Baiting

[DLH]

  What are my chances of baiting on Sunday and see a bear by Wed.

   Here is what is happening;
  I have a chance to hunt bear in Maine, ( I live in Ohio)  but I have to bait myself.

   What would bring bear arunning,    I have heard Spoiled beaver carcauses SP , aged fish like carp.

   Any ideas??


    Thanks

[Graybeard]

While I'm not a bear hunter and not the best one to answer this I can say that your chances of success are somewhat low. Most folks who bait whether for bear, deer or hogs do so for a considerable amount of time and most expect it to take a while for them to find the bait. Sure you might luck up and have one hit it immediately that's not really all that likely.

For sure the stronger the smell the higher your chances of it being smelled right away but will they immediately begin coming in? You can hope so.

Perhaps folks with specific bear baiting experience will chime in as well.

[teddy12b]

I've been on three baited bear hunts.  In all three cases I've tried to be as involved in the work of baiting as the guides would let me.  Usually they bait for a month before season depending on the regulations and there isn't any guarentee you'll even see one.  Baiting gets a bad rap as an easy hunt, but there's a lot more to it. 

Every guide I've ever talked to uses liquid smoke as an attractant scent for getting bears to the bait.  If you're trying to get bears in short order I would buy a gallon of that stuff and dump it all out over the course of the week.  Then you get to the bait part and I've seen guides use old bakery goods, granola, dog food, and you name it. 

Keep in mind you'll be competing with the natural berry crop.  Check to see how the berry's are looking for where you're going to be heading.  Good luck!!!

[billy_56081]

Another trick is to get a can of sterno and set a can of honey on it.  Its called doing a honey burn. Doing bacon the same way works also.

[Redhawk1]

The bacon burn is a great way to attract them, but you should check and see if the black bear in Maine are still out, and not denned up already.

[drdougrx]

I also think the bait season in Maine is over.

[DLH]

I'm asking for next year.

[drdougrx]

Ahhh,,,ok,,,they can be hunted through out the fall....though not over bait.  Let us know how you do!

[ihookem]

If you are in a real good spot one will be there. Liquid smoke with the bottle that drips a drop every few minutes. Molassis from the feed mill and throw it all over the leaves. and in a whole so it doesn't dry up. old vggy oil too helps. The more the better but you need a very good spot to bring them in quick.

[Two Bears]

I have had baits hit the very first day on several occasions. We run about 25 baits and some times when we start baiting and get to the last bait we go back to the first bait and some times it is hit already (only after a few hours) so it is possabile to do what you are going to try and be successful at it.

Molasses and oats are a great bait and also use a spray bottle with veggie oil in it with a couple oz's of liquid smoke to spray on the folage or a tree trunk, this is water proof and  will attrack bears for you. spray very generously every time you bait. sweet rolls work as a good filler along with the oats and molasses.

Happy hunting...

[drdougrx]

I like adding some cheap anisette!!!!  Makes the woods smell like my mamma's biscotti!!!   

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

   this is some good information... Lots of times I have 10 days to hunt for bear, but have to travel to the western part of the state, so setting a bait before hand is not possible. Have one question with the baits offered, anyone try these in grizzly country? I would suppose a bear bait attracts bears, all kinds.     

[dabigmoose]

 If it is legal there get a hold of a few Skinned Beaver carcases about 3 with the musk glands and hang them up from a tree. This always seems to work well for us in Alaska remember the wind is your friend on this one so hang them higher than normal.
dabigmoose

[gustmouse]

I'm not sue when the Maine bear hunt is
But when we hunt bear in the White Mountain NF in New Hamshire
The season begins in September. We bait a week or two before the season
We use donuts, cakes, molasses and anything sweet. We also hunt the first week of the season. By early October the bears usally won't come to the bait.

[bearmgc]

I've used Anise. Its good stuff. What I've had the fastest luck with is a stillborn calf, and putting a bloodied piece of fabric high on a branch above it, but don't know if its allowed in Maine. Pouring bacon grease over your baitsite or even dry box jello is good, as it gets tracked around, and bear follows it to the site. Also I believe wearing rubber boots to and from the baitsite reduces your scent.

[Bigeasy]

Never tried to bait bear on purpose, but the best luck I have had was 4 of us deer hunting in PA.  We were cooking pork chops on a BBQ grill for dinner.  2 big bears came in, and would not leave.  Got to the point enough was enough, and a couple shots in the ground worked for a while, but later that night, we could see their eyes in the flashlights, staying about 50 yards out.  Cool, except we were tent camping...  Had no more problems from that pair, though, just coons.

I been on a couple baited hunts in Maine, and sweets / pastry seems to be what is often used, though on a short term bait, something stronger smelling might work better.  Just a note, Maine has specific laws related to baiting, so you might want to get on line and look at the hunting regs.

Larry