Idaho Spring Hunt

[Dreaded Archer24]

Hey guys, I was planning on going to Idaho for the first time to do a spring bear hunt just wondering has anybody had success I’d be going under archery. I planned on using bait any tips on good bear bait besides sweet bunches of oats and Oreos lol?


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[Eldoradotim]

One thing I've noticed about bait, it seems like everything works. Everyone has a secret recipe or combination of different things. The only thing I noticed wasn't loved was dog food, they've loved everything else I've put out.

 

[Wagondriver]

Might want to check out the regulations on baiting. That should narrow it down some.

 

[T_W]

Hey guys, I was planning on going to Idaho for the first time to do a spring bear hunt just wondering has anybody had success I’d be going under archery. I planned on using bait any tips on good bear bait besides sweet bunches of oats and Oreos lol?


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Spread some type of oil all around the bait. The idea is the oil will stick to a bear's feet and other bears will follow the scent back to the bait site.

 

[Eldoradotim]

Spread some type of oil all around the bait. The idea is the oil will stick to a bear's feet and other bears will follow the scent back to the bait site.

I've heard that multiple times as well, and done it multiple times. Not just bears but any critter will leave a bread crumb trail back to your bait.

 

[iznbrth]

I like to use used cooking oil from a local restaurant to spread around

 

[Fool-hearted Footslogger]

Seem like just about anything you thing a bear would like works. One year we used the regular "sweet" stuff but smeared some peanut butter on a stump by the bait station. There was no stump left within about two weeks.

 

[WyoHunter999]

One thing I've noticed about bait, it seems like everything works. Everyone has a secret recipe or combination of different things. The only thing I noticed wasn't loved was dog food, they've loved everything else I've put out.

I use dog food and mix it with grease and/or powder sugar, and they will eat all of it. With out anything else they will get bored of dog food after a day or so.

 

[Dreaded Archer24]

I like to use used cooking oil from a local restaurant to spread around

I heard bacon grease and beaver is good as well


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[Coveyleader]

I'm not sure if you live in ID or not, but If driving, you can most likely find some good bait in your home state dumpster diving etc. Dunkin donuts for example. Or, just pick some ole roy dog food up, throw some powdered sugar on it, and call it good. The main thing is going to be getting the bears to your bait in a short period of time, and that takes scent, not food. I've baited bears in some of the most bear dense areas in NA, and even then, sometimes it can take a week to 10 days or more for them to hit if you're opening up a new bait station so keep that in mind. There is a big difference between opening up a new site, vs an established bait.

Good luck

 

[silver15tacoma]

In my opinion it doesn't matter what the main base of your bait is (corn/dog food/pop corn/donuts), what really matters is how smelly it is to have the bears find the bait and find it quick. Try to get the scent high in trees so the scent carries.

Ethyl mercaptan: Smelliest of them all, but will also smell like a gas leak (not sure on legality in Idaho). I believe James Valley Scents Knock Out Bear Lure has some in it.
Anise: Very smelly
Vanilla Extract: Smelly. Can use tampons as DIY scent wicks.
Beaver Castor: Very smelly
Used Fryer Grease: Stinky
Bacon: Throw in trees. Stinky/easy/cheap

Bait em 907 has lots of options in these scents. I’d recommend the yo yos and the attractant spray.