Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Successful trapper
I had my trap set for 5 nights and even ended up relocating before being successful. My bear weighed in at 175 pounds; a young boar. Now some thoughts on this. Had I been hunting over bait, I would have passed up this guy. However that is a known part of the game in trapping. You get what you get. I'm very glad it was a boar as I really hate to see the young sows taken out of the breeding program. As a guide, I feel I am as much a conservationist as a business owner. We have had sows with cubs feeding on our bait sites and when we are aware that they are frequenting a site, we continue to feed them, however we will not place a hunter there in order to protect her to insure she raises her cubs. We also use different areas so as not to over hunt an area. If several bear are taken in an area, we begin looking for bear sign in the spring, and through the baiting period and may decide not to hunt that area for a year. This creates another issue of having enough areas and sites to maintain the number of clients. This was one reason we had branched out to the new area in Webster Plantation this past year. This also created another problem as that area was only feasible to hunt the first two weeks due to decrease in hunting time. I will have a shoulder mount done as his head and neck is really pretty, and is easier to place on any wall. We are rapidly running out of space for all of our mounts with 2 bear still at the taxidermy to be 3/4 mounts, which is the front legs, shoulders, neck and head. I call it a 1/3, but what do I know about taxidermy. Once we get the big lodge built we will probably think we need lots more, but for now space is getting extremely limited.
Well, thats all for now. I will try to post more often, but then again it's trapping season, which will lead into deer season.....well maybe after that I will have more free time.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
In the shadow of Katahdin
I set my bear trap yesterday while Big E put out a couple coyote and fox sets. We checked everything this morning and caught nothing. Bear trapping ends the 31st, so time is running out quite quickly and I think the bears have migrated to the abundant apple trees which in this neck of the woods can be found most anywhere. Many years ago much of the area was farmlands and every farm had apple trees. These areas have grown up into forest once again and the apple trees, along with the help of Mother Nature can be found throughout the woods. I have been very surprised that the apples are so plentiful with as little rain as we had all summer, but it seems to have been a bumper crop. I will continue to keep trying, however the game cameras which were showing us awesome bears and now the bait sites are riddled with the midnight masked bandits and the native tricksters.
It is getting much colder in the mornings here in the region. The mountain is sporting a fresh white blanket and we now have had several frosts which should get the bears thinking about bulking up before winter hits. Therefore it stands to reason that they should be hitting the bait sites for the free goodies even with what nature has provided. I'm sometimes amazed as a bear is a very habitual animal as well as one of easy opportunity, that they will feed on natural foods before taking advantage of what we are putting out there. You are always hearing, and I'm sure it is true to some point, that feeding bears will cause problems in areas. Parks have problems with bears all across the U.S. breaking into vehicles, dumpsters and harassing campers. However it is somewhat frustrating when we have been feeding the bait sites since the end of July, and yet, the bears will go to the orchards and scattered apple trees first. This puts an interesting spin on things and I will put some time into studying that very fact. Watching and studying wildlife never fails to amaze me, which is probably a good thing considering the line of business I'm in.
The Katahdin region has peaked and fallen to the other side as far as the fall colors which are beginning to mute to yellows and browns, with just a few brilliant reds and oranges left here and there. It still is beautiful and every year as the seasons change I can't help thinking how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful place. I even enjoy the winter with it's crisp cover of white that sparkles like diamonds in the sunlight. Winter has it's purpose and with my wisdom I have come to understand it all for what I believe it is meant to be. I could not imagine living in a place where the seasons are not defined in such a way.
I have been reading more on the folklore of the region, refreshing the many stories I have heard told over the years. It has always been said that Katahdin is the mountain of the people and those who live here, the people of the mountain. You do not have to be a Native American to have that status here, even though the Native Americans have always considered the mountain a sacred great and powerful spirit among their people. However, there has always been a pull on those who live here; people from all walks of life in this great melting pot. There is so much history here and it never ceases to amaze me. However it is a statement that I heard on a PBS film a while back that came to light once again in the book that I'm currently reading; how some have a pull, draw, a special feeling inside whenever they gaze upon mighty Katahdins range, a feeling of truly belonging. I have always felt that way. I often call Katahdin mine although I don't own it personally, but in another sense, I do. I have no title, but am entitled. I could not imagine ever moving away and when I'm away I can't wait to get back. I feel at peace. I read once many years ago, words of wisdom in a lesson to a granddaughter from a tribe elder. She placed a rock in each of her granddaughters hands, one taken from the shore of a nearby brook, and one that had come from another place in the world. She told her to sit quietly, close her eyes and "feel" the stones in her hands. One felt kind of hot, the edges stung just a bit, and the other felt smooth and cool. It was not because one had edges, and the other smooth and round that they felt differently, but because one was in a connection with the girl and her surroundings, and the other was from many miles, many moons away. The lesson was when one is where they belong, then everything is connected in harmony; everything feels right, and when it does not, then one must search for the place where they belong in order to live in harmony. I did this many years ago after having read that book. I picked up a rock that was simply at my feet and one from a flower bed that had come from a bag bought at the local hardware store. I sat quietly, closed my eyes and concentrated on how the rocks felt in my hands and was quite amazed when the white marbled decorative rock did indeed feel like it was stinging, and the other, smooth, cool, yet warm. I belong.
