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Baiting bears
I've hunted bears over my own baits in Eastern Ontario for 8 years.
To bring bears in quickly I'd suggest burning 1/2 cup of honey with a small amount of pork fat on a small portable stove. Use a large can or pot that you don't plan on using again and let the mixture smoke until it is completely charred. Do this under some trees and the scent will stick to the leaves and carry in the wind for several days. I've done this over dead baits and had a hit within a day. A friend I know uses raspberry jello powder and says it draws bears in.
Vanilla extract in a spray bottle is a great way to get bears to come to a bait as well. I use this when I set up a new bait - I git this tip from a beekeeper who used to get nuisance bears to come to him by spaying vanilla extract for few hundred yards all the way back to his truck.
For bait I use oats and old fryer oil. Bears will get the oil on thier feet and as they walk it will help bring more bears to the bait. Another option is to get dairy ration as it already is mixed with molasses. The only problem with this is that it will turn sour if it gets wet and the bears may not pay attention to it.
Another good tool to use is a trail cam. Large bears are smart and will sometimes come into a bait in the middle of the day, knowing full well that hunters come by at dawn and dusk...
If you plan on eating your bear I'd suggest you skin and quarter the bear and get the quarters on ice ASAP. With this I've found that bear meat is equal in quality to good beef.
Hope this helps. Let me know if I can be of any further help.
Scott
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