spring bear 2024

[Gilroy]

Just got back now and I baited on the 1st May and had a bear come in on the 3rd, 4th and 5th all over night visits with the earliest being 10.15pm and latest 4.15am. I set up a blind and changed the barrel location by 25 yards and it seemed to be two bad moves as I have no action since then. Evening before last saw a cow Moose feeding about 50 yards north of my stand and last night three big deer busted me
on the stand all real healthy looking, snorting like crazy. Pretty sure the bait will get hit again when the place settles down so not to worried, still trying to figure out how to get them in during legal shooting times.

The one bear I had hitting the bait would be around 140lbs and its an all black bear in color.

The first time I baited I had racoons, a fisher and a flying squirrel all visit one night.

[bellerivercrossbowhunter]

Hmm well we had 2 baits visited by a bear but they haven't returned in 3 days. That seems odd. Still lots of time before we start hunting on May 27th..

[Pioneerfreq]

Just got back now and I baited on the 1st May and had a bear come in on the 3rd, 4th and 5th all over night visits with the earliest being 10.15pm and latest 4.15am. I set up a blind and changed the barrel location by 25 yards and it seemed to be two bad moves as I have no action since then. Evening before last saw a cow Moose feeding about 50 yards north of my stand and last night three big deer busted me
on the stand all real healthy looking, snorting like crazy. Pretty sure the bait will get hit again when the place settles down so not to worried, still trying to figure out how to get them in during legal shooting times.

The one bear I had hitting the bait would be around 140lbs and its an all black bear in color.

The first time I baited I had racoons, a fisher and a flying squirrel all visit one night.

By following Dr. Ken Nordberg's guidance I never really had a problem with bears only coming in at night. Having said that, I often thought about having a small portable battery operated radio on a timer that would play some talk station quietly during non-shooting hours to discourage bears from coming in at night. Bears are greedy. If they want the food, they will have to come in during legal hours to get it. Never actually tried it so YMMV.

[bellerivercrossbowhunter]

Having a strange spring season with our baits.

Bears will show up one day and feed. Then they vanish and have yet to return with any consistency. I am wondering if we have made a dent in the population hunting the same spots for the last 10 years or so? Could be time to branch out to new territory.

[LowbanksArcher]

Having a strange spring season with our baits.

Bears will show up one day and feed. Then they vanish and have yet to return with any consistency. I am wondering if we have made a dent in the population hunting the same spots for the last 10 years or so? Could be time to branch out to new territory.

We're not even into the best half of the season yet. I'm sure your baits will light up in the last weeks of May

[LowbanksArcher]

Good luck Mike! I have no doubt you are going to take a 400+ lb bear with your trad gear. Always amazed at your skill using trad gear. Typically i have used rifle but gonna hunt exclusively with the excal this year.

Ha! Would be nice but I don't see bears that size in this area. That would be a late night of quartering the bear on the spot to get him out. Better I stick to 150 pounders
Good luck this spring. Baits should be heating up soon, along with the bugs

[wknwrur]

Being a forum novice,I hope my spring bear picture attached okay. My young boar came in during both day and night hours. A surprise afternoon visitor was a single hen turkey, that proved useful as a sentry, should any bears arrive. Finally, quiet as a ghost around 7:15pm my young boar cautiously approached the barrel, but stopped short behind the trees and just nosed around. After what seemed an eternity, it appears he didn't like something and started slowly going back into the bush. Waiting for an opening in the trees, I fired a broadside rifle shot and it ran across me and up a hill. After a long wait, we did an increasing larger loop looking for blood sign, as a light rain started to fall. It wasn't until next morning that we made the recovery. I immediately punched my bear tag and thankfully, dragged the bear downhill to the bike. I'm guessing it went about 50 yards. The bugs weren't too bad this early. I didn't even have my Thermacell on. Good luck too, to all you other bear hunters !!

[LowbanksArcher]

Being a forum novice,I hope my spring bear picture attached okay. My young boar came in during both day and night hours. A surprise afternoon visitor was a single hen turkey, that proved useful as a sentry, should any bears arrive. Finally, quiet as a ghost around 7:15pm my young boar cautiously approached the barrel, but stopped short behind the trees and just nosed around. After what seemed an eternity, it appears he didn't like something and started slowly going back into the bush. Waiting for an opening in the trees, I fired a broadside rifle shot and it ran across me and up a hill. After a long wait, we did an increasing larger loop looking for blood sign, as a light rain started to fall. It wasn't until next morning that we made the recovery. I immediately punched my bear tag and thankfully, dragged the bear downhill to the bike. I'm guessing it went about 50 yards. The bugs weren't too bad this early. I didn't even have my Thermacell on. Good luck too, to all you other bear hunters !!

Picture did not attach. But congrats on the bear!

[wknwrur]

Thank you ! Trying to attach picture again. (1) I type my greeting text. (2) Click on the 'Insert Image' icon. (3) Open IMG_2152.JPG from my computer (4) 'Insert Image' "Browse" Box shows my selected IMG_2142.JPG (5) Click on 'Upload Files(s) .... and that's it, Nada, poof , gone !! Suggestions please ....

[finsfurfeathers]

Thank you ! Trying to attach picture again. (1) I type my greeting text. (2) Click on the 'Insert Image' icon. (3) Open IMG_2152.JPG from my computer (4) 'Insert Image' "Browse" Box shows my selected IMG_2142.JPG (5) Click on 'Upload Files(s) .... and that's it, Nada, poof , gone !! Suggestions please ....

shrink the pic