Bear over Bait

[the blur]

11 hours ago, The_Real_TCIII said:

Check out the "woods" in Northern Ontario, at least Gogama where I've hunted. Its an absolute jungle. You literally need a machete to chop your way to recover your bear. You could hunt your entire life and not get a bow shot if they werent pulling them in to a bait, nevermind the 3 or 5 days you are there to hunt.

I hunted 2 hours north of Gogama.   It was thick in some areas, and very open in others.   Maybe because it's much colder there.    My bear went 30 yards after I put 1 through the heart.

[Five Seasons]

getting ready for bear hunting i've been trying to find good hunting videos and they dont exist. I've come to the realization that most are just what you described and in my opinion, not very sporting or really what interests me about hunting. I sort of like the fact that NY doesn't allow bait for deer or bear, although hunting bear without bait is much harder. I'm going to use some scents (under 1.5oz lol). But the guided bear hunts over bait just don't really sound appealing. If I can shoot one unguided not over bait in the daks I'll be one happy hunter and I'll feel a lot more accomplished then shooting one over a barrel. 

[the blur]

45 minutes ago, Belo said:

getting ready for bear hunting i've been trying to find good hunting videos and they dont exist. I've come to the realization that most are just what you described and in my opinion, not very sporting or really what interests me about hunting. I sort of like the fact that NY doesn't allow bait for deer or bear, although hunting bear without bait is much harder. I'm going to use some scents (under 1.5oz lol). But the guided bear hunts over bait just don't really sound appealing. If I can shoot one unguided not over bait in the daks I'll be one happy hunter and I'll feel a lot more accomplished then shooting one over a barrel. 

I somewhat agree.    But the odds of getting a NY bear are dumb luck.     Baiting is not a guarantee either.    My buddy sat 8 hrs in a stand over bait, before the bear hit the bait.    I couldn't sit for 8 hours.      I sat for 30 minutes, bang.  Got my bear.

[Culvercreek hunt club]

14 minutes ago, the blur said:

I somewhat agree.    But the odds of getting a NY bear are dumb luck.     Baiting is not a guarantee either.    My buddy sat 8 hrs in a stand over bait, before the bear hit the bait.    I couldn't sit for 8 hours.      I sat for 30 minutes, bang.  Got my bear.

My first year in Ontario I spent 40 hours over a pile and never saw a bear. it was hit between my first morning and evening watch and then never again.  I am going to Quebec in the spring and thinking about taking my bow. (compound, not the recurve...lol) they have stands at around 20 yards at some. I think that would be a rush. 

[Five Seasons]

16 minutes ago, Culvercreek hunt club said:

My first year in Ontario I spent 40 hours over a pile and never saw a bear. it was hit between my first morning and evening watch and then never again.  I am going to Quebec in the spring and thinking about taking my bow. (compound, not the recurve...lol) they have stands at around 20 yards at some. I think that would be a rush. 

 

that just tells you how much more difficult it is without bait lol.

[Culvercreek hunt club]

6 minutes ago, Belo said:

 

that just tells you how much more difficult it is without bait lol.

35 years hunting up north and took 2 without bait. One while I was driving woods to my hunting partners and one while just sitting on watch. Both byproducts of deer hunting. 

[LET EM GROW]

Ill start by saying hunting over bait is not my cup of tea. I dont mind who does it and who doesn't do it. I do believe it takes the "fair chase" and "REAL Thrill" or maybe even "skill" out of a hunt. But if you ask me, a set of rattling antlers, a grunt tube, deer piss or a doe bleat makes the hunt NOT 100% Fair chase... Im not against calling cause i do a little of it each season, but its not 100% fair chase IMO. They are "tools" or different types of "lures". Everyone is different, and hunts for different reasons. Im sure Bait can be used as an effective management tool for any game but, I just don't think i could bait a deer .. or bear under my current hunting practices.

As stated earlier, As hunters we need to stick with eachother.. Im not a X-BOW fan, but im not against them either. I do not like the fact of a bow being on a stock like a gun and fired with a trigger like a gun, but I wont let it ruin my archery hunts.. 

I think we all need to just be alright with some sort of change.. Change is always going to happen one way or another... whether we like it or not.. 

[Padre86]

17 hours ago, The_Real_TCIII said:

Check out the "woods" in Northern Ontario, at least Gogama where I've hunted. Its an absolute jungle. You literally need a machete to chop your way to recover your bear. You could hunt your entire life and not get a bow shot if they werent pulling them in to a bait, nevermind the 3 or 5 days you are there to hunt.

