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This will be our first time spring bear hunting! :)
The season run's May 01 to June 15th. We are open to hunt for a full week & pre-bait on 3 separate weekends before our hunting week.
So with that said I want to know what your thoughts are on what you think is the best week to hunt? Beginning-middle or end of the season?
I'll be hunting with friends who are more into "spot&stalk" rather than baiting due to time constraints both with work and the new bait station distance restrictions from trails,roads and residences. I went a few days with them last year at the start of the season. Although,I wasn't with them when they finally connected,it wasn't until the third week that they had success. With S&S Bear hunting,I doubt that it really matters what time of the season hunters decide to go. It's a lot like buying a lottery ticket. You pay your money and you take your chances.
Early season. Few leaves, no or very few blackflies and coats that are in good shape are already obvious.
The first year the spring hunt was back I got a bear on May 4th. Bait had been out since mid April and was hit by the bear I shot on May 1st for the first time. Since then, most of my bait activity starts consistently around the May 24 weekend. Things get real good first two weeks of june.
Our camp was 500 miles so pre baiting was not an option. We would hunt for 7 to 14 days and started baiting when we got to camp. We found that the best results for our hunt time was the last week or two of the season when the flies tried to carry you away and it was very hot. Soon as it cooled down so would the bears finding the bait.
I’m an outfitter in New Brunswick. I love the early season for bears. I,ve been baiting the same sites for 5 years, April to November. It’ s different baitingin the spring. The ruts on and boars are fighting for sows. I bought 100 acre camp in zone 18 so I’m offering 2 hunts. Big deer here too.
It all depends upon the weather.
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.
The weather doesn’t matter. Heavy rain, they run for cover but come right back out once it stops. It gives the bow hunter lots of time to set up. Bears have a time for every thing.
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...
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by fratri
Quote:
Originally Posted by huntnmachine
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.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by Greenhorn
Yep got busted more than once. Once your busted you wont see them again...lolQuote:
Originally Posted by LowbanksArcher
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by LowbanksArcher
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.
LOL thats a pretty crazy statement to make,one look at Canada in the Rough,or Canadian Tradition will dispel that statement,they get busted numerous times on a hunt and see the bears again and generally end up taking them.Quote:
Originally Posted by bellerivercrossbowhunter
I don't put much faith in TV hunting shows... :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Gilroy
We bait our own sites but that is a great ideaQuote:
Originally Posted by Fox
Just to add some insight. I have 2 of my best stands with me sitting north of the bait. I'm at a sharp drop off behind me to the north. If I jump out of the tree to the north I would need a calendar to time me till I hit the bottom. Any west, south or east wind is advantage ME. I also have an old snow fence strung out behind me further forcing the bears to not go there - BUT more often then not - they still do! GRRR.. lots of bears started out in front of me and circle around along this cliff. They want to smell and verify the "bait package" . Until I started using my conditioning system and ozonics there were many, many long lonely days in the stands waiting for bears that should have been there. Cameras showed lots of activity until I showed up. Those were the early, frustrating years. I have plenty of videos that show me talking and pointing to the downwind and showing the wind walker puff ball blowing directly there. I also state that if a bear comes in tonight it will come from there. I'm usually right about 75%. and that is where my focus is. If the wind changes then so does my ozonics and the expected entry point.
Some bears just don't care but the majority do. Especially if you're in an area were outfitters or others have been baiting through the years. 2 yrs ago 15 bears were taken within 10 miles of me. I got the largest, my partner the next largest and my son the 3rd. the other 12 bears were all (largest) 166lbs or less. Young bears are easy. They smarten up as they age. Those isolated bears that never see humans almost seem stupid. Not the ones I'm dealing with. Most of them are carrying slugs, shotgun pellets, SSG's, .22 rounds etc. Get smart or DIE!
It's a great game animal to hunt but don't think is easy.
Great insight and your right......it is not easy
Did this last year and found out you definitely don't want to use a shirt you like. They torn mine to shreds.Quote:
Originally Posted by Fox
Why not the hunt is filmed right as it happens in live time?Quote:
Originally Posted by bellerivercrossbowhunter
I've had some limited exposure as to how those videos are made. A half-hour show can take 1-3 months to complete. Editing is an art form. It's definitely not as easy as they make it out to be.Quote:
Originally Posted by Gilroy
IMHO the best week to hunt bears in the spring is the first full week the grass is lush green. Weather varies this week a little each year. Location in Ontario will change this week depending where you plan to hunt.
here's an old pic from 2003 .. This was one of our countless experiments trying to come up with the perfect bear baiting system...
it shows an elevated barrel with a chain skirt (raven deterrent) on the front.
notice the 2 shirts. mine and my partners right in the bears face.
I still do this to this day. I have a whole drawer of t shirts that my better half won't even use for rags.
