Though chocolate might seem like the perfect additive for your bear baiting recipe and station, it’s important to make sure which states allow using this additive to your bear bait. Alaska, Idaho, Maine, Minnesota, Utah, and Wyoming allow it. Michigan and Wisconsin do not. And New Hampshire only allows the use of white chocolate.
Here’s a quick guide and reference to know what states allow the use of chocolate for your bear baiting station:
| STATE | Allowed: Yes/No |
|---|---|
| Alaska | Yes |
| Idaho | Yes |
| Maine | Yes |
| Michigan | No |
| Minnesota | Yes |
| New Hampshire | Yes/No* |
| Utah | YES |
| Wisconsin | No |
| Wyoming | Yes |
Alaska
The Alaska Department of Fish and Game does not specifically mention the use of chocolate at bait stations. Bait types/rules:
There are two main bait classifications, call bait and food bait:
Call Bait: This is usually a strong scent used to draw bears in from long distances. It is most effective when you can get the call bait up high in a tree. Examples of call baits include sweet items coated in syrup or vanilla. A number of effective commercial scent lures are also available.
Food Bait: Every veteran bear baiter has their own secret food bait, but the bottom line is to find something that keeps the black bears coming back. Examples of food bait to put in your drum container are: dog food, syrup, honey, molasses, doughnuts, old bread, popcorn or any mixture of the above items—but mainly sweet stuff.
Using grease as either a call or food bait has significant drawbacks. Like other meat or meat-related products, it tends to draw brown bears. It can also make your task of post-season site cleanup extremely difficult.
Alaska Department of Fish and Game (Location and Bait Choice)
Idaho
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game does not specifically mention the use of chocolate at bait stations. Bait types/rules:
No parts of animals or fish that are currently classified as
game animals or game fish in Idaho may be used as bait.
This includes game animals and fish that come from the
wild and commercial domestic sources (i.e., pen-raised
game birds/animals or hatchery-raised game fish).The skin must be removed from any mammal parts or
carcasses used as bait.No person shall use salt in any form (liquid or solid) for bait
Black Bear Hunting Seasons and Rules (pdf)
Maine
The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife does not specifically mention the use of chocolate at bait stations. Bait types/rules:
Bear bait means any animal, plant, or derivative thereof, used to attract bear. This does not include packaging or container materials that fall within the definition of litter under Title 17, §2263.
Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (Bear Bait)
Michigan
“It is illegal to use chocolate or cocoa derivatives in bear bait.”
Michigan Black Bear Digest (pdf – page 15)
Minnesota
The Minnesota Department of Fish and Wildlife does not specifically mention the use of chocolate at bait stations. Bait types/rules:
The following materials may not be used as baits for bear:
• A carcass from a mammal containing more than 25 percent of the intact carcass.
• Meat from mammals that contains bones.
• Bone of mammals
• Solid waste containing bottles, cans, plastic, paper, or metal.
• Materials that are not readily biodegradable.
• Any part of a swine except cured pork.
2020 Bear Hunting Regulations (pdf – page 3)
New Hampshire
“…no person shall establish, tend, or hunt over a bait containing chocolate or any cocoa derivative.
This rule does not apply to white chocolate given that white chocolate has only trace levels of theobromine and therefore is not considered toxic.”
New Hampshire Fish and Game – Chocolate Prohibited
Utah
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources does not specifically mention the use of chocolate at bait stations. Bait types/rules:
Bait may not be contained in or include any metal, glass, porcelain, plastic, cardboard, or paper.
A person may use nongame fish as bait, except those listed as prohibited in Rule R657-13 and the guidebook of the Wildlife Board for Taking Fish and Crayfish. No other species of protected wildlife may be used as bait.Domestic livestock or its parts, including processed meat scraps, may be used as bait. (A person using domestic livestock or their parts for bait must have in possession: a certificate of brand inspection, bill of sale, or other proof of ownership or legal possession.)
Utah Administrative Code (R657-33-14. Use of Bait.)
Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources makes the following statement on their website:
Solid blocks of chocolate should not be used. Chocolate is toxic
and can be lethal to bears and other wildlife, especially cubs.
Additionally:
No person may place, use, or hunt over bait or scent that:
• contains any animal part or animal by-product. Animal part
or by-product includes, but is not limited to, honey, bones,
fish, meat, solid animal fat, bacon grease, animal carcass, or
parts of animal carcasses, but does not include liquid scents or
cheese. Attracting bears by the methods commonly referred
to as ‘honey burns’ or ‘bacon burns’ is not legal;
• contains or is contained within metal, paper, plastic, glass,
wood or other similar processed materials. This does not
apply to scent materials, and does not prohibit bait from
being placed in hollow logs or stumps
Wisconsin Baiting and Feeding Regulations (pdf – page 2)
Wyoming
The Wyoming Game and Fish Department does not specifically mention the use of chocolate at bait stations. Bait types/rules:
“Bait or Baiting” means the direct or indirect placing, exposing, depositing, distributing or scattering of salt, hay, grain, fruit, nuts or chemical, mineral or other feed as an attraction or enticement and for the taking of big game animals, regardless of the kind and quantity. A chemical used as an attractant or mask rather than for consumption shall not be considered bait.
“Prohibited bait” means big game animals, small game animals, game birds, game fish, protected animals, protected birds or parts thereof placed for the purpose of attracting a bear.
No person shall place any prohibited bait for the purpose of baiting black bears. Baiting for black bear with a substance other than those defined as a bait in Section 3 or in a manner other than as specified in Section 5 shall be prohibited on federal or state lands, including lands admin.
Wyoming Game and Fish Commission (pdf – See Sections 3, 6, 8)