What kind of Bear Bait is the best?

[kc]

we`ve used everything from dounuts, cookies and all kinds of sweets to all kinds of meats & fish. no matter what we use black oil sunflower seeds seem to work best. i can load up a barrel with whatever i want, but the bears will eat every black oil seed on the ground 1st, before touching anything in the barrel.

[kordog]

thanks for sharing that kc im gonna try it . i would imagine if you spread them around it would keep them busy on the bait for quite awhile.

[Nolte]

We don't have much luck for leaving anything scattered around. Those little critters will have all that stuff slicked up in no time. We have better luck enclosing it in a hollow stump with a wooden lid. Then at least a bear has to open it up first for the other critters to get at it. I'd use a culvert or barrel, but it's not legal in WI.

As for food, bears will eat nearly anything when they are hungry. They will also be extremely picky when the mast crops or other sources are available. It's those times that you will find out what they really like to eat, then just keep some of that in there. Bread, Grease, Granola, Cookie dough, cereal, whatever you can find that is cheap and you've got a lot of.

[007pennpal]

Bears eat anything just about. Its all about carbohydrates cause they are trying to put on pounds. For me, it is whatever I can get for free or cheap. That way I can have more baits and cams looking for a big bear. Do you guys use bait to hot start a chase when training a pup? Just curious as to if it is a good idea. Was wondering if it is ok at first but them make them work for a trail later??? Give me your feedback. Also, I bait in the coon for puppy training.

[Nolte]

Do you guys use bait to hot start a chase when training a pup? Just curious as to if it is a good idea.

Was wondering if it is ok at first but them make them work for a trail later??? Give me your feedback.

Yes, great way to maybe get a good hot track that a young dog can smell.

Second question, not all bait tracks are hot lots of our fall tracks are as old as you can run. Bait tracks can sometimes be extremely difficult to sort out. You have an in and an out track, sometimes on the same trail or with multiple bears. Most road tracks you know the "out" way and get them started right. Dogs also seem to go right on tracks that are struck. To add to that, on a bait track you are putting a young dog in the biggest concentration of trash you can find. Anything and everything has probably been on/or around that bait with the exception of hoofed animals (and I've even seen them around).

My best answer is Yes, sometimes and it depends. One thing I do know is running baits is a LOT of work.

[blackpaws]

One thing I do know is running baits is a LOT of work.

that's why some shy away from baiting

what is even worse is baiting 5 baits 3 times a week from April 15th until the end of kill season (october) and only running off 1 of those baits 1 time throughout the whole summer and fall!!!!

or baiting baits for 2 months prior to training season only to have a different hunting party come in and put one 50 yards away. kind of a kick in the nuts!!!

baits are good for training young dogs on re-hits. on a cold track in the mornings it's usually best to put out a jump dog a few times and let the pups go in behind after it's straightened out aways. doesn't always work though. i have strung 6 dogs out before only to have them all come running back to the truck because that was the back track and my jump dog came back to the bait and went out a different way but the pups didn't go with and now they are running up and down the road and my dad is cussing and swearing at me for puting too many dogs out. that's what i would refer to as a "clusterf#$k". Ask Nolte, he's seen my dogs do that before

[Hemi01]

Small kids, P.E.T.A. people, Green peace people, X wifes, X best friends that are now with X wifes

[dandavidson]

I am still laughing!!

D

[kordog]

them bears got better taste buds than that hemi!