Michigan bear.

[Epicst]

This year i will be going on my first bear hunt.I only get a week to hunt and i want to take one with my bow.We are going to get to our spot 2 days before season starts,so i was wondering if anyone knows what brings in bear fast.The season is in september.

[col3]

Beaver carcass's, sweet stuff, anything they can smell from a distance

[MichiganHunter]

well what season do you have? 1st 2nd or 3rd

I would say get in the first day and do a honey burn. Fill a half a can with honey set on a cook stove (I've heard that the disposable burners for keeping trays of food hot work) It will ROLL SMOKE. Then before you head up...day or two before you are going to get there, put some meat scraps, fish, syrup and other stuff in a plastic bag and set int he sun for it to cook...IT WILL STINK GOOD....I had pick of 400lb bears on that type of a mix and then just uses normal bear baiting stuff after that, (but make up a few days worth and space it out every other day.

Last hunt as far away as you can, if you can be 100yds away with a rifle then do it. But if your going to bow hunt aim low and be close.

[Straight Shooter]

Those burners are called "Sternal" and they are in the camping section of any Walmart. A guy I worked with was a big bear hunter using the same set up and got great results with this combination of sternal, an empty can, and a jar of honey.

[peteski]

I think you mean STERNO not sternal.

[fly]

I get about 2-3 hours out of a STERNO can. This year I went with Bakers & Chefs Safe Heat chafing dish fuel. It lasted on average 1 hour longer than STERNO at almost half the cost. One can get a dozen for 20-25 bucks. I place one in a metal coffee can and use tin snips to make make some cut outs in the top allowing air to enter the can. It works better if the heat is close to the top of the can so I'll place an empty can on the ground first, then place the unused one on top of it. I fold the top of the can in just a little so I can place another coffee can on top of it. I used to use honey, but that gets too expensive. Molasses is a lot cheaper and I found it to work just as good if not better. Seemed it made more smoke anyway. The set up below brought in 2 bears for me this spring in Idaho.

[Epicst]

Thanks for the info and looks like i will be trying the honey burner setup.Another question that i got is what kind of cover should i be looking to hunt??Should i try to set up in real dense,thick woods or a spot a little more open??Thanks again.

[fly]

If the land is hilly I like to set up low and have the bears come down to me. I look for a water source 1st. Swampy areas are great, but streams also work. Then I look for the thickest cover I can find near the water. The thicker the better. I then figure out which way the wind will blow the burn scent. I place my blind in an area that breaks up the blind outline. I like thick evergreens the best. I then open a window so I can clearly see the burn can about 40-50 yards away (closer if bow hunting). It's nice to have a couple shooting lanes and watch for the bear as it approaches. I will most likely be down wind of the burn can coming from the swampy/thick area. A bear is more likely to travel during legal shooting hours if the burn can is near thick cover instead of an open area. Smaller bears approach very cautiously while the big bruins just stomp on in.

[fly]

Funny how leavign off a "t" can change the whole idea.

I meant... "It" will most likely be down wind of the burn can.

[Epicst]

Got it.Thick cover near water.Thanks for all the help fellas!!!!!Few more things to buy and then the waiting game.

[SVD]

well what season do you have? 1st 2nd or 3rd Nebraska HuntinG

I would say get in the first day and do a honey burn. Fill a half a can with honey set on a cook stove (I've heard that the disposable burners for keeping trays of food hot work) It will ROLL SMOKE. Then before you head up...day or two before you are going to get there, put some meat scraps, fish, syrup and other stuff in a plastic bag and set int he sun for it to cook...IT WILL STINK GOOD....I had pick of 400lb bears on that type of a mix and then just uses normal bear baiting stuff after that, (but make up a few days worth and space it out every other day.

Last hunt as far away as you can, if you can be 100yds away with a rifle then do it. But if your going to bow hunt aim low and be close.

Honey burn good idea for sure ;-)

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SVD