We can’t bait bears here but I was wondering about how effective honey burns would work to draw in bears? Has anyone ever tried them or had any luck? How long before you hunt do you do it? Any input is appreciated

Are oils considered bait in your area?

Osky

It is illegal to use bait, I read on a NYS Bear PDF doc that you can have 1.5 OZ of scent. There was a product called liquid smoke. In AZ a bear hunter got pinched years ago for baiting bear by burning bacon in his camp fire, it might of had something to do with intent. I have used honey and beaver castor while trapping but never had any bear problems with my sets at beaver ponds and never had any bear action at coon sets in NYS. You might want to ask DEC. I know some bear hunters in the Jamestown area, they rely on trail cams and being on the bear. I have hunted over baits in Canada and no matter what bait was used they never came out till dusk on night. A bear knows the difference between a little odor and a food source that will put some fat on. Just as a coyote knows the difference between a little odor out of a dirt hole and a road killed deer or a gut pile.

Meshach Browning had good luck woth them morth and west of jete a few years back

If it were me, I would use old bacon grease to burn/roast. I feel used grease is a heavier scent that hugs the ground better, disperses farther, and burns longer than honey. I would not burn it ahead of time letting them come to a Foodless end. Scout like crazy, try to box them into an area then set up and work the wind. A good predator call would be a big part of the hunt as well. Careful using the call, it's shocking how silently and unseen they can slip in on you.

In my area when the cool nights of fall start setting in food sources that produce fat versus sweets seem to work best. Some sweet foods are also loaded with fat of course. Bears seem to know what they need to pack fall fat on.

Osky

sounds like we need to invent a bacon grease candle and sell them to bear hunters.

That’s the best idea ever!!! Lol probably make a fortune with it!

Most states that don't allow baiting may not allow honey burns so just be sure on that.

Bacon candles,there have been various flavored "incense" sticks for luring bears,on the market for many years.Again,make sure they are legal,where you are.They aren't,here.

If your state doesn't like baiting,learn to hunt them.If you have food sources,you can come up with a plan.I've killed a couple bears over bait but have taken quite a few more,without.I got a lot more satisfaction from scouting,strategizing and taking bears at close range,on my own.

Are they patternable like deer?

Not without a food source. They have territories but in bush country they can be hard to recognize.

Osky

There are always food sources,some are just more defined and isolated than others.There are also water sources to consider.I've killed a dozen or so,mostly with iron sighted revolvers,a couple with rifles,in the timber here,by sitting on travelways,food sources,water sources and still hunting.

If you hunt and kill deer in the woods,you can do the same with bears in the same woods.Areas like the Canadian bush are difficult to get out and hunt without bait and if you have armies of orange coats bumbling around you in the Eastern woods,that can make it hard to implement a plan but sitting on saddles,trails leading in to thick cover and other escape routes can pay off.

If you can't find defined bear trails to sit on,still hunting food sources like beech or white oak ridges can pay off.You can tell if bears are feeding there and which trees they prefer.

The only water sources I'm interested are isolated springs or water holes,not streams.

This one was following a trail,just inside the cover,that leads from dry country to a stream.I found his track,heading South and was pretty sure he would be back for water that evening.I wasn't quite right.It took four days but he did come back.

I was taught out West to do a bacon/honey burn on a sterno stove.

Anise oil is a good attracting for bears and many furbearers.

they already have the bacon scented candles

I would ask the local CO...he or she will be the one to pinch you if it's not legal.

They showed an old guy on a local tv show that would cook bacon in his blind to attract the bears.
You got the smell and you got the snack. Sounds good to me.

Yep, they can work.
I mix honey with bacon grease