early season deer strategies?

[anglinarcher]

This coming year I want to target whitetails in velvet, its been awhile since I've shot one.
I usually bait and hunt late season so bears are not a problem but during early season i can't get the bucks to come in during the day because of all the bears. I hunt public land and its thick so spotting deer and trying to pattern them isn't an option.
any input is appreciated
thanks

[tonymiller7]

Set up multiple bait locations with game cameras.  Hunt the ones where the deer are coming in during the day and the bears are leaving it alone.  Then after you kill your deer wait until the bears clean up the other places and then go kill a bear looking for more dinner.  If there's no bait on the ground they're fair game.  My 


Let the anti-bait rant begin!

[MtnMuley]

They're just whitetail (overgrown rats).........proceed with the bait sites

[Jburke]

Try using a different bait if you're having that much of a hard time keeping bears away.  Also trail cams are great

[Bullkllr]

Donuts and grease are my preferred deer bait too