Thanks atplayart,That's good information and sounds like it's about what I was planning to do. The only question I have for you then is what size is the hole that you have for the bears to get the oats out when they roll the barrel around?I like the idea of chaining it to a tree upright, but leaving slack so the bears can knock it down and roll it around. But with a 4" by 4" hole I'm just wondering if it's too big (i.e. the bears will get all the food out too fast if they can roll it).I can make the hole bigger if I have to but I can't make it smaller now.i shoot holes in barrel with shotgun at very close range when barrel is emtpy maybe 10 shots max--- bears will roll it and harder for them to get it out the better they will be at bait longer-- if u still hav the piece u cut outta barrel u can use self threading screws or bolts to rettach it---four bolts one in each corner ot the piece to the middle of the long sides of the hole --- it will leave four much smaller holes when u reattach it good luck Anyways good luck this year, I'm pumped to get out there and try this for the first time.
Its been close to 20 years since Ive bear hunted in Manitoba, but use to go up to the Ducks every spring and hunt with a friend from Pine River. As atplayArt said..get some beaver carcasses from a trapper friend. No bait works better for bear in Manitoba, IMO. My buddy would fill a old freezer with them just for spring bear season! He would tie one on a rope just out of bear reach, always kept your attention watching bears try to get to it! Good Luck hope you get a nice Blondie..post pics if you do.