It is getting much colder in the mornings here in the region. The mountain is sporting a fresh white blanket and we now have had several frosts which should get the bears thinking about bulking up before winter hits. Therefore it stands to reason that they should be hitting the bait sites for the free goodies even with what nature has provided. I'm sometimes amazed as a bear is a very habitual animal as well as one of easy opportunity, that they will feed on natural foods before taking advantage of what we are putting out there. You are always hearing, and I'm sure it is true to some point, that feeding bears will cause problems in areas. Parks have problems with bears all across the U.S. breaking into vehicles, dumpsters and harassing campers. However it is somewhat frustrating when we have been feeding the bait sites since the end of July, and yet, the bears will go to the orchards and scattered apple trees first. This puts an interesting spin on things and I will put some time into studying that very fact. Watching and studying wildlife never fails to amaze me, which is probably a good thing considering the line of business I'm in.
The Katahdin region has peaked and fallen to the other side as far as the fall colors which are beginning to mute to yellows and browns, with just a few brilliant reds and oranges left here and there. It still is beautiful and every year as the seasons change I can't help thinking how lucky I am to live in such a beautiful place. I even enjoy the winter with it's crisp cover of white that sparkles like diamonds in the sunlight. Winter has it's purpose and with my wisdom I have come to understand it all for what I believe it is meant to be. I could not imagine living in a place where the seasons are not defined in such a way.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Big E gets a bear!!!
Well after having set the trap on the bait site known as the 410, Big E and I went in yesterday morning to find indeed he had successfully trapped an excellent beauty of a bear!! (The site is called 410 because that is the biggest bear that we have ever had come into camp and is came off that site). I had video camera at hand and caught all the action! The video is coming out quite nice and now we think that we may even try selling a few copies once edited.
We was out and about by 7:00am and could hear the bear when we got out of the truck. Very exciting!! We went in to discover a real nice bear just behind the bait site held by the cable snare. Cable snares are a very humane way of trapping as there are no punctures, no broken bones or blood. In fact, bears can be released from cable traps unharmed if tranquilized. When I first looked at this bear I thought it to be an old sow as it was extremely light colored in the face; up above the eyes, under the chin and down the neck. However it turned out to be a 4-5 year old boar with a unique facial pattern. This in itself is a very interesting fact. We have had a sow in the area that we have been very aware of for several years. We have seen her, watched her and taken pictures. She has produced 2-3 cubs each time she has been bred and we know of 3 sets of cubs and she was seen this year with triplets which will be cast out on their own this fall. She is probably bred and will have new cubs this coming Spring. She has this same facial pattern and looks almost gray in her face now. She most likely brought this bear to this bait to feed when he was young, and bears being habitual creatures, he continued to feed on the bait. These kinds of markings are genetic as are the unique white Vs often seen on a bears chest. We have one area where we have taken 6 bears with white Vs, one being an old sow that biologists estimated to have been between 27-30 years old. I was told that sows often live to be that old as they do not fight like the boars over territory and breeding rights. We have in fact had 2 old sows taken that were of that age. So it is quite plausible that the old sow had a lot to do with passing on the white markings.
