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Post by Deleted on Nov 26, 2017 21:18:32 GMT -4
So barrels are not allowed on public ground in Minnesota. I’ve set baits before using logs in the V pattern before. My question is, is there a better or other way to set baits? I’ve got until September to get the details worked out, so starting now.
What setup and bait would you recommend. Used grease pads, messy. Honey burns have worked.
Just looking for a little sage advice.
Thanks for any input.
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Post by tuketu on Dec 3, 2017 14:45:24 GMT -4
Hey ilbowhnter ... That's certainly food for thought , but I'm sure we can come up with some ideas to help you. How often do you bait? Is travel a factor ?
I've seen guys use hollowed out stumps , the V'd cribbing or just log covered baits in the past. The only problem with those is that it's accessible to every critter in the forest. If you have any trapper friends ... hanging beaver carcusses will definitely work.
Check out these video ... I'm thinking with large enough logs you should be able to deter many of the raccoons. ... it's a start.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdIJb_9dvgA
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dm-qkEoP_Z0
tuk
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Post by skeeter on Dec 4, 2017 9:51:12 GMT -4
Here's the Minnesota bear regs. files.dnr.state.mn.us/recreation/hunting/bear/bear_regulations.pdfWOW! talk about MICRO-managing. Who comes up with this shyt! There's so many rules and hoops to jump through! I guess you can leave a treestand out in the woods but that's about it. My advice - find some private land somewhere. If you build it, they will come! |
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Post by Deleted on Dec 5, 2017 23:54:02 GMT -4
Skeeter, I like that advice. It’s a 6 hour trip up to bait, so I’m looking at the 2-3 barrel system. Looking for a small chunk of private to set up on and draw them off public.
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Post by skeeter on Dec 6, 2017 18:40:12 GMT -4
Skeeter, I like that advice. It’s a 6 hour trip up to bait, so I’m looking at the 2-3 barrel system. Looking for a small chunk of private to set up on and draw them off public. I'm 3-1/2 hrs to my sites one way. There's NO WAY I could follow the MN rules without going broke or insane or both!
NOTE this is only my advice. take it for what it's worth.
Find some private land and cut the umbilical cord from the DNR micromanagers!
Bait management is crucial! .. The longer your bait lasts the fewer trips you need tending your baits. OR the earlier you can begin baiting. Bait and TIME is the magic formula!
Ultimately you need a set up to achieve multiple goals. If you plan to bait weekly or biweekly then you need a bait that doesn't spoil. eg dry foods, dry dog food, popcorn, grain, granola, dry cereals - nothing wet or moist or gooey that will promote mold or rotting.
Varmint management! whatever they eat increases your costs and efforts and reduces your rebaiting schedule.
Sows/cubs/yearlings will also ruin a bait site faster then varmints. If they're non-target bears they're worse then varmints!
A multiple barrel set-up will work but my advice would be to use dry bait and make sure the barrel holes are small!
Small holes will slow down lesser bears that don't have the power to work the barrels.
You might be able to get 2 weeks out of 3 barrels if it's done properly. of course depending on how many bears are working it.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 6, 2017 20:39:57 GMT -4
I’ll have to look back, but I’m thinking small hole with a couple rocks in the roller barrel.
Stockpiling donuts now and drying them. Have a great supply of them. Dog food in another. Gets closer to time, I’ll be asking for more help. Brides family has a cabin up there on the lake and her cousin is going to look for some private ground. We’ll make a trip this summer to lock down permission and scout around. It should be fun and still cheaper than booking a hunt up North.
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Post by skeeter on Dec 7, 2017 0:08:40 GMT -4
you listen good grasshopper!
sometimes when you add it all up you wonder if it's cheaper going with an outfitter!
but
there is great satisfaction doing it yourself. thinking through the problems and logistics of it all.
My current methods are completely different then anyone I know or even heard of. Not saying mine are right or not! My current methods need you to be extremely handy in the garage. But my goals are extremely lofty. way more then the average guy and I'm happy with failures along the way. But I am winning. I think I am?
So lets get you bear hunting!
since you're new to this baiting game we'll keep it as simple as I can.
your 3 barrel system will work just fine. How are you drying donuts now? I need the sun to getér done. I'll start again in early May.
You should tailor your hole sizes to whatever bait will be in that particular barrel (remember bait management/conservation. .. my suggestion would be roller barrels ... barrel 1.. a single 2x2 hole for dried donuts/pastries/bread ... barrel 2 with dry dog food maybe 1-1/4" and barrel 3 with grain/granola maybe 1" ... a great idea would be make all your barrels 2x2 and then have some screw on covers to tailor your barrels on the spot to whatever bait you're getting at that time.
you can add jello powder or maybe some of that commercial bear additive powders available ..(depends on your pocket book) a liter or 2 of chocolate syrup or maple-pancake syrup to the dog food or grain will help without causing mold. DO NOT OVER DO IT! BEARS ARE JUST LOOKING FOR CALORIES. There is no magic concoction that is any better then anyone else's. just calories and JUST FEED THEM.
This should get you 2 weeks between visits and make the 6 hr drive manageable..
