Newbie NW MN Bear Hunter

[vman11]

My family and I will be relocating to the Roseau area very shortly and it has always been a goal of mine to stick a rug steak. I don't know why, but I think bear hunting will be right up my alley and something I can cross off of my list. The problem is I have zero bear experience and don't have any hunting locations yet.

My relocation will allow me to choose from the no-quota area and area 12. My biggest question for you guys on here is to get honest opinions on which one would give me my best shot at success.

Since the no-quota area doesn't have an application deadline I am most interested in opinions on hunting area 12. Any and all information is good information since I have to make the decision to apply by Friday.

Does it make the most sense to apply for 12 and still keep my non-quota area options open? Is there a cost to apply?

[matchset]

i think its 3 bucks...or maybe its free to apply! i don't pay attention to that... yes, i would apply; you may not get picked...if you don't; you may have the option to buy for NO Quota, or maybe a left over license for your desired zone.

[Boar]

Hey V welcome to the Fellowship of the Crib. You have till the 6th apply of course so apply, i hunt no quota but have applied for 12 my partner has a crib near grygla. applying is free but if drawn, you will be notified by june 5th, then one must purchase the lisence by july 29th if not those tags will be available to those that apllied but did not get drawn for one week startin August 3rd at 12 pm. August 10th at 12 pm any remaining lisences will become available to anyone. So apply if you dont get drawn you have a chance at a tag in 12 an if not you can hunt no qouta. Good luck. Lots of great info an great guys here. Long live the fellowship of the Crib. later boar

[Boar]

I would suggest you start looking for hunting land soon, if you dont get drawn or a tag then go no qouta, so it would be good to have both site locations piked out in advance. baiting cannot begin before August 12. It is a good thing to go to a bear clinic. Contact the DNR for listings. lots of good tips an info. i did it my first time an was great. Alot of bear hunters go each year so you can meet some good contacts by going. Gonna do it by stick an string or the big boom gun. Later boar

[Muthagoose]

Long live the Fellowship of the Crib....

You can NEVER line up to many hunting spots...

[vman11]

Thank you for the tips guys. I plan on doing it by stick and string.

Like you mentioned, hunting spots will be key. I think I can get enough info through the internet and seminars on baiting and such, but without a place to hunt I'm dead in the water.

Looks like there is a decent amount of public land in Area 12, but I'm guessing most people have the same idea and it could get crowded, bear have plenty of food options, etc.

Any suggestions on where to look for "bear" spots, both public and private? Learning about that and talking to some landowners is job 1 for me.

[Boar]

Food, cover, water. You have the roseau river. I hunt river bottom mostley luckily its my family land, its dense an thick, adjacent to crops like corn an sunflowers most years. Lots of berries an mushrooms in the river bottoms, with oak stands cresting on higher ground. i love the river bottom cause it serves as a natural travel route for bear. All so you can look at topos to find water holes in sections that arnt near the river. If you cant get near the river. Look for land that has a water hole/natural spring, raspberries patches, an oak stands. Also talk to local homesteaders that might know of a abandon homestead from years ago that might hold a crabapple orchard. Find food, water an cover, an youll come across bear. F.O.C Later boar

[Boar]

man thats good Fellowship of the Crib. F.O.C Gonna get a hat with that.

[Muthagoose]

Hummmm the FOC CribCamo hat....Ill Take one

Could cast a limited# of canine tooth keychains for the FOC members..

[Boar]

Thatd be cool goose, Im actually gonna look into it an see what it intitles. Maybe T-shirts, F.O.C. yea you know me! Boar

[vman11]

Bait suggestions? I have been saving bacon and deep fryer grease in the freezer for the past few years, is that effective?

Do I need to get in touch with a bakery or donut shop? I saw a show where the guys were using cracker jacks and animal crackers.

I have plenty of trail cams, other gear and drive to put in the necessary work to get started. I just need a few more pointers - open to any suggestions you guys might have.

[jay83196]

Yeah that stuff is good, donuts are good for most part if you eat it so will they. I used a little of everything and have good results you will notice what they like more cuz they will leave some things and only eat it when the good stuff is gone. Soak it in grease and they will eat it.

[Boar]

Better call the donut shops, bakeries, dough super market, now cause I'm sure that they have the regulars that pik up every season, talk to your local convience stores they might save the fryer grease for ya, resturaunts, bars ect. Your stuf you have now is good stuff, but you will need major bulk, I probably go thru 10 gallons per site each year. But thats me, pluse i store my bait in buckets soaked with grease. So wen i talk bulk Im talking alot. But just starting out you dont need to go to my extreame. But if you have a place to store it then more is always better. If you find that locals have the market cornerd on the goodies around town, call strieffs cause they order bear bait. The local fais that come around town have a plethora of food stands that might save food for ya if you have a container. the time is now to find bait, dont wait. You can get biushels of oats at the local feed store/ elevator, at bushell price, an mollassas, make a feed mix with that an let it ferment, yummy!Theres lucky 7 bear bait outa cambridge mn, check out their web site google lucky 7 bait. lots of good suppllemental candies to spread around the bait site, bear will mow down the grass an foliage rootin' around for the gummies an chocolates creating natural shooting lanes, an will feel comfertabnle coming into ta area that they themselves alterd. lots of thing to go over an plenty of time. Just need to get on the food chain. Later baor