Has Spring Bear ruined bear season?

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Originally Posted by MihajloSimsic

Update.
None of the 4 baits we put had any hits after 3 weeks. So we went to two different areas.

One in 53 and another in zone 60. Both areas I've heard of others hunting near. Put cell cameras on both baits as well. Mostly just planning for the fall season. If it gets hit within the next month we'll visit at least two more times to refresh the bait and put a barrel for the fall season.

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Is it possible that someone in the area (within 20 miles or so) has a better bait out than you have??? That's my first thought.

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Originally Posted by werner.reiche

Is it possible that someone in the area (within 20 miles or so) has a better bait out than you have??? That's my first thought.

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In some areas. Yes. But I've put out close to 100 baits in 16 zones (including this season). In some zones it is possible and the likely conclusion I have come to. But in several different areas I've baited I've never seen another hunter or heard of another hunter in the area. Even then I'd at the very least have ONE hit in the past year but most of my baits have gone completely untouched even after 1 or 2 years. Logs still neatly stacked. At this point after travelling tens of thousands of kilometers and putting nearly 100 baits and not getting a chance at a single bear over the past 3 seasons, if these last two baits don't get any hits within a month I am considering just completely giving up on bear hunting. Maybe I'll give it a go if I'm already in the area doing something more productive, but bear hunting will definitely be an afterthought at that point... At this point I've done absolutely everything I can and more than I should have to get on bears again.

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Originally Posted by MihajloSimsic

In some areas. Yes. But I've put out close to 100 baits in 16 zones (including this season). In some zones it is possible and the likely conclusion I have come to. But in several different areas I've baited I've never seen another hunter or heard of another hunter in the area. Even then I'd at the very least have ONE hit in the past year but most of my baits have gone completely untouched even after 1 or 2 years. Logs still neatly stacked. At this point after travelling tens of thousands of kilometers and putting nearly 100 baits and not getting a chance at a single bear over the past 3 seasons, if these last two baits don't get any hits within a month I am considering just completely giving up on bear hunting. Maybe I'll give it a go if I'm already in the area doing something more productive, but bear hunting will definitely be an afterthought at that point... At this point I've done absolutely everything I can and more than I should have to get on bears again.

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That's a lot of effort you've put in for 0 bears. I really don't think Ontario is short on bears though. I have a few through every fall raiding apple trees at my bushlot. They made a mess of the trees last year.

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Originally Posted by Species8472

Perhaps a localized problem. Can't say there is any shortage in my area of 47. Last fall I saw 11 different bears in 2 days of hunting and took a nice size eater. Also saw the biggest bear I have ever seen in my 40+ years of hunting but he did not expose his vitals.

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Good point.
We have a hunt camp in 49 and only fall bear hunt, can't take the bugs in the spring. In the last two seasons we have shut the hunt down after two days of hunting due to over harvesting concerns.
We hunt a group of 8 and in 2021 we took 3 opening day and 1 the second day.....shut it down.
2022 we took 4 opening day and 1 the second day.....shut it down

We are having a group discussion before this years hunt to decide on harvest numbers moving forward

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Originally Posted by huntnmachine

Good point.
We have a hunt camp in 49 and only fall bear hunt, can't take the bugs in the spring. In the last two seasons we have shut the hunt down after two days of hunting due to over harvesting concerns.
We hunt a group of 8 and in 2021 we took 3 opening day and 1 the second day.....shut it down.
2022 we took 4 opening day and 1 the second day.....shut it down

We are having a group discussion before this years hunt to decide on harvest numbers moving forward

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There seems to be a higher population in the southern WMU's than the near north. We still have a camp in WMU 50 we use for Deer and Upland seeing as how there's virtually no Moose tags to be had. We had a decent Deer hunt the last couple of seasons with 2 bucks among 5 of us. Not a Bear in sight for the week. In my home zone WMU 73,Bears are known to live between Oshawa and Newcastle north to Port Perry and Orono. They've been getting into garbage bins at local restaurants quite often. Staffers are warned to be cautious when opening the bins. A couple of folks have had nasty surprises lately. Nobody got hurt except the crap scared out of them.

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Originally Posted by MihajloSimsic

In some areas. Yes. But I've put out close to 100 baits in 16 zones (including this season). In some zones it is possible and the likely conclusion I have come to. But in several different areas I've baited I've never seen another hunter or heard of another hunter in the area. Even then I'd at the very least have ONE hit in the past year but most of my baits have gone completely untouched even after 1 or 2 years. Logs still neatly stacked. At this point after travelling tens of thousands of kilometers and putting nearly 100 baits and not getting a chance at a single bear over the past 3 seasons, if these last two baits don't get any hits within a month I am considering just completely giving up on bear hunting. Maybe I'll give it a go if I'm already in the area doing something more productive, but bear hunting will definitely be an afterthought at that point... At this point I've done absolutely everything I can and more than I should have to get on bears again.

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Seems like you've invested a lot of time and money into this. Curious, if you've considered simply hiring a local guide? I know some people enjoy the DIY aspect, but at this point it seems like you may get a better return on your investment if you could simply go out to a site which you know has bears and save the cost and time of baiting/finding a spot with bears

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Originally Posted by Ryeguy

Seems like you've invested a lot of time and money into this. Curious, if you've considered simply hiring a local guide? I know some people enjoy the DIY aspect, but at this point it seems like you may get a better return on your investment if you could simply go out to a site which you know has bears and save the cost and time of baiting/finding a spot with bears

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I've considered it but this point I'd rather cut my losses. $1800/per hunter every year is overly expensive, the only way bear hunting would be cost effective at all is if I found a spot reliable for bears which doesn't seem to be feasible at this point so far. Plus if I go to an outfitter they're doing 95% of the hunting for me, at that point it's pretty much just shooting. If these two baits don't get hit then that's probably then that'll be the last time I'll go out of my way to pursue bears. I wont be putting any more baits unless I'm already in the area doing something more productive.

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Originally Posted by MihajloSimsic

I've considered it but this point I'd rather cut my losses. $1800/per hunter every year is overly expensive, the only way bear hunting would be cost effective at all is if I found a spot reliable for bears which doesn't seem to be feasible at this point so far. Plus if I go to an outfitter they're doing 95% of the hunting for me, at that point it's pretty much just shooting. If these two baits don't get hit then that's probably then that'll be the last time I'll go out of my way to pursue bears. I wont be putting any more baits unless I'm already in the area doing something more productive.

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Something doesn't add up to me. Sat a grand total of 2 hours this spring and saw 3 bears and shot one. Talked to a buddy down the road and he saw 8 different bears his first sit and shot one. Seems like my part of 47 (Nipissing Township) is rife with bears.

I didn't get a bear either this spring. But I am at the stage where I just enjoy being in the woods and if I happen to get a bear great but if not, I won't let it ruin my season and will be back at it next spring... :)

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Originally Posted by bellerivercrossbowhunter

I didn't get a bear either this spring. But I am at the stage where I just enjoy being in the woods and if I happen to get a bear great but if not, I won't let it ruin my season and will be back at it next spring... :)

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