Dad and I took a trip out to Moose Lodge the other day. The logger had been reporting some bear sightings near our camp. Our cabin survived a bear attack a few years ago. We felt we owed it to our home away from home to check in on it. When we arrived,we stopped the truck and scouted a logging road that serviced a log dump close (north) to our cabin. The logger’s story was confirmed by several bear tracks that were spread out along the road. The most I have seen in one spot ever! I snapped a photo (click on the picture that starts this blog entry) of the best tracks, but they may be hard to pick out. The story goes from the logger that he had his back to a sow and two cubs that passed within meters of him working on some equipment. His son saw them parade by his father while he (the son) was driving into the log dump. The fact that this trio is in the area is somewhat troublesome. Only because we know that sows with cubs can be unpredictable.
Further scouting along the logging road turned up more bear tracks. There were no deer or moose tracks. Perhaps the bears’ presence kept the 4-legged ungulates away?
Returning to the truck we finished the short drive to the cabin. It was intact. No visible bear tracks.
Dad took me behind the cabin to show me a trail he had cut out to a new deer watch he has been working on. The watch looked great…except that we did not see ANY deer tracks. This watch is in the middle of a ‘Bermuda Triangle‘ type area that deer seem to dissapear into during deer season. Any other hunters have any similar areas where they hunt? It’s one of those places where your mind says it’s too small an area to hold deer. Then, at least once, during deer season you scare a deer up out of there (when you thought you had left the hunting zone) while talking to your buddy along the trail.
Our trek took us past one of dad’s favorite hunting stands (or chair). I took a picture (click on it for a larger view) of this watch to remind myself why he likes to frequent here so much during the hunt.
Eventually, we connected to another trail that leads back to Moose Lodge. It was there we saw some encouraging animal sign.
A cow and calf moose had walked down the trail we were on towards the cabin. The calf track may be visible in the photo I took. Neither of us applied for cow or bull tags so it would be nice if the calf stayed around the area for October’s hunt.
During the trip home dad was wondering if the increased bear sign and presence was keeping the deer away. We did not see any fresh deer tracks today.
Does anyone know if an increased bear presence impacts deer movement?
I guess the answer seems obvious, but it does not hurt to ask.
Bill Anderson
Muskoka Outdoors
