Found Another Moose Antler / Risk Versus Reward

 

Well, with foliage just about to pop in central New England, I found a moose antler, in another week or so the forest floor will be covered in new plant life. It’s interesting how I saw the antler.. I was in the process changing out the SD card in my trail camera when I stood up, and just happen to catch a little bit of white sticking up about twenty feet away . At first I thought it was just beech leaves,. as I approached closer, you just  know it ! when you have just found a treasure. The antler was very close to a porcupine den and has been chewed on.

 

Risk versus reward. It took just under a two mile hike to reach one of my new camera trap locations. I took one of the thicker beaver chew sticks that was laying on the dam and set it vertically to hold a trail camera. The vantage point should provide a scenic capture if a critter uses the dam. The risk is somebody locating the set and walking off with it. I used one of my older trailer cameras. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

Jim

Trail Cameras All Out - Stay Tuned !

 

It’s been a hectic few week with getting spring yard projects done and trekking North Central Massachusetts setting out trail cameras. This weekend I’ll start  checking them . I’m aware of at least one sow with four yearling cubs. Hope to get video before she sends the cubs off on their own late spring.

Over the last few years, I’ve had two “ Go To” locations that have consistently provided bear activity, I  hope to get more bear videos this year. In addition to those two hot spots

Six additional  locations have been added to my camera trapline this year , I’m sure hoping to capture a variety of bear video. Late May the breeding season starts. Bear activity will be at its highest during this time.

I’ve been pondering the idea of buying a
GoPro camera . Thinking it may add to my blog by  including some hiking and canoe adventures. Stay tuned.

 

Jim

Eventful Morning Setting Camera Traps

 

Hiked into check a few trail cameras and got a little off course. Not bushwhacking the same path sometimes brings surprises. This is a skeleton of a deer found this morning. I typically collect things like this to share in a presentations , today I left it.

When I got back to the truck and rounded the first  corner,two moose were standing on the side of the road. I did get a short video. They were kind of scruffy , starting to shed winter coat.

All my TC's are out. Now I wait!!!

Jim

Setting Out Camera Traps

 

In my travels setting out camera traps I checked on the moose kill from early last winter. Nothing left !

I've been busy the last few weekends getting my trail cameras out. So unfortunately no pictures yet. Bears are definitely on the move. I'm hoping to get a few early travelers.. 

Several of the new areas I'm camera trapping took a lot of effort to get into. It will be sometime before I go back to pull SD cards.

No shortage of TICKS ! Be mindful and treat your cloths. Next weekend I'll check trail cameras in the new swamp. Hopefully with the onset of Spring animal movement has picked up.

Jim

Animal Actiivty Picking Up !

 

I've been on a mission the last two weekends setting out camera traps in anticipation of bears coming out of hibernation. Skunk cabbage is still several weeks from sprouting  or at least in the areas that I have  trail cameras

The pic of the coyote above is from a new swamp I located late fall last fall It looks promising with pics of bobcats, coyotes, otters and deer throughout the winter. Hopefully tomorrow I can get a few more cameras out.

No ticks yet!. I'll bet by next weekend they will be a problem. 

My plan this year is to be a bit more patient and not to check cameras weekly. I'm setting trail camera in a much larger area in North Central Massachusetts and I couldn't possibly check them all each weekend.

Tomorrow I'm of to another new spot . I typically set a minimum of two sets in each area. This makes the time and effort worth it. 

Jim

Time To Set Camera Traps

 

The picture above is one of several new swamps I'll be camera trapping this year. This winter I've spent many days bushwhacking in effort to locate new areas to camera trap. I'm not giving up on my old spots, its nice that they produce year after year.

New areas bring new challenges and uncertainty of what wildlife will frequent them. 

This beaver dam is shaped like the letter "S"  To begin, the  camera trap was set back about 25' . I really wanted to set the trail camera on the tall stump right at the end of the dam. that will come once the vegetation starts to grow. I'm really excited about this new spot. Stay tuned!

This is another new spot near a beaver pond. I would like to leave the camera sets out till fall. It will depend on how many people show up on the video.

Tomorrow I'm off to set out more TC's. Some bears are now out and about..

Jim

Bobcat Close / Probably To Close For Trail Camera

 

Bobcat is a bit blurry. The camera trap is about six feet away, The camera was set on eight shot rapid fire. I know if this were set to video, then a pretty sharp video grab could be pulled. One of the trials and tribulations of learning. I went back this morning ,put in new batteries and set to video.

 

The picture above isn't the same bobcat that was featured last week. This is a new area .    Camera  traps were set out on New Years day. The Lithium batteries held up well !

 

By early April I'll have all  my  trail cameras back out. I wait until the shed hunters are done scouring the woods.

I figured this would be the last weekend  where I could use the ice in exploring new areas to camera trap .This spot  looks promising. It will be a challenge to get into with ice out. I may need to look into a lightweight pair of hip boots.

Jim