Picking a bear bait/ stand site

[DRH1175]

This Will be my first year hunting bears. Tips or tricks to finding a good baiting/stand site. Also at what time do you all hit the stand for the evening hunt? I will be hunting on north side of chisholm.

[bogwalker]

This topic could easily fill several books. You will get lots of tips on this site.

[jay83196]

I have had my best luck in thick shady lower land close to or around water, swamp etc. I always went out 1-2 or about same time I was baiting so they use to me being there that time of day.

Good luck!

[Boar]

Food, cover an water. its really hard wat to suggest beyound that cause i dont know the territory. The later site I recenly found with the aid of 1957, has all three in one scetion of state land, it has a a low land swamp on the western edge that slopes up to a oak ridge that runs in a north westerly to south easterly direction, the area is chocked with raspberry an other natural forage an is thicker than my great gandpas beard. Those three elements toghter = bear. I alos have a river bottom site that runs thru agricultural farmland an provide a natural travel corridor an of course being river bottom has all three elements. natural funnels are something to look for, an dont over look just getting out an doing your home work, looking for sign. I hit my stand to hunt wen my camera tells me to, but usually just after i bait. good luck boar

[x1957x]

Boar, Darn skippy on that bear site. I think we were both drooling by the time we got out there. Anytime you get food, cover, and water all together that close YOU WILL HAVE BEAR!! I have a good feeling about that spot and cant wait until baiting season to see whats in there..((Thinking about when to get in tree stand?)) It depends on the spot. Does the bear have any distance to cover before he gets to bait? Is the cover really thick?, Is it really hot? Every thing plays a factor.. If it is a normal day with nothing to do I think that I would be in the stand by 3 or 3:30 or so. We have shot bear at 3;45 in the afternoon before. I think it is the hunters call as when to go but never want to come in to late.. (57)

[Boar]

Roger that jeff! Cant wait.

[x1957x]

Neither can I Boar.. Should of did the box right away though. Still can kick myself in the nards for not doing it!! I think I will regret not helping you get that out. Shoudve, couldve, and deffinately wouldve! (57)

[Boar]

dont worry bud, its all good, Ill take care of it when i get back from the land of cheese. boar

[x1957x]

Cool, Did you read the post from Canopy? He said he saw a huge bruin Just east of your spread. Which way was the spots we checked? MAYBE!! Thanks again Jeff for all your help! We deffinately stock piled up all the goodies for him huh? Let me know. Are you feeling ALOT better after you got on vac.? Seeing any rather good sights where your at??? LOL (JEFF) Think he was LOOKING for some waffle cones?

[charliepete]

A good bear stand is a lot like a good deer stand. Look for funnels and natural pinch points. Look for areas where the predominant wind will be in your favor. Having an open area on your down wind side can be handy, so much the better if it's water. Think about having the sun in your favor for a night time hunt. You don't want to be behtween the bait and the setting sun....silhoette city. I look for an area that has a tree with lots of cover. Bear know something is up when coming to a bait, the telephone pole type trees you can get away with deer on occasion don't work with bear.

Bear are where you find them. I'm lucky to spend a lot of time in the woods covering a lot of ground following my dogs. When I find sign post scratch trees, bear cr@p, and bear dens....I mark the GPS and come back and find an area within a few hundred yards that fits my above criteria.