Questions about bear hunting in Southern Ontario

[tommy88]

Hey guys, its my first year bear hunting so I'm still new to all this. I have bait set up around Muskoka/Haliburton. I heard that bears den up around Halloween. Is this true? I'm sure there's a more accurate way to tell then that.

Next question. Assuming I've set up my baits properly in a good location, how long on average does it take to get bears to find the bait.... I know it depends. But in general, is it one of those things that if there's no bears by "X" amount of days, should a guy just relocate the bait?

 

[maple_leaf_eh]

It is called hunting for a reason. The animals have as good a chance of seeing you as you have of not seeing them.

Your set up could be in the perfect spot but maybe there are no bears interested. The weather in Eastern Ontario has been mild without a frost. As long as there is green on the plants and berries on the shrubs, a bear won't need to look for your bait. They might be opportunists, but they are also lazy. The bears den up whenever they feel like it! There is no date on their calendar. Their habits depend on food supply and the temperature.

Are there any bears where you are baiting? The yearlings that have been pushed out by momma will wander looking for territory of their own, but they are small and transient. Do you have a mature boar in the area? That all depends. Are you likely to find a sow? Probably more likely than not.

 

[DVXDUDE]

I hunt same area. But north in WMU 49. I've defintely seen bear tracks in the snow during November deer hunt.

I've baited at 8am in October. Had a trail cam picture of a bear at the bait about noon.

Id say if nothing in a week it might be time to move. At this late in the season anyways...