As for tactics for bigger bear , myself and my son will run 20 baits over 40 miles of logging road . Sometimes we'd haul in sand to get print size . Check the scat size . Put KFC oil on styrofoam blocks to measure between the K9s . Get burlap bags and hang bait 8 feet up a tree above your bait site and slash the bag so it will fall appart when a bear tries to take it down . Often you'll get scratch marks on the tree indicating how big the bears are and now we don't do a lot of that since we bought 12 trail cams . When the hunt is upon us we'll narrow 20 baits down to 4 or 6 giving us 2 or 3 baits each where the biggest bears are hitting . Where we are , Thunder Bay there is about a 5 week window of oppertunity to glass bears in the spring between the time they come out of their dens until the foliage is so heavy and thick that glassing is impossible . Go to the MNR and they'll have maps of the fresh cuts as that's where you want to be glassing and it's pretty easy to find bear in that window . If you get a heavy bear hitting , feed him heavy and not that popcorn shyte . They need a wide variety of nutrients so give it to them . If you feed what they need they'll stay and give you the oppertunity . Popcorn shyte will hold them for maybe a couple of days and then they'll be gone looking for the nutrients they need . When we getting bigger , interesting bears hitting we'll feed about 40 pounds every second day and then every day when the hunt is on . If there are streams and creeks going through fresh cuts in the spring before the heavy foliage is on you may want to take your canoe . Pipelines and tower lines are very good for glassing when the bears are eating the fresh green shoots in the spring . If you put just a couple of baits out you're relying on luck . The more baits you start with the faster you shift the odds in your favor and then cut the number back and feed the big ones heavy . We start to bait about 3 weeks before the hunt , if we haven't already glassed and shot . Talk to the local farmers . Bears love apples , grain , corn and veggies and most farmers don't love bears . When the rural folks get to know you they'll call you when they have problem bears . I've been doing this for just about 60 years and i've never found one single Ontario black bear that would eat a fish . Stop and talk to the rural folks not just farmers . Many don't own guns and don't hunt and get freaked out when there are bears around and the kids have to walk out to the school bus . Hope some of that helps .
