Bear Baiting Question

[fallfrenzy1]

I have a couple of stations set up with donuts, bread, apples, oats, grease, and molasses. Got the hole dug and am putting the bread, donuts, oats, apples, and some molasses in it. Covering the hole with logs and pouring grease all around the area and on top of the logs. I also put some molasses on top of the logs. I have one station with a camera. This station has not been "hit", but when I looked at the camera there were two new pics. Indeed a bear had checked the spot out but didn't tear in. Am I not doing something right here. The other station I have is only 200 yards away and was getting torn apart 3 nights in a row but the food wasn't really disappearing. This station has not been hit for a few nights now as well. Am I dealing with a full bear? Any insight/opinions would be appreciated. Could it be a scent problem? I am fairly close to civilization so the bear should be use to smelling humans.

[Brownie77]

maybe some mold in the bait, or just no interested

[sakazulu]

IMO, baits are too close together. Could be same bear(s). Hunt/bait the active spot.

Many reminders on this forum not to "overthink" this whole thing and that is good advice. Go get'em!

[Boar]

Mold wont deter a bear, but I agree that the sites are to close, he's getting full at one station an wandering over to the other an just checking out the smells with no real desire to feed. hang on an dont worry to much it'll happen. Boar

[Outfitter17]

I also agree, you bait sites are way way to close together. I have our sites at least 2 miles apart and many are 3-5 miles apart.

Move your baits a ways apart and then see what happens.

[fallfrenzy1]

Checked the stations yesterday with no activity with the exception of a dog checking it out (nice!). I unfortunately have water in the bait holes from all the rain we have received lately. With everyones experience with baiting, is this going to be a problem? Do I need to dig it out, let it dry up?? Move to a little higher ground?? Yeah, probably reading into it but with time being an issue I want to be doing it right.

[Boar]

If you got rain like we got rain here nothing would stay dry, I guesse I have never dug a hole for a crib an have always stayed on high ground, I wouldnt worry to much about it, if it happens again put some small brush over the hole then the bait so the rain falls through then the logs and see what happens. And replace any soggy bait. Boar

[superbee]

It could be that teh bear is full or your bait is not what he is looking for. If it has mold, it could detur him. I have had my bait get wet and start to mold and the bait gets very inactive or completely stops. Definately spread your baits out or eliminate the one totally and hunt the active one. No reason to have 2 places for the bear to feed so close when you can only sit at one.

[fallfrenzy1]

Thanks for the insight and advice fellas. I have had a visit to the one bait so he knows its there. Eventually there is gonna have to be a return visit. If I could have some other baits farther away I would but time is a problem. Would be nice if school started a little later for kids so that us teachers could get our hunting fix out of our system yeah, I know! No sympathy out there cause we have all summer off. How about some results so far? Anyone bagged their bear yet??

[maros91]

My baits were going good until the warm weather over the weekend. No hits from Friday to Monday(Opener). Hunted Monday and nothing. Checked the main bait that has been getting hit this morning and it was hit again. Hunted there tonight and nothing. Might be coming at night. Will try a bacon burn tomorrow night.

[corysluckylucky7]

Drop the dead bait and setup a fresh pile next to the hole. Bears are just like people they dont want to eat a bunch of slimey moldy stuff - they want clean, dry, fresh variety of stuff. I used a pit years ago but the rain kept wreckin all the bait. They will get on your bait harder when the natural food sources dry up. Dont worry the best hunting is yet to come later in the month! good luck

[fallfrenzy1]

Checked the bait on Sunday and it had been hit again. Only thing eaten was grilled cheese sandwiches. Picky bear I guess. I dug the other stuff out and got rid of it. Put some moss, sticks, and brush at the bottom to keep the water off the bait. Re-baited and am gonna give it a shot tonight. Tough decision with the big football game on, but harvesting my first bear will make more memories in the long run.

corysluckylucky7, if no longer a pit then how do you set up your bait. I tried to just put logs on some bait 2 years ago but all I got coming in were coons, fishers, pine martins, ect... Fun to watch but not the right flavor!

[BIGBORE]

FIND A HOLLOW STUMP ABOUT 18 TO 24 INCHES TALL. IT SHOULOD HOLD 5 GALLONS OF BIAT OR MORE. THEN PUT A BOARD ONTOP OF IT TO COVER THE HOLE, FIND A ROCK AND SET IT ON TOP OF THE BOARDTO KEEP OUT COON AND OTHER RIF RAF. EVEN A SMALL BEAR WILL BEABLE TO KNOCK THE ROCK OFF OTHE TOP A BIG BEAR WILL SWATS IT LIKE IT IS A BASEBALL. IT WORKS REALLY GOOD. YOU CAN ALSO USE LOGS TO PUT ONTOP ALSO. LAST YEAR I HAD COONS DIG UNDER IT. I ENDED UP PUTTING A BOARD UNDER THE STUMP ALSO.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL. I DID NOT GET DRAWN THIS YEAR AM HAVING WITHDRAWALS.

[fallfrenzy1]

Well, tonight was the night!! Got out to the stand at about 5 and at 7 she came in. First Black Bear for me. Not a monster but I am happy with the results. The honey burn with some home made maple syrup must have done the trick. Saw her off in the distance about 70 yards past my bait and she circled around and came right in. By far the best rush I have had in a long time!!! Thanks to everyone for the advice and words of encouragement. It paid off in the end. When I figure out how to post some pics I will.

[putter]

thats awesome congrats

[Boar]

hey great job frenzy! Boarsquatch

[fallfrenzy1]

Anyone got a pointer on how to post pics?

[Shack]

Click here for help on how to post images!

Good luck!

[maros91]

I have a question about using trail mix for bait. Do you guys just use it plain or do you mix it with something like molasses or grease? I have access to molasses and grease and was just wondering if anyone has mixed it with any of the 2 items.

[fallfrenzy1]

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Hope this worked out.

[Boar]

I would biff, With or with out. find some syrup or what ever, I pretty much cover my bait with some of the abouve.Boar