Spring bear?

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Originally Posted by fratri

I would really like to take one by still hunting an area, one day when I have a bit of time on my side, I will give it a go.... Maybe walk some power-lines or something.... Sure would be nice....
Happy hunting to all and best of luck as the season slowly but surely gets closer...

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Based on your success stalking deer I have no doubt you could pull it off with a bit prep work. Good luck if you decide to try.

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Originally Posted by huntnmachine

Our first spring bear hunt in Burks Falls (the first year it was reopened) was the end of May into June and got ate alive.
Worst bear hunt ever. The problem we have found with an early May hunt can be a mild spring which can cause the frost to come out which can make the back roads getting to our hunting grounds a sloppy mess . We have sunk our double axle trailer trying to get back to trails to off load ATV's to bait in the past.

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We will be out again this spring the last week of May or early June. The trail I use to access my selected back lake is subject to spring flooding - 2 years ago when I went in the first time to scout the water was above the bottom of my doors but it is a hard bottom so manageable (my truck can handle 34 inches of water if you go slow and the bottom is hard) although if the zodiac was not strapped down to the trailer it would have have floated off and actually any more water and the zodiac would have floated the trailer - in that case I would have to unload the boat and cross the trailer empty. Bug wise the thermacell and bug juice make it manageable.

I might be headed to NB for my first bear hunt this spring. Friend's family has a a guide business that seems to put some decent bears down.

I went out last spring for my first bear hunt. Waited till fishing season was on for lakers and whities , so to take boat with me. Put bait out first day by the 3rd and last night the bait had been hit, but no bear showed up for me. Was still a good time and we managed our first white fish out of the boat. Hunted each evening and fished each morning. Probably do it again this year.

It sure seems to depend on how long it takes spring to roll around. Last spring was very late and it wasn't until the 4th week of May that our group's baits started seeing action. South of Sudbury. Looking thru my pics now, we had set 5 baits on May 12th and the first bears to hit each were:
Bait 1: May 17
Bait 2: May 21
Bait 3: May 23
Bait 4: May 30
Bait 5: June 3

We pre-baited and had a friend baiting for us, the bears were there every day until we showed up to hunt then nothing until Thursday of the week of the hunt and nothing during daylight hours. I was told afterwards that we should have sent used work shirts from all of us to our friend and have him hang them at the stand, the smell of the guy baiting was there but not ours, so they needed to get used to our scent baiting.

Ozonic s work too. I bought three for my hunters. I just hunt the wind.

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Originally Posted by Greenhorn

Ozonic s work too. I bought three for my hunters. I just hunt the wind.

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Could you elaborate on how you play the wind at a bait site. I'm convinced that big bears will circle downwind before committing to the bait.

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Originally Posted by LowbanksArcher

Could you elaborate on how you play the wind at a bait site. I'm convinced that big bears will circle downwind before committing to the bait.

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Yep got busted more than once. Once your busted you wont see them again...lol

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Originally Posted by LowbanksArcher

Could you elaborate on how you play the wind at a bait site. I'm convinced that big bears will circle downwind before committing to the bait.

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The best way I know of is to try and take advantage of some sort of natural barrier to prevent bears from circling the bait, like a steep ridge or cliff or else water like a swamp, lake or river.

You listen well over the years Smitty. A barrier of spruce trees will defect the wind, a pinch point between two lakes,gravel pits and my favourite roads. Bears are shy and generally only walk roads near dark , lol, short cut. The ozonic s confuses the bears and make them thing the scent is old. I have the hunter send me 3 pairs of dirty stocks and I put them out every second day prior to themcoming.. Last year all the hunters shot bears on Tuesday with bad winds.