Here in New Brunswick baiting of black bears is allowed. Follow a few pointers about black bear baiting and you will have a much more productive black bear hunt.

I personally prefer to stalk my prey the ole fashion way but not all hunters have the time or patience to be trekking here and there looking for their trophy. A bear baiting site draws the bear to the hunter who is most likely sitting up in a tree stand waiting and watching for just the right black bear.

For me personally baiting is more like going to a stocked fish pond to fish for trout. It’s just not as memorable. That is my personal feeling but I do understand that when black bear hunters are taking and paying for a trip to another country they want to be certain they bag a black bear and don’t go home empty handed.

Bear baiting is a great way to get the bear close enough for beginners to have a great opportunity to bag their first black bear. They can do the stalking thing another year. One great experience at a time. Although baiting is no guarantee that you will get your bear.

If you think that baiting is easy that’s only because you have experience or someone else set up the bait site. If a bait site is not setup correctly the black bear will not only NOT show up they will sit on the sidelines and actually laugh at you behind your back.

So here is a short list of what you need to know to setup a black bear bait site for an effective hunt.

It makes sense to know something about black bears and the places they call home.

1. Black bears may need glasses but they more than compensate for their poor vision by having an awesome sniffer. This may have you thinking that it will all the easier because they will smell the bait site and come running but the truth is if they detect any odors, like you, they will not come near your bait site.

Keeping the entire bait site area and surrounding area clear of non-natural smells will increase your chances of seeing and bagging a nice black bear. The longer your bait site is around and kept free of human odor the more bears you will likely encounter, from a distance of course.

2. Maybe this should have been first, location is so important. Logically you wouldn’t put a bear bait site in a place bears don’t travel. So you need to take the time to learn where the paths are the black bear in your neck of the woods take to find food.

Know what a black bear eats, follow their trails and see which paths take you to the food bears like.

I do a lot of fishing in New Brunswick, especially for Atlantic salmon. I see a lot of black bears which I take note of and mark the locations in my journal for future reference.

3. Black bear hunting season opens in mid May so it’s wise to start baiting a couple of weeks before the season opens so you or your clients aren’t waiting for the bears to find it.

4. What to entice your black bears with.

To start with black bears will eat just about anything to survive but they do tend to have a sweet tooth so get out to your local donut shop and get some of those day old donuts, but save them for the bears eh. Talking with other black bear hunting guides I can say that most agree that the stronger smelling the bait the better.

My wife makes cookies that no one can eat so I stock up on those because the bears aren’t quite so picky as I am about my cookies. Okay I made that part up but they do like cookies. I used to know a farmer that would get waffer cookies by the 45 gallon drum, all the broken ones from a factory that was not far from his farm. He was always willing to give a burlap bag or two each spring. His pigs didn’t seem to mind.

You can also use meat so if you have any spare carcasses lying around give them a try.

4a. Be sure to eliminate your odor and don’t forget your boots, even your foot prints have an odor. Ever walked in the house with dog do-do on your boots. Okay then.

5. Actually setting up your bait site.

Something I had not even thought about until I saw something wasn’t working and that was the direction the bears would approach the bait station. If it’s not right you won’t get the best view for your shot. To fix this it was a simple as putting logs and branches around the three sides I didn’t want the bears approaching from.

Most bait sites or stations I have seen in New Brunswick use a 45 gallon barrel they cut in half and dock to a tree to keep it there. Otherwise the bears are dragging it all over the area.

Here are a couple of short videos showing a black bear bait site, one using a bait barrel, the other is not using a barrel.

Here is video that shows you just how long a black bear will stay at a bait site if you’re quiet and don’t stink like a human.

The 2009 Spring Black Bear Hunt for New Brunswick starts May 04 and ends June 15 and I imagine you’re already dreaming of the hunt.

Note: Just remember that you can’t shoot a female with cubs, cause everybody needs their mother.

The only thing that I can think of that turns me off about spring would have to be the bugs so I like, well I don’t like it but, I wear a good bug jacket. I can stand having my face covered but then again I don’t really care for getting eaten alive either.

Nothing spoils a day of hunting or fishing more than too many biting bugs.

I used to be able to handle pretty cold weather but now I take heart meds that thin my blood so if I don’t take the time to dress warm using layers my day gets really short.

So if you enjoy the spring black bear hunt be sure you go prepared so your memories are ones you want to remember.

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By Abhishek Agarwal

Bear hunting in Canada is a hunting experience that goes unmatched. Canada’s black bears roam from Ontario to the west coast and grow to a much bigger size than what they do in the U.S. For a hunter who’s looking for a spectacular black bear hunting experience, Canada is the number one destination.

Due to citizenship laws, planning a Canadian hunting trip requires a few extra steps. Hunters must at all times be wearing an orange hunting vest and cap. There are no exceptions. If you’re using an ATV, a helmet is also required, as is up to date insurance. For a hunting license to be issued in Ontario, the hunter must have a previous hunting license from their state. Handguns are not allowed in Canada, and any non-residents will need to register their firearms with the Canadian Customs at the border crossing. Proof of U.S. citizenship and auto insurance (if you’re driving) will also be expected upon crossing.

Manitoba is a place to consider for your Canadian hunting trip. Riding Mountain National Park is notable for it’s bear hunting. The park grows some of the largest bears in the world, and the park has the highest population density in Canada. Manitoba also has a high population of color phased black bears, which means they range from black to white in color. A black bear doesn’t necessarily have to be black to be considered a trophy bear.

There are many outfitters to choose from throughout Canada to assist you in finding the perfect bear. Some hunt camps may charge a Non-Resident Hunting Preservation Fund payment. Bow hunting is welcomed by most outfitters, and many will allow you to take a second bear for an extra fee, however if the bear is only wounded and not caught, the fee is still charged. British Colombia has many hunting camps catering to the black bear hunter. The bears here grow large, ranging six to seven feet high, with skulls 18-21 inches, and many of the outfitters here welcome both the experienced, and the inexperienced hunter.

Canada has two options for bear hunting. The chosen method is often baiting. Most outfitters that offer baited bear will supply the bait and ask you not to bring your own, or add to the existing bait pile. The hunter sits in a ground blind or a tree stand waiting for his trophy bear to come by. The other method is to spot and stalk the bear. This is often considered the more humane way to hunt. This method requires a lot of trekking, but the catch is all the sweeter when it comes. This method is also more agreeable to British Colombia’s open terrain.

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Article Source: Abhishek Agarwal