[Etter1]

in reply to: Wild Voices #39157

I heard a wolf howling in Idaho this year and have found their tracks several times in Canada. Awesome!

[Etter1]

in reply to: Totems #39154

I carry rocks from different places and relocate them. Apparently Reg Darling has been copying me for a long time.:D

I’ve kept a few.

Tuscarora Forest in PA

Several from Quebec

Sawtooths in Idaho

Chattooga River GA

Jasus Creek GA

Tallulah Gorge GA

etc etc

[Etter1]

in reply to: Celebration #39085

I always put my hand on the body and look into their eyes. Then I say, “thank you for your life” and apologize for their death.

Life should never be easy to take. Most hunters never realize that. Killing bears is the worst for me. I continue to hunt them but am deeply saddened every time I watch one die.

[Etter1]

in reply to: Bear Scouting Pics #39081

The trails in the mtns are all made by bear, deer, and hogs and they’ve been there for generations.

The food plots will be useless as soon as the acorns mature, but we’ve been planning on that. Can’t wait til Sept 14!

[Etter1]

in reply to: Bear Scouting Pics #39070

and

[Etter1]

in reply to: Bear Scouting Pics #39065

and

[Etter1]

in reply to: Bear Scouting Pics #39063

more

[Etter1]

in reply to: Bear Scouting Pics #39062

awesome bear trail

[Etter1]

in reply to: Bear Scouting Pics #39055

I’ve been strapping on the boot leather a lot this year and it’s looking good for us. The white oaks are incredibly spotty, which might make it tough or spectacular. I’m having a hard time spotting them with binocular but I’m having no problem finding bear sign. Luckily, the DNR planted a few food plot where we hunt and the bears and pigs have been wearing them out. Today, I stalked to within five yards of a 2nd year cub and watched him for about five minutes. It was awesome. I’ve seen 10 in 4 trips so far. Gonna go back up one more time next weekend and then leave our area alone until the season opens. Hope you like the pics.

BTW these are GA bears.

[Etter1]

in reply to: Cougar tips? #39029

Even with a bachelor’s in wildlife biology, I cannot answer all of those questions with any accuracy. What I do know is that states that allow lion hunting have far fewer instances of human and livestock attacks and still maintain a healthy population.

I also know that both lion hunting and bear hounding have been cancelled in California because of liberal, political pressure and not based on biology whatsoever.

It’s sad that we now have to “manage” our wildlife but it’s a fact that we do. Predator numbers have to be controlled and there is no reason whatsoever to put it in the hands of government, rather than “sport” hunters.

No argument between us fellas. We all seem to be on the same page basically.:D

[Etter1]

in reply to: Cougar tips? #36504

Ptaylor wrote: Etter1,

It is commonly stated that more cougars are killed now that hunting has been banned. However, it all depends what year you choose to look at. Some years there were many more cats killed by hunters than currently killed for depredation, and some years it was more even, and some years there were less killed by hunters. It not as simple as more now than then.

I don’t know enough (and I’m not sure that anybody does) to say that its only the lack of hunting that has resulted in increased cougar attacks in CA. However, I can speak to the fact that around the urban centers, LA, San Diego, San Fran, and Sac there are millions of people that live in, hike, bike, horse ride, and recreate through cougar-occupied habitat every day. The extremely low frequency of attacks, with this many people in cougar habitat, is a testament to their (cougar’s) unwillingness to attack us. If they did truly see us or our pets as a food source, then we’d have a problem the likes of which hasn’t been seen since Jim Corbett’s time.

Shane,

It does sound like those cougars present a real threat. Its going to be tough getting all three. Once they get fired at the other two will be pretty sneaky. Especially if a trapper has come in and couldn’t get them. Try to shoot the mother first. Good luck.

Even if it’s half as many, why not just allow recreational hunters to do this part for the community? Not to mention the fact that those problem cats are not kept by the permit holders. I don’t know where the meat and hides go but I would bet it’s mostly wasted when turned over to DNR.

California is just such a backward state in so many ways. 👿

[Etter1]

in reply to: Cougar tips? #36045

Ptaylor wrote: Shane,

I don’t know any of the details, but since the property owners are reluctant to call the state and not rushed to kill the cats, maybe there is another approach. Some of the time the “problem” is with the livestock owners. Since these people didn’t directly contact the state and have the cats removed, I’m assuming they have a really small operations…? Or maybe the livestock are just for “fun” or pets…? If that’s the case, then they may be able to change their behaviors and save their livestocks’ and some cougars’ lives as well as some hassle on their part. Do they put the animals in a barn at night? Do they let them free range? Sounds like a female cougar with kittens, how old are the kittens? Was it them just trying to learn how to kill?

I worked on a cougar study in southern CA and we had a subadult tom cougar trapped and killed by the state. He had eaten a couple goats from someone’s yard (pet animals, not a big operation). The people hadn’t been putting their animals in an enclosure at night (while living in known cougar habitat). This young male had managed to disperse across 3 major interstates, turned around at the border of Mexico, seen the pacific ocean, and more; he was trying to establish a territory and picked off some easy prey. Like us, without knowing a territory its hard to secure food. possibly, (and most likely) he would not have become a livestock-killer, but merely kept himself going until he could regularly kill deer.

I tell this story because its often our own ignorance that puts predators in the position of been killed. So maybe some discussions with the people could change their behaviors/mind. If the cats present a real problem/danger then they should be removed quickly and efficiently.

IMO,

preston

The reason that cougars are such a huge problem in California is that it is illegal to hunt them. If they had regular hunting seasons like Colorado, idaho, etc, these issues would drop to almost nothing.

I recently read that there are more “problem” lions killed in California now than there ever were when they had a regular season.

[Etter1]

in reply to: 2013 hunting rigs #31572

I’ll post a picture when I can.

2009 black widow PAII recurve. 60″. 57 pounds at 29″.

28″ 5575 arrows with 300 grains up front tipped with tree sharks.

[Etter1]

in reply to: Moose & Ticks #30100

BTW- didn’t mean to say ancestors. Should’ve said relatives.

[Etter1]

in reply to: Moose & Ticks #29579

There’s something that ticks give you that most people do not know about.

Severe Allergy to Mammalian Meat!!!!

I contracted it when I was 21. It is caused by one of two things, either a massive dose of chigger bites or the bite of a single lone star tick.

The lone star tick and chiggers have a saliva that is very similar to a carbohydrate in mammalian meat (alpha gal).

Actually not all mammals. It is found in all mammals except humans and old world primates (our closest ancestors).

I tried and tried for years to eat different meats cooked different ways but I go into severe anaphalaxysis if I eat it.

I’ve since learned that if I can go without an allergic reaction or a tick bite for a few years that it will go away. I’m excited to get my blood tested soon as I’m going on two years.

All the deer, pigs, rabbits, etc that I’ve killed in the last few years has gone to feed my friends and family. It takes a big part away from hunting that I hope I can gain back.

If you’ve never heard of this, google alpha gal allergy. It’s becoming extremely common.

[Author]

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