Nocturnal Bears

[Mnfisher]

About 3 days before Sept 1, "our" bears started coming at night except for one 250 lber that came in about 7:45 2nd night and my daughter took advantage and made her hamburger. The others have all gone nocturnal. I left the stand at 8 pm and bear comes in 8:15 or so. Question? Anybody have any tricks to make them come in a little earlier? Maybe the cooler weather will help. I have tried less bait too. Sure like to get one yet this year!

Thanks

[ozzie]

go with a second hunter and have them leave the area after you get in your stand...that might trick them to come while you are there

[HunterLee]

It sounds like they are hearing or watching you leave at night so that means he is close, so you could even try leaving the stand half hour early for a night or two and if he starts to bite on that have someone else sit with you and then leave early.

I would first try the two in one out thing first though.

How do you access your stand would be my first question, as in you walk way in or park fairly close?

[hookset]

Or hunt like normal and fake bait them. They are competitive and will come in sooner if they think another bear is beating them too the bait and eating all their supper.

Did this and had two bears come in the next night, the one we took went 410 pounds. So Play some games and trick them.

Joe

[Mnfisher]

I think bears are smarter than we think! I ride in on my 4 wheeler, put out my bait, then ride the 4 wheeler about a block away and park in a valley, then walk back. Unfortunately, I'll be hunting alone this next week, but I do like the idea of two going in. We do that for another bait site. I might try fake baiting them for a night before I sit out. Really like the idea of two going out and one leaving but won't be able to do that.

[Bigred70]

Fighting with nocturnal bears myself...hitting hard every single night...big ones too, but absolutely NOTHING during the day, and this is two seperate bait sites over a mile apart. Any other tips or tricks? I might starve them for a few days and feed one evening with a honey burn...and I'll be observing from above.

[Boar]

Dont starve them, if you dont have food thell leave an find it somewher else. nows the tim e that naturals are gon an you gota have for or they go look for some. The best things have been mentioned. Two in one out or have someone sit with you an leave half hour early. But wind has to be right for that one cause if he winds unfamiliar scent its over. First ting to try is a burn. Especialy if you havent done one. Good luck boys lots of time an itll get better. compition an cool weather, ya just gota have food for them. Some take the food out with them, bear learns to come when dinners called, but ya gota leave some to nibble on. i just dont like going to the bait pile in teh dark know ones around an likes his pile. Boar

[Mnfisher]

I will definetely try a honey burn. A friend just told me that he has heard some guys spray themselves with mosquito repellent when they bait and again when they hunt. This is supposed to mask the human scent and confuse them. They smell the spray but not the human. Has anyone heard of this trick or used it? Thanks for all the good replies.

[Boar]

Yes i do' it but it donsent confused them, wat is done is that u spray at down at the bait site, when u start baiting, cause u have to have spray when u hunt in early season, so bear learn that your scent an the spray is associated with the food, so they get accustomed to it an are more comfertable at the site when they feed, to use spray now when u dont have to will surley confuse them with "what the heck is that smell? never smelled that before, i'm outa here." When u start baiting in august its very important to do the same thingevery time. you start changing things or adding different things, it can spook a bear, they like routine. Now not to contradict myself but doing a burn, yes changes things, BUT... if you never done one yet, nows the time, cause your playing with a bears stomach an the only thing that will get him to drop his gard is a hot sow in the mating season which is long over. or his stomach. And a burn tempts his stomach. No natural food left, ur bait is the only sources but he's had it for awhile now, so adding something different an delicious smelling can be the edge u need. Good luck boar

[Mnfisher]

Sounds reasonable to me. I'll forget the spray and will try a burn. This will probably be the last week I'll go out and I'll let you know if I have success. Only been at it 8 years and didn't get drawn for two of them but do hope to get one before I get too old!!! I have baited for my kids and they have gotten 4 over my bait piles so I will say that my bear hunting career is not a failure. I consider any time spent in the woods a successful day!!