RUMFORD – Hunters hoping to bag a bear this fall may take to the woods this weekend, but not to hunt. Today marks the first day for establishing bait sites and erecting hunting platforms.

The hunt itself – over bait – starts Aug. 30 and ends Sept. 25.

This year’s season might be the last, pending the outcome of November’s referendum, which seeks to ban bear hunting with bait, dogs and traps.

Today, bear hunters and guide outfits across the state can legally begin placing bait in the woods to get bears accustomed to visiting one or more sites.

In the Rumford area, 80 percent of placed bait is either pastries or doughnuts, said Ed McPherson, who with Milan Gammon operates Bear Meadow Guide Service.

“But a few guys here have their own mixture consisting of a grain-type and molasses.”

Bait, he said, is put in 5-gallon and 30-gallon plastic containers, or 55-gallon drums, which are usually placed horizontally on the ground.

“Usually guys lug in a 5-gallon pail. Me and another guy run six to 20 sites, and we check them every day,” said McPherson.

Bait buckets are examined daily to ensure that feed remains. If not, more is added.

The ground is also scrutinized for tracks to learn what type of wildlife activity is taking the bait or checking it out.

“If we have a big boar bear hitting it, we’ll end up with satellite bears.’ These are a bunch of smaller bears that come in before the big ones. Bigger bears will hit it at night,” he said.

Getting just the right site involves several variables.

“You want something with a lot of drainage, like an area with a mountain brook and cool temperatures. If you can find a natural avenue – like when two mountains come together and form a valley – that’s where they’ll be,” McPherson said.

Rather than struggle through thick brush, bears stick to easier routes.

“Bear are no different from deer or moose. They don’t expend any more energy than they have to,” he said.

A lack of natural food this year, may bring more bears to bait sites, but McPherson, who cuts wood for a living, remained conservative. He predicts a fair year for bait hunting.

“Food is very spotty this year. I have noticed some raspberries along certain twitch roads and (logging) cuts. Blueberries have dried out, but blackberries could be good depending on the weather. I’ve seen good greenery on blackberry bushes,” he said.