If you get private property fantastic. you don't need large acreage ... you build it ..they will come.
space out your properties 4 miles minimal.
your biggest issue will be call lure! tough to find a call lure that will last 5 days...let alone 2 weeks.
the rocks in the barrels will call in bears for you. sounds nuts but it does.
grease sprayed up into the foliage with a kids super soaker is the best I can suggest. varmint proof and heats up in the sun. apply about 2 gallons each rebait. apply in the woods on the opposite side of the barrel set up.. NOT within the cable distance of the barrels ... NOT near your treestand area... NOT near your path leading in ... nasty stuff! I have used everything at one time or another. Fish - 20 lb salmon, carp, suckers ... rotten aged runny meat in burlap, animal carcases etc etc .. grease was the best and easiest I ever used. we painted and mopped the stuff. like I said nasty stuff. would throw our clothes away for the ride home. The kids super soaker works the best.
My bear hunting evolution continues for better results.
I've been developing an automated call lure system and have been using it exclusively for 3 seasons now ... it really has simplified a troublesome part of my bear hunt.
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Post by Deleted on Dec 13, 2017 8:22:01 GMT -4
Got 4 barrels so far, holes cut and ready. I’d like to have 6 ready to go. Hoping that will set up 3 sites. Freezing donuts right now, not much sunlight this time of year. Building 2 drying racks. Used your photos as the blueprints.
Donuts from my brides stores and bulk dog food from a mill down the road are my main baits. Fryer grease the the stores will be easy to get closer to hunting time. I’ll have to strain it before it’ll go through the kids old super soakers. Have 3 old 3 gallon jugs set back to haul the grease.
What type of grain should I be looking at. This is farm country, so I have access to about anything. What about candy or chocolate? There’s a candy company in the area.
Plan is find the property, set the barrels, do a honey burn, re bait, hunt. Simple, right 😉!
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Post by skeeter on Dec 13, 2017 12:57:03 GMT -4
2 drying racks were made from one 4x8 sheet (cut in half) of 1/2" plywood (finished on one side) the smoother the surface the easier it is to scrape off donut goo. When the donuts are first dumped in they're gooey runny/sticky. I have a flat shovel that I use to flip them over as they're drying. I scrape the plywood to get off the goo/sugar. The goo and sugar actually dries up quite nicely as a powder. If you can cube the donuts up they'll dry faster. When you can pick the donuts up in your hand they'll feel like dry, large chunk, dog food. The sides were made from 5/4 deck boards. I ran the boards down my table saw to remove about 1" to eliminate the rounded edge. This flat 90 degree edge was attached to the plywood. On both tables I applied 2 lawn mower wheels to two of the legs so I could wheel the table into the garage at night. The bird cover was made from 1x2 strapping. Sunny days the donuts dried great, overcast took twice as long.
I took one bag of donuts and it weighed 57 lbs (if my memory is right) after drying it was mmm 41 lbs approx.
almost 20lbs of water GONE .. you'll appreciate this immensely when you start hauling and carrying bait.
originally I froze all my dried donuts ... my last experiment was not freezing. I was amazed when I looked at donuts (unfrozen) left in a garbage bag 8 months later. looked and felt just like the day I put them away.
The hydro I'm saving from running 5 freezers probably covers a portion of my gas bill for baiting. BONUS!
The kids super soaker. run a 1/4" drill into the tip to open it up a bit. The larger the hole then the less any impurities in the grease matter. I never did anything to the grease I used. Just acquired it and used it as is.
We used to use KFC (until they changed) Now the best we found was from Popeye's Louisiana kitchen |
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Post by tuketu on Dec 19, 2017 20:09:28 GMT -4
Skeeter has pics of his Air Dryers under the "Bearology" section , Sub board ... Bait Site Setup ...Donut Dryers ... for those who may be interested.
tuk
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Post by Deleted on Dec 23, 2017 8:27:01 GMT -4
That’s were I got my pattern 😉.
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Post by tuketu on Jan 17, 2018 8:00:17 GMT -4
So ilbowhntr .... Come up with a plan yet ?
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Post by Deleted on Jan 19, 2018 20:29:59 GMT -4
Not yet. Plenty of thinking time. New job is running me all over the state. Thinking 2 barrels per site, 2 sites. Waiting for the sun so I can start drying donuts. Gathering up some over goodies and looking at making a trip or two up there this summer. Drawing the tag will be the big hurdle.
Guess I’ve got more of a plan than I thought. Be nice to find a partner to work with but that’s almost impossible.
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Post by tuketu on Jan 23, 2018 10:24:22 GMT -4
Yeh finding a partner is hard enough , finding a good one that will commit to the time and effort is a rarity. Had a few in he past that were freeloaders. All ginned up for bear hunt but when they realized the work involved, thier enthusiasm wained... never seemed to be available to help. Sometimes it's just not worth the grief. I do miss the commeraderie and excitement when you or your partner wants to share the evenings events on the drive home, or the joy of the harvest.
Sounds like your plan is coming together ilbowhntr ...Great !
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Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2018 11:41:14 GMT -4
Found my partner!! Son sent me a text yesterday morning asking about a good spot to bear hunt. He closed down the gun shop he had with a couple partners, on the lazy side. He’s looking at getting back into hunting. One big trip a year, starting with hogs this year. Move onto bear, cougar then wolf. I couldn’t be any happier, life is great!
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