Do You Need to Post a Bear Baiting Sign? 8 States say “Yes”

Do you need to post a bear baiting sign at your legal hunting station? The short answer is “YES!” Out of the 9 states that allow bear baiting, 8 of them are specific about needing to post signage (Wisconsin is the exception).

Here’s what each state says about posting signs for your bear baiting station, including links to the specific verbiage from each perspective state agency:

Alaska – Idaho – Maine – Michigan – Minnesota – New Hampshire – Utah – Wisconsin – Wyoming

Alaska

When you register your site(s), you will receive a sign to post at your stations, normally within view of your bait. Bears often destroy these signs so make copies and always have spare signs with you. The sign provided by ADF&G or any sign you make yourself must clearly show three things: text saying “Bear Bait Station”; your permit number; and the hunting license numbers of yourself and any other hunter(s) you’ve pre-approved to hunt at that bait station.

Alaska Department of Fish and Game

Idaho

All bait sites must be visibly marked at the nearest tree or on
the bait container using a site tag issued by Fish and Game.

Idaho Fish and Game (pdf – page 70)

Maine

Bait may not be placed to entice, hunt or trap black bear unless:

The observation stand, blind, or bait area is plainly labeled with a 2 inch by 4 inch tag with the name and address of the baiter.

Main Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife

Michigan

DNR Managed Lands:

Barrels are LEGAL on DNR managed lands ONLY IF ALL OF THE FOLLOWING APPLY:

The users or individuals possessing the barrel must permanently affix their complete Michigan driver’s license number, valid nonresident driver’s license number or DNR Sportscard number on a tag to the outside of the barrel.

Michigan Department of Natural Resources

Minnesota

Bait Station Signs: A person who establishes a bait station must display a sign at the site. The sign must be made of plastic, wood, or metal and be at least 6-by-10 inches in size, on public land, no more than 18 inches by 24 inches in size. The sign must contain either the licensee’s name and address, the licensee’s driver’s license number, or the licensee’s MNDNR number for who the bait is being placed for. If being placed by someone other than the licensee, the sign must also include the full name and address or the Minnesota DNR number or Minnesota driver’s license number of the person who is placing the bait. The letters and numbers must be legibly printed and either painted or impressed on the sign material. Bait station signs must be prominently displayed between 6 and 10 feet above the natural ground level, and within 20 feet of the bait. Signs must be removed within 48 hours after the close of the bear season. Placing other signs or warnings to mark generic locations of bait stations or advise people of bait stations on public land is prohibited.

Use of drums on private land: A private landowner or person authorized by the private landowner may use a drum to bait bear on the person’s private land. The drum must be secured to a tree so that it cannot be moved from the site by a bear and may not include a mechanical device for dispensing feed. The drum must be marked with (1) the licensee’s name and address; (2) the licensee’s driver’s license number; or (3) the “MDNR#” issued to the licensee for a licensed bear hunter or a licensed bear outfitter. A “drum” means a 30 gallon or larger drum.

Minnesota Fish and Wildlife (pdf)

New Hampshire

The permittee must post a 3″ x 6″ durable sign at the site with the name and address of the permittee and up to 2 subpermittees. These 3 individuals are the only persons allowed to hunt over the permitted bait site. A licensed N.H. Hunting Guide must post a sign with his or her own name and address, but is not required to post the names of paying clients. The sign must be clearly visible not higher than 6 feet off the ground. If no subpermittees are identified on the sign, they may not be included at a later date. Once the sign has been posted, it may not be altered at a later date. No person other than the permittee authorized to place bait at a site shall remove, alter, or destroy said sign.

New Hampshire Fish And Game (eregulations.com)

Utah

The bait station must be marked with a sign provided by the Division and posted within 10 feet of the bait.

Utah Division of Wildlife (pdf – page 26)

Wisconsin

No mention of the need for, or issuance of, bear-baiting station signage on the state’s website.*

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (pdf)

* I read everything I could find through the WDNR and their linking sites. I was unable to locate any information involving specific tagging or signage related to bear baiting stations.

Wyoming

Establishment of Bait Sites: Any structures constructed at bait sites and all materials must be removed by the permit holder within 7 days after the close of the spring and fall black bear seasons.

• All bait sites must be visibly marked at the nearest tree or on the bait container using a site tag issued by Fish and Game.

Wyoming Game and Fish Department (pdf – page 70)