Killing nocturnal bears?

I am in need of help from any of you tight lipped bear gurus.

As of yesterday, I have 7 different bears hitting my bait daily. The problem is that the sows with cubs come in at all times of the day, but the 2 bears I really want, only have their parties at night.
Are there any tricks to getting them to come in during daylight hours? You know, to let me shoot them?

Probably time to move on. Sounds like the sow and cub have taken over. Once that happens its tough to get them to move on.

I'll give you my advice right after you post some pictures and video clips of those sows and cubs tearing up your bait site!

I would think it's just a matter of time until the big boar(s) makes a daytime visit, but I have to admit that I have never had that problem when baiting. It's a bit early for the rut, but in a few more weeks try some sow in heat urine at your bait site and see if that helps bring the big boar in. I'd just go enjoy the bears!

LAST EDITED ON May-08-12 AT 07:20PM (MST)[p]I run hounds for bear and have never set on a bait; however, I've spoken to lots of hunters over the years who have. If memory serves, I don't remember a single one of them telling me that a night time visiting boar changed his habits and came in during daylight hours, so yes you might be up against it on those bears.

A bowhunter was sharing his adventures with me a couple years back on a regular bases and had a huge blonde boar come in four days before the season closed. He told me he had a smaller black boar he could kill but held out until the season closed for Mr. Big.

I'm not a baiter although I use to bowhunt plenty, and my thoughts are NO bear is going to come into your bait unless that bear just doesn't care that you are there. It would make sense to me that the bear can smell both you and the bait and only the bears that don't care are the ones coming in while your at the bait station.

Example: I sat on waterhole for a buck out in the Book Cliffs years ago one evening from about 4:00 PM until dark. When I sat down, I shot a practice tip arrow down by the water to get a yardage, then went and retrieved that arrow. Nearly four hours later and just before dark, a six point bull elk and his cows came to water--and they came on the run. When that bull hit my tracks that were nearly four hours old he locked it up and looked every direction before getting a drank. I learned way back then that an elk could tell that I'd crossed hours before him, and that he could also tell that I was gone.........

Here are some pics of the bears I'm dealing with. I wish any of them would come in during the times I sit my stand. They would be fun to watch. I guess it just takes more time in the stand?

How long have they been coming in? When I had my hunt, it took the bears almost a week to get to where they came in during the day. Some bears are just nocturnal.

Give it a little more time. The hunt is going to only get better as we get closer to June.

You can try running a radio at night to keep them out then hunt it the next day, you can also put out smaller amounts of bait. Create some competition amongst the bears. I have heard both of those ideas work sometimes.

Good luck!

Give it some time, we have hunted Canada quite a bit over bait, the big bears usually come in right at dark, only exception I've seen was the bear I shot last year was waiting for the beaver wagon to show up. The big boar was at the bait site waiting for the guide to freshen up the bait with more beaver carcass. I ended up shooting the bear on the ground at about 15 yards. Anyhow.......each bait will have a dominant bear on it, you'll be able to tell by the body language and behavior of the non-dominant bears, they will be really nervous, scittish, run in and out etc.....If you want to "trick" the big boy, take in some scent, a sow in heat bomb, set it off as you get there, and maybe that'll draw the boar in abit earlier where you can get a shot at him. If there is a hot sow in the area, she will attract boars. The sows you have are not, cubs are way too young. They will more than likely run off any boar that comes in.

Most importantly is sitting consecutive days in the stand. We are in the stand by 4:30 or 5 pm and stay till dark. Stay absolutely silent, I like to wear fleece and read a book. Like has been mentioned earlier, they will know you are there, being patient is going to be critical.

Good luck, let us know how you do.

Thanks for posting the pics, they are great. Hunting over bait can really test your patience. I think with time, you'll get him. If they are coming every night, try leaving less bait that the sow and cubs will consume. That may convince him to come earlier.

Thanks for the ideas,
Testing my patients is an understatement, I feel completely helpless just sitting and waiting. In the end I'm sure in the end everything will pay off. Someone told me that you get what you put into it when it comes to a DIY bear hunt with bait.

I tell my clients, big bears didn't get that way by eating out of stumps filled with doughnuts during the daylight. It's hard to make them change their habits. I have heard getting scat from another big bear and placing it near the bait site. I haven't done this myself so I can't confirm it.

--------------------------------
Go Big, or Go Home

I am an outfitter and usually don't give away my secrets. I think your hunt is over for the spring hunt but I will tell you how I do it just not show you my contraption. I only allow food to be distributed during daylight hours and only allow a moderate amount of feed to be distributed. It is a show up when dinner is served of find your own grub. The other key is using a secluded area where they are comfortable. There are a couple of other real keen things you can do but that is why I get hired for big bears.

well seeing how to hunt over a bait you have to draw, and by having to draw you have to register your bait, i dont see why anyone would need to be tight lipped. Here is my two cents that has worked for me. . . . and if you get bored send me an email and ill gladly send you 400 or so photos from last year.

1. never ever ever bait past 4 o'clockish for fall bears. spring you can probably go until about 5 and absolutley 6 at the lastest but no later. if its later than bait it tomorrow. id put it there in the morning to the early afternoon but thats just me. also, until the bait gets hot, dont bait it yourself and then hunt it. its better to have someone bait it and walk out while you stay. once the bait gets hot and they know its time to eat then you'll be fine going solo.

2. some bears dont want to eat everyday, some do. in my opinion if you want to have sows and cubs then bait it everyday. if you want the boars to let people know who's boss then id make them wait for it a bit. when the boar is hungery, its hungery.

3. as far as nocturnal bears, it really isnt a secret. stop baiting late so they stop coming in late. if they are now in their routine of coming in late then set up yard lamps all around your bait. once the sun goes down the lights turn on. dont expect this to happen overnight but i wouldnt say your hunt is over. you just now have to make them play your game.

i know this post is late, but maybe it will help someone in the future. there are few things better than sitting a bait and having bears come in. Ill gladly send you video as well.