Ontario Fall Black Bear Hunting

Pathfinder

Pathfinder

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Im going to give the Fall (late summer) hunt a shot this year, Never Hunted bear before. Im not sure if I will start on August 15th because im concerned with hot weather and preservation of the meat.

We have built a tree stand about about 20 yards from the bait spot. Im wondering what my best bets are for bait or should I even be baiting this early.

Is it good to use fish as strong scent to get them coming or will the rancid smell turn them away after a while ?
 
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Pathfinder said:
Im going to give the Fall (late summer) hunt a shot this year, Never Hunted bear before. Im not sure if I will start on August 15th because im concerned with hot weather and preservation of the meat.

We have built a tree stand about about 20 yards from the bait spot. Im wondering what my best bets are for bait or should I even be baiting this early.

Is it good to use fish as strong scent to get them coming or will the rancid smell turn them away after a while ?
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I usually start baiting on the 1st of August and maybe start hunting by the 20th or so.

A few fish is a good idea for odour but I find they rarely eat the rotten fish. Sweets is the name of the game with bears. Molasses on everything.
 
H4831 said:
Are you sure that is going to be close enough for shooting him?
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Im certainly not going to bait him in a cutover....

It was meant to be a flexible setup for some of my partners who own crossbows and maybe use them, I didnt' measure, but might be a bit further and in any case I was always told that black bear would feel more at ease coming out in tighter surroudings as opposed to venturing out in the middle of a field to eat the bait.
 
Pathfinder said:
Im certainly not going to bait him in a cutover....

It was meant to be a flexible setup for some of my partners who own crossbows and maybe use them, I didnt' measure, but might be a bit further and in any case I was always told that black bear would feel more at ease coming out in tighter surroudings as opposed to venturing out in the middle of a field to eat the bait.
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Your right, they will come to a bait out in a cut, but it will be well after shooting light.

Stick to the bush, I like the replanted areas that are grown up about 30ft.
 
Yep, this pretty much describes the spot, it was probably logged in the 50's or 60's and mostly Jackpine. There is a huge ant hill near the bait, I wonder they are into Ants ? If he was I dont' think he will once he finds the goodies.

I hope to be able to setup a somekind of a fixed pail or barrel when I go back this weekend.

Anybody use the Honey Burn technique ? if so do you burn it in the stand or set it up near the bait ?
 
H4831 said:
Are you sure that is going to be close enough for shooting him?
Click to expand...

And here I thought you were the only member of this site I could actually respect...how foolish of me eh.

Pathfinder said:
Im going to give the Fall (late summer) hunt a shot this year, Never Hunted bear before. Im not sure if I will start on August 15th because im concerned with hot weather and preservation of the meat.

We have built a tree stand about about 20 yards from the bait spot. Im wondering what my best bets are for bait or should I even be baiting this early.

Is it good to use fish as strong scent to get them coming or will the rancid smell turn them away after a while ?
Click to expand...

Im in the same boat as you. This year will be my first year of Black Bear hunting and I'll have alot of learning to do.

Good luck to you man.
 
He said--- "and here I thought you were the only member of this site I could actually respect...how foolish of me eh."


Can't I please have a little fun, too?
 
the key with bears is to remember your baiting, not feeding. a white grocery bag of butcher scraps at a time is fine. secondly get him on a schedule. bear hunting more than 10 minutes from home is not so good. try to be close enough that the little bit goes out same time each day. it'll get to where he's just out of your line of sight waiting to hear you leave, i say hear cause their bat blind. They wont start comming to bait till it rots a bit. thats ok, nail cans of sardines up on tree sides, that will start the whole show. When you put your meat out try to put out the odd upper leg bone so you get a drag trail. You'll get direction of travel off that. Have fun
 
Contact your local Tim Hortons and ask them to save their day olds, you will probably have to go in every morning early or they won't save them, but you'll get bags and bags of bear bait from them.
 
H4831 said:
He said--- "and here I thought you were the only member of this site I could actually respect...how foolish of me eh."


Can't I please have a little fun, too?
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You're an old timer...no fun for you. Eat your oatmeal and yell at the kids who lost there frisbee in your yard :).
 
I think some of the local Tim horton's had stopped giving the away the day old's because some of the hunters were fighting over them.....sheesh ! Ill give it another shot.
 
We burned the honey on the ground and after the burn climbed into stand. The fastest bear was at the stand in about 10 mimutes after the burn? Don't leave burner on ground in case a non shooter decides to chew on it?
 
No spring hunt over here, In my area spot and stalk doesn't work so well when you can only see 10 ft in front of you (in most cases for me).

Called a couple of Tim Horton's this week, they refuse to give anything, they would much rather throw it out, somekind of liability issue.
 
Pathfinder said:
No spring hunt over here, In my area spot and stalk doesn't work so well when you can only see 10 ft in front of you (in most cases for me).

Called a couple of Tim Horton's this week, they refuse to give anything, they would much rather throw it out, somekind of liability issue.
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Sardines I tell ya. nail the full can to the tree high as you can reach. About 3 of them. Bring em for miles
 
I use whole kernel corn. I usually start baiting the middle of August on private land for a September 1st opener in Southern Ontario. I bait in an opening completely surrounded by bush on three sides and swamp on one side. I dump a forty kg bag of corn on the ground and on top of that empty a 20 litre pail of used fryer oil. I do this twice a week usually Saturday and Tuesday. Last year I lucked into a supply of ice cream that I also used. If you have access to old baked goods that is a bonus. The beauty of the oil is that Yogi will track it all over the bush. The beauty of the corn is that the bears have to eat it there at the bait site rather than drag it off into the bush. I have never been unsuccessful using this plan.
A word to the wise, Do not let people know where you are baiting. Some outfitters will run hounds off your bait pile resulting in their success at your expense.
 
You'll often notice if its real warm and your butcher scraps are bigger they dont move. Theres still bear comming. He dont want to take em,he wants to lick the death beetles off the meat
 
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