Ontario bear hunters- Anyone seeing good bait site activity yet?

gth

gth

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Close to North Bay, Ontario
Just wondering how everyones bait site activity is going?

I have 2 bait sites going. One hasnt been touched for almost a week, and the other is hit and licked clean every time I go out. Just from sign I'm guessing 3 bears are hitting this bait but it could be more. I have seen one smallish bear (maybe 130-150lb) on the road twice now. I will likely take him unless a larger bear bet him to the bait opening day.

I have been baiting every 3rd day (bait mon, then bait again thurs) since the 20th of July. I'm gonna step up to every other day starting monday.
 
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I started baiting just over three weeks ago, and they started hitting it the day after I put it out. During that week I had 3 different bears comming to it but nothing huge.
 
I believe Sep 4th its a Tuesday. Already booked time off. Last year we went a week after opening which was not my choice, and saw just 1 wich sucked, but had lots of pics of bears the previous weeks. I beleive others are hunting in the are and yogi was pressured.
 
Well - My garbage shed has been the subject of numerous visits over the last month. The perp has even managed to undo the bolt lock hasp. Also noticed claw marks on the shed that are higher than I can reach (I'm 6'2"...) This bad boy seems to have developed a taste for plastic. If he keeps up he may develop a taste for lead...
Lots of bears around this year!
 
Unusual and unfortunate, but one of my baits has a sow with a brandnew cub. Been a real bad year for blueberrys, but momma and baby gotta eat.

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Nothing huge, but check out the time stamps!!!

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The boy is completely hooked on watching bears!

The rest of my baits are being smashed, can't wait for the 18th of August :dancingbanana:.
 
Great photos's!

I should have put up a trail cam too. Maybe next year.

Update: I'm pretty confident I have at least 6 bears using the bait sites as of now. The 150lber from a few weeks ago is now second on my wanted list. I managed to find a track (not easy to do when the forest floor is 4" deep moss) at the one bait site and it is a big one.

Wednesday should prove to be an intersting night.
 
How much bait can you put out, every 3 days seems excessive,when I use to bait we ran 55 gal drums full of oats. Could go most of the season without a refill, the bears and or rodents have too easy access to the bait, you need to make them work harder for the food.

I would hate to be leaving sent by the bait every three days there is good chance than any big bear would turn into a night feeder.
 
last year one of my sites i baited every 2 weeks, this season i wont be able t omake it out maybe next year i'll get a chanc eto fill a tag
 
aulrich said:
How much bait can you put out, every 3 days seems excessive,when I use to bait we ran 55 gal drums full of oats. Could go most of the season without a refill, the bears and or rodents have too easy access to the bait, you need to make them work harder for the food.

I would hate to be leaving sent by the bait every three days there is good chance than any big bear would turn into a night feeder.
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My philosophy is to put out smaller amounts of bait more often. I'm hoping this will keep the competition for the food up. Any bear that knows the bait is there should be keeping a close eye on it because if he's not the first bear there he doesnt get to eat.

I found when I only baited once a week and totally stuffed the barrel the bears knew they could take thier time getting to the barrel and would wait untill after dark.

Leaving scent doesnt seem to be a problem so far, you could be right though. I think 9 times out of 10 a bear entering a bait sight knows there are hunters there but they just take thier chances and come in anyway.
 
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gth said:
My philosophy is to put out smaller amounts of bait more often. I'm hoping this will keep the competition for the food up. Any bear that knows the bait is there should be keeping a close eye on it because if he's not the first bear there he doesnt get to eat.
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I'm with gth. My baits get 10kg of food every other day. The bears waste no time coming in and the barrels are always licked clean. Big bears ALWAYS circle the area before coming in. Little guys take a more direct route.....straight in knock things over, quickly munch away and constantly shoulder checking for larger more dominant bears.

gth said:
Leaving scent doesnt seem to be a problem so far, you could be right though. I think 9 times out of 10 a bear entering a bait sight knows there are hunters there but they just take thier chances and come in anyway.
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I feel that it is important to bait at approximately the same time, every time you go out. Every living animal appreciates a little routine in life and bears are no exception.
 
I can see your point, the prevailing theory at the time (I have not baited for years) was if the bait ran out of food and the bear returned to it empty the bear would vacate the area. Mind you we never baited in fall maybe in spring with the lack of food, if one food scource ran out they would wander off looking for another one.

We found location had a big influence on night feeders, if the surrounding bush was not thick enough it was only hit at night. There were numerous times you could hear them siffing the air before you saw them.
 
aulrich said:
We found location had a big influence on night feeders, if the surrounding bush was not thick enough it was only hit at night. There were numerous times you could hear them siffing the air before you saw them.
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I can see for 55-60yds from my stand in one direction. about 25yds most other direction. Lots of underbrush and short spruce and red pines. This is an open area for around here but I'm sure most bears wouldnt hesitate to travel through it during daylight.


I have tried baiting powerlines and gas lines before and other open areas. Its a waste of time, all you do is fatten them up because they never ever hit the baits during daylight and offer a shot..
 
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