Need some input.

IMO If it was me and now knowing what your goals are - this is what I would do. Trust me when I say I have tried just about every design out there and this is the BEST for your scenario trying to get the most mileage from the set-up. The power needed to roll the barrels and the small holes will assure that you're feeding more bears and less varmints. You need to get 2 weeks!

understand this before we go any further ... my barrel, used in this manner is emptied in 7 days when the bears are on it. It's amazing what they can accomplish! BUT since you are on a 2 week schedule this plan is for you! a 2 barrel system!


make these 2 barrels at home before you go. make sure there are no sharp edges. first off I would need 2 barrels (steel) with a removable lid with a bolt-on retaining strap. Drill 1/4" hole dead center in the bottom. stick in one end of an 8 foot long 3/16" cable. Take a piece of metal 4x4 or flatbar, or piece of angle iron or just a 6" piece of 2x4 wood... and drill a 1/4" hole in that too and use it on the inside as a large washer. Install a cable clamp. take the other end and loop it LOOSELY around a tree trunk. I much prefer to stake mine out away from any trees so that the barrel can be rolled around in a 10 to 12 foot diameter circle by the bears and not get hung up on anything like saplings etc. The cable spins freely in the barrel and does not kink the cable.

Barrel #1
make a small square hole 2x2 inches right in the middle (NO BIGGER or cubs will be in up to their armpits).
Into this barrel I would put my donuts, bread, bagels and two 10 to 12" dia - 2" thick rocks. These rocks would break down the larger, harder donuts,bagels,bread and help to blend and distribute the sugars and jams. The bears will work this barrel first because of the sweets. This is good because this barrel with damp, moist donuts will start to go moldy after 7 days in the heat if they don't clean it out.

Barrel #2

Drill two 1" holes and fill this barrel with dry dog food, popcorn, oats ... you can drizzle 1 liter of chocolate syrup or maple syrup or pancake syrup but no more then 1 liter. also add a box of jello powder. That's it!
NO GREASE, NO Molasses! This barrel will get you through week 2 and keep them there till you show up. This dryer bait will not spoil or go moldy - perfect!

The beauty of this set-up is you only need to haul the donuts from home. The dog food or oats can be purchased when you get there saving wear and tear on the truck!

I DO NOT LIKE GREASE PITS! IMO it's just a greasy fricken mess. If you feel the need to do it - then do it 10 yds away from the bait site. I use to use grease successfully for my call lure. I used a kids super soaker to suck it up then blasted it up and down tree trunks and all over the foliage. In the hot sun it melted and ran and the wind would carry it everywhere. And the varmints, crows, ravens, vultures never stole it like they do with meat or beavers.
A nice big honey burn on the day you put in the baits won't hurt you either.

Trust me - once you get a few bears on the bait they will be there all the time - tumbling those rocks around and in that northern forest sound carries further then any call lure will and it's not wind dependant. Feeding bears make noise and other bears know the sound! Like Indian war drums!

I've graduated past this barrel method but for a new guy starting out that just wants a bear this is a simple, simple, proven system.

Hey the only stupid questions are the ones you don't ask. I got to where I am because I NEVER asked all those stupid questions. (if I did there were no answers other then Outdoor Life magazine - DUH!) I learned from 30 years of stupid mistakes. Every year I figured I corrected the stupidity of the previous year only to realize - yup more stupidity. The school of hard knocks is sometimes unforgiving.

Yes I have graduated to an elevated, sow and cub - yearling weaning system and I'm still tweaking it. BUT for a new guy like you the roller barrel system makes the most sense for simplicity, bait retention, longevity, and varmint control. I do not know what the laws in your state allow. If it's 3 baits then I assume 3 bait sites. 2 barrels per bait site will be perfect. you should be able to handle that. and you never know what will walk out of the woods. boo-boo or king kong!

YES if you sun dry out your (cubed) donuts then they will last a long long long time.

bearquestobsession.freeforums.net/thread/101/donut-dryers

 I have a bushel of dried donuts in my garage from last July (8 months ago) and they are just like they were back then. Like dry dog food. I did this purposely to see how they held up. To say the least I AM IMPRESSED. I've got 7 freezers for bear bait. Now I don't have to turn them on! YAHOO! Also the weight of each bag went from 57 lbs down to 41 lbs when dried. In the game of bear baiting SIZE DOES MATTER and so does weight which correlates to effort, fatigue, gas mileage, bad back, etc.

Again I will restate No molasses, no grease on your bait. YOU DON'T need it. Use the money for gas! Your donuts /popcorn / grain / dog food / with a quart of syrup/chocolate and a pack of Jello is all you need. More is just overkill. Best advice I ever got was "don't try to fool them, JUST feed them" . The only grease you'll need is if you decide to use it for a call lure.  Just remember - only grease the woods on the opposite side of the barrel from where your treestand will be. If your bait is in the middle of a clock and your stand is at 6 o'clock  then grease at 9, 12, and 3 o'clock.

Too much of what I see today in bear baiting is excess. Most figure if a little is good a whole lot more is better! Not true and can be detrimental. Just feed them. they're looking for calories - sounds too simple but it is.

So now that your barrels and bait have a direction - anything else?

Once you get those barrels in the woods and hopefully get active baits then your DIY bear hunt should be a lot less money then going through a guide service. Your fortunate to have free lodging.