To each is own, but if you need bait to “hunt” bears, then you’re not hunting. Find denning areas, find their trails to and from, find where they then go to find their food and hunt that. It will be clear as day when you find it. That’s the closest to “bait” you should hunt over. Towards the end of the season you’re going to find them at the source of their food trying to pack calories for the winter. I’ve seen more black bears over the years then I care to shoot, and it’s always around a good food source or on their trails. I’m all for traditional use practices, like running hounds. But to hunt over a bait pile, that’s not hunting that’s just waiting for them to show up. You’ll find bears when you’re not looking for them half the time, when you do see which way they take off. Usually it’s back towards what they feel is safe. And that safe direction is usually their known trails, food sources, water source or dens. That’s where you start your search. Scout, scout, scout

So I assume you don’t use any scents or attractants on your trap line?

Big baits bring in the big bears.
You want a huge bear hunt the town dump.