Raccoons on a log

I set this camera for bobcats but needed to get a few pictures to make sure any animal would be centered in the photo. Camera was 5 feet from the log and barely got both raccoons in the picture so I aimed the camera just a little to the right so the small tree didn't block part of the sensor area on the left side. The field of view is 5 feet at that distance so should be able to fit a bobcat or coyote in the picture rather nicely.

The raccoons are in a traveling mode which is faster than a bobcat would be on the log in a hunting mode. Not really an area for a raccoon to be hunting in for food but just traveling to get to a pond.

Almost a nice coyote picture

I normally keep the ferns cut off short and let a few grow just to make a better picture. Everything has worked fine with deer, elk and turkeys, but with all the rain the ferns grow faster between checkings and blocked the yotes head a little.

This is the first predator on the trail and I had the cam close and set just right for a good photo. Hope this doesn't happen if a bobcat passes this way.

Bear in the elk area

Went in today and did a good search of most of the trails on ridges and around water to find any sign of what animal might have injured the cow elk. Never found any cougar sign, but really never thought I would, they don't leave tracks unless in mud or sand. It's been raining here for almost a week now so you can skip the tracks.

Did get a picture of a nice sized bear close to where the elk picture was taken and now think whatever happened to the elk most likely had something to do with the bear. This picture was taken with an Olympus 380 and in the rain with water on the lens and very close.

Injured elk

Had to do some work on the lighting and cropped it quite a bit to see the elk. It was in the brush behind the trail where I had the camera aimed so the flash was weak. You can see the wound on the right shoulder and it's still open and fresh.

The cow was alone which leads me to believe it left the herd to heal. It could have been protecting a calf, just not sure but will check the area Monday.

Another daytime bobcat

First time for a bobcat on this trail and can't believe it got it's head behind the brush. I get a lot of deer and elk on this trail, plus several coyotes and lately the deer and elk have been absent.

Pretty sure when that happens then there's a cougar in the area. Got a picture of a cow elk about 1/2 mile from this trail and it looks like a cat tried to get it down, has a bad open wound on it's front shoulder. The elk was farther from the trail I had it aimed at so have to crop the picture to show the wound. Will put it on tomorrow. I have 10 cams in the area and will be lucky to get a picture of the cat. Will move a few to cover the best trails on Monday.

Wet Turkeys

We had a hard rainstorm the early part of this week and I think this hen was walking the young ones south. They sure look soaked.

Been really busy this month and haven't had the time to keep up with the photos.

Blacktail Doe

I normally don't save all the doe pictures I get on my cameras it just takes up too much memory. I like this picture because it shows how natural an animal can be with the flash if the camera is hid.

This is the second of two pictures of this doe. I almost always set my cameras in a double picture mode, that's where the camera takes two pictures on just one triggering of the sensor. The second picture is random and can take from 5 seconds during the day and up to 12 seconds at night.

Some worry about the flash and the effect it has on animals at night and maybe changing there habits. I have never found this to be a problem and have thousands of photos that would confirm my opinion.

Elk still having calves

I have enough calf elk pictures so will be moving several cameras into locations for bull elk. The best time for them in our area is mid July to mid August for bulls in velvet and after that for hard horns. I try not to start too early for bulls but wait for them to get almost all the antler growth and still in velvet.

This pair of twins are very young and the cow hasn't returned to the herd yet.

Twin calf elk

Would liked to have had the cow in the picture, but just take what I can get. This setup was to get deer and elk crossing the creek and also smaller animals that follow the creek looking for food. It's difficult to have too types of pictures on one setting because the camera should be close and aimed at the creek bed but also far enough to show an elk.