wondering if I'm better off walking in the last bitmaking a couple trips on foot carrying buckets. Thanks jay

[psepuncher]

I'm sure they can hear the atv coming from a long distance.

You might have to walk a very good ways?

[Boar]

I've used my three wheeler to run right up to the bait an many do this. I also have drove my suburban up to the edge of the woods an had to hike the trail but my suburban was easily within hearing distance of the site when doors slam ect. My opinion is to choose a way an stick to it, if you can run the wheeler to the site then do it, less work an your outa there quicker, I think multiple trip would work against you. It all works as the dinner bell effect. Boar

[Boar]

The hard part is when hunting if you are working alone which I've been doing since I've started bear hunting, you approach on a wheeler, you have to leave on a wheeler an come back to stand. One way to combat this is to have a freind drive you in on the wheeler, make sure he is sprayed down with a scent eliminator an the whole nine yards of a scent free approach. when I've done it, I've left the wheeler running till I'm done baiting an take off. This will hide your accent into stand. Your freind stays on the wheeler an you bait, place the buckets on the wheeler accend your stand an give your freind the nod an he leaves. Youve left but you havent left. Dead bear. There is modifications to this as well. Boar

[jay83196]

Yeah I'm in same boat I bait alone, two of my bait stations I can't wheel us to its too thick I have to walk 75 yds and make couple trips.. maybe I can cut to one trip...

[HNTNBUX]

I usually leave the wheeler a short distance away/200 yards or so just to reduce the chances of someone following my atv tracks right to my bait. Other than that I don't think it matters. I have to believe even the bear knows that the bait doesn't magically fall out of the tree and that you are putting it there.

[jay83196]

Hntnbux, how many trips you make and how much bait do you put out, how often?

[HNTNBUX]

I start on the first Friday, then wait until Saturday of the following week to check. Then I follow up with Wednesday and Saturday until season starts. I usually use 2-3 five gallon buckets at a time and if available I use a five gallons of grease as well slopped around the site. I would go more often but it is three hours one way from my house and that is all I can stand to do.

[jay83196]

I do about the same, hit it every 3 days, and about 3 buckets of a variety of baitS.

[Boar]

3 hrs,, wow an I thought one hr one way was gonna suck. Jay if you have bait in the dry catagory like dog food an candy even doughnuts with out grease, I've used a large back pack an carry two buckets to make one trip. Boar

[psepuncher]

some back pacs have waterproof inserts or just grab a non scented trash bag for the inside of the pack, I would use that either way.

[cherokee]

I'll get as close as I cannot depending on the forest classification permitting atv travel. One bait site I hump bait 1/3 of mile from nearest trail. Another site we are able to drive right up to it.

[bogwalker]

Where you drive your ATV others will follow. They will follow your foot paths too. That is why bear hunting success drops off after grouse and archery seasons open. Get as far away from others as possible or better yet hunt private land if you can.

[jay83196]

I agree I tried last year to hide my path And as far is I know nobody got to my bait (cameras). I hunted public land, this year I have both private and public to hunt so I hope to have good odds. I got hit a lot last year up until season opened them went dead after couple days....somebody got them maybe? I hope to bait and hunt hard right away and get one before the other hunters (bow, small game) come around...I'm sure that's everybody's plan last year was my first year and a learning curve, have picked up a lot of great info from this site also, thanks! I'm just amped can't wait even got a new wheeler and gun to use this year....is it Aug 13th yet!!!

[bogwalker]

"every minute I stay in this room, I get weaker, and every minute Bubba squats in the bush, he gets stronger. Each time I look around the walls get a little tighter"... I love the smell of bear bait in the morning!

What was you question Jay? Oh ya, Aug. 13th.

[cherokee]

One of the best stations we have we can ride right up to it. My brother in law dropped me off. He baited while I climbed into the stand. When he left I could hear the 4 wheeler getting fainter and fainter. This was around 3 p.m Around 6 p.m a nice bear came in and went straight to the 4 wheeler trail we came in on (50 yards away) looked up and down the trail, circled back around and came right in. His head was swinging back and forth as he circled the bait. I ended up shooting him at 5 yards. It was a nice boar (300 lbs). I think the time was around 6 p.m. This was the biggest bear we have taken.

Whether you walk in or ride in the bear(s) know your trail.

[Boar]

Wow bog i guesse I never quite associated my bear hunting addiction to Apocholips Now. But hey thats ok. i kinda relate more to When Harry met Sally, an when I meet hairy...BLAMO dead hairy. I guesse I dont wanna be sally thou.. Thats gonna stick aint it? Yea make the trails an they will come, I get on my own private land too. Later Sally I mean boar

[leech~~]

I start on the first Friday, then wait until Saturday of the following week to check. Then I follow up with Wednesday and Saturday until season starts. I usually use 2-3 five gallon buckets at a time and if available I use a five gallons of grease as well slopped around the site. I would go more often but it is three hours one way from my house and that is all I can stand to do.

J I have about 7-8 5 gal buckets of deep fry Turkey grease I was saving to use, but since my son is not going to be able to hunt for a few seasons because of school I would give it away to who ever wants to pick it up. If you want it I think Wanderer still has my email. Leech~~.

[jay83196]

Where are you located?

[FishLocker]

My buddy hunts bear on his property up north, and I drive his atv during the hunt.

To signal the dinner bell, he gives me 6 t-shirts to wear mowing lawn. They stink of me terribly. He has 6 of his own too.

He baits by himself and rubs a fresh stinky t-shirt of each of ours around the bait site before he leaves. He says the atv is an audio dinner bell and our scent is around so the bear is acclimated to our scent.

When the season rolls around, I drive him out and leave him. Bears hear the dinner bell and dont bother with our scents since they associate them with the site. He claims this is why he is so successful in harvesting.

His hunts are the only experience I have with bear, but seems to work.

[leech~~]

Where are you located?

See Avatar. I rechecked and I do have 8 3 gal jugs of DF grease.

[x1957x]

fishlocker, ya know how finicky bear are. what ever works. I have tryed that also. but if you are after a bigun you better have your whits on. how many times do they come in and the 1st thing they do is look right at you.. they know your there. do I think that that works, abolutly. point being made is that they still know when someone is in the house.. they just have to be comfortable enough to go into the kitchen to get some supper. jeff

[cherokee]

leech, I live in Eden Prairie. I could take it off your hands if you want to give it away. Otherwise I have a source at a pizza place but haven't got around to getting it.

thanks,

Dale

[FishLocker]

fishlocker, ya know how finicky bear are. what ever works. I have tryed that also. but if you are after a bigun you better have your whits on. how many times do they come in and the 1st thing they do is look right at you.. they know your there. do I think that that works, abolutly. point being made is that they still know when someone is in the house.. they just have to be comfortable enough to go into the kitchen to get some supper. jeff

Thanks Jeff, I appreciate and love the analogy. Yes, I am very aware going to and from the site and stand just because I know he is comfortable having me around (by scent) and just dont want to end up being part of the menue.

[Boar]

If your in a tree he's treating you like another suboardant lesser bear an you pose no threat, why cause he's treed you. Your no different than a lesser bear that he's chased up a pole. If your on the ground an he eyeballs ya.. have fun, he's comfortable with the association of your scent an the goodies not so much your scent. Good luck guys, it's getting close. Later boar