Trail Cameras

  Recently I had a conversation with an acquaintance about trail cameras. I said that I had a few nice Bobcat pictures on my trail cameras recently, just in the way of conversation. I don't really know the guy well enough to share information on deer activity or camera locations, so that was pretty much it. He replied "don't tell me you use trail cameras!?! That isn't very sporting!" Now, this is the same guy who has stated that he baits deer out behind his house, and also heater hunts.
  (Heater Hunting - Pronounced "Heatah Huntin". Is that act of sitting in a warm vehicle, watching a logging road or field for deer. The preferred weapon for such an activity is a modern pick up truck with electric windows, a fold out mirror for a solid rest, and a short carbine for ease of handling. It is both unethical and illegal in the State of Maine.)
  So, not to get off topic. I explained to the loudmouthed acquaintance that as a Guide, I like to know what is in my area. That knowing the quality of animals and their locations and habits benefits me and my clients. Furthermore, there is nothing unethical about the act of scouting for deer all year long and learning their habits and habitat.
  So, that brings me to today's blog. What are some of the little things you can do to improve your trail camera results?
  First, I like to scout in early spring, just before the vegetation comes out. I like to look for sign, sheds and usually can locate some heavily travelled routes that deer have been using all winter. Sort of "Ice Roads" for deer. While I may return to a previously scouted area with a camera to take a census of what sort of animals are there, I tend to use my cameras more frequently in later season scouting.
  One technique that I've found that pays off is scouting during fishing season. "What?", you say. Yup, scouting with a kayak and fishing pole. While I'm out kicking around for trout, bass or pickerel, I enjoy looking for deer sign in new areas. Generally I scout along navigable rivers and streams that are remote. You frequently can observe bedding areas along the banks and places where they come to water during the summer. The most important phase of the operation comes next, The "aerial recon". I pull up Google Earth or a similar program, to see if there are any obvious funnels that might produce, or to see if there are homes or camps nearby that I wasn't aware of, ruling out the area entirely. The next step is the "surgical strike" phase. The next time I go fishing, I load up an old Army assault pack with trail cameras, and put on a set of rubber LaCrosse boots (always wear an approved PFD!!!!!). I still pack my fishing pole and fish from the launching point to the place I want to scout. This throws off casual observers, and they just assume that I must have a picnic lunch and some dry clothes in my pack). When I hit the heavily travelled area, I put the boat in where I'll leave the least amount of sign for humans on the bank, and travel inland to look for runs and funnels. My boots are pretty scent free, and I always spray a set of gloves down with scent eliminator to handle my cameras. I try to do as little travelling through the area as possible before finding a likely camera site. Try to do this at mid-afternoon of mid-morning. Times when you hopefully won't spook deer, too much. Once your cameras are in, get out of dodge. Don't return for at least two weeks. Never enter the area more than three times, and stay as scent free as possible when you do. On your third visit, pull the camera out.

  Keep a log of all of your scouting activities, and assign code names to your camera sites, to make things fun, and to keep people wondering what your talking about if the topic comes up. Your log should include your initial observations and what your results are in addition to any related data based upon your observations, and the activities of other people.  A log is a fun way to look back upon your scouting activities, and to feel rewarded at the end of a successful hunt.

  An added benefit to scouting with trail cameras is the variety of animals that you might photograph along the way. In my area I often see Coyotes, Bobcats, Turkeys, Snowshoe Hares, Moose and the occasional Bear in addition to the deer that I'm scouting for.

  Remember be safe and ethical in your pursuits. You'll only be a better person for it. And, above all, take a kid outdoors.

The New England Coyote

 The first topic of this blog will be the wiley Coyote (Canis Latrans). Also known as the Prairie Wolf or American Jackal, the Coyote inhabits most of the North American continent from Panama to Alaska, and into North-Eastern Canada. There are 19 recognized sub-species of Coyotes, with 16 of those in Canada, the United States and Mexico. The other 3 sub-species are in Central America. The Coyote is a native species to North America, unlike its cousin, the Gray Wolf. The Coyote evolved during the Pleistocene era, about 1.8 million years ago. Because the focus of my blog is hunting and fishing in New England, we will only be talking about the Coyotes that inhabit my area, which is Maine.

