Mineral sites and bears

[Dreaded Archer24]

Has anyone had bears hit their old/ current mineral sites that you set up for deer ? If so what do you do ?


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[BreezyBear]

They occationaly stop by mine, but they just pass through, not actually using or interested in the salt.

[jrebel]

Has anyone had bears hit their old/ current mineral sites that you set up for deer ? If so what do you do ?


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Bears are very curious animals and will inspect anything new or different in their back yard.  I'm convinced a guy could attract bear to a certain spot by putting a jungle gym in middle of the woods.....they would be playing on it within days.   

Salt / mineral sites will have bears visit them, but in my experience it isn't an attractant to bears.  Never seen a bear eating or licking my mineral blocks....just see them rolling them down the mountain.      Have not had a problem with bears frequenting mineral sights on a regular basis either, almost like they check them out as they are walking by. 

Coyotes....will piss  right in the middle of your mineral site.....they are dirty little buggers.   

[MIKEXRAY]

The bears in my area of Eastern Wa just pass through , with no interest whatsoever in my mineral site.  If I have a shot at a bear using the trail I sit on during early archery I'm taking it . If it actually did come directly into the mineral site I would not shoot.  It's a fine line obviously.  Good luck

[dilleytech]

The bears in my area of Eastern Wa just pass through , with no interest whatsoever in my mineral site.  If I have a shot at a bear using the trail I sit on during early archery I'm taking it . If it actually did come directly into the mineral site I would not shoot.  It's a fine line obviously.  Good luck

Not really a fine line if the bears coming to your bait site it’s baiting. If you sitting at salt and see a bear and shoot it it’s baiting.

[GOcougsHunter]

The bears in my area of Eastern Wa just pass through , with no interest whatsoever in my mineral site.  If I have a shot at a bear using the trail I sit on during early archery I'm taking it . If it actually did come directly into the mineral site I would not shoot.  It's a fine line obviously.  Good luck

Not really a fine line if the bears coming to your bait site it’s baiting. If you sitting at salt and see a bear and shoot it it’s baiting.

What if you put up a sign that states that the mineral site is intended for deer and elk only? 

[callturner]

I have bears coming to my salt block constantly lots of pictures on the trail cams. Sows with Cubs, boars you name it.

[hunter399]

Yes ....yes....and yes bears will show up at mineral sites.
At least they do at mine.
They show very little interest in salt ,as in actual eating or using the minerals.
Just like other predators,cougars,bobcat,ect. I think there interested in all the ungulates that have pissed there and left scent.
I had a small bear all summer that would constantly roll in the salt,and dirt so that's was different to me.

Now if you make your minerals apple flavored ,which I have a recipe for. Wink...wink... 😉.
They'll probably be more interested.
That secret stays with me.

[dilleytech]

The bears in my area of Eastern Wa just pass through , with no interest whatsoever in my mineral site.  If I have a shot at a bear using the trail I sit on during early archery I'm taking it . If it actually did come directly into the mineral site I would not shoot.  It's a fine line obviously.  Good luck

Not really a fine line if the bears coming to your bait site it’s baiting. If you sitting at salt and see a bear and shoot it it’s baiting.

What if you put up a sign that states that the mineral site is intended for deer and elk only? 

Your honor! This sign clearly states!!! 😂

[Dreaded Archer24]

Yes ....yes....and yes bears will show up at mineral sites.
At least they do at mine.
They show very little interest in salt ,as in actual eating or using the minerals.
Just like other predators,cougars,bobcat,ect. I think there interested in all the ungulates that have pissed there and left scent.
I had a small bear all summer that would constantly roll in the salt,and dirt so that's was different to me.

Now if you make your minerals apple flavored ,which I have a recipe for. Wink...wink... .
They'll probably be more interested.
That secret stays with me.

Apple flavored salt you say?


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[hunter399]

Yes ....yes....and yes bears will show up at mineral sites.
At least they do at mine.
They show very little interest in salt ,as in actual eating or using the minerals.
Just like other predators,cougars,bobcat,ect. I think there interested in all the ungulates that have pissed there and left scent.
I had a small bear all summer that would constantly roll in the salt,and dirt so that's was different to me.

Now if you make your minerals apple flavored ,which I have a recipe for. Wink...wink... .
They'll probably be more interested.
That secret stays with me.

Apple flavored salt you say?


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Yup yup
Hint hint
Wink wink.
🤔😂🤔

[huntnnw]

there is some on my trail cam thread on here. I had 5 come through in a week

[MIKEXRAY]

There actually is a fine line I believe,  there are circumstances where u aren't actually baiting the bear in. What if someone puts out only " doe in heat " , would that be illegal to shoot a bear if it came in ?  I hunt a steep ridge flat spot about the size of a football field. The main trail is on the backside of the flat spot / bottom of the next steep rise. I sit on the main trail , my salt and camera are in the middle of the flat about 50 yards away. I also have a camera on the trail , the bears never leave the trail ever . If I have a bear come down the trail I'm shooting an arrow , confident the salt had nothing to do with it.

[Dreaded Archer24]

There actually is a fine line I believe,  there are circumstances where u aren't actually baiting the bear in. What if someone puts out only " doe in heat " , would that be illegal to shoot a bear if it came in ?  I hunt a steep ridge flat spot about the size of a football field. The main trail is on the backside of the flat spot / bottom of the next steep rise. I sit on the main trail , my salt and camera are in the middle of the flat about 50 yards away. I also have a camera on the trail , the bears never leave the trail ever . If I have a bear come down the trail I'm shooting an arrow , confident the salt had nothing to do with it.

I honestly think there is so many gray areas in the law they need to do a better job on being more specific maybe possibly listing things that cannot be used during bear season maybe I don’t know. I think the whole bait in the bear thing is ridiculous anyways when you have tribes on the coast that are able to bait bear  all year around and they go hunting all throughout the summer. It’s a money thing it’s not about conservation.


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[dilleytech]

There actually is a fine line I believe,  there are circumstances where u aren't actually baiting the bear in. What if someone puts out only " doe in heat " , would that be illegal to shoot a bear if it came in ?  I hunt a steep ridge flat spot about the size of a football field. The main trail is on the backside of the flat spot / bottom of the next steep rise. I sit on the main trail , my salt and camera are in the middle of the flat about 50 yards away. I also have a camera on the trail , the bears never leave the trail ever . If I have a bear come down the trail I'm shooting an arrow , confident the salt had nothing to do with it.

Yes that is considered baiting. Shooting a bear that close to any attractant is considered baiting. Now what are the odds of you getting caught or seeing serious consequences? Very very low I would say.