Big E's bear weighed in at 225 with an empty stomach. Had this bear fed before being caught he would have weighed up to 250-260 pounds and by his body structure the weight was deceiving at first. Big E guessed 250, Jeremy guessed 210 and I had it right on the mark with 225!!! We have got very good at judging bears weight and size over the many years we have been hunting. I will be attempting to trap the next bear and will once again target the big bear I have seen; the same one that I watched cleanly missed by a young lady archer and once again by a lady rifle hunter a week later. That bear then became completely nocturnal and odds are good that it will remain that way. Once a bear becomes nocturnal, it is extremely hard to turn the pattern. Of course big bears don't get big by being careless. We tried new scents, fresh bait and even honey burns during baiting season in an effort to bring him out, without any success. Therefore the only way this bear will be harvested is by trapping. I only have a couple weeks left to attempt this feat before trapping season on bear is over. Nick Cote will be trying to trap a bear on the weekends when he comes home from college, so we are feeding a couple sites to prepare for him. The game cameras are a help as they show us not only the bear, but which way they come in, time and which way they exit. Of course this is not a given, but it helps our odds to understand the habit of the creature.
I absolutely love to watch and study these beautiful animals. Watching generations of animals is extremely fascinating and teaches so much more than just being a bear, beaver or whatever critter it may be. Mother Nature provides the best education and entertainment that I know of and I never tire of learning more and more about the world I live in here in the shadow of Mount Katahdin.
I will be adding some historical information to this blog about the region in future postings as things slow down and winter sets in.
We was out and about by 7:00am and could hear the bear when we got out of the truck. Very exciting!! We went in to discover a real nice bear just behind the bait site held by the cable snare. Cable snares are a very humane way of trapping as there are no punctures, no broken bones or blood. In fact, bears can be released from cable traps unharmed if tranquilized. When I first looked at this bear I thought it to be an old sow as it was extremely light colored in the face; up above the eyes, under the chin and down the neck. However it turned out to be a 4-5 year old boar with a unique facial pattern. This in itself is a very interesting fact. We have had a sow in the area that we have been very aware of for several years. We have seen her, watched her and taken pictures. She has produced 2-3 cubs each time she has been bred and we know of 3 sets of cubs and she was seen this year with triplets which will be cast out on their own this fall. She is probably bred and will have new cubs this coming Spring. She has this same facial pattern and looks almost gray in her face now. She most likely brought this bear to this bait to feed when he was young, and bears being habitual creatures, he continued to feed on the bait. These kinds of markings are genetic as are the unique white Vs often seen on a bears chest. We have one area where we have taken 6 bears with white Vs, one being an old sow that biologists estimated to have been between 27-30 years old. I was told that sows often live to be that old as they do not fight like the boars over territory and breeding rights. We have in fact had 2 old sows taken that were of that age. So it is quite plausible that the old sow had a lot to do with passing on the white markings.
Big E's bear weighed in at 225 with an empty stomach. Had this bear fed before being caught he would have weighed up to 250-260 pounds and by his body structure the weight was deceiving at first. Big E guessed 250, Jeremy guessed 210 and I had it right on the mark with 225!!! We have got very good at judging bears weight and size over the many years we have been hunting. I will be attempting to trap the next bear and will once again target the big bear I have seen; the same one that I watched cleanly missed by a young lady archer and once again by a lady rifle hunter a week later. That bear then became completely nocturnal and odds are good that it will remain that way. Once a bear becomes nocturnal, it is extremely hard to turn the pattern. Of course big bears don't get big by being careless. We tried new scents, fresh bait and even honey burns during baiting season in an effort to bring him out, without any success. Therefore the only way this bear will be harvested is by trapping. I only have a couple weeks left to attempt this feat before trapping season on bear is over. Nick Cote will be trying to trap a bear on the weekends when he comes home from college, so we are feeding a couple sites to prepare for him. The game cameras are a help as they show us not only the bear, but which way they come in, time and which way they exit. Of course this is not a given, but it helps our odds to understand the habit of the creature.
I absolutely love to watch and study these beautiful animals. Watching generations of animals is extremely fascinating and teaches so much more than just being a bear, beaver or whatever critter it may be. Mother Nature provides the best education and entertainment that I know of and I never tire of learning more and more about the world I live in here in the shadow of Mount Katahdin.
I will be adding some historical information to this blog about the region in future postings as things slow down and winter sets in.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Camera, ACTION
I don't quite know what to title this post, so I'll write it first and then add one. Big E and I went out bird hunting a couple days ago and revisited a few of our bait sites as E wants to set a cable trap for bear with the high intentions and hopes of targeting one of the huge bear that our hunters were unsuccessful in taking. My very first bear was taken by way of cable trap in 93, and being fortunate enough to have trapped a big bear, I had never thought about taking another bear until many years later, and then did so from a treestand over a bait site. Big
E trapped a very nice boar bear back in 08, the same year I got my 350 pounder.
