Pre hunt scouting

I went out yesterday. to do some scouting in the area I will be hunting next week (shotgun season opens December 1st, I'll be hunting black powder though). I went with my nephew Joey, and my friend Joe. We got about 6" of snow, so it made tracking a little easier-moving through it, not so much. We started where I THOUGHT the trail was-but, the trail, a single track that is unmarked (not blazed), that is easy to follow when there isnt any snow-all but disappeared with the snow, and the trees bent over touching the ground. ANY side trail was difficult to locate, never mind walk through. Unmarked (illegal) single tracks, even more so! But, we found it, eventually. We also found PLENTY of deer tracks. Looking at what we saw, there were at least 2 bucks, and several does, some much smaller, possibly fawns or yearlings? I dont know-but, the area I scouted before, yielded more tracks, so I'm satisfied that my chosen area is at least used.
We also came across what appear to be moose tracks. I will attach them here, but, they were LARGE. They were bigger than an adult sized fist. The area that I am hunting, I played in as a child. I never once remember seeing a moose, or tracks, out there at all. But, these could only be moose, or cow. Now, that being said-there are farms, close by, and cows have been known to escape. But, cows dont wander through thick mountain laurel, brambles, and thick underbrush. We are pretty certain it was moose.
Anyway, thats just an update. I will be out hunting this Thursday and Friday, my first time ever. So, expect an update next weekend! PS-the last pic, is simply the area we were. The main trail is used by dog walkers, snowshoers, cross country skiers, and snowmobilers. Just wanted to illustrate the woods, in their current condition :)

A day out scouting

I had the opportunity the other day, to get out and do a little scouting, for the upcoming shotgun/black powder season. The weather was, well, miserable. It was raining, and 35F. A perfect day to be in the woods, right?
Actually, it wasnt bad. I put on all wool clothing-I had on wool swedish army pants, a polypro long john top, a thrift store 100% wool flannel shirt, an LL Bean wool vest, and a wool fedora. On my feet, wool socks and my unlined Bean Boots. I had a small haversack with me, with what I will take hunting-some food, a small wood burning stove, things like that.
All in all, it was a great way to spend the afternoon-even with the weather. Found some deer beds, saw a ton of tracks-got an idea where I want to stalk. Two more weeks!

As an aside, I created a video of my lunch time. Hope you enjoy!

Lunch time by the stream

Do bears shit in the woods?

I don't know, but I almost did!
I decided yesterday that, it being a blustery, rainy afternoon, and my only day off this week, I wanted to go do some Tenkara fishing (which, I just realized, I havent done an article on-one will be forthcoming!). Instead of going to my usual fly fishing spot, I decided to hit up a local river, only a couple minutes away, in a wildlife refuge area. All I carried was my fishing rod, my fly necklace, and a pocketknife. Oh, and a phone.
So, I was bushwhacking down to the river's edge. The first 50 yards or so are through blackberry brambles. Lots of fun. I had a pair of firehose pants on, and a waxed cotton jacket, so I pushed through, but it wasnt easy. I must've sounded like a pack of horses going through that!
Anyway, I get into the "open" woods. Open for New England woods, anyway. Light underbrush, some random brambles, lots of blowdowns. You know, woods. Everything was soaking wet. Well, except me :).
So, I am just walking along, minding my business, trying to pick a path through the woods, to get to the river. I look ahead, about 50 yards or so, and see a giant burl off the side of a tree. Of course, me being me, I decided to investigate.
I get to within 20 yards of the burl-when it stands up on its hind legs! What looked to be a burl, was the hind quarters of a mature black bear! Well, when he figured me out, he did what bears do-turned tail and took off! The bear was tearing up dead wood for grubs, when I startled him.
This was my first encounter with a black bear in the wild-despite spending YEARS traipsing through the woods. I feel like I was truly blessed with seeing him. It was awesome. I only wish I had taken pics. Had I recognized it for a bear, I would have been MUCH quieter and had my camera out. But, honestly-who stalks burls????