Bucks, bears, and more

[O. hemionus]

Got my first trail cameras this year. Been running them for work for many years but finally got some of my own. Enjoy!

Some benchleg bucks below, on the blacktail side of the line.

[O. hemionus]

More

[O. hemionus]

Western gray squirrel

Skunk family that takes this same route at least twice each night

[O. hemionus]

Some sharp-toothed critters. Please refrain from predator bashing, at least on this thread. Hard to see, but there's a cat in the first photo. Only set of frames I've got so far with a cat on it. Regarding the bears, I'm not sure how many individuals I'm dealing with here - can't tell if the bear in the first bear photo blew his coat in the spring and it grew back darker in the second bear photo? The bear in the third and fourth bear photos is definitely a larger bear, and the bear in fifth and sixth bear photos looks to have more chocolate than the previous ones? Not sure.

[flyfishWA]

I would say theres 2 maybe 3 bears nice pics

[wheels]

very nice

[Tbar]

Awesome pics!  Southern Oregon?

[bracer40]

Great pics, thanks for sharing!

I’m curious, those look like oaks in your photos. Do they drop a lot of acorns that game keys in on?

Thanks in advance.

[O. hemionus]

Thanks! Yes those are Oregon white oaks. All photos from WA. Good source of food for deer, turkey, bear, western gray squirrel, acorn woodpecker, etc. Haven't spent much time yet isolating when each species keys in on the acorns, but if I remember correctly, deer tend to go after them later in the season it seems, after they have been on the ground for a while. Bears will hit them after most of the other food sources have dried up. I found fresh bear scat last year in Nov. that consisted of 100% acorns. Last fall was a bumper year for mast crop - biggest in 25 yrs or so, as far as anecdotal evidence goes. Not sure what this year will bring. Acorn numbers on the trees seem ok but not like last year.

[yakimanoob]

Great picks buddy.  Although I have to say, your credentials as a biologist will forever give you an unfair advantage in my mind over us amateurs. 

Hope you're having a great season and War Eagle.

[AROTTY]

Love the oaks and fall colors of the canyon. Such a special place in Washington.

[O. hemionus]

Great picks buddy.  Although I have to say, your credentials as a biologist will forever give you an unfair advantage in my mind over us amateurs. 

Hope you're having a great season and War Eagle.

Thanks! It is about time for me to head back up and check that cam - hopefully with more pictures to post. That nice buck was on my property cam but he hasn't shown back up since the one night.

 High buck is now under my belt with plenty of hunting season left to go. Hope yours is going well too. War Eagle!

[O. hemionus]

Some hard-antlered bucks. I've identified 10 unique bucks on the same camera so far. I haven't seen the large 3x3 since August (velvet pictures that I posted earlier) but he showed back up after general season. Looks like he made it through the gauntlet.

[Jeremy S]

Enjoyed these photos.

[Hard2handle]

Reminds me of white salmon area right out of town...great pucs