|
|
Post by losthunter on Aug 19, 2017 10:56:27 GMT -4
The last couple years Ive bounced around the province on new bear baits. I often daydream about my old baits down east that were well established.
I dont keep records....but something just occurred to me this morning....I think Ive killed my biggest bears on new that year ( or never hunted before even if baited) sites.
Never occurred to me before.....what are your thoughts on new vs established sites?
|
|
|
|
Post by tuketu on Dec 19, 2017 22:04:14 GMT -4
Nobody knows my sites better than you do LH !
I certainly see some validity in what you've experienced ... Really makes sense.
What I have observed is that once a site is established for some time the bigger bears get Bait Smart pretty quick. Can't tell you how many times have I had pics of the Big Bubba coming in after I leave for the night? Those big boys seldom make mistakes. At a new site these bears aren't so Hunter savay the first few visits,( assuming you haven't polluted the area with human scent), and may let their guard down a bit, especially if other bears have not yet located your bait.
Big bears, by all accounts, appear to be solitary beings in the fall of the year and will avoid socializing with others of the species. I have had some nice bears "Break Bread" with others , but the truly Big Boys would rather dine in obscurity.
Part of the problem was me. Knowing I had a big bear coming to my bait , I never changed my tactics. No two in - one out, no second stand. It was always the same routine ... "In the Tree before Three - Sit til dark". The true definition of insanity.
30 - 40 Minutes after I'm out of the stand ... Just saying. I never did see this fella during daylight hours. Could almost sense his presence when the light began to fade.
tuk
d 1
|
|
|
|
Post by tuketu on Dec 19, 2017 22:42:22 GMT -4
These are the best pics I could find from a new test site set up that Losthunter and I had done back in 2012.
I'm laughing to myself right now because I know when LH sees these pics It will all come back to him.
Has Losthunter a story to tell Ye !
tuk
d 1
|
|
|
|
Post by skeeter on Dec 20, 2017 1:29:25 GMT -4
Tuk ... you got that right about big bears being solitary ... my theory IMO kinda bounces around in my head from hunting larger bucks/bears etc. The older, larger ones just don't act like the rest of their general population.
Bears are solitary animals from the time mama kicks them out (except for the rut). Bears will spend their entire lives roaming around, ALONE, flipping over rocks eating bugs and finding berries etc etc. They are not herd animals. They do not seek out other bears fro companionship or safety. The older they get the more solitary they become. A bait site is not a natural occurrence in the world of the bear. Multiple bears sow/cubs spitting and fighting over the stationary food source is also not natural to them. Having a bunch of bears at a bait site is often detrimental to keeping a big old bear on it. That big old bear was 500lbs when he found our bait and he didn't get that big because he needed us. A bait site with a lot of traffic is not an ideal situation for a big bear hunt. Many hunters get a big bear but often lose him as the site becomes more popular. The best big bear chances occur on sites like you describe - he's the only one there. I've seen and noticed that big bears will tolerate other big bears but not the family free-for-all scenario. My other theory for what it's worth that deals with the big bears nocturnal habits. I truly believe that the major reason for those big ones coming in later is heat induced. Those big mature bears are already just about ready for denning with hair coming in thick and a thick layer of fat. Almost all our larger bears come in panting and gasping for air. The new trail cameras with sound really prove this out. We can often hear them before we see them. Also those big ones just seem to move a lot slower. painfully slow. By the time the cool evening air rouses them up and they start slowly heading to your bait, it's already well past dark. And if they're bedding further away then you're already back at camp by the time they get to you.
Something Mark and have been discussing is getting our bait sites closer to the cool cedar swamps to shorten their walk to us. Also the north side of the swamp will be the coolest on those hot August/Sept days.
This theory has been proven by big buck hunters. Get closer to the beds and you might get a legal time shot at him.
Anyway ... something for you guys to think about.
|
|
|
|
Post by losthunter on Dec 20, 2017 7:06:15 GMT -4
that was a big bear....I'm still patting myself on the back for not taking that shot from 12 yards....indeed a tuff thing to do. he was a bruiser.
This bear hunting thing always teaches me something.....this year was a new area for me. I was amazed there were so many bears where I set up. Good amazed though.
I only had two sites.....and both had good shooter bears. But one had two toads..My lesson this year was just how tolerant they are of traffic when they are use to it. Both these sites were in pretty high traffic wheeler areas.. And I dont like it and likely wont go back....the traffic didnt bother them....that amazed me. They were daylight bears too many time...even the bruisers. I wouldnt have thought it.....but I saw it with my own eyes......it has me confused
|
|
|
|
Post by skeeter on Dec 20, 2017 15:12:11 GMT -4
LH
I had a friend back 30 yrs ago who had shot lots of big bears. I went with him on a rebaiting run and was surprised how close to some roadways he was.
The biggest bear he ever got was a 20 1/2" score bear. That bear was shot within 60 yds of a busy asphalt highway.
If the wheelers and cars and trucks stay on a chosen path the bears figure it out real quick. I think it bothers us more then them.
From my previous posts - when I say they don't like high traffic - it's from other bears. Picture Norm from "CHEEERS"! Big overweight somewhat lazy guy sitting in a bar in a basement at the end of the bar. Nice and quiet.
|
|
|
|
Post by losthunter on Dec 20, 2017 15:40:33 GMT -4
LH I had a friend back 30 yrs ago who had shot lots of big bears. I went with him on a rebaiting run and was surprised how close to some roadways he was. The biggest bear he ever got was a 20 1/2" score bear. That bear was shot within 60 yds of a busy asphalt highway. If the wheelers and cars and trucks stay on a chosen path the bears figure it out real quick. I think it bothers us more then them. From my previous posts - when I say they don't like high traffic - it's from other bears. Picture Norm from "CHEEERS"! Big overweight somewhat lazy guy sitting in a bar in a basement at the end of the bar. Nice and quiet. i hated the traffic....ruined my fun lol....i wont go back there.....the second day of season some guy was running up and down the old logging road in a dune buggy. he had dogs with bells chasing and barking. I took if for about 30 -40 minutes. I could take it anymore lol...it was 2 hrs to dark...i had another bait about 30 minutes away , so i went there....next bait check...that night this guy game in 45 minutes be fore dark ....looks dark in pics bit dark was 8 pm then. I had two target bears and he was one of them  |
|
|
|
Post by skeeter on Dec 20, 2017 16:10:22 GMT -4
Rodger
Like I said - it bothers us more then it bothers them!
We had one stand in cottage country along the asphalt road that was close enough that you could hear the runners going by. You'd hear the plop plop plop from they're expensive Adida's or Nike's shoes. The bike riders you could hear the buzzing from the tires. It was unnerving to us so we moved the bait. BUT it was always productive.
Was your target bears sharing the bait with other bears? eg sows cubs etc. or was it just them? Just getting some intel from you.
|
|
|
|
Post by losthunter on Dec 20, 2017 16:14:15 GMT -4
Rodger Like I said - it bothers us more then it bothers them! We had one stand in cottage country along the asphalt road that was close enough that you could hear the runners going by. You'd hear the plop plop plop from they're expensive Adida's or Nike's shoes. The bike riders you could hear the buzzing from the tires. It was unnerving to us so we moved the bait. BUT it was always productive. Was you target bears sharing the bait with other bears? eg sows cubs etc. or was it just them? Just getting some intel from you. yup...6 bears there. I mean 4 others....if i recall 6 in total. No cubs tho. |
|