I wear those shirts so often (unwashed) that I'm mistaken for a vagrant most days!
I now rip the tshirts in half lengthwise and hang half at each bait on every rebait trip. I run 5 baitsites.
I go through a lot of shirts! I'm a regular at value village. I buy the ones no one in their right minds would wear. They're cheaper!
Attachment 37959
I remeber you talking about the set up to me, never saw a pic though. I found if they sent me socks, I could put them out for two weeks every second day.
Out of curiosity are you heading to crown land or are you hunting private. I don't want to know where. I'm not prying for info. Just curious if you expect to bait on public and hope it doesn't get bothered? Have you had experience with this because it is something I also want to do on my own.
We hunt crown land. Never an issue with our baits or cameras being touched by humans. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by cb750
I guess socks would work - and if you proved it out - then hey! it must work. I got the shirt idea front a bear product supplier from Wisconsin 20 yrs ago. He hunts 4 or 5 different states/provinces. He always mailed tshirts to the outfitters to be hung before he arrived. He liked to get his bear in the first 2 days then go fishing for the rest of the week. He said "better to be looking at them early then looking for them later" ...Quote:
Originally Posted by Greenhorn
just bought 15 new game cameras and getting ready for this years bear adventures. Eeehaw!
congrats,i only bought 6 last year. buying maybe 12 more this spring. your right about early. good luck Dennis.
I’m running 18 baits this year. 6 in three different zones. Everybody hunts a fresh bait. I know all the wind direction for each stand and try to get them tohunt the wind. One guy lost two 350-400 pounders . Last fall, another trophy huffed at him the first night, so he flashed the area before coming down and the bear came in later. Lol,he’s not hunting there in the spring. The trophy bears on this river, unreal.
Good to hear!Quote:
Originally Posted by bellerivercrossbowhunter
Best week for bear hunt in the last 15 days of the seasonQuote:
Originally Posted by bellerivercrossbowhunter
this is my 6 years in zone 13 and it takes one boar 6 weeks to make it to my bait. the rut starts around the third week of May and runs to the end of June.I find more and more boars every week,but they need the food. Good to see you Skull,still remember the vanilla,lol.
I've bought so many cameras over the years. started with the string activated timers ... then got into the 35mm cameras with film ... paid for a LOT of 1 hr developing. Then the early digitals ... some only had less then 1/2 gb capacity. Then color digital and now sound. red LEDs, black LEDS .... "C" batteries, "AA", "D", 6volt, 12 volt, solar panels, sealed lead acid 6v and 12v, lithium AA, I've had them all and up to 6 of each! GRRR!Quote:
Originally Posted by Greenhorn
WTF?! I coulda supported Newfoundland during the cod collapse with the money I spent.
And of course if one camera works then 2 per site is better. :confused:
currently I run ALL my equipment on 18650 rechargeable lithium batteries. Batteries are free - salvaged from laptops - I make battery packs and use this power as an auxiliary source. I now leave Costco with groceries NOT batteries HAH!
The cameras I bought were $45 each. We bought 4 different kinds and tested them for illumination, field of view, file size, ease of use, video quality (graininess) and sound quality. The 15 I finally bought tested better with video quality, field of view, Illumination distance both in distance and left and right, great night video clarity BUT the sound was almost non existing. we tore down the camera and discover the MIC on the circuit board was buried in the guts of the camera. I ordered new MICS and made adapters to hold the mic to the underside of the front door. a .076 hole drilled and the mic hot glued into place. This camera is awesome now.
The buried MIC is a design flaw and I bet there's a Chinese engineer in jail somewhere.
We've been running 2 of these cameras since before Christmas and they seem to be holding up just fine with the weather we've had.
I'd rather lose a $45 camera then a $150 one. the cameras are a Chinese product (DUH go figure) and are model H-882 ... I see now on eBay the cheapest is now $89. How - why - I don't know - but we found a seller in California and got ours for $45 US each.
I hope you’re having a good hunt this year GreenhornQuote:
Originally Posted by Greenhorn
This is going to be my #31 season for me
Big bears are alot smarter than what people think
Is a long luring experience
bait location is the most important thing
trying to set yourself up where a Bear cannot circle you around
Not to long know for the opener
Hey skull glad to see you're still kicking!
Anything new to your bear hunt this year?
other then the normal MNR micromismanaging they're famous for. :confused:
I brought all my barrels home last fall. making a few more changes to "bulletproof" the system.
The fabrication and welding needed couldn't be McGivered in the bush.
Lots of work but rewarding.
Yes bear hunting isn't easy ... and those bigger bears are even LESS easy.
will head up early May for a week to get them all redeployed.
3yrs feeding this guy big Hughie this year he's ours (I hope)
almost got him last yr - came in to about 35yds and a sow came out of no where and ran him off.
like a dog chasing a Volkswagen. I hate sows! hatem, hatem, hatem
Attachment 37989
https://img.photobucket.com/albums/v...PICT0007_3.jpg hope this works.
