How do ya build your cribs

[Boar]

I love gathering info on how people build there cribs, its beeen talk about before but still like chatting about it. Since I started bear hunting i built mine in a lincoln log fashion, its alot of work in the beginning, an you have to have pretty straight logstso illiminate coons, an younger bear reaching in an scooping out the goods. But if done right it takes a large bear to open one up. ive done the hole in the ground thing, but prefer to build cribs. i also run into opposition with my partner who just likes to dump it on the ground an thats it. but thats fine it works to but critters get to it of course. What type of engineering feats do you guys come up with. Boar

[knowsnothing]

Boar, do you have any pictures of your crib? I found an indentation and laid the logs out in a v from there. Built it up a couple feet and then laid logs over the top of it. I had more coons and foxes at my stand then bear. I now now location was not ideal.

[SandPoint]

I find a spot where 3 to 5 trees are growing pretty close together, then kind of weave them into a V shape with the opening pointed to the shooter. Then I pile logs on top. It usualy forces the bear to give you a good quatering away shot ( not coming in behind the pile) and weaving it into the trees usauly means your crib isn't leveled when its time to rebait. Which means your in and out pretty quick and not dealing with alot of greasy logs.

[Boar]

hey bud, I dont have pictures, but Wen i do a linclon log crib i use a chainsaw to notch out the end where the logs lay in. youll get coons regardless of wat type of crib u use, they are just as or more opportunistic than bear.Even If you manage to keep them out there still around piking up scrapes an licking up grease, which is a good thing cause you want them to spread the scent around the area. If they get in a little thats ok, but you dont want them to clean it out. Your V shaped crib will work just fine, just have a flat area of ground to build it on, any dip that a coon can start burrowing under will get them in. Heavy an tight is how i like my cribs. If you have gaps, plug them with branches an limbs. Hey wanna send you a PM but your full, ya need to delete some. theres some variations out there on crib making so im hopeing other will chime in on there style. boar

[Boar]

there we go sand point beat my post time, this is wat im hopeing for, variations.

[SandPoint]

Yep totaly agree with stuffing any opening with brush and sticks. We have "weaved" them with just brush and sticks that picked up on the ground and made them so tight we could stand on it with out the crib even moving, called that one the Brush Pile. The bears didn't even try to come in any other way it was so tight

[Boar]

hey sand point, U say u find 3-5 trees an weave into a V shape, Can you give me details on this, how big are the trees u weave together?

[Boar]

R u weaving brush an limbs inbetween the 3-5 trees creating a wall that a bear can approach only one way to the bait?

[Outdoor Authority]

I have been guiding bear for 7 years now and with running 40 baits per year we find that building a triangle box first and packing around it with big logs helps reduce unwanted critters from getting in. Then we put logs that we find in the area on top of it. This way you don't have to disturb the area with a saw and find bear come in sooner. I am on my I pad or else I would put a pic of it on for you to look at.

[Boar]

R u actually building something then hauling it in? Locks? Do you mean Logs? Ive run a saw every year trails cribs shooting lanes ect, no problem with spooking bear. 40 sites, wow your busy. Yea if can post a picture of your crib that be cool. Thanks boar

[x1957x]

Boar--- 57 here. Hey, I have a friend that builds a wood box out of 2x6's that are3 2x6's high by 24" square and he puts a lid and a bottom on it.He puts inch and a half holes where ever on it for scent dispersmant. What it does is it keeps the little fur bare'rs outplus the COONS and makes it only accesseble to bear. There for, When you pull up to the bait either it is opened or still sitting upright so you dont have to get off the wheeler to check. It works good to keep the undesireable stuff from stealing your grub!!

[kelly-p]

Quote:

Heavy an tight is how i like my cribs.