We took a couple of the game cameras and after checking a few sites, he decided on the old faithful 410 and 310 sites. Both of these sites had 400 pound plus plus bears working on them. Checked the cameras yesterday and both are working and both with the big bears. We also had been talking about making a video on bear trapping so this morning after all is up and coffee down we will begin the video by going over the equipment, then off to the bait site to set the trap.
Maine is the last remaining State to allow bear trapping. Up until just a few years ago we could still use the traditional steel jawed trap, but after another battle with the anti's the laws changed to only allow the cable trap with a lock stop which allows smaller animals to pull free. Big E even goes one step further adding another stop so that he will only target a very large bear. We also used to be able to set out 2 traps, and now the law states only one. However the cable trap is very effective and in many ways more humane than the steel trap.
Of course trapping is not a sport for everyone. I truly believe it takes a special person to run a productive trap line. Trapping has a very long tradition and heritage in the Katahdin region and although many of the old trappers have passed, there are still a few, Big E being one.
I'll admit, back when I trapped my first bear, when I came around the corner of the small overgrown field where I had placed the cubby set and looked at the massive animal I thought, " Now how the hell am I gonna let you go?" Well I knew that was not a possibliity unless I wanted to get shredded so I did what I had to do. I ran traps with Big E for many years and have had my share of incidents so to speak, like the time I got caught myself in a brand new 220 conibear wired and chained to a tree. Now let me tell you that was a predicament!!! It took me 10 minutes and dam near a broken hand to get loose!! Anyway, I have found that enjoy the conibear or killer type traps better than leg hold trapping. I know that coyotes and such need to be controlled and trapping can be a very effective way to help in that management. I have no problem with those who run lines of foot holds, it just isn't my thing. I go with E when he runs his, and I have no problem and enjoy being there, it's just my preference, a personal thing. Also I absolutely love fox; they are beautiful sleek critters and I really don't like dispatching them as they look way too much like my shiba inu's.
Well to make a long story short here, Big E will be setting his trap and I will be his faithful camera lady and hopefully we will have an end product to run on our web site and take to the sportsmen shows.
Camera......ACTION!!
E trapped a very nice boar bear back in 08, the same year I got my 350 pounder.
We took a couple of the game cameras and after checking a few sites, he decided on the old faithful 410 and 310 sites. Both of these sites had 400 pound plus plus bears working on them. Checked the cameras yesterday and both are working and both with the big bears. We also had been talking about making a video on bear trapping so this morning after all is up and coffee down we will begin the video by going over the equipment, then off to the bait site to set the trap.
Maine is the last remaining State to allow bear trapping. Up until just a few years ago we could still use the traditional steel jawed trap, but after another battle with the anti's the laws changed to only allow the cable trap with a lock stop which allows smaller animals to pull free. Big E even goes one step further adding another stop so that he will only target a very large bear. We also used to be able to set out 2 traps, and now the law states only one. However the cable trap is very effective and in many ways more humane than the steel trap.
Of course trapping is not a sport for everyone. I truly believe it takes a special person to run a productive trap line. Trapping has a very long tradition and heritage in the Katahdin region and although many of the old trappers have passed, there are still a few, Big E being one.
I'll admit, back when I trapped my first bear, when I came around the corner of the small overgrown field where I had placed the cubby set and looked at the massive animal I thought, " Now how the hell am I gonna let you go?" Well I knew that was not a possibliity unless I wanted to get shredded so I did what I had to do. I ran traps with Big E for many years and have had my share of incidents so to speak, like the time I got caught myself in a brand new 220 conibear wired and chained to a tree. Now let me tell you that was a predicament!!! It took me 10 minutes and dam near a broken hand to get loose!! Anyway, I have found that enjoy the conibear or killer type traps better than leg hold trapping. I know that coyotes and such need to be controlled and trapping can be a very effective way to help in that management. I have no problem with those who run lines of foot holds, it just isn't my thing. I go with E when he runs his, and I have no problem and enjoy being there, it's just my preference, a personal thing. Also I absolutely love fox; they are beautiful sleek critters and I really don't like dispatching them as they look way too much like my shiba inu's.
Well to make a long story short here, Big E will be setting his trap and I will be his faithful camera lady and hopefully we will have an end product to run on our web site and take to the sportsmen shows.
Camera......ACTION!!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Ktaadn Guide Service: Seasons change
Ktaadn Guide Service: Seasons change: "Well Big E and the Crosbys finally got their moose Friday night at 5:00pm of the first moose season. It was a small bull, 600 pounds, but ev..."
