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Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: hickstick on December 15, 2007, 07:43:00 PM

Title: track ID challenge
Post by: hickstick on December 15, 2007, 07:43:00 PM
went out for a quick midday jaunt with my bow (its muzzleloader season here in Mass).  Only cut one set of deer tracks in the 2 day old snow and it was right behind my house so I didn't follow it.   went in deeper and cut two other human tracks, then found these.  not the best snow for clear tracks, lite-fluffy stuff but I managed to find a couple decent enough to photo.  bumped up the contrast and down the brightness to make it a bit easier to see.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/hickstick/trk1.jpg)

heres a shot of the gate (my arrows about 31" from nock to tip of judo)

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/hickstick/gate.jpg)

another track shot
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v504/hickstick/trk2.jpg)

so whatta you guys think?  fisher, fox, house cat?
Title: Re: track ID challenge
Post by: pointy sticks on December 15, 2007, 07:47:00 PM
bobcat or lynx would be my guess. looking at the first pic, but I no expert.
Title: Re: track ID challenge
Post by: hickstick on December 15, 2007, 08:01:00 PM
I should add a bit about behavior too....the tracks seemed to be walking up to large oaks & maples.and almost seemed to be putting its front paws up on the trunk and looking up into the trees....for squirrels I guess....

this is a smallish woodlot near a highway in a very suburban Massachusetts community...
Title: Re: track ID challenge
Post by: Gatekeeper on December 15, 2007, 08:09:00 PM
I believe it looks like a cat track also.
Title: Re: track ID challenge
Post by: trapperDave on December 15, 2007, 08:14:00 PM
wompus cat  :D
Title: Re: track ID challenge
Post by: JBiorn on December 15, 2007, 08:14:00 PM
somebodies squirrel dog?
Title: Re: track ID challenge
Post by: hickstick on December 15, 2007, 09:58:00 PM
don't think it was a dog....no human tracks anywhere near this area, and the toes in those tracks are pretty skinny....
Title: Re: track ID challenge
Post by: bullofthewoods on December 15, 2007, 10:46:00 PM
Bobcat usually place their hind feet in the same tracks as the front feet like that.  I think too large for house cat, not canine for lack of claw marks.  I say bobcat.
Title: Re: track ID challenge
Post by: Izzy on December 15, 2007, 10:54:00 PM
Any fisher or porkies in you area?Hard to tell from the pic but maybe worth a look in that direction.
Title: Re: track ID challenge
Post by: woodchucker on December 15, 2007, 10:56:00 PM
It's a Racoon track
Title: Re: track ID challenge
Post by: capt eddie on December 15, 2007, 11:09:00 PM
That looks like an otter.
Title: Re: track ID challenge
Post by: fxe on December 16, 2007, 08:56:00 AM
I think it's a bobcat also.
Title: Re: track ID challenge
Post by: Killdeer on December 16, 2007, 09:20:00 AM
I think weasel family, fisher or marten. Porkies are smaller and drag the ground more, don't they? Not round enough for a cat, and that first track shows a heel.

Killdeer
Title: Re: track ID challenge
Post by: hickstick on December 16, 2007, 09:37:00 AM
I'm thinking fisher myself.  My hunting bud saw one back in October on the farm we hunt (about a mile and a half away) so we at least know they are in the area...  I have never seen a bobcat in the woods here in all my years of hunting...but I know they are quite prevalent in Connecticut.

I had found a similar set of tracks like this last year in the snow in this same woodlot.  it lead to grizzly scene of cottontail fur and legs....I wasn't sure if a fisher would go for something as large as a cottontail.
Title: Re: track ID challenge
Post by: rg176bnc on December 17, 2007, 09:30:00 PM
That looks like a fisher to me.  If you go to trapper man website I bet someone there would know.