first time bear hunter

[dmfdlt]

Looking for any assistance I can get. I drew a 51 tag. I have read some on baiting. I went and got about 700 lbs of bakery stuff. Found out how to make a honey burner. Got my burlap bags for test sacks. Now I am down to figuring out where to bait and how to find land. Any help would be great. And any thing I am Missing? I want to go archery. I have hunted deer my whole life so this is definitely a change. Any tips on bear behavior would be good too. Thanks again.

[Outdoor Authority]

Well you drew a tag in a great area. I must let you know that there are alot of out fitters in the area as well. Your best area to start would be if you drew a line east and west of Aitkin and stayed above that line. This will keep you away from the core area of most of the outfitters and away from the weekend warrior style huntin crowd from the cities. I would start with gettin an Aitkin county plat book and go from there. I personally like low areas with water and oaks or water and tamaracs. Terrain I look for is funnels and saddles but more so funnels. I hope this gives you a start and if you need anymore info feel free to ask and good luck.

[dmfdlt]

Thanks for the help. We are going to concentrate in northern Atkin /southern Itasca mostly because this is where our cabins are. I also have a bunch of bacon grease. I heard that works well too. I read that the ssuccess rate is ridiculously low. I am just trying to better my odds

[pulleye16]

Best bait ever is left over old fryer grease from bars. Go find a small out of town bar and see if you can get there old grease.

51 has been our area for the last 7 years and we've had great luck on public land. Just go deep and off the trails. Labor day wknd which tends to be around opener puts alot of ATV's and outdoor people in the woods. I've tried honey burns as well with HORRIBLE results, but you can always try it and find something that works!

[surewood]

Bakery goods have always been a hit around here. If you need some help on a location I'd help you out, as it sounds like your cabin is very close to my home. If my schedule allows I'd show you a few spots where we've had some success. I've had two bear come to my mineral sites this year so there around.

[dmfdlt]

That would be great. I am at 602the summit hill city

[Boar]

look for food, security an water, find that near or in a funnel an that equals bear. oak ridge adjacent to low swampy grounds is ideal. take your gunny sak an fill it full of dog food an bead, soak it in fryer grease the more used the better. Hang it high in a tree at least 8 ft. keep it away from the trunk so abear can reach out to it. freshen this each time you check an rebait. This gets the scent air borne out to a bears nose. drips alot an bear an critters trake it all over the woods for scent trails. Good luck. boar

[motley man]

Gunny sack is a great bait deal as they don't eat it and if you can't get up to bait for a few days they still come to that bait station due to the scent and what drips on the ground. Like they said, be sure to keep it away from tree or bear & coons get to it and tear it up. I try to tie the rope to a tree away from the sack so they don't chew the 1/8" rope off. I just buy clothes line cord to hang them. Tie a weight to the end and throw over high limb and tie off to different tree.

[Boar]

I have actually had bear pull the rope an flip the bag over the limb. amazine how they can figure that out. I like to tie mine to the same tree or limb its hanging over. so throwing it over a limb, on the other side of a knot or a branch is needed so it dont slide towards the trunk wen you tie it off. boar

[HNTNBUX]

I have bear hunted for years and never used a burlap bag because I thought you couldn't leave anything like that in area. Are we sure this is ok because I would love to do it?

[pulleye16]

I have bear hunted for years and never used a burlap bag because I thought you couldn't leave anything like that in area. Are we sure this is ok because I would love to do it?

Burlap is ok...if it's not natural/biodegratable(sp) it has to go back out with you.

BAIT STATIONS AND GARBAGE DUMPS

Definitions: “Bait” is any material placed for the purpose of attracting or attempting to attract bears. A bear “bait station” is any location where bait is placed for the purpose of hunting.

Materials that are at all times attended by the hunter are not considered a bait station.

The following materials may not be used as baits for bear.

• A carcass from a mammal containing more than 25 percent of the intact carcass.

• Meat from mammals that contains bones.

• bones of mammals;

• solid waste containing bottles, cans, plastic, paper, or metal;

• materials that are not readily biodegradable; or

• any part of a swine, except cured pork.

Note: 55-gallon drums, pails, plastic garbage bags, or other containers may not be left

unattended at bait stations.

[Boar]

Sooooooo game cameras have to go out with you?

[nubbin]

Tree stands?

[CANOPY SAM]

Clothes line cords????....

[Boar]

Ive used burlap since the start, also use that old bale twine an hay rope, the hemp style that breaks down, dad use to be in the dairy bussiness.

[kevfish1]

I believe the 55 gallon drums can be left unattended on private property...

[Matt Breuer]

Today I checked one station and the hang-bag was about 7' up, and the bear did NOT like it being there. He broke the entire tree over and tore the bag apart. They are clever, and malicious when they put their mind to something!

Fryer grease works well as a started, and is free, but molasses is better for runny bait... IMO anyway.

Find food, water, cover, and if you can, sign. My best stations are near swamps, in deep timber, near berry patches.

[certified jumbo]

Thanks for sharing all the info guys. Last year our party of 5 got into bear hunting. We did 2 stations last year for the one tag. Both stations got hit hard and he shot his bear the second night. We hunt area 51. This year we drew two tags and are going to do 4 stations. We are going to bait the first time this sunday. My question is how much do you usually spend a guy during the season on bait?? We have a good amound of bait and each of us is spending $100 each. Some good deals and some ok deals on bait. Is $100 a guy normal amount, too much or to little. We are still a little green on the bear hunt thing and i don't know if last year was just beginners luck.

[Boar]

the omly thing i spend money on is gas an scent attractant. Fortunate enough to have connections in the pastery an candy bussiness. Good luck

[pulleye16]

Sooooooo game cameras have to go out with you?

Your joking right? LOL

[pulleye16]

Tree stands?

Thats funny too!

Those listed in my last post are striaght from the bear suppliment.

So PLASTIC burlap is ILLEGAL!

[Outdoor Authority]

A lot of people spend more than that and some a lot less. I would say the avg person spends between 100 and 300 on bait. If they are buying all the bait and getting nothing for free. If they are getting stuff for free they still spend a 100 a person. I get 90% of my bait for free but I put a lot of time, late nights and gas into the bait and getting it. Of the 35 baits I am running this year I am guessing I am spending 1000 on bait and thats just cash not including gas. Its worth it in the long run to have a variety of foods out there for the bear to choose.

[Boar]

LOl! yea pulleye it was a joke

[DRH1175]

dumb question but what are the blaze orange requirements for bear hunting? I can't find them anywhere.

[x1957x]

There is no blaze orange req. for bear hunting although I do wear orange to and from my bait site for my own safety!