I haven't felt like a journal, not much going on my line for me.

I know I don't have anything for scale, but any thoughts on what these are? They looked too big to me for marten, but we don't have fisher here...unless we do.


Trying some different cooking this season. The shanks have always been a problem for me, the grinder doesn't like them, they don't make good steaks. So I'd just cut them real small and put them in soup. I saw where someone from Meateater made ossobucco, so I decided to cut some shanks. Sear them real hard in bacon grease on cast iron, then some time in the Intstant Pot to make them almost fall apart, and dang tasty and tender!


Everybody helps out.



I need to build a box or bag the saw, it gets filled with snow.


Lots of this. Big Corona loppers seem to work easier than a machete, I'd like to try one of them bill hook ones sometime.


If the kids keep their acts together they get to go riding!



There's a clearing where the wolves made a couple pee posts beside my trail. It's historically been a futile effort as they'd usually never return to the same stretch.


But they did this time! I made 3 trail sets between their posts, missed the lead wolf and got this guy. From surveying the tracks, it looked like there were at least 2 wolves, MAYBE 3, that came onto the trail at 2 different places. They ran along, the first made it by the trap, and bailed into the clearing when this one got caught. I can see where, if moose activity and other conditions allowed, gang setting snares around traps would be very effective. If there was a third wolf I didn't find where it departed the trail.


I often put a protector set under marten, it's gotten me cats before. Gulo missed the pan by about an inch.


This is my total catch this season. Pretty dismal, but that first wolf means alot! Going to set my whole family up with ruffs!


Be safe out there!

That is freaking awesome dude! Happy for you on the wolf! Hope you connect with the wolverine!
You try one of those instant pots yet? The wife got one for Xmas and man that joker makes the toughest meat soft!

Thanks John!

I'm happy with the Instant pot; frozen meats, stringy roasts, frozen marrow bones, frozen whole chicken, beaver rump, doesn't matter! I'm still working on the timing, some things I want to fall apart, other things I want to pull apart when eating but stay together when serving. My wife gets more adventurous with it than I do, I'm usually just trying to get stringy things to eat easier.

Could those tracks belong to a porcupine?

Spacing is too wide for porky IMO.

Depending on how big they are, it could be gulo walking

Great looking wolf Temple !!

Congrats on the Wolf Temple! Looks like its got good hair, looking forward to seeing some pictures of it once you get it on a board.

Pretty Wolf!

Nice going on the big dog, cool to get blacks.

Thanks guys!

Porcy never occurred to me. I've seen them around, but never bothered to study their tracks. Once a year these type of tracks seem to pop up that I'm unsure about, seem to big for marten, too small for wolverine (to me, sorry I didn't have anything for scale) and no otter tail drag or occasional belly slide.

Nice wolf congrats! Good luck getting some more of them.

The tracks are not porcupine, they waddle more and their tail usually drags some or a lot. Looks a lot like a large marten track.

Thanks bronco! They're very near where I place a set, but whatever laid them never came back to get caught.

.....yet!

Fingers crossed all the time! Makes it hard to type.

Typing with your fingers like that probably makes it look like you are a little lys-dexsic...!

By the way, love the photo of kid on old white Tundra LT. You have put it to good use!

Pete

Nice wolf!
Hate snow-bent brushy trails!

Been pretty slow. I had some machine troubles...usually I test run the machine at home the morning before going, that way if it's too cold for that big 4 stroke to start well I can fight it at home and have coffee inside by the fire while it and the truck warm up. I didn't that morning, ended up having to jump start it from the truck. Of course, my cables were in my commuter vehicle, so I cut up my truck's extension cable. I did own a jump pack at the time, but had been unable to find it.


I did the small loop near where I park leaving the machine running while I checked sets. I figured it would warm up and recharge enough to start itself, but to be sure I parked by the truck and turned it off. I had to jump start it again. Against my better judgement, I took off on down the line, figuring I'd just drive by everything and not let the machine turn off. I came across wolverine tracks again and couldn't help myself, I stopped to put in a bucket and 330. I've gotten a little complacent with the Belisles, and this one bit me just above the last knuckle of my ring finger. I was able to pull my hand out...barely, leaving the glove in the jaws. While collecting my thoughts on finishing the set, the machine turned off. I finished the set while the dread of trying to rope start that dam big 4 stroke set in. I was unable to rope start it with the knotted paracod I had on hand. Maybe a strap with a hook...maybe, but I don't know. Thankfully, my trapping neighbor was able to come out and rescue me. I figured I'd spend the time productively, and walked back on my trail for 3 hours clearing the hanging brush. My rescuer appreciated that. The pack he pulled out was just a hair larger than my phone, but it spooled that VK right up and we were on our way. He did make sure to tell me he had the truck jumper in his cargo box, but wanted to see what that little thing would do. Guess who now owns 2 jump packs, but still can't find the other one? This guy right here. But that gulo hadn't come back as of the following check. After some fooling around I found a blown fuse and figure my battery was week. Guess it was due, the little batteries they put in these things don't seem to last long.

With the warm temperatures I got the younger kids out on the Tundra while the oldest was at school.


Found a couch for my shop when I was taking out the trash, Daughter seems to approve!


Be safe out there!

Glad to hear you got the problem figured out and a buddy was able to rescue you! Hope you connect with the gulo!

Good stuff, I like your stories...always an adventure!
Are you brushing out your buckets and cover in them with brush, branches?

Thanks guys!

It's the only bucket I've ever set, having snapped myself and dealing with a dead machine I didn't think to take a picture. It's a yellow cat litter bucket (from back when we HAD cats) that is brushed in some with little trees that were growing up against the stump and some I placed. This wasn't really to hide it but to try to brace the bucket and 330 so they'd be somewhat difficult to tear out. Its baited with moose sinew, grouse viscera, some in the bucket and some strewn around the area. Hopefully this dusting of snow will hide anything it doesn't like if he comes back, but next time I'm going to brush it in and stake the bucket and trap down a bit better.

Hope you get em Temple!