Wednesday, October 07, 2009

Small predators

A few days ago I missed a chicken. A neighbor had told me that he had shot at and missed a coyote about a week ago, so that was the number 1 suspect. Last night, after dark, I heard a commotion outside, so I grabbed a flashlight and shotgun and headed outside to see what was going on. A skunk had dug its way into the pigeon coop and killed a bird. When I saw it, it squeezed out the way it had gone in and was trying to drag the dead pigeon out with it. I gave it a load of number 6 shot and figured that was the end of that. I didn’t want to deal with the smelly thing just then, so I left it where it lay and went back in the house. Sure looked dead to me. Later I went back out to take some garbage out, and the striped kitty was gone! I can still smell it pretty strong around the coop today, and can’t help but think it is laying dead around here some place and I just haven’t found it yet. Sure hope it didn’t get into my woodshed or under my hay stack. I’d have a heck of a time getting it out of either place. Today I filled in the hole where the skunk dug into the coop, and used the dead pigeon to bait a cage trap that I have sitting next to the coop; just in case.

Friday, October 02, 2009

Big predators

I received this in an e-mail from a friend today.

“I finally got a deer. First legal buck I have seen while hunting in the last three years in this area. Saw mountain lion tracks everywhere I went. The woods are full of them.Jess”

And that’s pretty much gospel! The northern states may have their wolves, but we have big cats. Two have been seen recently within 100 yards of where I hang my hat. Today I was hunting near home and saw a large track in the dust on the side of the road. It was badly dusted or I would have taken a picture with my pocket knife beside it for comparison. Big tom! I set up a couple of calling stands, but without luck. Nothing but blue jays showed up.

I did pick up a squirrel for dinner on the way home. I think I need a retriever! It treed right on the side of the road, but then fell down a gawd awful steep bank. Bear went down there and showed me where it was, but he won’t bring them to me. I sat on my butt and slid down there, but then I had a heck of a time getting back up to the road. Hey, it would have been tough when I was younger; but I ain’t young no more!