Bear Hunting; Off Season

What should you do during the off season of bear hunting? Prepare for next year!

First, you should know the dates that you are preparing for. If you've hunted bear before these dates should be no surprise,  

Bear Application Period: May 1 - Jun. 1
Drawing Results available online: Jul. 5

Bear licenses are limited and only available through a drawing. You do not need a base license to apply for the drawing, but if chosen you must purchase a base license and bear license to hunt.

Hunters are selected for a bear license using a preference point drawing system. In the license drawing, applicants with the greatest number of preference points in each hunt period are selected first. Those who are not selected earn one point for future drawings. Only one point will be awarded in a given year.

For more information on the bear drawing, watch the “Preference Point System Explained” video at Michigan.gov/Bear

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Preparing for the season can be daunting, but here's a few helpful tips to ensure that your season goes smoothly.

Stock up on bait, Baitmen's is open year-round. Call and ask about our off-season discounts!

But what if I don't get drawn for a tag? That's okay! Buy dry bait and keep it stored in a cool dry place. Nuts, seeds, cereal, marshmallows ect. are great baits to store for long periods of time. Or resell it! Post it on Facebook/Craigslist! Odds are there is someone nearby that would love to take the bait off your hands. 

Find a good spot, or maybe you already have one.!

In Michigan, bears typically enter their den by December and come out in late March or April. This gives you a few months in-between to scout them out. Bears will oftentimes return to the same areas year after year, as long as the food is there.

In early spring, bears frequent wetlands.

If you're new to bear hunting, finding an outfitter is always a great choice. Typically, your outfitter hunt will include lodging, bait and sometimes meals. Call us and ask about some of the outfitters we recommend.

Most importantly...

Be patient! If you don't draw a tag, it's okay. You will receive one preference point for use in future bear license drawings. You also have the opportunity to purchase a leftover bear license for a different hunt period, if available, beginning July 18 at 10 a.m. (EST). Depending on how many hunters apply, leftover licenses may or may not be available for some bear management units and/or hunt periods. Note: Your points will be reset to zero if you purchase a leftover license. 

And if that's still a bust, try again next year. You have to be just as patient with getting a tag as you would be sitting and waiting to kill a bear.