Bear Hunt

Was up Sudbury way for some bear hunting. I bait with popcorn (its light and I'm a good hike in), and put that in a steel 5gal pail chained to a tree with a couple holes in the bottom so they have to roll it around for a while to get all the corn out. Works well, until this one bear I had decided he really wanted the entire pail. Broke the chain and took it with him. Luckily I had some nice trail cam pics or I wouldn't have believed it. First pic is him proudly holding the pail, next is him walking away with it in his arms. A few days later and a new pail he came in and then spooked when I think he winded me. Thought I blew my only chance, but 1/2hr later he came back and I got a good shot.

Not the biggest bear (about 175lbs I think), but for me solo hunting its about perfect. Quartered him there and packed it out all in the dark and into the propane fridge for the night as it was very mild. Spent the next day deboning and packaging, to get it into the freezer.

Bear burgers are my fav, and Mrs Fishie has been asking for them for a couple years now so all is good.

Searched the area and never did find that damn pail. Will have to check in the spring when the leaf cover is gone.Attachment 42338Attachment 42340Attachment 42339

Great story. Great pictures, looks like Winnie the Pooh holding onto a jar of honey, lol. Congrats on the bear.

Great solo hunt, that's a fair amount of work for 1 guy but I'm sure it was rewarding! Nice bear!

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Great story and pic. Congrats on the hunt.

lol, what a great pic,
Congrats on a great Bear.
175-225 is what I like to target.
Great eating and easier to haul out solo.

:thumbup:

That is too funny.... Congrats on the bear

The story and pics to back it up are awesome... Congrats on a great hunt...

FishHog can you talk a bit more (in detail) about your baiting technique. Seems a lot easier than hauling a 55 gallon drum.
Thanks

My pail get taken 300 m away to the safe place in the secluded marshland

Only recovered after extensive third search

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FishHog

Was up Sudbury way for some bear hunting. I bait with popcorn (its light and I'm a good hike in), and put that in a steel 5gal pail chained to a tree with a couple holes in the bottom so they have to roll it around for a while to get all the corn out. Works well, until this one bear I had decided he really wanted the entire pail. Broke the chain and took it with him. Luckily I had some nice trail cam pics or I wouldn't have believed it. First pic is him proudly holding the pail, next is him walking away with it in his arms. A few days later and a new pail he came in and then spooked when I think he winded me. Thought I blew my only chance, but 1/2hr later he came back and I got a good shot.

Not the biggest bear (about 175lbs I think), but for me solo hunting its about perfect. Quartered him there and packed it out all in the dark and into the propane fridge for the night as it was very mild. Spent the next day deboning and packaging, to get it into the freezer.

Bear burgers are my fav, and Mrs Fishie has been asking for them for a couple years now so all is good.

Searched the area and never did find that damn pail. Will have to check in the spring when the leaf cover is gone.Attachment 42338Attachment 42340Attachment 42339

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Outstanding. Size wise that is perfect when solo and great eating as well. Still chasing mine but have not been out for a few weeks now. Bunged up my ankle and knee last weekend and was on the mend but seem to have regressed in the last day or two. Might have to rest them for a week or so. Seems like my brain has to catch up with mid fifties body.

Great story and display of determination and focus, to do that alone.

The picture of that bear caught red handed stealing the pale is hilarious.

Those trailcam pics are amazing. Lmao. That's one crafty bear you managed to outsmart. Congrats

Thanks guys, yeah the pics made my day. My wife still laughs about it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by fratri

FishHog can you talk a bit more (in detail) about your baiting technique. Seems a lot easier than hauling a 55 gallon drum.
Thanks

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Just a 5gal pail (plastic will work but get chewed up pretty good). I went to metal, drill 2 holes in the bottom outside edge (about 11/2" dia). I run a piece of all thread up through the bottom and the top with a wing nut on top. Couple washers and nuts to hold it there. Use the wing nut to get the top off, fill it up and put the top back on. I put a heavy rock on top so coons can knock it over, and a couple small rocks covering the 2 holes to keep the squirrels out.
I take the wire handle off the pail and drill those holes large enough to run a chain through and chain it to a tree, about 12' of chain.

They typically just roll it around and popcorn falls out. some are more aggressive and even the metal pails can take a beating, but they hold up better.

I pop corn in a turkey fryer pot, once I have a bear coming, I bait daily, but 5gal of popcorn in a garbage bag is easy to hike in with and seems to keep them coming. I had 2 sites that were active, but this bear seemed to be taunting me so I hunted him the most. Had a small one coming in as well that I could easily have taken, but I'll let him get bigger.

Attachment 42343

You can see the pail better in this pic.

Great story and bear, congrats.

the picture of him taking the pail is priceless lol

Well done , a good source of plastic pails is your local restaurant. They may not have 5 gallon but will surely have the ones that are about 2 1/2 gallon and they will likely happily give them to you for free or real cheap just to get them out of the way. I have the 5 gallons that say tahini on them and the smaller ones that had mustard and mayo in them.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by FishHog

Just a 5gal pail (plastic will work but get chewed up pretty good). I went to metal, drill 2 holes in the bottom outside edge (about 11/2" dia). I run a piece of all thread up through the bottom and the top with a wing nut on top. Couple washers and nuts to hold it there. Use the wing nut to get the top off, fill it up and put the top back on. I put a heavy rock on top so coons can knock it over, and a couple small rocks covering the 2 holes to keep the squirrels out.
I take the wire handle off the pail and drill those holes large enough to run a chain through and chain it to a tree, about 12' of chain.

They typically just roll it around and popcorn falls out. some are more aggressive and even the metal pails can take a beating, but they hold up better.

I pop corn in a turkey fryer pot, once I have a bear coming, I bait daily, but 5gal of popcorn in a garbage bag is easy to hike in with and seems to keep them coming. I had 2 sites that were active, but this bear seemed to be taunting me so I hunted him the most. Had a small one coming in as well that I could easily have taken, but I'll let him get bigger.

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Thanks for taking the time to respond. One day I may have to give that a try. Congrats again

Great story and pictures, well done

Nicely done congrats, too funny

Nicely done
Looks like some good eats and a great experience.

Cool story. I like the thought and effort that you put in to get your bear.