Bear Baiting legal distances

Hi all,

As bear season approaches I am scouting spots. I have a question about the newish bear bait regulations. 200m from a recreational trail, and they consider a recreational trail a path that is established and maintained by an organization for the general public and is reasonably sign posted and marked as a trail.

I found a nice spot Id love to hunt but its only about 40m off the trail, but its perfect...I swear.... I'm confused as to if this trail meets the definition. It is quite a large trail, enough to fit a truck down it, but it was not built or meant for vehicles. It was made for snowmobiling. There are no signs on this portion of the trail, I believe it is no longer used, as it wasn't last winter, there are other portions further away that is still used and maintained by OFSC. So it is definitely not maintained in the summer, and as far as I know wasn't maintained last winter, but there are portions a km or so away that are signed and maintained in winter. I was thinking this regulations were meant for hiking trails etc, something like the oak ridges trail stuff like that, we lots of people use.

This property is 100% crown land, I spent most of my days out there and have only ever seen one person in the last 2 years driving an atv around and another driving a hummer.

Whatya think? Play it safe and not bait it or am I good to go?

Your best move would be to copy and paste your question with the addition of the exact location into an email to the local MNR. Then keep the reply as your due diligence. Really doesn't matter what we think here. For me I would rather sit there in peace for my bear than worrying what if someone shows up.

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Originally Posted by finsfurfeathers

Your best move would be to copy and paste your question with the addition of the exact location into an email to the local MNR. Then keep the reply as your due diligence. Really doesn't matter what we think here. For me I would rather sit there in peace for my bear than worrying what if someone shows up.

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The last thing I would ever do is tell the ministry where my bait is. Just asking for a visit, likely just before dusk too. Maybe ask about the definition of that part of the trail, but that's it.

Cheers

I have access to a 40 acre property, there is only 1 spot on the entire property that meets the new rules, it is sort of insane.

Everything in the new bait regs seemed stacked against bait stations in southern Ontario. With the distance from houses,trails and roads,meeting every requirement is exceedingly difficult. Spot and stalk is definitely the way to go. As Smitty55,unless you can make a bait station as unobtrusive as possible,the less said to anyone,especially,the Ministry,the better. Several techniques I know work well come to mind like molasses,honey and peanut butter spread on a stump or simply cook a bacon n' eggs breakfast on a camp stove and leave the bacon grease in the frying pan before first light,then,back off 50 yds sometimes works quite nicely.

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Originally Posted by maskedburito

Hi all,

I found a nice spot Id love to hunt but its only about 40m off the trail, but its perfect...I swear.... I'm confused as to if this trail meets the definition. It is quite a large trail, enough to fit a truck down it, but it was not built or meant for vehicles. It was made for snowmobiling. There are no signs on this portion of the trail, I believe it is no longer used, as it wasn't last winter, there are other portions further away that is still used and maintained by OFSC. So it is definitely not maintained in the summer, and as far as I know wasn't maintained last winter, but there are portions a km or so away that are signed and maintained in winter. I was thinking this regulations were meant for hiking trails etc, something like the oak ridges trail stuff like that, we lots of people use.

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Yup I agree the MNR is generally out there not to help people but just screw them, so I would be very careful about showing them anything. It sounds like your property does not fit the criteria - sorry. 200 meters from a public trail/roadway is a long way. If a trail is on Crown Land it is considered a public trial.

To be legal you pretty much have to be on private land, water access or do what I did. I took a GPS and walked straight back 200 plus meters into the bush. I flagged the trail. Once my bait site was in place, I then drove my truck around all the trails to make sure I could not get any closer than 200 meters to it. I have to carry all my bait in by pail. A lot of work but I am 100 percent legal - for now........... ?

Good luck my friend.

I cant wait to carry my cross-bow, Back-pack, climber & bait bucket through the tangled / smampy ancle breaker bog where I hunt for over 200 yards.

I might consider setting up a ladder stand ahead of time or gound-blind so I have one less thing to carry... lol

I really hope I fill my tag on the first day... :)

Our hunting area is a 7 hour drive for us. The past two years we haven't been bear hunting due to various circumstances. We've got some major work cut out for us moving our sites this year.

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Originally Posted by smitty55

The last thing I would ever do is tell the ministry where my bait is. Just asking for a visit, likely just before dusk too. Maybe ask about the definition of that part of the trail, but that's it.

Cheers

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A C.O. came to visit my son at dusk while he was in the tree over his bait, for bear. The officer waited for 20 minutes about 50 yards away in the growing dark for my son to come down from his stand and leave before approaching him, as the, 'officer and a gentleman', said he did not want to spoil my sons hunt. Good job sir, well done..... PS., the C.O. had walked in 2 miles from the road so he was going to check something, how he knew my son was there we have no idea. My son got to his stand by boat!

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Originally Posted by bellerivercrossbowhunter

I cant wait to carry my cross-bow, Back-pack, climber & bait bucket through the tangled / smampy ancle breaker bog where I hunt for over 200 yards.

I might consider setting up a ladder stand ahead of time or gound-blind so I have one less thing to carry... lol

I really hope I fill my tag on the first day... :)

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You cant cut/trim yourself a trail to make the walk/ride into the bait a bit less of a PITA?

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Originally Posted by toddy

You cant cut/trim yourself a trail to make the walk/ride into the bait a bit less of a PITA?

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Yep that's the plan... :) But not too much, don't want to get a fine for cutting trees down on crown-land... lol

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Originally Posted by toddy

You cant cut/trim yourself a trail to make the walk/ride into the bait a bit less of a PITA?

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The downside to that is leaving a trail anyone can find that leads straight to your gear. It would be a worse PITA to get all the way in there to find your gear gone.