Wolf Hunt – Update 12/18

Last Friday we got to get back into some wolf country.

Today we went to a spot where we had heard a wolf had been killed at earlier in the week.  We hiked back into some clear cuts that had no road access in hopes of hearing or seeing wolves.  Unfortunately, we only found some deer and elk tracks.  Later we drove some more access roads and did see some tracks.  These tracks were probably 3 days old so we turned around and headed back down to the main road.  On the way down Travis spotted movement in the brush.  We stopped and found that a young mountain lion had been trapped.  Neither of us had seen a mountain lion before so we got close and snapped some photos.

After a few photos I tried to move a few feet closer so I could get a more clear photo and the mountain lion began to try to pull free from the trap.  I backed off and before we knew it the cat had managed to pull free.  The cat booked in the opposite direction and we went to take a look at the trap.  The trap had shut with one of the cat’s claws stuck between the metal bars.  I opened the trap and took the claw.  We jumped back in the truck and crossed to the drainage’s other side.  Immediately we spotted fresher tracks that crossed the road.  They were following a heavily used deer game trail.

With the snow being warmed and re-frozen almost daily, it was difficult to accurately tell the age of the tracks.  I’d figured they were just over a day old.  The area seemed promising as there were ample clear cuts to try calling in.  Hopefully we can get them to respond some how to the calls or else it’s going to be a tough hunt for one very elusive animal.  At the end of the day we spotted two moose.

Tomorrow we’ll be heading back out deer hunting.  We have to give ourselves a couple more attempts at bagging a buck.  I’m already anticipating getting back out after a wolf later this week.  We’ll keep you posted as we go.

-Zack