Seasons change
Well Big E and the Crosbys finally got their moose Friday night at 5:00pm of the first moose season. It was a small bull, 600 pounds, but everyone is happy and that for the most part is all that counts. Mornings began at 4:00am and they didn't get back until 9:30-10:00pm each night. Linda Crosby, who held the permit is on kidney dialysis, therefore she had to go for treatments Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and they didn't get out of camp until after noontime on Tuesday and Thursday. On Wednesday they saw 3 bulls, much larger than the one they finally got, however extenuating circumstances could not get a shot at them. It rained throughout most of the week which made the long days and long rides on the not so best roads a little more tiring. Friday morning they saw a nice bull on the run, again no shot opportunity. Therefore when they saw the young bull that late afternoon , they were all in agreement that he was big enough!! Linda had thought they were going to end up with no moose at that point, so she was quite happy to put this critter down.
The Crosbys have been friends of ours for 24 years, and we have known them even prior to that. This is one of those things when you live in small communities. We have been on 6 moose hunts together and can at least say they have all been successful, filling the freezer with excellent meat for the winter.
We have only been out partridge hunting a couple of times, limiting out the first time. Just can not get enough of the tasty birds!!! With the coming of winter hinting in the air, we are trying to concentrate on completing the chores of preparation so that we can trap and deer hunt without guilt and the fact that the longer we wait to get things done, the colder it gets. There is nothing worse in my book than trying to nail up the banking with numb fingers!!!! We have been cutting our firewood which has the ability of warming us several times over: first when you are cutting it, second when you are loading it, again when you unload it, then again when you split it, heating us up when we pile it and then twice more as we lug it into the house, and fill us the stove!! How many BTUs is that??!!
I have walked our new lot a couple of times seeking that special spot for my treestand in hopes of bagging a nice buck this fall. The deer population in our region is not in the best shape with declining numbers due to harvesting practices, harsh winters and the predator situation here in Maine. In our Wildlife Management District there have been no doe permits for a few years in a effort to help the herd, however it has not been enough to make any real difference. I plan to go out coyote hunting and Big E will start trapping for fox and coyote on the 18th with the special early trapping season to try to cut down on the exploding predator populations in our area. It is common to hear coyotes yodeling every night. When I was out on one of our bear stands, I had coyotes working around me and was able to pattern them to the point that I feel quite confident that I will have success in taking a few of them out. One old dog has the deepest howl I have heard in a long time as usually the sounds are sharp and high pitched. He will be a target as he should be a very large animal and a breeder for sure.
The leaves are falling coating the ground like a blanket and it seems it has been raining more than clear lately. We have not had a frost yet, but it will not be long. Many folks think that because we had such a hot dry summer, that we are going to get blasted this winter. One never knows in Maine, as they say, "If you don't like the weather, just wait a minute, it will change."
The Crosbys have been friends of ours for 24 years, and we have known them even prior to that. This is one of those things when you live in small communities. We have been on 6 moose hunts together and can at least say they have all been successful, filling the freezer with excellent meat for the winter.
We have only been out partridge hunting a couple of times, limiting out the first time. Just can not get enough of the tasty birds!!! With the coming of winter hinting in the air, we are trying to concentrate on completing the chores of preparation so that we can trap and deer hunt without guilt and the fact that the longer we wait to get things done, the colder it gets. There is nothing worse in my book than trying to nail up the banking with numb fingers!!!! We have been cutting our firewood which has the ability of warming us several times over: first when you are cutting it, second when you are loading it, again when you unload it, then again when you split it, heating us up when we pile it and then twice more as we lug it into the house, and fill us the stove!! How many BTUs is that??!!
I have walked our new lot a couple of times seeking that special spot for my treestand in hopes of bagging a nice buck this fall. The deer population in our region is not in the best shape with declining numbers due to harvesting practices, harsh winters and the predator situation here in Maine. In our Wildlife Management District there have been no doe permits for a few years in a effort to help the herd, however it has not been enough to make any real difference. I plan to go out coyote hunting and Big E will start trapping for fox and coyote on the 18th with the special early trapping season to try to cut down on the exploding predator populations in our area. It is common to hear coyotes yodeling every night. When I was out on one of our bear stands, I had coyotes working around me and was able to pattern them to the point that I feel quite confident that I will have success in taking a few of them out. One old dog has the deepest howl I have heard in a long time as usually the sounds are sharp and high pitched. He will be a target as he should be a very large animal and a breeder for sure.
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