Just returned from hunting elk and bear on public land just outside the Flat Tops Wilderness--31 years in the same area. I climbed over the mountain and still hunted in the dark spruce-fir forest. Got lucky on opening day, connecting with a cow elk at 27 yards, a single quick shot offhand. Yea! Another year of fine meat for the family. My 28th elk.
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...psxmpkhph6.jpg
After field dressing and laying the parts over a log to cool overnight, I returned the next day to pack out the meat. Soon after, a Pine Marten arrived to share in the bounty, hauling scraps to cache high into the trees, safe from other ground predators.
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...psnepgoqus.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...pssrfln5do.jpg
Pine Martens are cool critters, one of my favorite mammals. I've seen them maybe 40-50 times. Like a miniature Wolverine or a supersized Long-tailed Weasel, Pine Martens are ferocious predators able to chase down squirrels in the trees. They are also smart, opportunistic scavengers. Ten years ago I watched a pair feed off the remains of a buck mule deer I had shot. And Martens have sneaked in to steal trout from me while fishing on a few occasions.
I had a heck of a time getting photos in the dark forest because these guys are always moving. I still had tags for bull elk and bear, so I returned to the kill site four days later in hope of finding a bear on the gut pile, or maybe getting more views of the Pine Marten. No evidence of bear but I was surprised to find two Pine Martens working the carcass. Apparently the male didn't appreciate sharing with a smaller female and they fought twice while I was there, growling and barking repeatedly. It was an amazing scene.
They are tenacious and strong, dragging the front portion of the elk rib cage down the hill about 60 feet.
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...psdbkl1lcf.jpg
I returned again the following day--didn't see the martens but found they had turned over the gut pile and moved it about four feet to access the fat. The elk head was missing--no tracks besides the martens and birds were present. I think they hauled the head off.
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g2...pscbxxgvtw.jpg
It was a fun and productive hunt--although the very warm temperatures made for noisy ground conditions, and there were few elk in the area where snow is required to move the larger herds out of the high country. Most reports are that the first and second season harvest has been poor this year.
