Next, deadfall was gathered and stacked as cribbing on the
backside of the bait in order to properly position our target
prior to the shot. Hundreds of pounds of food and numer-
ous scent products (such as vanilla rags and anise bells) were
then brought in, including gallons of used fryer oil and bacon
grease, which was slathered over the barrels. Kendra and I then
installed multiple trail cameras with custom bear-proof cases.
Finally, four treestands were erected on the bait, since I wanted
the comfort, safety and security of side-by-side stands for my
father/daughter team, as well as hunting options for diferent
wind directions. And then we started over again, preparing
our second bait nearby.
Afer setting up and posting the sites with “Warning: Bear
Baiting Area!” signs, the plan was simple enough: Let the baits
relax for three or four days and then sneak in and check for
visitors. If no big bears had hit the baits, we would spruce-up
the scent and add more dog food and popcorn and COB (corn,
oats, barley) slathered with lots of molasses, maple syrup and
more used fryer grease. Ten we would check the bait in an-
other two to three days.
If a shooter bear had repeatedly hit the bait in the past 24
hours, or we had bumped him of the bait with our approach
(an exciting but frightening situation that occurred more than
once), Kendra and I would hike back to our four-wheeler,
spray down with a scent eliminator, change into our scent-free
hunting clothing, grab her bow, and slip into our tree until the
bear returned.
Sounds simple enough. In fact, I’m sure that somewhere,
sometime, this perfect-world scenario had played out for some
lucky bowhunter.
Kendra and I, on the other hand, quickly discovered that we
would need more than luck. Afer several weeks, we had numer-
ous brown bears bouncing back and forth between our two
tempting baits. And at least four of them were big, mature bears.
However, regardless of which of the two baits we sat on,
the big bears would refuse to show while we waited quietly
and patiently. Refuse to show at our chosen bait, that is. Many
times we had browns visit the vacant bait while we sat idle at
the other bait, only a half-mile away.
WWW.BOWHUNTER.COM 41Stuff Happens
Hunting in brown bear country is one tHing; actually encouraging them to take
over a bait station, and then ambushing them at close range with stick and string, is
an entirely different thing. For this reason, bear baiters must not only be alert, but also
mentally and physically prepared.
I’m not going to get into the “frearm vs. bear spray” debate, since either one can
save your life, or fail miserably, at any given time. It’s a very personal choice, but I will
say that every person who enters the bear woods should carry some form of powerful
protection that can be deployed quickly.
I carry a sidearm, my pals carry shotguns, and my daughter carries Counter Assault
bear spray, primarily because she isn’t profcient with a large-caliber frearm. My sidearm
of choice is a Ruger Alaskan double-action revolver in hard-hitting .454 Casull caliber.
I shoot heavy-load Buffalo Boar ammo in 360-grain cast solids, the largest bullet they
offer. This small handgun/hot load combo kicks like a mule after a couple of Red Bulls,
but that’s ok...this isn’t a frearm intended for plinking tin cans. It’s simply meant to
stop an enraged predator on the spot, and if you ever need it, the recoil will be the last
thing on your mind.
While a 12-gauge pump shotgun with slugs packs more stopping power, I personally
don’t like how cumbersome it can be to carry. Over the years, I’ve noticed a few of my
baiting partners either sling their shotgun when their hands are full, or worse yet, lean
the scattergun against a tree while servicing the bait. Both habits can cost precious
seconds in an emergency situation. My revolver, on the other hand, is always on my
right hip, where it can be quickly accessed. It’s a proven bear-stopper.
On August 2, 2009, ironically while walking my dogs at midday on our rural dirt road,
I was ambushed from behind by a 10-foot brown
bear that suddenly burst from the brush. Drawing
and fring while backpedaling wildly, one round
hit the bruin in the left collarbone and broke
his spine before passing almost completely
through the length of the animal and lodging
in the right hip, dumping him on his chin at
less than 10 feet. Upon later examination
by Alaska Fish and Wildlife Protection
offcers, it was discovered that the big
boar was grossly underweight due
to broken and abscessed teeth.
Protruding scapula and visible
ribs pointed to a starving brown
bear that evidently saw me as an easy meal. My handgun had literally saved my life.
Carrying protection is only part of the solution. While baiting, work in pairs, and
always have one person acting as lookout while servicing your bait. Communicate well,
pay attention, and be ready at all times.Bear/human conficts and an increasing population of Kenai Peninsula brown bears
spurred the Alaska Board of Game to allow more hunter opportunity in 2014.