Went snowshoeing today

[ebinmaine 67,309]

We found MASSIVE amounts of deer tracks. Far more then usual. Lands surrounding ours have been busier than in the past so we think the deer have been staying here because it's quiet. 

LOTS of mouse and squirrel as well. 

Possibly a bunny track too. 

 

 

Any woods folk identify this?

Appears to be wing prints. The foot prints go for 50 or 60 feet and stop. 

Perhaps a ruffed grouse landed and took off??

 

 

 

 

Here's the rest. 

 

 

[Blackhood Bill 721]

Can’t identify but sure look like it was fun walking the outdoors 

[Slimpickins 61]

Looks like big bird got something.

[Slimpickins 61]

Ok maybe not feather patterns on edges. 

 

[SylvanLakeWH 25,494]

Maybe...?

 

[troutbum70 857]

The wing marks are grouse. That looks like a lot of deer activity, but you have to remember a hand full of deer can make a lot of tracks when frequenting the same area. I don't see any nut trees, is there ground pine there that they are digging for? I have been down here central florida since mid december, no snow shoes required.

[8ntruck 6,991]

Dog and I took a two mile walk on the Fred Meijer Hartland Trail today.  Also saw lots of deer tracks, squirrel tracks and rabbit tracks.  Didn't see any of the critters that made the tracks, though.

 

There is about 8" of snow on the ground.  Snowshoes would have been nice.  I was making the first human tracks on this section of the trial since a lot of the snow had fallen.  Some snowmobile tracks 3 or 4 days old helped make the going a little easier.  About 3/4 mile in, one of the local farmers had plowed for about 1/4 mile, making walking very easy.  He has a small Kubota with a FEL and a grader blade.

 

This morning when I walked the dog down to the lake, I noticed some pieces of bark and some wood fibers on top of the snow at the base of one of my oak trees.  I looked up the trunk of the tree and saw a hole about 2" in diameter about 12' up.  Probably the work of a pileated woodpecker.

Edited February 14, 2021 by 8ntruck

[ebinmaine 67,309]

1 hour ago, troutbum63 said:

The wing marks are grouse. That looks like a lot of deer activity, but you have to remember a hand full of deer can make a lot of tracks when frequenting the same area. I don't see any nut trees, is there ground pine there that they are digging for? I have been down here central florida since mid december, no snow shoes required.

We have beech trees, oaks, maples, hemlocks, white pines and more.  

 

Quantity of deer beds is what surprised us. 

Snowed recently. Several places had 3 to 7 beds. 

 

We've not seen the wide circles of digging here before either. 

[Handy Don 12,163]

2 hours ago, Slimpickins said:

Looks like big bird got something.

Yep, a little critter poked it's head out and probably an owl or hawk was quick to jump. 

[ebinmaine 67,309]

14 minutes ago, Handy Don said:

Yep, a little critter poked it's head out and probably an owl or hawk was quick to jump. 

That's what I thought at first too but there's no sign of a struggle or bits of animal. 

And there's the trail walking up to the wing prints. 

And no hole. Mouse holes were VERY obvious.  

Fresh snow maybe 2 days ago. 

 

[troutbum70 857]

41 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

We have beech trees, oaks, maples, hemlocks, white pines and more.  

 

Quantity of deer beds is what surprised us. 

Snowed recently. Several places had 3 to 7 beds. 

 

We've not seen the wide circles of digging here before either. 

Okay down here in my part of Pa oak and beech do not grow in the same area, our farm consist of mostly beech with a very small section of oak. But any way with them in that area that explains all the digging, foraging for food. 

[ebinmaine 67,309]

7 hours ago, troutbum63 said:

Okay down here in my part of Pa oak and beech do not grow in the same area, our farm consist of mostly beech with a very small section of oak. But any way with them in that area that explains all the digging, foraging for food. 

Yessir. 

There's plenty of animal num nums for sure. 

[The Tuul Crib 7,336]

12 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

LOTS of mouse and squirrel as well

Rocky and bullwinkle?!

[ebinmaine 67,309]

Only one bullwinkle recently. Lots of rocky's ...

[The Tuul Crib 7,336]

30 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

Only one bullwinkle recently. Lots of rocky's ...

Have you ever harvested a moose in season?

[ebinmaine 67,309]

39 minutes ago, The Tuul Crib said:

Have you ever harvested a moose in season?

I don't take the time to hunt other than helping rodents leave my yard. 

I have had several types of wild game meat in stews or other dishes over the years. 

 

[The Tuul Crib 7,336]

Our deer here look like great Dane dogs! They are so skinny. And seem to eat more of my veggie Tatian!! 

there Hass to be a better way to get rid of these nuisances.!

[8ntruck 6,991]

Some of the best wild meat I've eaten has been moose.  When we visited our exchange student's parents in Finland, they served moose roast for one meal and moose lasigina for another meal.  An uncle had bagged the moose.