So I went out this morning and decided to start putting a few miles on my boots. My first spot was a few hundred yards off the road. I saw what appeared to be a thinner area in the trees so I got all dressed up and started walking. On the way in I saw several tracks that were less than a day old judging by how much the snow had melted and refrozen. The snow was thin and not crusty so it wasn't loud. I hike in and find a clearing and decided to set up my decoy and foxpro in the middle of it and then backtrack. I got in a good vantage position and set out my sticks. After the woods settled a bit I sat for an hour playing kain's mix. No joy. On to stand 2!
I drove down a dead end and got to walking. I followed an old rock road about a mile until I saw a clearing downhill. (By the way, did they have to set up trenches and dirt piles and stumps and logs every 20 feet on the road for the entire road?) I started walking down towards the clearing and saw the first of two live animals. I was stepping near a felled tree and thought I saw a mouse. Then the mouse amazed me by flitting a few feet further from me. I don't think I've ever seen a bird that small before! So I assess the clearing and make a bad decision. Instead of setting up along the length of the clearing I set up at one end. I walked through the marshiness and set up the decoy and foxpro and start in with kain's mix again. I hear things popping behind me but I later discovered this to be trees hitting each other due to the wind. I try to mix it up and throw in some lightening jack. After that I throw in some pup cries. Nothing, nada, zilch! On to stand 3!
I drive back towards where I had walked in a closed road up a steep hill. I parked at the barricade and get dressed up again. I got a camo beanie on over a camo full face mask, camo gloves, and AGO pants and jacket. I even camoed my gun yesterday. So I walk up this road. I hate this road. It's steep. Once I get to the top I decide to walk past the first clearing. On the way I see fresh (had to be within 10 hours) bobcat tracks that kind of meander and then cross the road. I walk all the way to the end of the road. It's also the end of the clearing and the wind is picking up. I decide I'm going to walk in and set up with a big brushpile behind me. I started walking in and realized there isn't really ground, but ferns and some dirt on brush piles on felled trees. I realize this by feeling my hip get muddy when I sink into what I can only assume is some kind of den. Cursing in my head I walk back out as going any further is asking to break a leg. I walk back around the road and in anger chuck out the foxpro and start nutty nuthatch followed by lightening jack followed by pups in distress. Not a peep. The wind was gusting and I didn't really expect anything to come out anyway. I only made the stand because there's enough "I did everything wrong and they still came" stories that I figured if I did the work I may as well try it.
So to recap that's now 11 stands. I've seen 2 eagles, a few crows, a squirrel, and some really tiny bird. But if anyone wants to go to a horrible spot where there definitely was a bobcat just let me know.
How close will coyotes cut it near cougars? I ask because I'm sure theres a bunch of cougar in the area due to the elk poo every 20 feet and the fact that a few people hunt them in the same area.
