MDR 4 Report post Posted August 1, 2014 Hi all. Last year I was fortunate enough to tag out on my first deer. So this year I am considering hunting hard for a bear and was wondering if anyone could share their own recipes for success. The nice people at DNR pointed me up 527 for a spot and stalk last year but I wasn't able to make it happen, good grouse hunting though so that was a plus. I have a bit more time this year before classes start so I plan on doing some footwork to find some tracks and then put out a barrel or 5 gallon pails with some sort of bait Any pointers when it comes to what to use? I was thinking a of popcorn with some dog food/syrup mixed in. This will likely be in the Dog Lake area. Cheers Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
walleyewarrior 23 Report post Posted August 2, 2014 I've heard of guys keeping the grease from their deep fryers and rubbing it on trees around their bait. Apparently the stink brings them in. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
milspec 9 Report post Posted August 2, 2014 We got a boar in the spring with fish guts and strawberry jam.. so I'm sure almost any combination of food will attract a bear. I spoke with a co-worker that runs a bear outfitter and he said one thing they do is hang food up higher so the bears have to reach for it.. easier to tell from a tree stand or blind how big it is while it stand up reaching for the bait, plus it opens up the vital area. So that could be one thing to keep in consideration (mostly for bow hunting if that's your fancy) Some people dump the grease so the bears walk on it.. when the bears leave they bring the grease with them through the bush and other bears will pick up on the scent and home in on the bait station. If I decide to go for another bear later this month, I'll probably set up a ground blind and hang a bag of fish guts up about 9-10ft on a tree branch, sit back and wait. Good luck sir. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest 2112 Report post Posted August 2, 2014 i tried for my first bear this spring. just like milspec i used up all my smelt guts and had em coming in and no time. After that i used oatmeal and jello mix and they always came in and and ate it all up. Anywhere up armstrong highway lots of bears running around. To try my spot i set up a 5 gallon pail and hung it nice and high in the tree. Knocked down and bear crap everywhere in no time! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest 2112 Report post Posted August 2, 2014 also get some grease and dump it all over the places. Put it on trees and branches and you will come to find your bait torn to pieces. super cool Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest 2112 Report post Posted August 2, 2014 milspec, you said you were going to try a ground blind? i built a ground blind at my bait in the spring out of a blow down pile but i got to admit i was a little nervous that when i shot the bear he'd come right at me in my blind. One day i came in to sit and the bear was in my blind at some point and removed my chair and dragged my rope all over the place so it didnt take long for him to know something was up. Should i be worried about this? I was thinking of going out and building a little tree stand just for that reason. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
milspec 9 Report post Posted August 3, 2014 Sounds like we both have about the same experience level. It's your discretion whether or not you want to hunt on the ground or in a tree. It's nothing for them to climb the tree your in too. That's just my 2 cents. Just never go check out your bait unarmed. This photo was taken this evening, about 20 minutes before I showed up to check the card. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest 2112 Report post Posted August 3, 2014 nice looking bear! anyone every tried using distress calls while sitting on a bait? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
milspec 9 Report post Posted August 3, 2014 Would it even be necessary over bait? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest 2112 Report post Posted August 3, 2014 i dont know if people do it over a bait or not. i wouldnt think so but maybe it would bring them in a little faster while your sitting out there. I heard they just come running in full blast looking for the call Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest 2112 Report post Posted August 3, 2014 oh and sugar burns! i started by burning a mixture or koolaid, jello, marshmallows, and water and burnt the hell out of it. Huge clouds of smoke and you could smell it all over the place. I tried burning all sorts of things in the spring to see how well the smell carried and hung around. I burnt fish sauce the one day and the forest wreaked the whole time i was out there like nasty anchovies. in my first spring i learned use your imagination and start saving every single food scrap you produce. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
milspec 9 Report post Posted August 4, 2014 Well let us know how that works out. Good luck. 12 more days! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MDR 4 Report post Posted August 4, 2014 I think I am going to give the grease a try on the ground as well as a fish gut bag for an initial attractant. If no luck there I'll try popcorn and some sort of sweet. I've heard of using a predator call and have seen some videos that seem to support it. When I have asked on other forums, answers are hit and miss. I guess I'll just have to try it and see...and hope one doesn't sneak up on me. Cheers Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gsambray 172 Report post Posted August 5, 2014 Get a coffee can and stuff the bottom with a pound of bacon then fill up the rest with marshmellows. Sit it on a small camp stove and let her burn. The smell is sickly sweet and it brings in bears. Ive used this when setting up a new bait station or when signs of bears are scarce. Always worked for me. Try to chain up your stove if u want to keep it though. Ive had to spend more time findind my stove than the bear i shot Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gsambray 172 Report post Posted August 5, 2014 Never tried a call but one night checking my barrel i left my gf little yappy dog in the truck. The little bugger was yippin and yappin the whole time i was gone. When i rwturned there was a bear standing on the roof of my truck. So id say it works Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thefishleclair 174 Report post Posted August 5, 2014 Burlap sac of mest scraps. I got dome beaver from past season souping up in buckets for the bear hunt. Cant wait to try the SKS. Quote Grumpas' Baits Check it out on FB Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gsambray 172 Report post Posted August 6, 2014 I didnt know beaver was allowed for bait Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thefishleclair 174 Report post Posted August 6, 2014 I am a trapper. So i have a suply if braver meat that needs to go. Quote Grumpas' Baits Check it out on FB Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
levi64 72 Report post Posted August 13, 2014 Just put a bucket of KFC inside a cooler and sit it out anywhere, good to go. 1 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thefishleclair 174 Report post Posted August 14, 2014 Lol Quote Grumpas' Baits Check it out on FB Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
milspec 9 Report post Posted August 17, 2014 How's your hunt going there OP? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest 2112 Report post Posted August 17, 2014 i went out to my spring bait last night, man is there ever a big boy whos just taken that over. I dont know if he's smart enough to know to wait or if he is just constantly stopping by to check. The tree I soaked in grease is now nearly completely excavated out of the ground with fresh digging visible. fresh bear crap everywhere chalked full of pin cherries. I dont know still might be a little warm to shoot him though. Sure wish i had a trail cam! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MDR 4 Report post Posted August 17, 2014 I don't have much time until late August to get out and bout but will let you all know if I see anything promising. Cheers Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Derrick T Report post Posted August 21, 2014 Search bear crack on YouTube. Gets stuck to their paws and the burnt sugar smell goes for quite a ways. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites