Today I used a vacation day, the last one, to make my way to Pittsburg, NH
Yes, that fabled land where moose and deer frolic in the vast woods of the far North.
A place where it has been said that antlers are littering the forest floor. OK, I am being a little too flowery; it actually went a little more like this.
Despite my best efforts, I left late. OK, so I wanted to leave at 4 AM and actually left at quarter to seven... I got to Pittsburg at about 10 am. Oh well. I had chosen to search one of four areas that I have had luck in before. One spot in particular is a gold mine, but Perry Stream Logging Company had not yet unlocked all of the roads. So I was now down to two spots, so I chose the easiest one first, not always the best idea because everyone else will go there too. Not much I could do about that.
I started into this spot that is a series of small clear cuts with a swamp and TONS of sign, both deer and moose. The deer sign is promising for two reasons. In the past I have always found a lot of moose tracks, beds, rubs and chews but not much actual deer sign. Now though there were lots more deer tracks, rubs etc than ever before. I had hunted this spot before, about 7 years ago for deer, but have returned since then to look for head gear with not a whole lot of luck.
I started off moving down hill weaving back and forth slowly. When you see a spot like this you can envision big moose palms just jutting out everywhere. But after the first two hours, nada!
Three hours go by and I see three big deer, trotting in deer fashion across one of the clear cuts. The last one was practically a cow, just a huge body. But I digress.
I start down this trail that I had sort of come in on. I was feeling a little worn out because I had not slept well and I was getting hungry, when I come across this moose femur. I stared at this bone and thought "This bone was not here when I came through before... BUT, maybe there is what is left of a bull with antlers still on the skull." A moose skull with antlers is the Holy Grail of shed hunting. So I push through some spruce boughs and straight in front of the leg bone is a nice big moose shed! A real nice fresh one. No chewing on it at all. As it was a pretty good size, I look around through my binoculars and POOF! another antler! But this one looks like a giant deer antler. Shaped a lot like "Hole in the horn" But when I walk up to it I saw that it was another fresh moose antler with an obvious deformity/ injury to the base area. This deformed the antler into a paddled club with points. Oh well, a set is a set.
I hike out with them attached to my pack like a proud Papa. I stop at the truck to stow them and get a bite to eat and drink seeing it was warm. I decided to go to another spot. I headed North towards the 3rd Connecticut Lake where there is a spot that I have always seen big bulls. This place is outside of the ever popular "Moose Alley" but is pretty good for bull sightings. To my surprise and delight, there's a big guy standing there almost as if on cue! He runs off into the woods and I carefully follow. He was an absolute huge bull. Definaitely a mature fellow. My mind says big bull, big antlers so in I go. I walk about 200 yards and I can see him moving at a steady pace up the ridge. At least I don't have to worry about getting stomped into the mid! I look around for awhile and don't see much so I decide to try one more place.
Off I go towards Moose Pond and I park in the area next to the pond and walk around the gate so I can work my way around the back just to give it a once over before sunset. Just before I get to the little dam, ahead of me is a small yearling cow moose. She seemed a little lost. She saw me and walked right over to me! She stopped about five or six FEET away and stretched out her neck to sniff me! If I had leaned in I could have touched her on the nose! But even though she was small, the fear of her kicking me was still a real danger if I spooked her. After about a minute she turned towards the pond, waded in and swam along the shore line. She was all alone, probably because this is just about calving time. This is when pregnant cow moose chase off the yearlings.
I went to the back of the pond and found a LOT of deer sign here too. The only problem for hunting season is that it is a marked safety zone.. No Hunting. Other than sign I found nothing else.
So I loaded up and headed back to Unity, but think I will try to return Sunday.
Yes, that fabled land where moose and deer frolic in the vast woods of the far North.
A place where it has been said that antlers are littering the forest floor. OK, I am being a little too flowery; it actually went a little more like this.
Despite my best efforts, I left late. OK, so I wanted to leave at 4 AM and actually left at quarter to seven... I got to Pittsburg at about 10 am. Oh well. I had chosen to search one of four areas that I have had luck in before. One spot in particular is a gold mine, but Perry Stream Logging Company had not yet unlocked all of the roads. So I was now down to two spots, so I chose the easiest one first, not always the best idea because everyone else will go there too. Not much I could do about that.
I started into this spot that is a series of small clear cuts with a swamp and TONS of sign, both deer and moose. The deer sign is promising for two reasons. In the past I have always found a lot of moose tracks, beds, rubs and chews but not much actual deer sign. Now though there were lots more deer tracks, rubs etc than ever before. I had hunted this spot before, about 7 years ago for deer, but have returned since then to look for head gear with not a whole lot of luck.
I started off moving down hill weaving back and forth slowly. When you see a spot like this you can envision big moose palms just jutting out everywhere. But after the first two hours, nada!
Three hours go by and I see three big deer, trotting in deer fashion across one of the clear cuts. The last one was practically a cow, just a huge body. But I digress.
I start down this trail that I had sort of come in on. I was feeling a little worn out because I had not slept well and I was getting hungry, when I come across this moose femur. I stared at this bone and thought "This bone was not here when I came through before... BUT, maybe there is what is left of a bull with antlers still on the skull." A moose skull with antlers is the Holy Grail of shed hunting. So I push through some spruce boughs and straight in front of the leg bone is a nice big moose shed! A real nice fresh one. No chewing on it at all. As it was a pretty good size, I look around through my binoculars and POOF! another antler! But this one looks like a giant deer antler. Shaped a lot like "Hole in the horn" But when I walk up to it I saw that it was another fresh moose antler with an obvious deformity/ injury to the base area. This deformed the antler into a paddled club with points. Oh well, a set is a set.
I hike out with them attached to my pack like a proud Papa. I stop at the truck to stow them and get a bite to eat and drink seeing it was warm. I decided to go to another spot. I headed North towards the 3rd Connecticut Lake where there is a spot that I have always seen big bulls. This place is outside of the ever popular "Moose Alley" but is pretty good for bull sightings. To my surprise and delight, there's a big guy standing there almost as if on cue! He runs off into the woods and I carefully follow. He was an absolute huge bull. Definaitely a mature fellow. My mind says big bull, big antlers so in I go. I walk about 200 yards and I can see him moving at a steady pace up the ridge. At least I don't have to worry about getting stomped into the mid! I look around for awhile and don't see much so I decide to try one more place.
Off I go towards Moose Pond and I park in the area next to the pond and walk around the gate so I can work my way around the back just to give it a once over before sunset. Just before I get to the little dam, ahead of me is a small yearling cow moose. She seemed a little lost. She saw me and walked right over to me! She stopped about five or six FEET away and stretched out her neck to sniff me! If I had leaned in I could have touched her on the nose! But even though she was small, the fear of her kicking me was still a real danger if I spooked her. After about a minute she turned towards the pond, waded in and swam along the shore line. She was all alone, probably because this is just about calving time. This is when pregnant cow moose chase off the yearlings.
I went to the back of the pond and found a LOT of deer sign here too. The only problem for hunting season is that it is a marked safety zone.. No Hunting. Other than sign I found nothing else.
So I loaded up and headed back to Unity, but think I will try to return Sunday.
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