Bear Baiting and Snow

[CapitalKing]

A buddy and I were setting bait a bit earlier than normal and where we go they got more snow than they have ever had since we’ve been going there this winter. There’s still 3 feet of snow in parts of the woods. We set one site to start, is it a waste of time with this much snow? Not sure if the bigger bears could even walk through the snow.
Thanks

 

[BRWNBR]

Big bears do whatever they want. If they smell something they want they’ll travel thru anything to get it. I’d still set the bait if possibles on the snow. Gotta get your line in the water!

 

[CapitalKing]

Haha we got one line in the water but couldn’t get to our other spot. It’s above the snow and potent!
You think they’re out and about with that much snow possibly on their dens?

 

[BRWNBR]

I’ve never seen the amount of snowfall really change the den exit by much.

 

[wildwilderness]

I’ve seen Brown bears early in the snow plenty of times. They always have hit the baits similar time no matter what. Black bears for me seem to hit a bit later into the season

 

[CapitalKing]

Thanks for the good news, we’re going to set the last bait site in like 3 weeks and actually hunt in a month so we’re hopeful this will be mostly melted and roads are at least passable. We know for next time to bring a ice fishing sled and snowshoes if it’s a snowy winter

 

[Coveyleader]

What state/region? I was going to start a post on this, but I've found if you can get a boar on your bait early, while there is little green-up, and snow on the ground, they will crush the bait, and you have a good chance at getting a shot at them.

 

[CapitalKing]

What state/region? I was going to start a post on this, but I've found if you can get a boar on your bait early, while there is little green-up, and snow on the ground, they will crush the bait, and you have a good chance at getting a shot at them.

Central to North Eastern Alberta. That was our thought with getting up early and getting some bears on it when not much food is available

 

[CapitalKing]

Took 9 days but we got a decent bear on cam.

 

[Pilsner]

Bears den up based on food availability and NOT on temperature or snow coverage.
If there are calories on the landscape, then the bears will find it.
Temps and snow be damned.

 

[CapitalKing]

Yeah we got 4 bears hitting the one site unfortunately it’s a massive sow with 3 cubs. Hoping there’s a boar sniffing around for the sow otherwise we’ll be putting our other site up on Monday and going up the following week.