Author Topic: Which bait out of these three? (Read 2846 times)

MNBear · « **on:** January 30, 2009, 12:56:12 PM »

Gummy bears, Licorice or Cookie dough.

My local bear bait seller has these three items for sale and I only want to pick one. I am leaning towards the gummy bears, any thoughts?

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #1 on:** January 30, 2009, 01:26:59 PM »

I like them all...... Oh for the bear...

MNBear · « **Reply #2 on:** January 31, 2009, 08:24:39 AM »

LOL! Yeah they are tasty, which one do you think would work the best?

GRIMJIM · « **Reply #3 on:** January 31, 2009, 11:20:57 AM »

No kittens?

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #4 on:** January 31, 2009, 07:40:53 PM »

Why not get a mix of all three?

MNBear · « **Reply #5 on:** February 01, 2009, 07:34:32 AM »

I belive they are sold sperate but that would be an idea.

Skunk · « **Reply #6 on:** February 01, 2009, 07:42:19 AM »

A bear will eat just about anything. Just pick one. He/She will never even know it was given a choice. Bears don't care about human choices, they're just hungry and want to eat.

billy_56081 · « **Reply #7 on:** February 01, 2009, 08:13:49 AM »

All three should work, I would want variety in my baits. Our outfitter uses a mix of sweets and breads. Sometimes some fresh fruit too.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #8 on:** February 01, 2009, 11:40:07 AM »

Some bear can be picky, and it will take the right bait to attract them. All the baits I have seen have a variety of stuff in them.

rokefert · « **Reply #9 on:** February 01, 2009, 01:47:17 PM »

I would use a couple things to determine which one to buy. Price, but weight and or volume of bait per dollar. If you can haul a lot of something that doesn't weigh too much it will keep a bear occupied longer and may even fill him faster,or something real heavy can mixed with something light and cheap like popcorn. Secondly what is the bait packaged in and how will it look after a few July 90 degree days. Some baits are a real pain in the @#$ to get out of containers after they turn into bear bait concrete in a 4x4x4 box. Cookie dough does not sound fun to pitch-fork out and fill buckets with, but would be a great flavor. I would buy a cheap bag of licorice and gummy bears and set them near the hottest register in your house. Which ever one is easier to pry apart warm and after they cool go with that one. Work factor trumps flavor for me every year.

1sourdough · « **Reply #10 on:** February 02, 2009, 12:00:51 AM »

I use whatever is available. I like cookie dough out of the 3. I'm starting to set some stuff in the freezer for bait next Fall. I recently talked to a guy & he said his bears loved 'over-ripe sweet corn'. He just put it there wraped in the husk & all. Not the field/feed corn but the good stuff.

MNBear · « **Reply #11 on:** February 02, 2009, 08:38:18 AM »

Thanks for all the help guys!

The bait comes in 55 gal. drums/.07 cents a pound. Roughly $95 for the cookie dough and $75 for the Gummies. I have three 55 gal. drums of dry cereal already and could possibly have 9 of them come August. I also have a good supply of apples aswell as molasses and honey. I get all of these items for free. I also will have frier grease to mix in. I guess I might be set without spending a dollar but just wanted to add some variety. I have also heard that the cereal can get soggy fast. ANybody out there use cereal for bait?

lewdogg21 · « **Reply #12 on:** February 03, 2009, 06:20:36 AM »

Quote from: MNBear on February 02, 2009, 08:38:18 AM

Thanks for all the help guys!

The bait comes in 55 gal. drums/.07 cents a pound. Roughly $95 for the cookie dough and $75 for the Gummies. I have three 55 gal. drums of dry cereal already and could possibly have 9 of them come August. I also have a good supply of apples aswell as molasses and honey. I get all of these items for free. I also will have frier grease to mix in. I guess I might be set without spending a dollar but just wanted to add some variety. I have also heard that the cereal can get soggy fast. ANybody out there use cereal for bait?

$95 for 55 gallons of cookie dough? Man can I buy a couple barrels for myself to eat? I'd end up fat as a bear but oh so happy.

rokefert · « **Reply #13 on:** February 03, 2009, 11:19:02 AM »

I feed sticky almond granola bars and I lighten them up with broken ice cream cones. The cones are a lot like cereal, and do get soggy fast. I was caught in a rainstorm baiting and saw it firsthand. Needless to say you'd have to use a magnifying glass to even find a soggy crumb the next day. Bears are opportunists and like easy pickins where they feel safe and comfortable. Ive had them literally start eating the the logs and dug my hole 3 times as large after not being able to make it to the bait for 2 days. Go with what is either cheap or free that you would eat had it not been shoveled off a factory floor and you should'nt have any problem. Getting bears to eat isn't the hard part. It's getting the bait out to them, and then hauling their heavy carcass to your truck. Like trying to drag a 300lb passed out drunk through the woods.