+1 on that. I like the cribs tight enough that only animals chipmunk size can get in and heavy enough that only a bear can open. It does no good to bait if when a bear comes to the site the critters have cleaned everything up and the bear goes away still hungry. Also it is pretty poor policy for bear hunters to dump a big pile of uncovered food out in the woods for the varmints to fatten up on before winter. Those skunks, coons, foxes, fishers, etc. that lived through the winter because of fattening up on bear bait are the same ones that are eating the grouse and duck eggs in the spring.

[Boar]

Right on K.P. that why I have opposition from my partner on this, Think ill try an pursuade hin again this year, I maintain cribs on the sites I have an he dumps it on the ground on the sites he maintains, were parnterd thu a comon ground of bait, He's got a in at the bakery an I have storage space, Ive talked to him before about feeding all the critters, he understands that but belives that wen a bear gets on thepile he's likely to gaurd it an keep away the critters, well yea to a point. To many variables in the life of a bear, natural forage, competing sites, broad home range, dont like the food. thanks for the input kelly. Hey 57 wats up bud? have heard of people doing this but if you can build a box why cant you use a barrel, big bear can destoy a box an expose nails or scews dont know if i like that, Tried cal ya this weekend Memorial an allim sure u were busy ill try again. later baor

[Outdoor Authority]

Boar, on that style of crib you drill holes in the wood and hold them together with wooden dowels or other wooden objects. The problem with those are that they do get pulled apart by bear and you usually have to repair them after a bear hits the bait.

[Boar]

Ahhhhhhh now I see, Wasnt to good in woodshop Think ill stick to logs an a chainsaw. thanks outdoor. boar

[jerkbait]

I think I will have to try Boar's idea next time. Pics sure would be nice. For me last year, my 1st year, I would dump it on the ground and pile the biggest logs I could find on top. After the coons got in I found bigger logs that only boo boo could move. Learning curve.

[SandPoint]

Hey Boar, I just find a group of trees growing pretty close together sometimes smaller trees and some times bigger. I just use logs no premade stuff, when I say weave its kinda just cris cross the logs inbetween the trees. I do make the sides pretty tall if I can, then with the open side of the V I lay logs on the walls kinda like a lean to. The bears seem to figure out to go to the open end with the logs just laying on top instead of trying to tear down the "weaved" walls. Hope that makes sense, maybe I'll try to find some pics.

[jay83196]

One of my old stations

[jay83196]

couple more

[jay83196]

[jay83196]

I try to put mine in front of some trees etc so they have to come in from the front and give me the best possible shot. I also try to put it on the highest ground in the area I set up on, so the rain doesnt run into it(the dryer my bait sits the better) so my bait doesn't get soggy or the smell run off.

[Boar]

Thanks sand point, I get'er now, just wanted to make 'er clear, Thats greast idea might try it some time. Jay those pics are awsome reminds me of watching my son play modern warfare, nice cribs, heavy logs, an a down fall my first exactly. Right on with high ground. Thanks guys keep em coming, JB, Im terrrible with the pics man, but gonna work on it this year, Ya know that log cabing builder across from strieffs? Look at the biging stages when they are starting to mak the main square stage of the house, Then down size. Still think of no quota this year. later boar

[x1957x]

Boer, My buddy has never had one broken up even over time. He holds them in with heavy duty screws. Also dont forget this animal is a scavenger and he walks on nails, screws, glass, sharp pointed objects most of thier lifes. (57)

[Boar]

I hear ya bud im goona cal the dnr an see wat they say about the creal bowl idea too. littel lighter for transport. later baor

[Random guy]

Quote:

How do ya build your cribs

Like an old 1800s army fort planning for an impending attack. I find the biggest logs I can roll with a pickaroon for the base logs to prevent coons and skunks from digging under then wedge one end with a log that has a big branch sticking out to prevent rolling and the back side is always against something permanent. Small logs on top of the bait to seal it up before topping it off the biggest logs I can handle with the pick. After a summer of hauling minnow buckets out of the river bottoms and a season of moving those logs around I am doing one arm pull ups for fun.