Bear Hunting in Haliburton, tips and information

[Evan Zinn]

Hello fellow hunters.

Me and a freind are going bear hunting this fall up in Haliburton which is pretty well north to central ontario. Black bear of course. I have not hunted this animal before being from southern ontario. I wanted some tips on baiting, set up and anything else useful. All are welcome, any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks I look forward to hearing some good info.

EZ

 

[ben hunchak]

You might want to contact B. Mitchell, author of "Supreme loads for the 45/70" and other reloading guides, as he hunts Black Bear exclusively in the Haliburton area of Ontario, and seems to always have success.

 

[cosmic]

Lots of bear around.... You need to a tree stand and bait pile, or several, depending upon the body count. Problem is, you have to establish, and resupply, the pile before and during the hunt. Hard to do if you're not local.

 

[Adrian J Hare]

The first tip I can give and should be the first thing you do,

Scout the area for other bait sights. There is a high number of bear hunters all across this area and the fastest way to spoil a lot of hard work is to setup close or beside someone that has all ready been there for years.

I've had it happen and I've seen the loss of a good bait and it is frustrating. There is Outfitters that use these areas as well and it is not a good idea to get tangled up with someone that holds a license to the area for bear hunting.

Just do your home work and you could start on a hunt that is enjoyable and will get the blood pumping...

 

[gth]

The first tip I can give and should be the first thing you do,

Scout the area for other bait sights. There is a high number of bear hunters all across this area and the fastest way to spoil a lot of hard work is to setup close or beside someone that has all ready been there for years.

Couldnt agree more with that statement. Have a look around, bear hunting is getting really popular now that getting a moose tag is the same chance as winning the lotto.

There is Outfitters that use these areas as well and it is not a good idea to get tangled up with someone that holds a license to the area for bear hunting.

That licence doesnt allow an outfitter anymore rights in the bush than any other citizen, regardless of what #### and bull story they try and feed you.

I try and avoid outfitters but its hard when they have a bait going on every road accessible piece of crown land for miles. (yes, road accesible is important when your hauling bait) I have given up trying to avoid the outfitters as they seem to be everywhere. I set up where I want, if the outfitters dont want a bunch of clients asking for refunds they will leave you alone.

 

[carew]

Well Haliburton area does seem to be getting over run by bear hunters. If it was me i would find a chunk of crown land that isnt as far north like around the Buckhorn,Bobcaygean,Kinmount area and find a logging road that runs a long ways back into the bush (still lots of bears but less hunters). I would hang at least two stands around a clearing or where you can see a decent sized area with your bait in the center. I find the best bait for me is alot of old bacon grease and cooking fat along with some small marshmellows(they have to work giving you a shot) you can put donuts and stale bread and cover the whole mess in either maple syrup or molasses. It will attract them like flies and i usally put it in a barrel and make sure that they cant drag it off.Another way is drop into many of the farmers in the area and ask if you can hunt in their corn fields casue there are always bears in those areas and they are usally bigger and carrying a lot more fat.

 

[Evan Zinn]

One of the guys I am hunting with owns a piece of land up there. 12 acres back a bush road, there are other people that have cottages on the road but there's is back and secluded. There is a lady up the road that has had many problems because she doesn't properly store her garbage. And for some reason has decided the best way to try and get rid of the bears is to fire shots off in to the air when she catches them at the cans at night. Of course the bears now know this is not a threat to them and still come back. I am going to get a good tour of the layout of his land and check for other signs of hunters of course. I don't want to intrude, on the other hand no one has asked permission to use there land so hopefully no one is trespassing. Thanks for the tips. Now if I could only find a way to keep that bait stocked when I am four hours south haha.
EZ