First post hello everyone/ bait for cameras good or bad

[BUTTER]

Hello everyone I have four cameras and I feel I get a decent amount of pictures each year but I have never used bait because I am worried about drawing in bears that might think my camera is there chew toy I was wondering if anyone has ever not used bait then started using it and noticed an increase in there amount of pictures thanks Drew and again Hello everyone

[vandeman17]

I have tried both methods and having bait helps not only attract the animals but also stop them in front of your camera. I like using sheep salt from the feed store as my baseline and then adding different stuff depending on where the camera is and what type of animals are in the area. I get a 50# bag of the salt for $8 at a feed store. I have one spot for elk that I use the whole 50# bag and they tore up the ground in probably 200 square foot area down to bare dirt! 

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Welcome Butter! Butter might be good bait?   Maybe spread some Butter over a log in front of your camera and the Squatch will come to lick the Butter?

[headshot5]

Bait works great.  Put your camera up a few days before you put out bait.  That way, the camera won't have any fresh scent on it.  Try to minimize touching it when you pull your card.  Or use gloves to mask the scent.  Bears are curious, so if they smell something out of place a lot of time they will check it out. 

[duckmen1]

Most definatly seen an increase in pics. Areas I usually see 75 pic average on trails turned into 1000 pics with additive put out. That is over a month period in the summer time.. Bears could be a problem. Just remember if you are baiting deer and elk to not hunt anywhere near that area for bears. Never had cameras ruined from a bear but have had them pull the camera off the tree and put teeth marks on them. Helpful thing would be a metal box to put camera in. Helps a lot. Some brands make them for there cameras.
Welcome to the site

[BUTTER]

Wow the salt idea I really like and the setting it out a few days prior to help eliminate odor thank you gentlemen  for already quick responses its that time of year again and I am as I am sure you all are getting excited to get some pictures and watch those horns grow

[RoyBoy]

yeah duckman1 knows whats up. salt will help but after a while "couple months" they wont care much for salt anymore just cause the seasons changing. then go to apples. 

[Jonathan_S]

Hello everyone I have four cameras and I feel I get a decent amount of pictures each year but I have never used bait because I am worried about drawing in bears that might think my camera is there chew toy I was wondering if anyone has ever not used bait then started using it and noticed an increase in there amount of pictures thanks Drew and again Hello everyone

  and welcome.

If you're worried about bear's chewing on your cameras, screw down a piece of wire fencing, with 1x1 or 1x2 wire, 12 or 14 gauge.  Screw it down with sections of 2x4 or 1x4 and they won't be able to rip it down.  Just snip away the wire where necessary for proper pictures.

Also, if you've got a tasty pile of COB or apples, a bear won't spend too much time dinking with a camera, especially this time of year.

Good luck with your bait sites...and one more thing.  Piles of bait make a camera site much more visible, especially to thieves who might be looking for one     make sure you hide them accordingly.

[huntnnw]

about mid July in NE WA u will see a huge drop off in activity at salt licks...from now till then they will pound the licks