Sow in heat / Honey Burn for spring bears

[Bigjohn87]

Just wondering if anyone here has had luck using a Sow in Heat scent attractant or deployed a Honey Burn and had success?

Wanted to head out this Spring but did not want to use a bait stand. Am in Northern Alberta, Fort mac so a fairly flat area with a lot of bush but a ton of bears.

Was thinking of either pouring some Sow in heat scent on a rag and hanging it from a tree then watching from a distance or using a honey burn and watching from a distance.

[marky_mark]

So you want to attract bears.... but just not attract them with food?

[OldRussian]

Sounds like you want to bait.

[Smoky buck]

Personally if you are going to attempt bear hunting without bait I would go spot&stalk and forget the scents. Bears on natural feed are habitual and can be patterned. During the rut the board are on the move covering ground and they make mistakes

Hunting bears without bait is not that hard. Find food, water, and sign you will find bears

[SouthWestRanger]

I run baits and I spot and stalk hunt, if you really want to attract them in why not just bait? If you are dead set on not baiting like was said previous, find food, find water, find sign and you will find bears

[walking buffalo]

To answer your question,

I have no experience with Sow in heat scents, I suppose it would work at some degree, especially during the mating season.


Baiting is not allowed where I hunt.
And I really don't want to anyways, just not my thing. Maybe too much work, time commitment?
I have done quite a few honey burns with success.
Of course this only works if there is a bear downwind within smelling range.

Even if you only have a few hours to sit, a honey burn can definitely bring in bears that you would not likely see otherwise.

[Bigjohn87]

Originally Posted by marky_mark

So you want to attract bears.... but just not attract them with food?

Originally Posted by OldRussian

Sounds like you want to bait.

Originally Posted by Smoky buck

Personally if you are going to attempt bear hunting without bait I would go spot&stalk and forget the scents. Bears on natural feed are habitual and can be patterned. During the rut the board are on the move covering ground and they make mistakes

Hunting bears without bait is not that hard. Find food, water, and sign you will find bears

I don’t have a Quad, and being around fort Mcmurray there is a lot of people out baiting bears, so I figure with no quad I have no way to get to where the bears are not already being baited

[Bigjohn87]

Originally Posted by walking buffalo

To answer your question,

I have no experience with Sow in heat scents, I suppose it would work at some degree, especially during the mating season.


Baiting is not allowed where I hunt.
And I really don't want to anyways, just not my thing. Maybe too much work, time commitment?
I have done quite a few honey burns with success.
Of course this only works if there is a bear downwind within smelling range.

Even if you only have a few hours to sit, a honey burn can definitely bring in bears that you would not likely see otherwise.

Thank you

[Smoky buck]

Originally Posted by Bigjohn87

I don’t have a Quad, and being around fort Mcmurray there is a lot of people out baiting bears, so I figure with no quad I have no way to get to where the bears are not already being baited

Don’t need a quad and the bears will still move around with baits in the area. Respect people’s bait stations and go hunting. Walking will get you into place quads won’t go and most won’t haul bait into. It’s all up to you but I have found it easy to get away from people even in really busy areas.

Good luck with whatever method you choose

[Bigjohn87]

Originally Posted by Smoky buck

Don’t need a quad and the bears will still move around with baits in the area. Respect people’s bait stations and go hunting. Walking will get you into place quads won’t go and most won’t haul bait into. It’s all up to you but I have found it easy to get away from people even in really busy areas.

Good luck with whatever method you choose

Thank you very much

[marky_mark]

I thought they gave you a quad when you moved into town?

[calgarychef]

Honey burns work, I’ve used them to get a bit pile working faster.
It can’t hurt to try it! Get up high to because the smoke is dense and falls to the ground faster I think. In the fire You can also use some bacon, or deep fryer fat, sardines etc. If you’re hunting with a gun all you need is to see the bear, so get away from the burn a ways (after the fire is safe) and watch the down wind side.

For bow hunters I think you still need some food items there to keep the bear around for awhile. A dozen donuts or a bag of popcorn might be enough.

Let us know how it works.

[Smoky buck]

Originally Posted by calgarychef

Honey burns work, I’ve used them to get a bit pile working faster.
It can’t hurt to try it! Get up high to because the smoke is dense and falls to the ground faster I think. In the fire You can also use some bacon, or deep fryer fat, sardines etc. If you’re hunting with a gun all you need is to see the bear, so get away from the burn a ways (after the fire is safe) and watch the down wind side.

For bow hunters I think you still need some food items there to keep the bear around for awhile. A dozen donuts or a bag of popcorn might be enough.

Let us know how it works.

I have got nothing against baiting and actually want to try it this spring for something different

It’s not hard to take bears with a bow spot & stalk/ambush/calling you don’t need bait it’s just a choice in hunting style. Bears are not that smart

[calgarychef]

Originally Posted by Smoky buck

I have got nothing against baiting and actually want to try it this spring for something different

It’s not hard to take bears with a bow spot & stalk/ambush/calling you don’t need bait it’s just a choice in hunting style. Bears are not that smart

But they have that nose....

[Smoky buck]

Originally Posted by calgarychef

But they have that nose....

