Osky -

For the leopards and the Himalayan bears, I was using foot snares with 3/8 cable. Pretty much all the successful sets were basically blind trail sets. Capture rates, as you might imagine, were dismally low with the target populations being so grim. On the tigers, most successful sets, using 5/8" cable on foot snares, were more or less pee-post sets at the bases of natural marking trees that the tigers had already used. For the large predators (brown bears and black bears included) I much prefer the foot snares. For wolves, I still go with standard-jawed (NOT rubber-jawed), 3/8" offset footholds.

I was pretty much on my own once I arrived in Russia. This was back in '93 and '94, so perestroika and glasnost were relatively new concepts. The language barrier was difficult and, at times, frustrating. Just finding enough food was cumbersome, putting it lightly. I've been back a few times to hunt since living over there, and things (at least up 'til 2002) had gotten much better.

Hope this helps...

Jack

Osky, this was the other species I was trying to trap, collar, and release. To say the least, was a hoot!




This was a young female tiger.

Were they a Belisle foot snare you were using ?
The way the shrew was travelling in and out looking for tunnels was the give away.
The cat tracks imprinted the snow where as the others just marked a path.
The bounding of the prints of the marten sure was interesting.

Thanks Jack.
I had the opportunity several times many years ago to bear hunt in the eastern USSR. I was not comfortable with the logistics side and you as well as a few others back then confirmed my hunches.
Great adventure in the whole for you by the looks of it.

Osky

Northof50 -

No, not Belisles. They were basically an Aldrich-type throw spring, smaller for the leopards, larger (LARGER) for the tigers.
Good eye on the shrew meanderings.


Osky -

You're very welcome, sir. In my opinion, you should not have passed on the opportunity. As difficult as things were over there, I developed quite an affinity for the Russian Far East. European Russia I never cared for. For some time, I was married to a Russian gal that I met over there. I had an invite to go back a couple years ago, but my contact over there was unable to garner a Russian Visa at that time. I have absolutely no idea why it was denied after other trips without a problem.

Jack

Fantastic shot with that orange and black beauty , Jack.

I have always wanted more commissions for images from other countries , such as Russia, etc. in either ADC , trapping, or biology work.

They sure do like you to sit so still and patient , so you can finish your work

So that's how he does it !

Wonder if that works on wolverine ?

Yeah. I've seen him do it on rattlesnakes too.

So it really works !

Ok , all that time of me giving him flask for that technique was for nought !

Maybe I can try that on a skunk sometime but Jack has the touch perfected !

.......oh, wait.....or is that "flack" ?

The Dundee method even works on mosquitoes and ticks.

Gulo, why no catch circle? That is an amazing catch. 1 1/2 duke I am sure. Beautiful Great photo and thanks......jk

jk -

Are you referring to the leopard or the tiger photo? Believe me, if either one was in the snare overnight, there was indeed a notable catch-circle. And the bigger Himalayan bears would log half the forest.

Jack