Another request. I lived just over a year in the Russian Far East, working a few months on Siberian tigers, then on Far Eastern Leopards. Living conditions were tough, but I loved the experience. Learned a lot.

The two on the left are Americans. The other two are Russians. It was a joint effort. This is a young adult tiger foot-snared for a transmitter.



This is setting a foot-snare at a scent-tree.



This is a young male foot-snared. I'm applying the ink on a lip tattoo for permanent identification.



This was one of our collared animals. It got killed by a falling tree in a windstorm.

What an adventure.

I often wonder about animals in windstorms, what a shame.

Wonderful adventure, Jack.

Tigers are so fascinating. I like all the different types , Like noting the differences between them.

I only wish that the illustration I'm working on now , was finished. I could happily share it here , It won't be done for a little while yet. Details take time. But it would fit in perfectly here ... Maybe I can find this thread to share when I'm finished. Or make a separate thread to share later. I have been thinking of you since I started this project...

Sure love your Russian adventures the most . Thank you.

Jack, the one in your lap didn't' seem to claw up the tie off tree in back quite as much, would the clawed up tree be a good remake set?

I found a dead bull elk under a downed tree once. Nature is always interesting.

Very nice

Was that Bart Schleyer that you worked with?

riverbank -

Yes. One of my best friends. Great person. Good biologist. It's a shame it all had to end... In Russia, Bart replaced me when I started the leopard work.

Jack

I love to shoot traditional archery, and Bart is one of those guys that's been a larger than life figure for me. I've read so many things about him, it's such a shame that he was gone so young. I'm sure you consider yourself fortunate to have known him. Thanks for sharing your experiences with us.

Bart was in a class all by himself. I dropped him off on a moose hunt once. Went to pick him up, and no meat hanging. Although he didn't get one, he told me he was within 5 feet of 70"+ moose every day of the hunt. Counted coup on four different moose. (touched 'em). Said it was the best hunt he'd ever been on. He kept my landing spot a secret. Only Bart. His Russian girlfriend (and their son) lived with my Russian ex-wife for many months after the bear got him.

Thank you for telling about Bart, Jack. Is there reading info about him , as river mentioned ? That would be good reading for me, if there is any published bio . Have to ask...

OK , since I dropped a hint earlier, here's another , sneak preview of part of him . Just setting down the foundation base tones for this one. A very special type of tiger...

This is for me . Not a commission. Just for fun. I'll take shots of several of the phases as I progress. It is way too large for my scanner, and the lighting on the easel isn't the best that my camera likes. It's much lighter to my eye. The paper is Ivory/Beige tone.

You inspire many people, Jack.

Sharon -

Keep us updated on the tiger(s?) work. Beautiful. I'm excited you're doing him. There's not a more magnificent animal on the face of this earth.

You'll be heartened to know, Bart was originally a Montana boy (and he was always a Montana boy at heart).

Face to the wind...

Jack.

Wow how amazing! Both the experiences and photo from Gulo and also Sharon’s lovely drawing! We have a local veterinarian who had run a rescue for big cats. He doesn’t have as many now. But you could tour and meet them on the third Sunday of every month with a small donation. Lions, cougars, lynx, bobcat, panthers, etc. I remember meeting two tigers; Sasha and Esmeralda who chuffed to say hello and promptly turned and lifted their tails to pee on me through the fence.

Sharon…if I remember correctly, there was an article(s) published on Bart in Traditional Bowhunter Magazine. I’ll do a little digging and I’ll share if I can find where it is for sure. Jack may know of something else published about him as well.

Jack…Were you part of a production called ‘Tigers of the snow’?

My favorite cat, thanks for posting.

Sharon i like that drawing just the way it is, a sneaky secretive cat.....jk

Riverbank, I sure appreciate your thought. But if its a pain to find, don't pressure to keep looking. I just like reading of the guys who have worked with Jack. They have been very unique .

JK, thanks , though this is just the start of the illustration. It's like a reverse negative film now, the darkest tones , such as black stripes, are last .

Since I haven't done a serious tiger ever, I am learning how different this one is , than all other animals I've done. Others are a sea of undulating fur , gradual blend of colours, putting me in a zen state of mind , calmly traversing the seas of muscles and curves til done.

TIGERS, howevah, are stunning and stark , the stripes so varied and wonderful in flow that I find I get turned around in what is black and what is orange. So far, more than once, I've started an area and met an old area with opposite designs clashing, such as double black or orange...so I got the idea of lettering the stripes in the confusing areas, B or O. You can just see the B's in some . Where the stripes turn and follow muscles and folds in legs are especially tricky.

This is a journey I love that is so different. As I progress, I see why you say they are the most magnificent animal on earth, Jack. I agree.

So Bart was a Montana man , very good !

Especially this particular , very special type of tiger. I know I have Jack's attention on that , as it isn't really apparent yet what the special part is...when it's done, he will see ! I can tell I will want to be drawing more of these tigers.

Sharon….it was a two part article that appeared in the 2007 Aug/Sep and Oct/Nov issues of Traditional Bowhunter Magazine. If you’re interested.

River, I am definitely interested. However is easiest for you, if you can take a pic or scan it and send it via email that would work well. I can send you the email in a pm , if that will work with you. Pics of magazine articles do well sent in emails. Scans do too, of course, but with the phones people have , taking a clear pic is easy , and easy to send. I do this with editors all the time.

Thank you, sir. I'd love to read about Bart.