For the past couple of weeks this one bear has gotten into a routine. He has been showing up around 9:00p.m., after what hunting hours will be in Sept.

Instead of eating a little bit and wandering off, this bear feels the need to set up camp at the bait site.

Why is he a A-hole bear? After all, he is only doing what bears do...eat. Well, this particular bear wants exclusive rights to the bait site. The only time he gets up is to eat more food and drive off other animals. He wont even let the poor and starving raccoon eat but the tiniest morsel of food.

And by the morning, when he has eaten all the food, he decides its time to high tail it out of there. Since he showed up past shooting hours, why would he stick around for first light.

How do I get this bear to come out in daylight hours? Come Sept. 7th I'd like to switch him to a all lead diet.

If you think he is that guarding of the bait pile why not overload the bait site with more than he can consume in one night, starting the afternoon before the season? Then slip in at first light.

Pretty simple, really. Bait the pile about an hour before daylight. Don't bait it in the evening. If he is that addicted to the bait, he will change his habits.

I have been told bears are a lot like pigs when it comes to baiting them.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Doubless:
Pretty simple, really. Bait the pile about an hour before daylight. Don't bait it in the evening. If he is that addicted to the bait, he will change his habits.

QUOTE]

+1 bait it early in the morning if you can.

quote:

Originally posted by COYOTE HUNTER:
If you think he is that guarding of the bait pile why not overload the bait site with more than he can consume in one night,

Wis has a limit on how much bait you can put out.

I have 2 bait sites so 5 gallon is all I can put out at that site at a time. In 2.5 weeks I'm done with my early morning job and can start baiting then. Due to my job, I can only get out there around 11:00.

I had a bear that would only feed after he knew I was gone after dark.He would eat all the food in the evening.I finally figured out that if I cut his food in half then he would be hungery the second night. It worked and he came in before dark.Just don't feed him raw foul, he will get sick and lay up for a few days.

I would try to establish the trail he comes in on or out, set up a couple blinds a reasonable distance away on each side (for wind) and wait till he shows up, or get out there way be fore light and have someone walk in to run him off hopefully he will give you a shot

Bait in the morning and remove what is left when shooting time ends.

Rad

A few thoughts;

I do not see a Timex on the bear. If he is showing up half hour before dark, he may continue doing this. A half hour before dark, he really doesn't care about daylight savings time, central or eastern time. Just bear time, dark, light, time to eat etc.

The portions of Wisconsin I have hunted has lots of baits. Messing around at a bait at the witching hour can have an adverse effect on the bear's willingness to hit your bait. As in "There is another pick-i-nick basket over there Boo Boo, one where no one comes around when I am heading to it"

Some bears will never be killed over a bait, no matter what you do, it will not come in during shooting hours, ever. Never.

Not putting all your eggs in one basket is good. Have a bait or two to fall back on. You have too many years in buying points to trust one bait.

...and?

Not a whole lot. That bear never came during daylight hours, and stopped coming altogether 4 days before the season opener. I've hunted seven days now with nothing to show. Its been four days since a bear has even hit the bait. Very discouraging, to say the least. I should have put a Timex in the bait pile.

They are slow hitting baits up here also fairly common at this time of year berries, acorns and any other natural foods plus hunting pressure well cause them to stop hitting baits.

When you start baiting too early in the year you often lose them before the season starts.If there is a heavy mast crop they will go for acorns exclusively .What are you baiting with? Another thing to try is a strawberry jello burn.You just mix the jello with water and put in a pan you do not care about.I have a one burner propane stove that I let it simmer on.Let it go and even burn.The scent fills the woods and has always brought in bears for me.

I will have to try the Jello burn. I've been varying what I give them each time I go out; trail mix, gummy bears, sticky granola, fresh fruit, and pastries. I lay down a nice 5 gallon blanket of fry oil every four days or so.

I have never tried a jello burn.

I do use grease burns. Build a small fire and pour your grease on it. Keep the fire under control.

Bears do stop hitting baits there.

quote:

Originally posted by youp50:
I have never tried a jello burn.

I do use grease burns. Build a small fire and pour your grease on it. Keep the fire under control.

Bears do stop hitting baits there.

Wisconsin does not allow any meat or fish products.I have done bacon burns in the UP.

Where legal, I have heard good things about the effectiveness of burns - here is a pretty good video showing a honey burn (this is not me):

Honey burns are illegal in Wis.

Saturday I did the strawberry Jello. Sunday I used my culinary prowess and did a brulee of molasses, marshmallow and anise oil. While both of the burns smelled wonderful, it did not bring in the bears.

A honey burn works, big time. BTDT.

Cant use honey

Times running out hope you get to pull the trigger on one.