When to start baiting

[Mnfisher]

I have time, so every year I start baiting pretty much the full 2 weeks prior to Sept 1. Our sites get hit usually within a few days, then steady until just before opener and then activity seems to die down. I'm thinking this year to start baiting just a week before and maybe the peak feeding will be about the time of opener. Any thoughts on this plan?

[Boar]

Ive heard of some doing that an being successfull, but IMO, you risk havinf to pull bear off of competing sites. but on the other hand, your giving a new bait to the area thus peaking interest to bear that have had the same grull for the last two weeks. If your ways havent been producing bear for the opener, its worth a shot, but you better get some scent air bourne immedeatly. Hang a bag high between two trees where bear cant reach out an grab it or from below an rescent the bag every time ur bait or check the bait. Your situation happens to me to but I just keep at it. They come back, last year I didnt shot my bear till the Sept. 20 something That was over a mounth of work. Once bear know where ur site is they'l be back. The later you can bait the more area hunters have gotten their bear or theyve had to quit. The more you can commit till the end the better your odds. Good luck. Boar

[Mnfisher]

I haven't been very lucky, but other party members have gotten lucky usually within a day or two of opener and sometimes later in the month too. I like the idea of the scent bag and I'll definetely try that. Thanks

[Boar]

the best type of scent i had luck with is from bear scents LLC. carmel extream tobe mixed with five gallons of fryer grease. et yur grease now it'll start to go quick. Green death is another one. I usually fill a burlap sack full of dougnuts or dog food. I put it in a 5 gall/ bucket, then pour the scent ontop an let it soak for a day or so. Hang bag ane wen return only have about a bucket about a third full of the scented grease. when you lower the bag into the bucket it wont spill half of it out on to the ground an riske lossing an making a mssy bucket. the bag will drip pleanty on the ground for critters to speard around the woods.

[Mnfisher]

Great ideas Boar! I think this is my year (if I get drawn)!! Thanks

[Boar]

Good luck, wsnt sure if I was gona be able tohunt this year, got laid off in January, an had to take a job with Strata Aggregate Co. 10-14 hrs aday.But my Origional job called me back an start Monday, so its Game on.

[jay83196]

Remember around 70% of bear taken are the first week so get a strong start...

[jerkbait]

Glad to hear it Boar!!!!!

[surewood]

Usually start the week before. I soak the area with molasses for scent. Went to a site from last year and could still smell it on the trees. Molasses and baked goods. Works every time.

[Mnfisher]

I like your idea too Surewood. I've found that rotting carp can be a good attractant. They don't seem to like to eat it completely, but I think the smell attracts them in to the pile. I also use bakery goods mixed with fryer grease and son in law buy some candy in bulk too. What do people think of mixing so many odors? Do you think it confuses or turns them off? Guess i wouldn't think so. We used to watch bears feed up North at dumps years ago and there was a variety of odors there.

[surewood]

For me and family/friends baked goods have always worked the best. Grease works for sure. I just don't like using it cause it gets all over everything. I haven't noticed much difference baiting a week before or two weeks before around here anyway. Other then I save on bait. When they've gone nocturnal I bait when I go out and I pull it when I leave. Seems to work for me. I also like to bait in shady areas as it's usually warm in September so it's cooler where the bait is. Can't imagine they like the heat anymore then we do. I think they feel safer as it's darker there too, and they might feel safer.

[Boar]

I stay away from rotting smells, bear are, yes opportunistic, but prefer fresh foods. One thing with fish smells is your can go on at fur trappers site an order all kinds of slamon attractant to mix with fryer grease. If you start your site with a mix of oders, to me thats fine, but in the middle of the baiting game adding a new scent can make a mature boar go nocturnal. It maybe new an yummy smelling but its different from the norm, immature bear probably wont be botherd by a new smell much. The only time I add a new scent is if I feel the need to to do a burn to get one coming in earlier from be nocturnal. Bear prefer things to be routine, same, same, same, even a little change in bait can turn a mature boar nocturnal. they get big for a reason. I liek to hang scent bags, one thing I started to do last year, was go to the dollar store a piked up a water launcher, I suck up about quatrt of scented grease an an blow high into the trees, much higher than my scent bag. i can coat the foileage so much easier than trying to throw it around. yea chrisIm so jacked up buddy, I can barely sleep. an its only april. Later Boar

[Mnfisher]

I will definetely try the scent bag this year, boar, with a mixture like you talked about in an earlier post. I have never heard of taking the bait away when leaving to entice nocturnal bears in earlier. Have others tried it? Does it work? I can see where it might and bears going nocturnal have definetely been a problem for me. In fact, with the camera, I have noted that sometimes they come in 10 minutes after I leave which may be a problem with me being seen or smelled and I have to work on that too. Yes, I get excited too just thinking about it. Sure hope I get drawn this year. I like the water launcher idea too. Just used a spray bottle in the past and I get a pretty high squirt with that.