Play the wind and they are easy to stalk and I mean close up 10-30yards shots. I have taken lots of bears spot and stalk closest was at 4yards. They are actually really forgiving to stalk if you have the wind in your favor. Lots of bears are taken spot&stock archery every year it’s not just me

But if the wind is wrong and it’s a bear with any age you are busted. If it’s a big bear that I have found in a feeding area with bad wind I won’t even attempt a stock. Iinstead come back another day because they are habitual if it’s a good feeding area

[Osky]

Learn to call them.
Spring bears will readily come to a fawn bleat. Set up carefully, know ahead of time exactly where. You have to get in absolutely quiet.
Note wind and elements, make sure you set up in bush. Bears answering a call do not like to cross any open area, they want cover. At least here. Be sure you stay sharp, it's unreal how those big black buggars can sneak in even when your in an elevated stand. A good brush caliber with open sites works well. Good luck and keep your chin to the wind.

Osky

[Popcan]

Early onset Alzheimer's setting in over here. Could have sworn I posted on this thread to help out. Be nice to know what I said or did wrong so I can keep an eye on it moving forward. Pretty F'n Touchy these days or what.

If My bad
My Sorry

Thanks Fellas

[Grizzly Adams]

Originally Posted by Osky

Learn to call them.
Spring bears will readily come to a fawn bleat. Set up carefully, know ahead of time exactly where. You have to get in absolutely quiet.
Note wind and elements, make sure you set up in bush. Bears answering a call do not like to cross any open area, they want cover. At least here. Be sure you stay sharp, it's unreal how those big black buggars can sneak in even when your in an elevated stand. A good brush caliber with open sites works well. Good luck and keep your chin to the wind.

Osky

Just watch out for the wrong bears. They don't mind a free meal either and young ungulates are their food of choice.

Grizz

[Bigjohn87]

Tha is for all the Info guys. Have actually decided to bait and will just back hump everything into the bush. Popcan was very generous and actually gave me a location to go to. So I will go there this weekend and scout it out.

[Chuck_Wagon]

http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showt...62#post3944962

[Wildcat93]

I don't think burnt honey or even fresh honey will work. This is what most people don't know, they think bears are attracted with or they like honey because they go knockdown beehives. The bears are only after the brood/larvae which are rich in protein.

[Osky]

Originally Posted by Grizzly Adams

Just watch out for the wrong bears. They don't mind a free meal either and young ungulates are their food of choice.

Grizz

Grizz I have never called humped bears, are they more bold when called and come across openings? Just curious.
Osky

[Osky]

Originally Posted by Wildcat93

I don't think burnt honey or even fresh honey will work. This is what most people don't know, they think bears are attracted with or they like honey because they go knockdown beehives. The bears are only after the brood/larvae which are rich in protein.

In the bush here bears respond very well to bacon grease heated/boiled. There are no pork operations up here but they do love it. Citronella also has great effect on them as well.

Osky

[Coiloil37]

Originally Posted by Wildcat93

I don't think burnt honey or even fresh honey will work. This is what most people don't know, they think bears are attracted with or they like honey because they go knockdown beehives. The bears are only after the brood/larvae which are rich in protein.

I’ve pulled in bears with a honey burn. I’ve also slathered fresh honey out and had bears hit it and only it within five minutes of me putting it out.
I’m not suggesting they don’t like the bee hive itself but both fresh and burning honey have brought bears in for me.

I’ve never used sow in heat lure but I did watch a sow pee once. I went and walked around that spot in the effort to get it on my boots. It worked a little to well. I had bears walking up behind me for about a week. I had boars follow me that got way to close even after I made it very clear I wasn’t another bear. If a guy could get his hands on some sow in heat urine it would be worth using.

[Osky]

Originally Posted by Coiloil37

I’ve pulled in bears with a honey burn. I’ve also slathered fresh honey out and had bears hit it and only it within five minutes of me putting it out.
I’m not suggesting they don’t like the bee hive itself but both fresh and burning honey have brought bears in for me.

I’ve never used sow in heat lure but I did watch a sow pee once. I went and walked around that spot in the effort to get it on my boots. It worked a little to well. I had bears walking up behind me for about a week. I had boars follow me that got way to close even after I made it very clear I wasn’t another bear. If a guy could get his hands on some sow in heat urine it would be worth using.

i was wondering if this would come up. I don't know your laws.
We do not have a spring season but a friend of mine over the border harvests spring urine from both sexes for me. It works on fall bears as well and male urine has good use too. We're I in your country with a spring season urine and used grease wallows would be all I'd use.
Great point

Osky

[calgarychef]

Originally Posted by Wildcat93

I don't think burnt honey or even fresh honey will work. This is what most people don't know, they think bears are attracted with or they like honey because they go knockdown beehives. The bears are only after the brood/larvae which are rich in protein.

I’m not sure if the honey burn brings in bears because it’s honey or because sugars smoke so well when they heat up enough. I’ve done it with molasses too...cause I’m an el’cheapo.

[Flight01]

Plenty of bears to just spot and stalk. If no quad then take the logging roads and walk not to far on cut overs or especially hill side pipelines. They green up nicely if exposure is southern.
I’ve had success with a burn once. Kept bacon grease, added corn syrup, put the cast iron on the Coleman single burner and watched the grey smoke drift off into the bush. About 45 min later we had a bear coming in hot. That’s how I got my first bear.
But honestly I’ve taken more by driving log roads paying close attention to google earth and hunting the pipeline and power lines. Hilly country, water near by, fresh clover. You’ll find them.
Don’t shoot down , across or from the road if it’s a maintained road. I use the roads to get me places not to shoot from... I should’ve clarified that.
A bear on a roadside might have cubs in the brush 15 feet away.
A bear in a big open clearing likely hasn’t left her cubs 50 yards way and you have a better view.