Spring Hunting: What is Bear Baiting?

Today, modern strategies such as bear baiting allow hunters to target these challenging creatures in a more controlled environment. 

Let's look at the fundamentals of baiting bears, a strategy designed to attract bears to a specific location for a safe and humane shot. We'll also discuss this practice's ethical and ecological implications, some invaluable tips, and more so you're ready for a spring bear hunt. 

What is Bear Baiting?

Bear baiting is a hunting strategy using food or scent to attract bears to a designated location. Hunters use this strategy to locate and observe these animals after winter hibernation, making it a common strategy for spring hunts. It can also help hunters indicate the size and conditions of bears before taking a shot. 

Bear baiting is authorized in 12 U.S. states. It is carefully regulated to ensure ethical hunting and minimize the risk this practice may pose to outdoor people sharing the zone.

However, please note that these laws are complex and can change from season to season. For example, if hunting bears in Alaska, check the regulations for baiting while planning your trip.

What's the Purpose of Baiting Bears?

By baiting bears to a specific location, hunters can take time to identify and selectively target mature bears. This strategy reduces the chances of unintentionally harvesting sows with cubs, as the bears feed in one place longer than they generally would in the wild. 

Additionally, bear baiting lends itself to greater accuracy of shot placement, allowing hunters to establish positions where they can ensure clear, ethical shots, minimize animal suffering, and improve success rates.

When not hunting or in the planning stages of a hunt, bear baiting further allows trail cameras to gather valuable insight into bear behavior, size, and patterns. 

How Bear Baiting Works 

Choosing a bear-baiting location is a question of both strategy and safety.

You'll want to select a remote location away from populated areas to avoid conflict and getting the bears a bit too comfortable around people. During the Spring, bears are frequently found in zones with deep greenery, so search for shooting vegetation, slopes, and forested areas — where you'll likely see deer. If you're unsure of the best spot, you can set up some trail cams and do some scouting, looking for bear signs to confirm their presence in a chosen location. 

Next, you'll want to choose a bait. What is bear bait? Standard options include:

• Donuts
• Muffins
• Bread
• Oats
• Syrup
• Meat scraps (sometimes mixed with a commercial bear attractant)

Consider how you'll transport these foodstuffs and the practicalities of setting up the baiting station. Small, lightweight products such as popcorn are a great option mixed with meat to boost the scent. 

It can be worth contacting local bakeries and butcher shops to see if you can get a bulk deal on leftovers or stale products. Also, always hold onto your meat scraps when processing deer or other game animals. Use them for bear bait in the Spring. 

Keep it Fresh

When setting up and maintaining the site, remember to refresh the products consistently to establish behavior patterns — aim for every second day if possible. States will most likely require you to establish signage to notify fellow hunters or other outdoors people about your station. 

Set up a tree stand or blind, depending on your experience with hunting and the environment. Finally, consider using a scented spray for your local outdoor shop (the sweeter, the better). 

Ethical Considerations

As a hunter, you must research and review all regulations regarding bear baiting (as well as broader hunting laws in your chosen hunting zone). Additionally, you should be knowledgeable about the biology of a bear to ensure a clean kill, abide by all landowner instructions (if hunting private), and show respect for the land, such as leaving no trace when finished. 

Regarding fair chase principles, that is a personal ethical decision that you must determine. In many cases, the opportunity to selectively harvest a mature bear and avoid sows with cubs outweighs the unpredictability that a fair chase wild hunt offers.  

Bear Baiting Regulations

While the laws and regulations around bear baiting will differ from state to state, they will generally cover the same restrictions or areas of concern. The rules for hunting bears in New Jersey are a good example.

First, there will likely be some limitations or restrictions regarding the quantity and type of bait used to minimize the attraction of non-target species and risk throwing out the ecological balance. Bear seasons, specifically baiting, are often restricted to seasonal limitations, with Spring being the predominant time window. 

Additionally, regulations will outline distance limits regarding establishing a bear baiting station relative to man-made areas such as roads, trails, populated centers, campgrounds, or other recreational areas. As a hunter, you must review the current laws regarding your chosen hunting area, paying special attention to baiting restrictions and game management units. 

Tips For Successful Bear Baiting

Bear baiting, like most hunting, hinges on timing and preparation.

The best time to bait is generally dawn and dusk. Be wary of nocturnal bears that may come in and feast on your baiting station, and consider baiting less or slightly adjusting your refilling hours to align closely with your hunting schedule. 

If you're running different baits, you can track the productivity of your different bait choices by using trail cameras, allowing you to take a more targeted approach.

Don't discount the benefits of in-person scouting and getting out to confirm bear signs and potential hunting zones. Observing bear travel routes and signs like tracks and scat can further refine site selection and timing.

Make sure you note what you see in your HuntWise app when scouting or viewing trail cams.

Potential Challenges

Like all types of baiting, you risk attracting non-target species, such as deer and raccoons, which can impact the ecosystem. Thankfully, much of this can be mitigated through careful bait choices, bear-specific scenting, timing, and careful monitoring with trail cameras to move or adjust strategy if non-target species are tucking into your bait station. 

Weather conditions can also affect bear eating times or impact your station, such as extreme winds dispersing your scents or heat souring your bait. We recommend using HuntWise to target the optimal baiting and hunting times, using the app's weather and animal behavior forecasting to pinpoint times down to the hour.

They Can Smell You

Remember: bears are susceptible to human scent, and traces left around the baiting site can alert them to human presence. This may make them more cautious or turn them off completely.

Before heading out to your bait station, thoroughly wash yourself and your gear with scent-free soaps and wear scent-eliminating clothing. 

Use HuntWise for Better Bear Baiting and Hunts This Season

When done correctly, bear baiting allows hunters to selectively target mature bears, ensure a clean kill, and contribute to the conservation goals of bear baiting stats.

Ready to set up some baits and hunt bears this Spring? Download HuntWise! With the app's mapping insights and expert tips on weather forecasting, you can establish the best bear baiting locations, hunting times, and strategies to execute a successful hunt. 

Plus, you can use markers in the app to mark bear activity and where you place your baits. Get the app and try it for your first week — free!