July 17, 2018 by Gildas Paradis

Bears like to think they're stealing it! Yes i have learned that from many years of baiting and hunting these critters. When i tell the odd new young guide or hunter, i can see the look of wonder mixed with a grin that wants to burst out laughing at me. They probably think i have lost my mind and overthink this affair with bears.

Seriously though, bears do prefer to stumble upon a hidden stash of goodies and dig into it readily. They seem to prefer this to a wide open bait that appears too easy and too good to be true. 

After i fill the bait barrels i like to cover it all up with a bunch of branches, logs, what ever is available on the forest floor. I try to make it look like i am hiding it so nobody finds it. When you look at many predators like bears and cats, they often will do the same thing with a carcass so they can come back and finish it later.

The other bonus is you can easily tell from a distance if it has been hit since been baited. Also makes it difficult for birds to get in and steal your bait. Plus it creates a natural surrounding at the barrel which is just plain prettier than an ugly barrel. 

So take it or leave it, spend a little extra time and cover your bait for happy bears. It's not going to hurt. 

Posted in: Bear Hunting