bear hunters opinion please

[Boar]

I am currently using only one bait site on 80 acres of family land in no quota. This one bait site has been successful in the past an even has been hit last year with out any previous bait at the start of the baiting season. Its not a big site it sits on high ground in a dry river bottom in the midddle of thick cover. My question to myself is if I have a bear hitting or not? First hit consisted of pasteries, cleaned them out, but it seemed odd that only two logs were rolled away exposing only a narrow opening to the bait, big logs, 10 inch diameter, four ft long. Seconed hit consisted pasteries liqourish syrup an blueberrie pellets placed on one side of the logs, it opened the opposite end, same two logs rolled away, same narrow opening, cleaned it out but the blueberrie pellets. Third hit, Placed buns and grease strwaberrie syrup on opposite end of last hit, pellets still there, rolled two logs away and took everything but pellets but left a trail of buns away from site. Fourth hit had just pastrie, Ohyea I'm beefing up the site with bigger logs each time but just two are rolled away exposing an narrow openning each time. It cleaned out the pastires and pellets and the trail of buns, just two logs rolled way. I dont have a camera, cant lay down white baking flower for a print cause it rains every other couple days. I thought big coon? but even a big coon couldnt get into the narrow opening, this narrow opening is only4-5 inches high and 4 ft wide. A skunk couldnt move the logs. What I ve come up with is either a cub just moving a few logs an scooping out with his paw but he would have to reach in up to 3 1/2 to 4 ft to reach the bait, or a educated bigger bear that useing the least amount of energy to get to the bait. I've seen cubs tear up a site before to get every thing, and I've seen what a bigger bear can do to a bunch of logs. I just dont think its a varmit, but a smart bear I just need to get a track. I think I'll bring a rake an work up the ground aroun the site to try an get a print. It's got me thinking, but hey I've got action what ever the case may be. Any Ideas an opinions would be great. Hey share some baiting stories to there great to read. Be safe, Sept.! OBOY!!!! Later boar

[Cooter]

First off, good luck! I'd try sanding around the bait to get a good pad track, that might be all it takes to figure out whats going on. Or put some heavy rocks on your logs to keep the coons out. They might reach through, but are only gonna get so much. Sounds like a bear to me, just need to figure out how big. If it is a little bear, don't give up! Put some honey(legal in MN?) or something else that will carry around the bait so that little fart leaves a scent trail wherever he goes - a nice bear should find it. Try liquid smoke or jello mix around your bait to help other bears find it.

[NWBuck]

boar,

I had an almost identical thing happening to one of our baits up in the quota zone during a hunt a couple of years ago. Each time it would be cleaned out, but the logs not rolled like we were used to seeing at other sites. The puzzle was solved the first night I sat in a stand there...TIMBER WOLF !! When I watched him move in to the bait, it all made sense, as he would carefully pick at a single log, but had enough strength to move it just far enough to get his snout in. Cool to see at 15 yards, but sort of makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up

I know you're further south, but any chance you've got wolves around ??

[lichen fox]

We had a bear do the same thing to us for 2 years in a row. He barely moved the logs, just enough to get at the bait. The other thing was he only hit after dark, we have timers on our baits always. Other things to consider...I've watched a bear clean out a bait rolling the logs back and forth and when he was done and gone you'd swear by looking at the bait that nothing was amiss! Some bears just have more manners than others! Try stacking your logs double with a good tree for backing and driving in a stake or two across the exposed side of the logs....only a bear can rip that set-up apart!

[Boar]

hey guys, No i very much doubt a wolf, we have a few cyote in the area from time to time, but no wolf. BUT...... Friday I baited and Whammmoooo!!!! I site looke like it had been bombed, the site was torn up. I havent had that much comotion in three years of baiting. It made my hackles stand up.( whats a hackle?)I walk a trail to the site and the last 50 yards it drops down into a dry river bed. It had rain wensday an thursday so the trail was muddy a bit on the slope, here I could clearly see where he slip on the trail, three perfcet pad slips, not smudged to one side or something. The width was 5 1/2 to 6 inches. Yea I'm pumped!!!! I'm sure the other hits was a smaller bear. Just hope Mr. big is'nt Mrs. Mom with tagalongs. Thanks for the info guys. Later boar. Good luck

[NWBuck]

Awesome! The timing is perfect for the start of the season...go get him!

[Nodak7mm]

Dat werent no hackles standing up, dat was your sphincter muskles sucking in all your loose skin causing de hairs to stand up on da back of yer neck. Now get outta there and leave Mr. Big alone for me next year..

On the other hand, Great Job!!!! Go get him, you earned him!!!! See ya on Sunday (make sure you have him drug outta the bottom before I get there).

Rod

[Cooter]

Way cool indeed! Keep us updated.