Bear attractants

[Hummer3T]

I have baited, and want to minimize the work, and all the other unattractive aspects of baiting.
In Saskatchewan there is some chances for S and S.  but only in mostly flat cutovers.  Do any trad gangers use only attactants?  what are your favorites, how do you use them, how long are they effective, etc?????

Tim

[calgarychef]

I've used a "bacon candle" with bait and it sure pulls them in.  I think if you want them to stay around that the attractant won't achieve that. If you want to attract them, to then stalk them they will be coming in on high alert and chances will be slim.  The best thing is probably a nice blueberry patch, or chokecherries or an oat field.

[elkslayer4x5]

Please tell us more about your 'bacon candle'. I'd think that the bears would be real interested in any stump that was covered with bacon grease, if you brought them in with a bacon candle.

[greenhed]

Honey burn, (honey mixed with marshmallows) then scatter mini marshmallows all over.  Jelly beans work good too,   Powdered sugar gets carried by the wind and will seep into a log or stump.  they will tear it up to lick it clean.

[blktail]

My friend always liked using Vanilla and put it in a spray bottle.
spray On the ground and also a rag hanging from a branch so the wind will carry the scent.

[stickbowhntr]

I have had good success with strawberry cool aide just still dry over a stump...not great but good and we cant bait here so....

[calgarychef]

You just save your bacon grease and make a candle out of it.  A great big fat wick is nice because it puts out more scent I think.  I put one in a pail once and raised it into a tree to disperse the scent further and I had a bear in that evening.  There are those smoke sticks too, I used some but didn't give them much of a chance so who knows.  Once you get a bear in even a can of sardeines on a string with a hole to drip oil will keep them around for a few minutes.  I've also wondered about a couple of cans of beer poured into the ground....I'd bet that works like a charm to keep them there for a couple minutes.

[BowPlinker]

i burned pure bees wax over a sterno can.. with beeswax in a soup can..  seemed to work

[mb bowman]

I would suggest to keep baiting. Try and find the enjoyment in it and you will be richly rewarded with a great experience. Baiting bears tops my list of hunting enjoyment. Absolutely love it.

[wapitirod]

elkslayer, if your wanting to use a bacon candle here in OR do it at your own risk.  I've repeatedly talked to ODFW and OSP and they consider any attractant scent as "Bait".  I had one osp trooper tell me if I want to wear it as a cover scent then go for it but if I put it out to attract bears then it's bait.

[pruiter]

we cant bait in yukon, But when growing up in alberta. may people used sunlight dish soap;

[BearCrkBandit]

I've baited black bears for quite a few years, and the absolute best attractant I've found is to throw a salmon carcass or even just skins (chopped herring also works well) in a bucket with some water, seal it up, then put it in a warm spot for a week or so..it gets pretty ripe, and that stink seems to carry way farther than sweet stuff in my experience

[woodchucker]

Here's the recipe for "Woodchucker's Liquid Bear Bait"...

1 bottle of Maple Pancake Syrup (about a quart)

1 bottle/jar of Honey (about 16oz.)

1 large bottle of pure Vanilla extract (about 8oz.)

1 small bottle of Anise (about 4oz.)

Empty ingrediants into a pan & warm over low heat, While stirring constantly, untill ingrediants are thoroughly mixed... (about 15 - 20 mins.) DO NOT BURN!!! Using a funnel, Pour warm mixture back into Pancake Syrup bottle and allow to cool slowly to about room temp. before placeing cap on bottle. Pour remaining mixture into another container, and refridgerate for later.

Carry up into the woods and pour "bait" on a rotting stump or log within range of your stand. When Mr. Bear finds the bait he will attempt to lick it off, and tear apart the stump/log finding grubs, beetles, etc. to hold his intrest.

GOOD LUCK!!!!!

[Tom Phillips]

One of the BEST items I have used over the past 20+ years is Spent Fryolator grease poured on the ground or stump the BEARS absolutely LOVE it and will tear up the ground like a roto tiller.ALSO the Smoke sticks are by far the easiest,lightest,simplist items no mess,no fuss,no garbage to carry out and last on average about 1-1/2 hrs.

P.S. I am not sure how involved you want to get,BUT:

ALSO I use religiously Pure Anise,Liquid Smoke,Imitation Vanilla Extract (the real thing is very very expensive and BEAR SCENTS sprays from Wisconsin the oily mixture sticks to the leafs & bark and the smell really carries.
 Don;t forget STINK Bait made from fish.

[killinstuff]

Hey Tom, do you think adding a totally new smell to an active bait site hurts or helps?  Something like they have been hitting meat scraps for a few weeks and then you add sweet treats to the site.

CJ

[Butternutz]

On our way to Canada we hit several donut shops and ask for their discarded donuts. Should have seen some of the looks we got lol.

[Hummer3T]

We cant use fry grease anymore, no place of business is allowed to release to the public.

[TURKEYFOOTGIRL]

I used the berry powder from Boarmasters this year and it was awesome.  I could smell the stuff two hundred yards away. Bearsdug a hole to get it all.

[Longbowcrowder66]

I live in va. We have bear season the same time as our whitetail season. I've hunted black bears in Canada for 15years. Now the the bears are getting plentiful in va I would like to hunt them in my county. No baiting is allowed. I would love to try using scents. Is there companies that sell any type of scents?? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Oldbow KY]

Used strawberry Jello dry powder, took two bears over it in Canada.