:csflag: Been looking for this old house site for 9 months...

[Vernon in Virginia~Formerly Alaska]

[size=large]
We knew "about" where it was, We walked near a half mile through heavy brush to get to the area. It's really thick in there, logged over about 8 years ago and replanted in pines. We found the old house-site yesterday (big pile of foundation stones, scrap iron, old rusting buckets etc.). Lots of killer briar's, I have about 50 little holes and scratches in my legs this morning. We found a lot of the usual old house-site stuff; pad locks, horse tack, musket ball, coffee pot, axe heads, hair brooches, pocket knifes. My friend found a very rusted 32 cal revolver, cylinder missing ~ looks to be a cheap-o, early 1900's. I even came up on a rat or corn snake sunning its self in the pine needles. My best find was a 1912 foreign coin somewhere from South America I think. When we parked we stumbled on to this bob cat some body had set out as trapping bait. Of course we didn't know it was a "set" until we went up to investigate. I could then see the leg wired to a tree and see at least one trap barely exposed under the dirt. We didn't touch anything, but sorry we ruined his set with our scent and footprints.

[/size]

[attachment 186291 6.jpg]
[attachment 186292 1.jpg]
[attachment 186293 2.jpg]
[attachment 186294 3.jpg]
[attachment 186295 4.jpg]

 

[mudpuppy]

Regarding that bobcat, thats unusual, typically a fellow hangs a bird wing or a scrap of a rabbit for bait for THEM! perhaps he got his leg in a snare,but then, the ground would be all torn up around it...very weird, ...Anyway, it looks like an awesome day of discovery for you Vern.

 

[Vernon in Virginia~Formerly Alaska]

[size=large]I thought the bobcat was strange too. At first I thought his leg was in a snare and that the trapper had caught a bobcat and something had chowed down on half of it But closer observation revealed that the bobcat was wired to the tree with twisted bailing wire with at least 2 steel traps buried around him.... he was the bait... well half of him. That's the second bobcat I have see here in VA, the first one ran across the road. [/size]

 

[mudpuppy]

Bobcats are more of a sight hunter than smell, a nice bird wing blowing in the breeze in the right spot draws them in...with the legholds barely hidden, its gotta be a novice. Though every once in a while a guy will get lucky, most likely there will be a skunk, or an opposum there soon...could get a yote or a fox just out of pure luck, or maybe a raccoon if one stumbles along. Even the eastern bobcats have some value in the fur market, maybe it was a roadkill that some kid just figured would make a good bait, I hope so, it would be nice to see kids getting back into trapping...they will turn into great metal detectorists by learning to look for "sign".

 

[Jim West Pa]

What a great way to spend a Janauary afternoon.
'specialy when the rest o' us are frozen solid with no where to play !!!!!!

That rat looks gravid to me Vern.In fact,i'd bet on it.
THAT is what i find unusual about the whole day .
You must have a longer warmer summer this year ?

Hope that spot gives up it's mason jar full o' double eagles next time yer there.

 

[Vernon in Virginia~Formerly Alaska]

n/t

 

[Craig in Alabama]

n/t

 

[charlie (ky)]

n/t

 

[Brian(upstateNY)]

n/t

 

[therick]

n/t

 

[General Ray]

n/t

 

[MK_(MO)]

n/t

 

[Elson(La)]

n/t

 

[Vernon in Virginia~Formerly Alaska]

n/t

 

[Elson(La)]

n/t

 

[Vernon in Virginia~Formerly Alaska]

n/t