Tell me about black bear..

theBuilder

theBuilder

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I am mulling the idea of getting a tag for the fall. Never hunted bear, and again, I don't really have anyone to mentor me in the bush. So what do I need to know to help make an informed decision? Im interested in peoples experiences, techniques, tips, how-to's, don't do's and everything inbetween. I have done some googling and searched the forum but I prefer the conversation in the moment. Thanks guys!
 
theBuilder said:
How do you decide on a location for the bait barrel?
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As far away from somebody elses as possible is best. :) good cover for the bear to approach the bait and suitable for a stand. Smell will carry a long ways. Once they find it, they'll keep coming.

Grizz
 
Find a plot of crownland (or private with permission) in an area with a population of bears, same as other game. Then decide upon a location based upon site lines, and prevailing winds. Most bears will approach from down wind. You're going to be harder pressed to bring bears to a bait started in the fall as they've got a lot more food options open to them than spring bears. Another viable option is to approach farmers for permission and hunt agricultural crops, I can't speak to Ontario but here in NB farmers having crops raided by bears are often eager for them to be removed.
I run a different bait than C23, although a stink bait does help bring bears to previously unestablished baits. I prefer bread or popcorn and molasses, fryer grease and peanut butter; the grease, peanut butter and molasses serve a double purpose aside from being a taste bears enjoy it sticks to their paws and spreads a sent trail that draws more bears in. I don't usually mix all three, I use whichever I can get my hands on for cheapest. If you can get your hands on it, Garlic butter, I got my hands on about 5 gallons worth at the end of our spring season and it easily doubled the number of bears coming in after only 24 hours of putting it out. Including a couple big boars I had no idea were even in the area.
 
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theBuilder said:
Is it too late to start baiting for fall? I have some private land (25 acres of bush) that is available.
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You don't say which area you're hunting,but,in Northern Ontario,the Black Bear season re-opens on Aug 15. That's only 6 weeks away,so,now isn't too early to start. The down side is that there's lots of cottagers around,so,it's really important that you use great care when placing bait stations. 25 acres isn't a lot of room.
 
I didn't mean to say or imply that a bait started for fall would be too late or unsuccessful. No bait site is ever guaranteed and as far as I know its hard to say why one bait will draw bears and another won't.
 
theBuilder said:
Is it too late to start baiting for fall? I have some private land (25 acres of bush) that is available.
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No, still lots of time. If you build it (and it stinks) they will come.
Where I hunt, if it is a good berry year the bait station is more of a quick rest station on the Hwy. When the berries don't have a good year, it's full on buffet. Nothing like watching a lil boar chased off by a bigger boar who gets chased off by an even bigger boar.
 
Trimmer 905 said:
You don't say which area you're hunting,but,in Northern Ontario,the Black Bear season re-opens on Aug 15. That's only 6 weeks away,so,now isn't too early to start. The down side is that there's lots of cottagers around,so,it's really important that you use great care when placing bait stations. 25 acres isn't a lot of room.
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Ya, that was a concern of mine. There aren't a lot of cottagers where i am planning, but there are other residences in the area. It is central ontario, just south of north bay. There are definitely bear in the area, but I am not sure how to begin. Even if all I got this year were some pictures on the game cam. Just trying to plan ahead, and if it seems worthwhile, I'll take my chances with a tag.
 
Get to know someone with a restaurant. Take all the used fryer grease you can get. Rolled oats work well. Manitoba bears seem to be indifferent to fish, they will nibble on them but it's usually the buzzards that eat them. Pop yourself some movie theatre butter Orville redenbachers and hang it in the bait site, that stuffs like crack. Wait for the bear to really dive in to the barrel in order to guage his size. Your first bear looks gigantic until he's dead. It also gives Cubs time to show themselves if it's a sow that comes in. Be patient, the good ones usually almost wait until dark to come in.
 
theBuilder said:
Ya, that was a concern of mine. There aren't a lot of cottagers where i am planning, but there are other residences in the area. It is central ontario, just south of north bay. There are definitely bear in the area, but I am not sure how to begin. Even if all I got this year were some pictures on the game cam. Just trying to plan ahead, and if it seems worthwhile, I'll take my chances with a tag.
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How thick are the blueberries where you will be? If you have them in patches, rather than everywhere, pick a patch and set up a cam and station there. If you have a few patches, roll a dice or start with the one that is more remote and scout it for evidence of game trails.
 
Not sure where you're hunting but in most of Northern Ontario you won't have to look too hard to find clearcut logging areas. These places offer lots of opportunity for glassing and putting a stalk on if you spot a nice bear. Find berries, get comfortable with some good binos and move around as needed. I have zero interest in lugging around fish heads, fryer grease, beaver carcasses, etc so this method has proven effective for finding/shooting bears and is a lot less labour intensive/boring if you ask me.

Patrick
 
This was the first spring for me hunting Black Bears,specifically, by the "spot and stalk" method. New bait station regulations in Ontario pretty much screwed us for setting out bait stations in the areas we were hunting. We didn't have any success ,but,managed to eyeball Sows with cubs twice on afternoon hunts over a week of hunting. I found it quite enjoyable except it was hot,muggy and buggy.
 
verminaard said:
How thick are the blueberries where you will be? If you have them in patches, rather than everywhere, pick a patch and set up a cam and station there. If you have a few patches, roll a dice or start with the one that is more remote and scout it for evidence of game trails.
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Actually, no blueberries.. Not that I have found. The area is mostly fairly thick bush. To be honest I havent gone out looking for any bear sign, but last weekend i saw a bear in the middle of the day crossing the road. I am not sure how viable the area is for bear hunting, but i figured if i saw one, they must be around.
 
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