  Coyotes vary in color from grayish brown to yellow on the upper portion of the body, while the throat and belly tend to be lighter in color (white or buff colored). Their ears tend to appear large in relation to the head and their paws slightly small in relation to their bodies. Coyotes generally grow to a weight anywhere between 15 and 45 pounds, and Northern Coyotes tend to be larger than their Southern cousins.
  Unlike other Coyote species, the New England Coyotes display a large amount of wolf DNA, which demonstrates that Coyotes are capable of mating with both wolves and domestic dogs, which previously had been thought impossible. A recent study of 100 Maine Coyotes showed that 22 of them displayed over 50% wolf ancestry, while one of them was a full 89% wolf. It is believed that the larger Coyotes in New England and Eastern Canada are the product of Western Coyotes moving East from the plains and mating with wolves, then migrating into New England and the Maritimes. These Coyotes display a stronger jaw muscle structure, large body size and a greater ability to hunt in pairs or alone.
  The Coyote has been a topic of some hot debate here in Maine recently. Last winter in Jackman the town decided to host a Coyote hunting contest. The tournament was welcomed by hunters, outfitters, guides and livestock owners. The deer population in Northern Maine took a severe hit over the winters of 2008-2009 and 2007-2008. Two severe winters, reduction of yards and predation by Coyotes and bears combined to become a "perfect storm" for Northern deer populations. While an opportunity to help reduce Coyote predation was welcomed by many, a large crowd of anti-hunting activists also gathered to oppose the tournament. With the support of liberal papers and populations in the developed Southern part of the state, Maine has become a frequent target of radical groups like HSUS. Just a few years ago, HSUS mounted a full scale assault on Maine's tradtional fall Black Bear hunt. While Inland Fisheries and Wildlife biologists have identified coyote and bear predation as primary factors in the decline of the deer herd, it has been viewed by the Democrat-lead legislature as political suicide to remotely consider a spring bear season (when bears most frequently prey on fawns) or Sunday hunting. Deer hunters and scientists have recognized the need to harvest coytotes, and have viewed this predation problem as an opportunity to capitalize on an abundent renewable natural resource - the COYOTE! This effort has obviously attracted the attention of radical anti-hunter groups, so the debate is on.
  It is true that Coyotes are just simply doing what Coyotes do. They aren't the villain in the story. They just are a predator that needs to eat and adapts quickly to new situations and environments. These animals are intelligent, and are hard to fool once they've survived an encounter with a hunter. The difference between hunters and the non-hunting public is that non-hunters view the natural world as a "human" world. They see animals as innocent creatures, with human like personalities and characteristics, ala Bambi. They view all animals as "Good". The hunter in the eyes of many non-hunters is "Evil". He intrudes into an animals sanctuary dressed in camoflage gear with the most high-tech weaponry, with the his only intent being the "murder" of an innocent animal. Non-hunters are blissfully unaware of the tremendous contributions that hunters make annually to protect animals (game and non-game species), and their habitat. Outdoorsman's organizations, such as Ducks Unlimited, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, National Wild Turkey Foundation and Backcountry Hunters and Anglers work diligently to protect those same habitats and animals, which they pursue. The hunter and angler is a conservationist at heart.
  In the last few years New Englanders have witnessed a decline in deer populations, snowshoe hare populations and countless attacks on livestock and humans. We all heard the story about the 19 year old girl that was killed in Nova Scotia by a pair of Coyotes this past year. We remember a few years back when a Massachusetts toddler was killed on his swingset by a Coyote. A few Mainers will remember a story last winter about a horse killed by Coyotes in Otisfield. Humans and animals do live amongst each other as neighbors. Neither party is inherintly "good" or "evil". We are in a position where humans do have to make a concious decision to do what is right for a healthy eco-system. This leaves the reasonable person with the obvious conclusion that a reduction in the Coyote population is beneficial for deer, small game, livestock, pets and even humans. Coyotes should enjoy the same status as any other animal, in that they should remain as a part of the eco-system. However, they should be reduced from numbers that their population currently sits at.

  My resolution is to contribute to a healthier eco-system by personally reducing the Coyote population in my local area. I believe that each Coyote killed is between three and five deer saved this coming winter. A neighbor's wife recently rescued between six and ten deer when she shot two Coyotes that raided her backyard the other day, attacking her chickens. Coyote hunting is a challenging and enjoyable year round hunt that can be easily shared with the kids, and new hunters. Our winter night hunt is an especially enjoyable hunt. For $4.00 (on top of the basic cost of a hunting license), a Mainer can participate in night hunting for the species. The hunter must have a call in his posession, and bait and a shotgun with buckshot are commonly used. There is nothing like hunting Coyotes under a full moon on a layer of fresh snow, with the pines rising like black spears into the star covered sky.

  In addition to hunting Coyotes this year, educate your non-hunting friends and relatives about Coyotes and their impact upon the eco-system. Don't focus the conversation on the "act" of hunting, but upon the contribution that your hunting will make upon the eco-system. Share with them the challenge and enjoyment of being in the wilderness. You may just recruit a new hunting buddy. And, above all, be safe and ethical in your pursuits. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this topic.

Eric