In your opinion, what is an "Active Bait"?

[broadfieldpoint]

Had this conversation recently with a friend.

To me, an active bait is one that has bears visiting that you would actually shoot. Or, shooters are visiting this bath on a daily basis.

My friend thought that an active bait would be a bait that has ANY bears visiting daily.

What are your thoughts?

[Bigwoodsman]

I'd say if the bait is being used by the species you intend to harvest its active.

BW

[sns2]

I'd say that if you didn't set the bait, then its active.

[broadfieldpoint]

Originally Posted by Bigwoodsman

I'd say if the bait is being used by the species you intend to harvest its active.

BW

ok- so I am assuming that it is regardless of size and frequency?

Im asking because your response didn't specify.

[Hunter4ever12]

I agree with your friend.

[Bigwoodsman]

Originally Posted by broadfieldpoint

ok- so I am assuming that it is regardless of size and frequency?

Im asking because your response didn't specify.

Yes. If you're baiting black bears and black bears show up imho it's an active site. Doesn't matter the size of the black bear.

Now if a Grizzly or a wolf or a coyote or birds etc are hitting your bait site and no black bears are showing up. I'd say you bait is active but inactive for black bears. And you should probably move your bait.

BW

[Lefty-Canuck]

I agree with your friend, an active bait is one hit regularly by bears...regardless of age or sex. This time of the rut you can have bears you have never seen before show up just to check it out.

LC

[reddeerhunter]

Originally Posted by Lefty-Canuck

I agree with your friend, an active bait is one hit regularly by bears...regardless of age or sex. This time of the rut you can have bears you have never seen before show up just to check it out.



LC

This.....


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[Salavee]

For most, an active hunting bait would be any bait site that contains bait for the purpose of luring an animal. It's still working 24/7 and is active. Whether the site is hot or not at the time doesn't matter

[broadfieldpoint]

Originally Posted by Salavee

For most, an active hunting bait would be any bait site that contains bait for the purpose of luring an animal. It's still working 24/7 and is active. Whether the site is hot or not at the time doesn't matter

This more or less reflects most of the responses here. So now I have a question for those of you that responded that any bears regardless of size visiting a bait mean its active.


QUESTION......would you shoot any bear visiting that bait site regardless of size?

[bonedogg]

if you are baiting, then its an active site

[Salavee]

If you just want to kill a Bear ..kill a Bear. If you want to kill a BIG bear, that changes the game quite a bit.

[wildwoods]

An active site is one that is being hit regardless of size. A bait site not getting hit is called a disappointment haha

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by wildwoods

An active site is one that is being hit regardless of size. A bait site not getting hit is called a disappointment haha

That right there says it all!
Cat

[ctd]

A "active bait" is as soon as you put bait on site it is active.
Is it a productive site and is it obtaining your initial hopes and dreams. That's where who what when and how big comes into play.

[curtisb]

My take...

I haul by barrels out, set them up, cut my shooting lanes, etc sometime in April. At this point it's a bait site.

Beginning May, I haul feed out to the site. I distribute the bait at the site, set my camera, hang signs, etc.

From this point forward, regardless if I hunt the site, intend to hunt the site or not, it's an 'active' bait site until cleaned up. Even if no bears show up...

[jdf96ca]

Originally Posted by curtisb

My take...



I haul by barrels out, set them up, cut my shooting lanes, etc sometime in April. At this point it's a bait site.



Beginning May, I haul feed out to the site. I distribute the bait at the site, set my camera, hang signs, etc.



From this point forward, regardless if I hunt the site, intend to hunt the site or not, it's an 'active' bait site until cleaned up. Even if no bears show up...

I would say it's an active bait site as long as there is bait left there if there is no bait then it used to be a bait site but if u disagree then ur welcome to just my opinion


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[Lefty-Canuck]

Originally Posted by broadfieldpoint

This more or less reflects most of the responses here. So now I have a question for those of you that responded that any bears regardless of size visiting a bait mean its active.


QUESTION......would you shoot any bear visiting that bait site regardless of size?

No, very selective when it comes to bears....but a dry sow or a sow with cubs can bring a big boar at any time. If the sows frequent the bait...it's active.

LC

[greybeard]

Along with photos, the bait site manager I help out with considers it active if we see large scat; coke can size is good. Large reliable tracks along with small tracks indicates many bears, perhaps a sow with cubs. Bumping into a feeding bear is a good sign. He has the high speed walk backwards escape method down pat.
The guest hunter's result is all what counts. If she waits for the large bears and foregoes the first sightings of small bears then you got a big bear and you had an active site and the customer took advantage of it. If you bait your own site and get a bear you like, then that is an active site even if there was no sign until the day you shot. It is all about perspective.
Happy hunting.

[waterninja]

Originally Posted by Hunter4ever12

I agree with your friend.

I agree with you... and your friend.

[curtisb]

QUESTION......would you shoot any bear visiting that bait site regardless of size?[/QUOTE]

No. I run baits "recreationally" every spring and rarely hunt them, unless I get a target bear I'm interested in.
Either A. decent color phase or B. Monster.

This year in particular I've got (3) running, right around a dozen different bears hitting them, and had my one and only one large target bear show up last week Thursday.
I've been sitting the bait hunting it - but very selectively.

Running out of feed and time. Here's to hoping!

[58thecat]

One that is empty every morning.