I hired a Maine guide in the past. Here’s what I’m learning about bear baiting on your own

By Pete Warner

A year ago, I entertained the thought of trying to establish a bear bait site. Things didn’t pan out – I was too lazy to do it.

Instead, I made a call to a trusted bear hunting guide, Mike Clough of Green Lake Guide Service. He squeezed me in for an afternoon hunt, which resulted in the successful harvest of an adult boar.

Nothing to it.

This summer, albeit late in the game, I committed to baiting. I went and scouted a parcel of land where my favorite landowner had seen fresh bear scat.

After hearing that news, I was super excited about the possibilities and located a nice location for a bait barrel and a treestand. But then I read the law book.

The bait site must be at least 500 yards from any occupied dwelling, unless you have written permission. Ideally, you’re out in the middle of nowhere with little or no human intervention. 

This was a closer, more convenient option, but there are six or seven houses within 500 yards of my proposed bait site. I didn’t feel comfortable going around and asking strangers if they would allow me to hunt in the vicinity.

On to Plan B.

My knowledge of bear baiting has been derived through brief discussions with Registered Maine Guides like Clough and Wayne Plummer at Northern Pride Lodge in Kokadjo. And by watching YouTube.

I’m not nearly as optimistic about the backup site, which is a few miles from the other location. There was already an abandoned plastic bait barrel there, complete with bear teeth and claw marks. At least someone had bears here before, even if it was years ago.

Unfortunately, in three years of deer hunting extensively on the property, I haven’t seen any sign of bears. I decided to try it anyway.

I fixed up the barrel and fitted it with a steel cable to attach it to a tree. In the meantime, I put in a late order with Tyler Dodge at Wilderness Freaks, where he produces a slew of tantalizing bear attractant scents in various forms.

It was five days into the baiting season when I finally loaded up my Jet Sled and headed toward the dark growth. I stumbled around and found a spot where I could place a barrel and a stand and have decent visibility and a functional shooting lane.

In hindsight, I probably should have pushed the operation a little closer to better cover and a nearby water source. With the clock already ticking, I went with my first instincts.

The days I chose to set up the site and the ladder stand were brutally hot – in the 90s, but the view from the stand overlooking the barrel is pretty good, although a little closer than I would like. Have I mentioned that I’m not a huge fan of treestands?

I scrambled to acquire a bunch of food items that might entice a bear to the barrel, including peanuts, oats, dog food, pancake syrup, canned pie filling, peanut butter, cookie dough, honey and Pop Tarts.

I might have sampled the Pop Tarts. I had to make sure they were okay, right?

Next I mixed up a bunch of the ingredients in a five-gallon pail and headed in. Once the barrel was securely tethered to the tree, I dumped the food in and closed the cover.

I poured lots of oil scented with imitation vanilla extract (these two items don’t mix well) around the site and smeared peanut butter on the barrel and some nearby trees.

All I could do then was wait.

I erected a cellular trail camera overlooking the site, figuring that when the bears showed up, I would know about it almost immediately. All I know so far is, there haven’t been any bears at the barrel.

There was a deer sighting in the first couple of days, followed by an appearance by someone’s pet dog. Yes, this is a bad sign. The site is only maybe a third of a mile from some homes.

There were two visits from some turkeys and, finally, a raccoon showed up. It is the only animal that has shown any interest in sampling the bait.

Toward the end of the second week, my Wilderness Freaks products – scents, sprays, oils and pastes — arrived. I blasted the site and surrounding trees with essences of blueberry, butterscotch and anise. It smells amazing after putting it back in the truck.

Bear baiting logically follows the same tenet attached to real estate – “location, location, location.” My site is in a low-lying, shadowy area below some agricultural fields, next to a nearly dry brook. Its position likely isn’t conducive to the scents being moved around by the wind.

Bear hunting over bait starts on Monday, Aug. 25. But at the moment, with zero bears on camera, I have no reason to waste any time in the stand.

I’m holding out hope that a hungry bear somewhere in the area will literally get wind of the scents, make a beeline to my bait and chow down. I’m not holding my breath, though.

I have placed what I believe is tasty bait and have doused the forest with strong-smelling scents. Hopefully, as the berry crops wither in the parched summer weather and nighttime temperatures dip into the 40s, a bruin or two will show up.

If not, I have Mike Clough on speed dial.