Having spent a good amount of time in Ontario, I agree with this.  The woods up there are thick and remote.  You'd be hard pressed to have a successful stalk and spot hunt or unbaited stand hunt up there, especially if you only had a few days to hunt.  There is a reason why hounding or baiting, or both, are such prevalent methods in the eastern Canadian provinces and the northeastern US states (excepting NY of course).

 

16 hours ago, Drew2255 said:

This thread got me thinking for sure, I can see how hunters might be against this way of pursuing bear and that's fine, to each their own, in the end we're all part of the hunting community, right?.....

Having just gotten back from Maine and connecting with a bear, first off I think about the folks up in the area where we do the hunting and how appreciative they are for all the business we bring, they don't have a lot (financially speaking), the hunters who come up that way do a lot of good for their economy during Bear season,

secondly it's not a guaranteed thing that your gonna get a bear, yes it increases your odds over bait, but not every one goes home with a bear, it's just a different tactic for pursuing game, if it's not for you that's ok, not gonna put down another guy/gal for being out there legally pursuing game...

I haven't hunted bear over bait, and I don't know that I ever would.  And I'm not saying that because I have ethical reservations about such methods, but rather because I just don't like sitting in a tree stand for hours on end; I'd rather be on my feet and able to move.  However, I have watched videos and listened to podcasts where guides and DIY hunters talk about baiting for bears; the prep work is a lot more involved than most people realize and as some here have pointed out, it by no means guarantees a successful harvest.  

It's not my cup of tea, but I can see the fair chase aspects of it and I certainly wouldn't presume to tell someone else that they couldn't do it.

 

6 minutes ago, Culvercreek hunt club said:

35 years hunting up north and took 2 without bait. One while I was driving woods to my hunting partners and one while just sitting on watch. Both byproducts of deer hunting. 

The bear harvest for the Northern Zone of NY reflects how difficult it is to get a bear in the big woods up North; the harvest # has hovered around 500 per year, despite the fact that 50-60% of NY's bear population (est. at 6k-8k) is located up there.

[rachunter]

I went on 14 baited bear hunt between Maine and nb Canada trying to get a p & y bear (never happened) to me it was pretty intense when one came in to the bait.

[the blur]

The Northern Canadians are appreciative of us hunters going up to reduce their black bear population.   So many people thanked us.

#1)  Northern Canadians eat Moose, and  bears kill a lot of Moose Calves.

#2)  Northern Canadians do not hunt bear,  they do not eat bear.    I have no idea why.

#3)  They know we drop a lot of money along the way.

It's a win win for everyone...   even if it is over bait.

[Culvercreek hunt club]

5 minutes ago, rachunter said:

I went on 14 baited bear hunt between Maine and nb Canada trying to get a p & y bear (never happened) to me it was pretty intense when one came in to the bait.

They make a deer sound like a marching band going through the woods. I have never seen such a large animal make no noise moving through the woods. Any I have had an encounter with was all sight based. I never heard one of them. 

[rachunter]

10 minutes ago, Culvercreek hunt club said:

They make a deer sound like a marching band going through the woods. I have never seen such a large animal make no noise moving through the woods. Any I have had an encounter with was all sight based. I never heard one of them. 

Definitely the silent giants of the north. 

[Grizz1219]

Another way to think of it is predator control... Black bears kill a lot of moose calves (and deer).... So it might not be your thing, but be glad there are guys out there doing it... In case you ever want to hunt moose... Just saying... 

[Five Seasons]

2 hours ago, Culvercreek hunt club said:

35 years hunting up north and took 2 without bait. One while I was driving woods to my hunting partners and one while just sitting on watch. Both byproducts of deer hunting. 

yeah i feel that's probably the most common way in NY. 

[Bannock-pt.]

I guess the op's original statement is more about whats considered sporting from the sounds of it. And using artificial bait and conditioning animals. Im wondering if he's opposed to trapping as well? Bait to lure in an animal and then trap it. What about fishing? Would he fish with artificials or use bait to lure in a fish? Perhaps he's a stalking bowfishing purist. Hunt over food plots or cornfields or just stick to still hunting mountains? Ive seen these debates for yr's. I usually dont respond but I get disgusted by them. Usually just pits sportsmen vs sportsmen . And if you think baiting bears is a slam  dunk,  try it some time.  Pick out your own spot, lug countless ponds of food in. Spend tons of gas money and tell me again how easy it is. Walking into a grocery store and grabbing meat off a shelf is ok but baiting in your own dinner is not ok?