How far do all you bear baiters set up from the bait. Last year we would have bears on trail cam for a couple days then hunt and we wouldn't see nothing that evening. I am assuming they were coming in from behind us. We were sitting 20 yards down wind of the bait. We talked to one guy that was successful and he said they don't set up within 75 yards of a bait site. So what is the distance most you set up. I understand it is dependent upon the location, but on average what is the distance you try to shoot for.
Bear Bait stands/blinds
- Thread starter hunttrap
- Start date
mustang8
Active Member
If hunting with a rifle I would say the further the better, should be able to have a lane 100 yds long and have no problem with it. Archery is obviously a different animal.
highplainsdrifter
Very Active Member
If you were setting up within 20 yards, that's too close...especially if you were rifle hunting.
We shot bears the past two springs (with a rifle) from a ground blind that was about 40 yards from the bait. Would have liked to get a little further but too many trees in the way.
Wind direction is critical, not just the direction from you to the bait but also the direction from where you walk in to where you expect the bears to come from. You could be flushing bears unknowingly when you walk in to your stand.
So bait site selection (layout) is very important. We have three sites. Two of them are very difficult to get to without alerting the bears (so they come in after dark). The third site has a perfect layout and we have shot bears there the last two years in a row. Just got lucky on the good site because we didn't know what we were doing when we setup these three sites.
We shot bears the past two springs (with a rifle) from a ground blind that was about 40 yards from the bait. Would have liked to get a little further but too many trees in the way.
Wind direction is critical, not just the direction from you to the bait but also the direction from where you walk in to where you expect the bears to come from. You could be flushing bears unknowingly when you walk in to your stand.
So bait site selection (layout) is very important. We have three sites. Two of them are very difficult to get to without alerting the bears (so they come in after dark). The third site has a perfect layout and we have shot bears there the last two years in a row. Just got lucky on the good site because we didn't know what we were doing when we setup these three sites.
When I have made my set ups in the past I would walk along creek bottoms that had a logging trail along them. I would walk about a mile back and to make my bait site. Set up 20 yards off the bait. I think one thing I have been doing wrong is walking that far back. I bet I have been flushing bears out not knowing. Last year on my last set up I had a bear hitting all week, and had a new bear at my bait all day. I got there didn't see nothing during the last hour or so of light. Im thinking they were walking down wind and smelling me or I bumped them from there bed. Is making a set up a quarter mile off a back road that gets little to no traffic to close?
highplainsdrifter
Very Active Member
I don't think so. My stands are all pretty close to seldom used roads. More important is prevailing wind direction. You need to be able to get to them without blowing your scent all over the place.
Thats what I like about the creek bottoms. I set my blind up next to the creek and cold water and my scent travels down the creek. At least that is what I think.
NEWHunter
Member
In Wisconsin, we have set up anywhere from 15 to 200 plus yards away and have had success at 15 yards (head to scent-lok and rubber boots) and 200 yards. If the wind is right, the further you can get away from the bait and still feel you have a slam dunk shot, the better. The hunting here is certainly different - all private land and driving pickups almost all the way in to the bait - but when in doubt back up.
One trick we use around here is to stay on a baiting routine, and when you intend to hunt, have somebody walk in with you to bait and then have them walk out alone while you stay there and hunt.
One trick we use around here is to stay on a baiting routine, and when you intend to hunt, have somebody walk in with you to bait and then have them walk out alone while you stay there and hunt.