[Boar]

It dose work, but ya also have to leave a little so theres something there for them, just a taste. but I'm not the one who likes to approach a bait site after shooting hours, if you have bear coming in ten minuets after you leave, he knows your there an sees you. Wat I like to do is wen setting up a site i put up another stand just like I was gona hunt it, shooting lanes an everything. What you do is bring a guy with you, but becarefull of his scent, he's gonna go into you primary stand, an sit like he was hunting. You scamper up the secondary stand to actually hunt. Half an hour left to shoot yur buddy climbs down an leaves, giving the bear the impression that you left for the night. bear cant count. But your buddy has to scent free as possible, have the right wind. so knowing where the bear is coming from is a must. The other is a burn. The more secluded an thick the bush is the better an more comfertable they feel to feed. Good luck boar

[Mnfisher]

Your Buddy has to be a pretty close friend or owe you something!!! I usually go out about 4pm or even sooner and sit til dark. If you both went out together, your Buddy would have to sit a long time for nothing. The pair could go out later, about 6:30 pm and sit for an hour then leave and the shooter would stay. But, I hate to be sitting from 3 or 4 on for several days, then suddenly go out at 6 or 6:30 pm. Change in routine. Do you see what I mean? Thanks!

[Boar]

well, thats what I ment, I hunt around camera times regardless, Im not gona sit on a bait several hours before camera showes feeding bear an wouldnt expect my freinds too either but, Ive got pleanty of freinds that like to sit in the woods or havent actually seen a bear an would like the chance to see one even if it ment to sit on stand for a couple hours. Plus then their there to help drag. Bear cant tell time either, the bear that knows your there, hears you bait an dosent hear you leave an wont come to the bait till he knows your gone. You could try haveing your bud bait an you climb into secondary stand an he walks out, that way he still hears hunter leaving, an your bud dosent have to be toubled till its time to drag. I know I'd sit for a bud on a bear hunt, just be apart of anykinda bear escapades gets my blood pumpin.

[Mnfisher]

Makes sense to be hunting more around times that the bear actually comes in to the bait. Last year was the 1st year I used a trail camera and I did sit out there less, come to think of it. Thanks...Lots to think and plan about in the next 142 days!

[Boar]

Good luck Mnfisher.

[Mnfisher]

You too Boar and all Bear hunters!!!

[jerkbait]

I stay away from rotting smells, bear are, yes opportunistic, but prefer fresh foods. One thing with fish smells is your can go on at fur trappers site an order all kinds of slamon attractant to mix with fryer grease. If you start your site with a mix of oders, to me thats fine, but in the middle of the baiting game adding a new scent can make a mature boar go nocturnal. It maybe new an yummy smelling but its different from the norm, immature bear probably wont be botherd by a new smell much. The only time I add a new scent is if I feel the need to to do a burn to get one coming in earlier from be nocturnal. Bear prefer things to be routine, same, same, same, even a little change in bait can turn a mature boar nocturnal. they get big for a reason. I liek to hang scent bags, one thing I started to do last year, was go to the dollar store a piked up a water launcher, I suck up about quatrt of scented grease an an blow high into the trees, much higher than my scent bag. i can coat the foileage so much easier than trying to throw it around. yea chrisIm so jacked up buddy, I can barely sleep. an its only april. Later Boar

I can't tell. I hear ya, I have been jacked since I put in for the drawing. Time to gather away..

[BlackArrow1]

Get fryer oil. And a hot air popcorn popper. So cheap. Easy filler bait. Salt it up and use some grease. Spread it around during regular baiting. And mix in. It will keep em picking around instead of maybe raiding the pile and running off if they're skiddish. Not to mention. I've found. I'll have piles of crow feed and make a racket at an active sight. Seems they come in trusting if other critters are feeding. I hunt ground blind. It has worked for me.

[jay83196]

This is the worst time waiting game to be drawn or not...hate getting jacked up gathering etc and not get drawn...

[x1957x]

Boar.. What zone you going in Buddy? 57 Got my wife in the hospital again with a infection in her foot but I will call you soon!!

[Boar]

Hey man, 99 is the zone for me, gona go into next years drawing with 2 preference points an my brother in law has some awsome land to hunt just north of Solway MN. So me an minnie boar are gona barrel the site an lube up the X-bow for a showdown at the hoedown, thats the lowdown Yo!

[jay83196]

Well I hate to do it before I am drawn but Id rather have the stuff and not get drawn than get drawn and be behind...let the scrounging begin!!