Making The Rounds Before Snow Storm

The cover picture is a bobcat crossing a secondary beaver dam on a remote swamp in north central Massachusetts.

There were a number of trail cameras that needed SD cards changed  and TC's raised  on the tree before the snow storm. The camera trap in this location may wait till spring before  checking.

It was a beautiful sunrise with calm winds at dawn. I guess you could call it the calm before the storm. Several of these beaver ponds are new camera trap locations. In one of the areas it looks like I could run a 4 mile loop . More on that in the spring.                                                                               

A summary of all the camera trap  activity last week showed night time pictures of a coyote, bobcat,raccoon, fisher & one day time video of an otter.

Jim

New Locations Off To Good Start For 2019

I have located two bobcats that are a first for 2019 and  new to my camera trap sets. The cover picture is most likely the bobcat that was on last weeks cover. This cat is walking along a small stream that dumps into the beaver pond pictured below.

The second cat was videoed  about twenty miles away during the day. I'll share the video at a later date.
This mornings hike took me to the bear den set ( no bear ) to check on the cameras and batteries. The two cameras had no pictures on them . Hopefully in Feb/Mar something will use that ideal location for a den site.

Jim

New Territory Setting Camera Traps

This mornings hike started at a familiar beaver pond ,then hiked upstream, I haven't been in this area in the best part of a decade. Amazing how the beavers have changed things
Locating this secluded beaver pond was a home run..The dam spans about fifty yards and clearly is a travel lane for mammals. Look closely at the picture and you will see the trail camera. A pine bark roof on the top  minimizes snow building up on the front of the camera.
Scouting the area before setting any camera traps  revealed deer,otter,bobcat & hare scat.
Many of my camera sets are remote and would be a challenge to reach in heavy snow. The two sets made this morning can be reached with snowshoes.
Jim

Wet Hike ! Well worth the effort.

I have been camera trapping a several acre beaver pond in effort to capture a picture of a daytime bobcat . I also was attempting to add a bit of composition to the picture.
Very pleased with the result !!
 It took about four weeks to capture this picture. Patience and persistence payoff when camera trapping.
It amazes me hope well a bobcat is camouflaged
Tomorrow I'm off to scout another area and make a few camera trap sets. Weather will certainly be much better than today.
Jim

Neat Early Winter Find

There is still at least one bear out and about. Whats interesting is the pole the bear decided to chew on, is the exact spot I rest my mono pod  with my weekly hikes to this area. Coincidence , maybe !
Last Saturday there were no bear marks on this pole. This pole is several miles from any sustainable food source. So it appears this bear is traveling from deep woods to the boundaries of  homes & woods to find food.

Jim

Lots Of Hiking With The Holidays

The time off has allowed me to put many miles on the ole'hiking boots. Still carrying my SLR on weekly TC camera checks. Been slow with any decent SLR pictures. I like walking shorelines and with the water levels this year, it's been a challenge.
I have many trail cameras out with no snow ( Yet) to hinder checking them, Activity has been slow and mostly night captures, This weekend I did note a number of bobcat scats while hiking.
I have been saving my gift cards for a while and decided to cash them in at Cabela's,  purchasing a higher end TC. I hope to continue improving the quality of the videos and pictures which will enhance future presentations.
Jim

Should I or Should't I

Got to my spot this morning and the sky opened up. That made the decision to leave my camera in the truck. This mornings hike was to check a number of trail cameras in north central MA. The mild temps had many critters on the move. The heavy rain and warm weather pretty much melted the ice on a few swamps I checked.

 Ducks, beavers, pileated woodpecker and kingfisher kept the swamp pond busy.
Trail cameras captured a few pics. The cover pic is a doe crossing a beaver dam and hears the camera.
Other tc;s captured a distant coyote and bobcat crossing on the thin ice during the cover of darkness.

Jim