As Skull said "big bears are smart"
It is not always detection because of wind.
At times the big ones are not far from the bait.
They will lay down maybe 100 yards away and be there for a long time.
Seems they know when someone is in the stand.
From that distance they may see and can hear anything that is goin on in "their dining room".
They will keep other bears from the bait and in the spring, wait for a sow to come in.
Best way to shut down a bait site that has a big bear visiting regularly is to have a hunter on it.
HG
Hello SK33T3RQuote:
Originally Posted by SK33T3R
I’m still surviving, hope you’re doing good.
No nothing new just waiting see what the MNR is going to do after 2020.
I hope they are going to make the right decision.
You better get those barrels fixed up before someone else will come out with a better idea!LOL
Time to get the bear before it dies of old age.
I’ll tell you how I got my oldest bear last year ...
I went in and baitted like normal, nothing different than any other time.
But I had to be a little bit smarter than usual.
I’ve pretty much tried everything else on this guy.
What I did different this time is that I rebaited, went back to my truck, got all my gear,
started the truck, and slammed the door.
But I never left! I went back to my tree stand as quiet as possible.
Within 15 minutes , there he was!
You have to try everything you have and one trick might work more than others.
SKULLQuote:
Originally Posted by skull
IMHO - I would safely say that 90% of trophy bears die in their dens (old age? whatever?). Big bucks die out in the open and some of their racks are found by shed hunters/hikers etc. BUT trophy bears are in remote areas and in a den they just disappear. There are good numbers of trophy bears out there. Heck every bear hunter with a camera has proof of that. Yet when the season is over there are very few taken. Whoever wrote the book on how to bait/hunt bears didn't do us any favors. Yet every article ever since is a regurgitation of the same info over and over and over. Fill a barrel, cover with logs, slop grease and molasses over everything. Get as many bears on a bait as possible - multiple bears. That seems to be the mindset ingrained in most hunters. Same procedures and we can all see the same results. Like that definition of insanity.
Until someone starts thinking outside the norm then trophy bears will continue to live out their lives relatively unscathed by us hunters. They give us HOPE every time we enter the woods - like a lottery ticket gives hope every wed, fri, and sat.
My goal for the last 20 yrs has been to attract and HOLD one or two trophy bears and feed them and only them. Wean off all the young bears, all the sows and cubs, and all the varmints. Kinda like the wish list every bear hunter would send to Santa.
So my barrels are home again for what I HOPE are the last modifications. (FYI I've said this before). My barrels look like Cuban cars. More patches and welds then I'd care to admit.
I told my hunting partner 20 yrs ago that this was my plan and I hoped I didn't die of old age before I had a bulletproof solution. I'm close - but I am getting older! GGGRRR! thank god for video game cameras! great teachers - great info.
You can have your monsters,lol,only kidding. I'm set up for them now. One guy handling 350 pounds of jelly is crazy. Eater, I like 200-300 pounders. one year in Opaz,Ontario,Joe killed a 400#, no fat. We cut and wrapped the bear by 6 AM,I took the day off and Mary killed 460#, again 6 AM before we were finished. The next bear that came was big and lean,230# and again no fat. We did these 2 bears a favour. I was glad to leave,lol.
Sounds like a fantastic hunt! You were glad to leave!???? I'd be itchin to stay longer! lots of work yes - but more rewarding then words can describe. good for Joe - great for Mary!Quote:
Originally Posted by Greenhorn
One year we shot 4 bull moose in 5 days-archery- ... we got them all out whole. then we deboned, ground, cubed, steaked until we got arthritis in our hands from the cold meat. Sore backs, arms etc etc - but I wouldn't trade that for anything. We made a new rule - 2 down and we're done! Our group is down to 6 guys now.
This winter is starting to drag - 3 more months and it's back to bear country! Went to the USA mailbox and got 2 more cameras back to Canada. Getting 2 at a time. I declare them and customs waves me through. 3 more to get.
Then it's bear box fabrication time. Always busy.
I got my daughter her graduation present in advance, a spring bear hunt halfway between Gogama and Folyet May 29-June 5 2021. A month after she graduates.Quote:
Originally Posted by sawbill
We’re both looking forward to it.
Roe+
2021 we may not going to have a spring seasonQuote:
Originally Posted by Roe+
I think there will be. We're dealing with a government that realizes hunting translates into votes and Doug Ford will not make the same mistake as Mike Harris.Quote:
Originally Posted by skull
It's too bad we couldn't get an avid sportsperson (me being politically correct).... avid hunter/fisherperson - elected as Premier. Then this individual would make the MNR his personal department to clean up. A strong Premier would put that department on notice and slap some heads, maybe kick some azz, hold them responsible for their actions and RESULTS!Quote:
Originally Posted by trimmer21
until this day comes we will continue to live in a province with untapped potential just being shoddily managed.
