Backcountry Bear Baiting

[Magma]

Tomorrow I'll make some sweet feed "Bear Crack" I might set up a second bait site with beaver butts in a burlap sac. And bacon grease molasses sack.

 

[CWA360]

This will be my first time ever baiting for bears and I’ll be doing it in Central Idaho.

I’ll be backpacking in a barrel and the bait, probably .5 to 1.5 miles depending on where I feel is best.

Do you guys think a 55 gallon barrel is too big to get back that deep ? If so, what size are you guys running ?

I have read that most people prefer tree stands, but am leaning towards a ground blind and further away sits. Should I just bite the bullet and buy a stand ?

Really any advice for newbies would be nice as well, I have no mentorship in this area and am learning as I go via the internet.

55 gallon barrel would be ROUGH to get in that far, especially with any elevation gain. It'll get you in shape for the hunt though! Is a quad an option???

 

[IDMuleyKid]

55 gallon barrel would be ROUGH to get in that far, especially with any elevation gain. It'll get you in shape for the hunt though! Is a quad an option???

No quad, I’m the just poor, young and willing to suffer lol.

I’ll definitely have to mess with a framed pack to get it to fit and then hiking through brush uphill will be an experience.

 

[philson208]

I packed a 55 gal drum on a modified flat bed wheel barrow about a half mile up a nice hiking trail & than packed it up drainage another 300 yds off the stream. I was 40 and it wasn't the easiest thing to do but was manageable. I set up bait in the bottom of the drainage and had a couple vantage points marked out that I could sit depending on wind direction. I ran bait for two and a half months and spent probably $300 on the whole operation. I had two bears come in total and they never showed up during legal shooting light. The time stamps on my trail cam from when bears would show was legit 2-4 minutes after legal shooting light and always about 30 minutes before legal light in the am. My 4 &5 year old kids helped me and they had a blast making bear crack suckers & Kool aid popcorn & waiting for video clips of big black nears scratching on the barrel. I much prefer spot and stalk but I will be baiting again this year because both my kids want to hunt bears and they want to run bait again. I would consider running a hybrid program of baiting with some spot and stalk mixed in for more day light opportunities. I wound up shooting a bear that same year on a spot and stalk hunt after getting frustrated with baiting.

 

[dank]

Baits out, no luck yet. How long do you guys recommend letting them soak before you move areas?

 

[Elkhntr08]

How long’s it been?

 

[dank]

lol not long enough to complain yet but I’m just excited okay . I put them up last Thursday.

I figured May 7th I’d move them if nothing hits but idk..

Also, if nothing hits them in a few days is there any reason to go out and like add more bait or scent?

 

[North Idaho Stickbow]

I’ve had mine out since last Friday in a spot where I know it gets hammered by bears, and no activity yet. I’m not super worried as of yet, since I’ve never been able to bait this early in the season before. My theory is that they’re down low chowing away on grasses.

If I don’t see anything by this Friday, then yes, I’ll go back up there and re-grease/scent it up again.

 

[dank]

Thanks for the feedback!

In my case I have no clue if this spot is good for bears or not so don’t want to waste a ton of time ya know! Easier to hang in there I think if you have history telling you it’s a good spot.

 

[dank]

First bear came to party last night!

 

[EricBender208]

First bear came to party last night!

From my experiences as soon as one bear starts hitting, the rest follow. Especially a sow with cubs.

 

[wyodog]

Plastic barrels are pretty flipping strong. Sometimes you get some chewing on them, but if you set the barrel up correctly, very little wear and tear on them.

I also use a plastic barrel. I chain it to a tree and have not had a problem so far.