MNBear · « **Reply #14 on:** February 03, 2009, 11:43:50 AM »

Thanks Rokefert!

I just picked up four more empty 55 ga. barrels that I should be able to fill up with meat scraps for free from a local meat shop. I think I am going with the licorice if I buy from that place, seems to me to be the easiest to haul. All I need now is a big chest freezer(craigslist) and my Marlin 45/70 guide Gun! haha..Any of you fellars hunt area 51 in MN?

efremtags · « **Reply #15 on:** February 08, 2009, 02:44:09 AM »

Bears are cannibal, so gummy bars will work.

Talking with a lot of guides, you should have a high % of good meat scraps in your bait regiment. From observations from my current outfitter, the sows seem to produce more cubs in the areas he has baited meat the most. Also, the re-occurance of bear on baits, and bear coming on inactive baits after using meat point to how effective it is. Bear are omnivores, but primarily carnivore.

MNBear · « **Reply #16 on:** February 08, 2009, 05:44:21 PM »

I shouldnt have a problem getting meat scraps its the freezing and storing them thats going to be tough. I need to find a used chest freezer.

billythekidrock · « **Reply #17 on:** February 28, 2009, 04:25:45 PM »

I would opt for licorice and pour anise on top.

MNBear · « **Reply #18 on:** March 01, 2009, 04:38:57 PM »

I am either going with the gummies or licorice. Is there anywhere you can buy anise in bigger bottles? Or is a little amount enough?

MNBear · « **Reply #19 on:** March 01, 2009, 04:39:36 PM »

I also got my chest freezer today so I am set for storing up on leftovers and meat scraps.

teddy12b · « **Reply #20 on:** March 02, 2009, 10:36:27 AM »

Are you going to use liquid smoke on your bait too? That seems to be pretty popular to use after putting the bait out. Also works as a good cover scent.

MNBear · « **Reply #21 on:** March 02, 2009, 11:54:49 AM »

Yes, I was going to try some liquid smoke. I think I am going to try and use the supersoaker method.

teddy12b · « **Reply #22 on:** March 03, 2009, 03:23:10 AM »

Quote from: MNBear on March 02, 2009, 11:54:49 AM

Yes, I was going to try some liquid smoke. I think I am going to try and use the supersoaker method.

Brilliant, I never thought of using a super soaker. We always just used some spray bottles.

MNBear · « **Reply #23 on:** March 03, 2009, 10:07:34 AM »

I learned that method on this forum(or another) can't remember but I can't wait to try it out. Ebay has some super soakers for pretty decent prices.

billythekidrock · « **Reply #24 on:** March 03, 2009, 01:40:08 PM »

Mix liquid smoke and vanilla extract in a spray bottle. You can add or swap anise in there as well. Spray your way in and around your bait site and spray your way out.

MNBear · « **Reply #25 on:** March 03, 2009, 04:36:43 PM »

Sounds like a good idea.

wild country · « **Reply #26 on:** March 07, 2009, 02:37:12 PM »

Sounds like you are on the way to great bunch of bait. The guy who stated things turn into clumps in the warm temps is right. I like to mix 1/2 and 1/2 gummys and cereal. Mix in what ever you have. Some bears like the sweets others like the meat. Where do you get your bait, could you get truck load? I'd buy all you could get.

45-70.gov · « **Reply #27 on:** March 07, 2009, 02:48:09 PM »

what ever you choose place it in a pik-a-nik basket

boo-boo

MNBear · « **Reply #28 on:** March 07, 2009, 03:20:01 PM »

Quote from: wild country on March 07, 2009, 02:37:12 PM

Sounds like you are on the way to great bunch of bait. The guy who stated things turn into clumps in the warm temps is right. I like to mix 1/2 and 1/2 gummys and cereal. Mix in what ever you have. Some bears like the sweets others like the meat. Where do you get your bait, could you get truck load? I'd buy all you could get.

I actually work for a ceareal company, we have a "take home" policy. I compile bait throughout the year.

MNBear · « **Reply #29 on:** March 28, 2009, 08:04:42 PM »

I just got a tote of Granola today for free! I am sitting pretty good on bait for the fall!