I think Doug did us a great favour in handing the MNRF portfolio to John Yakabuski. He a mover and shaker that understands the importance of the Sportsman in this province. Getting the Vets free fishing was a good omen.
Got an e mail from John Yakabuski about a month ago on the Moose double tag issue I have.Noted it and taking it into consideration.Nice to even get a reply.Quote:
Originally Posted by MikePal
We need another John Robarts as Premier one of the best for wildlife as he was an avid hunter,born in Banff,one of the best.Quote:
Originally Posted by SK33T3R
Quote:
Originally Posted by trimmer21
I wonder if caribou will be reintroduced to Michopicoten after the wolves are gone.
round and round we go! where it stops? nobody knows!
Guess we will have to wait and see how the MNRFs sardine cans and barbed wire worked out.Quote:
Originally Posted by skull
Perhaps they will continue the spring hunt with more unnecessary new rules, ie the bait distances.
The OFAH, NOTO, and many smaller groups tried to have the baiting distance regulation dropped but they all seem to have forgotten about it now.
HG
Yes it would be nice to get rid of the bait distance. Lost a excellent spot because of that. When your hunting in the middle of nowhere, it just doesn’t make sense. IMO
It effectively eliminated all baiting in the southern part of the province because it's virtually impossible to be outside the distance parameters from a trail,road or farm building and trying to get permission on private land is like pushing a chain. That left "spot and stalk" as the only option which kind of works,but,it's like playing LottoMax.Quote:
Originally Posted by Deer Hunter
And there's still no real clarification on what is a trail. Any path through any woods is a "trail". Deer make trails, moose make trails, and at some time a person will follow that path of least resistance.
I contacted the MNR on this and they really had no answer other then call the MNR in that area. Tell them Exactly where you are and they will make a discretionary judgement if that rd. logging road, skidder path, ATV track is a trail or not.
and they promise no surprise visits once they know where all your baits are. Ya right?
I asked why there is not a MNR map showing defined trails in every WMU. They have maps and watersheds, and flood plains, and logging rds. etc etc. Why not TRAILS. It should be cut and dry - screw discretion! yes or no! pretty simple.
But I guess that the key word here is ..... simple. Like so many other MNR decisions - simple for them is difficult!
They should have came out with a trail map system then brought in the regulation. BUT NO not them ... they bring in the regulation and let everyone else guess if they're compliant. Another back azzward micromanagement attempt derived by a bunch that spend all their time behind a desk.
Look at it this way. By plugging in baiting restrictions,it's a way for the government to give with one hand (spring hunt),then,take it away with the other (extended method restrictions). It's a lot like "suck and blow" at the same time.
As a guy that doesn't hunt bear and isn't really informed on the new regulations. Which restriction is the most awkward for you guys! The minimum distance to a trail? Limitations on baiting amounts? Just curious.
All of them. It's virtually impossible to meet all the criteria without leaving oneself open to charges. The way it's written,it's like it's been carefully crafted and calculated on purpose. I've posted this before,but, a friend heads into the bush well before first light and cooks up a big breakfast with bacon,eggs,fired potatoes and coffee. He swears that if there's hungry bears within a couple of miles,they'll show up in short order. That takes care of the bait distance issue. This year,I think I might try that. Who knows,it sounds logical.Quote:
Originally Posted by DanO
There are no restrictions on bait amount, type or presentation at this point - but it was batted around a year or two ago but not put into effect. The distance requirements are baits have to be 200 metres from trails/roads and 500 metres from a residence unless you have permission from the owner of the residence. I know a lot of people have issue with this especially the guys that hunt the southern end of the range where the cottage density is high. I hunt the northern part of 47 - just south of Lake Nipissing and have not found it to be a problem. That being said I use a canoe to get further back and this mitigates the problem but does add a layer to the work involved.Quote:
Originally Posted by DanO
Does MNR react on a complaint based system or are they actually out there randomly GPSing baits to trail distances?? I could see the minimum distance being a problem on the Bruce Peninsula for sure.
I wonder if the bears know that they need to keep back from the trails that same distance too. :)
For me, that 200yds from a trail is a big hindrance....that's a heck of a long way to bring in your gear and drag out a bear....Unless you think outside the box like Species8472 does (water travel) it's hard for one person to do it all from 200yds off the trail...
My guess is that it is a combination of complaints and non-random observation - i.e if a CO sees you drive by on an ATV loaded with baiting supplies during bear season than he/she would probably follow/stop you and check things out.Quote:
Originally Posted by DanO
Trust me,if there's a complaint,the CO's will use every means available,even measuring down to the last inch if necessary. There's no room for error.Quote:
Originally Posted by DanO