The application period for bear hunting in Michigan just closed June 1st for the 2019 fall season. Been holding out until I retired use my points to apply for the Baldwin unit. Going into the drawing with 14 points, should have been 15 but I completely forgot to buy a point last year.

I spent the entire month of April this spring staying in my trailer at Ivan’s Campground in Baldwin chasing Steelhead on the flywater of the Pere Marquette river. The fellow that owns the campground knows of several people with problem bears so I think I have a plan. Now I just have to wait until the end of June to see if I draw and I’ll have to start getting serious about preparing for September.

Any tips for the Baldwin unit would be appreciated. This will be my first Michigan bear hunt since I drew Drummond in 1997.

How did you do in 97?

Passed on a bear the first day I shouldn’t have and then it poured the rest of the week I was up there. I’d hooked up with a local on the island and after I started three baits in August he kept them baited for me.

When I was up hunting all three baits were hit every day, I’d bait in the morning and hunt in the evening. I had a 400 pound plus bear come in one evening but he’d just circle the bait and wouldn’t come in. Called the the guy that baited for me and asked him to follow me in on his quad and to wait about 10 minutes before he left so I could get in my stand.

The plan worked. As soon as he left the big boy was bedded down about 40 yards from the bait. As soon as he heard the quad pull away he figured more goodies were dropped off and it was dinner time. One problem, I just got in the stand and was hooking up my harness. He came in with my bow and pack still on the ground hooked to my haul line. To make a long story short....I got busted trying to get my bow up in the tree.

Wow, thanks for that. Sounds exciting. Good luck this year. I love bear hunting but we are not allowed bait in PA. Would like to try it some day.

The last night I hunted I had a sow and two first year cubs come in. Wound up with the cubs in the tree with me and Mama below trying decide if he wanted to come up and join us, to say she wasn’t happy would be an understatment.......it was interesting and terrifying at the same time.

I have 12 points and put in for Baldwin also. Lots of bear in this unit, and some dandys. I just watched 2 different bear yesterday cruze threw my yard. About a 300 pound plus boar in the morning and another smaller bear in the evening.That one was maybe 250.

I bet it was scary but a great memory.

Burly, my cousin lives off M115 just north of Mitchell Lake State Park. Their little subdivision has a heck of a time with them. The DNR came out and gave them all bear proof trash cans. My cousin and his wife both teach in Mesick so I have him working a few connections with the locals.

Yellow dog I bet lol. There's alot of bears in that area. I'm west of there a bit.

Lots of bear by Whiskey Creek Also. I put a friend on 5 bear near there. He shot one 15 minutes unto his hunt. It took him 15 points last year

Good shooting on your hunt if you draw and keep us posted.

Best of luck. I'd hunt bear over deer any day. I'm in red oak. I quit hunting bear in michigan because of the hound hunters. Not sure if theres hounds in Baldwin. If you can get away from the hound hunter you should have a great hunt.

Now the planning/work starts. Just checked the DNR website this morning. I successfully drew Baldwin.

It was raining today. Couldn’t get much done at home so I decided to take a little drive. Never too soon to get started.

Yellow Dog, we have a place just across the state from you, in Iosco County. I’ll be up in Oct to do some salmon fishing a bow hunting on State land for deer. Hopefully the salmon run on the East side will be good this year. If not, I’ll be going to where they are. I totally forgot about the bear lottery this year, but hope to start working on drawing a non-resident tag one of these days. It might take forever for me to draw with as few of them as they issue. Good luck getting drawn!

Congratulations!

I drew 1st season Amasa lol.

I know Amasa pretty good. We went 3 for 3 with bows there two years ago.

YellowDog, if you didn't get very much info from the Baldwin field office, the DNR Information Center on Mackinaw Trail in Cadillac would probably be a much better resource.

You shouldn't have too much trouble getting on a bear Yellow Dog. Lots around. The only issues you might run into is a big acorn crop or heat.

I know Amasa pretty good. We went 3 for 3 with bows there two years ago.

I’m from here. We have a ton of bear. Already have two at camp that I want to hang around

If I ever draw a tag for Baldwin, it's back to Amasa or Baraga for me.

I was asked yesterday to bait bear for a veteran. Can you hunters that drew or those that are going to bait let me know where I can buy bait from a commercial supplier. I had a spot south of Dorr that I bought from 2 years ago. I got 1000 pound of Trix cereal for $88.00. I know about the chocolate ban.

I live near Muskegon.

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