Bigtex Posted March 6, 2014 Author Share Posted March 6, 2014 (edited) Thank you very much Cervelo & JohnC for the kind words! I love this Forum because it's a family of like minded individuals. I've gotta a great feeling about this year guys, as I have improved my technology to the next level, and I am expecting results in the form of good quality pictures & audio. And of course I will post them here first & immediately:) I have always thought that this is the best (safest?) place to post any evidence obtained........don't you guys agree? JKH.......found the pics and will post over at the other thread. While on the subject of ancient volcanic activity in Central Texas, here are two prints from that same very bad day........one certainly looks human, and my foot fits perfectly, was Bigfoot running around in those days too? Edited March 6, 2014 by Bigtex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WSA Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Tex...yep, some foxes can climb. The gray ones can, the red ones can't. Nice picture. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigtex Posted March 12, 2014 Author Share Posted March 12, 2014 (edited) Great hike yesterday.....and 82 degrees! Down to high 30's tonight though. We had some rain Monday night, so wanted to check for fresh tracks, and found several amazing track ways. The tracks appeared to be hours old, probably made predawn with the individual heading back up into the hills from town. I have found some of my best prints under the local highway bridge that I have named 'The Funnel', and for obvious reasons, as many different critters use this stealthy pathway in and out of town. Pictures : The Funnel, creek under bridge, track way near Funnel, print in track way, close up of print in track way, and two different continuations of same track way into the surrounding hills. I went early afternoon, which equals not so good pictures due to contrasts between bright sun and shadows.......but the track ways were very distinct and impressive 'live'. Edited March 12, 2014 by Bigtex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigtex Posted March 17, 2014 Author Share Posted March 17, 2014 (edited) This is probably long overdue, but decided to follow a main game trail from town, and out to the hills several miles away, with a lot of traffic going under the 'Funnel' bridge pictured above. I try to stay off this trail directly, as I don't want to be observed using it. During my normal hikes through the area, I cross this trail at several key spots where I have found tracks and other sign of activity, and just feel that it is better to do it this way. I pick it up in the pics below from a main feeder creek to the Colorado River, and very close to the edge of town. In the first few pictures, I am on the East side of the creek in the area where the trail crosses, one picture looking back, and a few more heading West towards the hills. I will post more pictures of this trail in a few days all the way to the bridge, but had to cut the journey short yesterday, as my hiking buddy and his Boxer dog were not up to the task. This trail is a bit different than most as it's fairly well established, with good head room, higher branch breaks, and is narrow.......unlike a human trail. The BF's that I have tracked seem to lay their prints in a line, not side by side like humans. PS......tried to put the pictures in same order, but they didn't post that way. Edited March 17, 2014 by Bigtex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigtex Posted March 18, 2014 Author Share Posted March 18, 2014 Hiked some more of the trail from town to the hills, and retrived a Game Camera (store bought Bushnell) along the way. I like the tiny Bushnell HD Game Cams to gauge what and when animals are moving around, but they won't work on the big guy. I had this set up and very well hidden about 10 feet back and perpindicular to the BF trail, and it took these two pictures. In the first picture, the camera appears to be moving, and was pulled around the tree and crooked when I retrived it. The second picture almost looks like a huge right arm coming around from the tree on the right side.......could it be? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 19, 2014 Share Posted March 19, 2014 Maybe they are telling you something....hahah Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigtex Posted March 19, 2014 Author Share Posted March 19, 2014 Forgot to post the next picture of the tree climbing Fox........and enjoying his prize. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigtex Posted March 20, 2014 Author Share Posted March 20, 2014 (edited) Here is a picture of a known Coyote, and the exposure effect that it has on the Game Cam at close range, very similar to the picture above, in particular the hair on the edges. Also, some pictures of a little plant snack found along the BF Trail, and very fresh........the tender part at the bottom eaten like an Artichoke. If an animal did this, there would be sign of it in the surrounding surface. Edited March 20, 2014 by Bigtex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 20, 2014 Share Posted March 20, 2014 (edited) Great Stuff Big Tex ! Always enjoy your posts Edited March 20, 2014 by GEARMAN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigtex Posted March 20, 2014 Author Share Posted March 20, 2014 (edited) Thanks GEARMAN, appreciate the feedback:) More pictures from the BF Trail.........I find these markers along the way, and is usually a manipulated tree limb. It could always be a natural phenom, and is my normal conclusion, but sometimes they are placed in a logical proper sequence for following a trail. This limb was good size on an otherwise healthy tree, and the break is about 8' off the ground, well out of my reach. Two pictures of prints, and a picture of more of the trail. In one picture a single print, and the other has a medium & large print, arrows pointing direction of travel. Here's one of the many caves up in the hills, and will be exploring inside the big one at a later date. Notice the weird round deal in front, with the red arrow pointing at the tree limb. It appeared that the tree limb was used to get something out from inside, and it would take two people to manipulate it......I could barely move it around, and would have used something much smaller myself. Edited March 20, 2014 by Bigtex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigtex Posted March 24, 2014 Author Share Posted March 24, 2014 Continuing on the BF Trail this weekend, and getting closer to the 'Funnel' or bridge, I saw a trail disturbance leading up to a ridge line above the creek trail I was following. I've been through there many times, but never on top of this particular ridge. I went up there and found several different Deer kills both old and new, A few of those pics below, with my Wolf feeding on them.......yeah, she's a Wolf, and can't make her stop doing this. Notice in the one picture that there are 4 Deer skulls sitting close to each other. Not sure the Deer were killed in this area, and looks more like they were brought in, and not dragged......carried? In one picture, I have an arrow pointing to a rock next to the bones.......it was out of place, and looked to me that it was used to crack the bones open. Also found an old Mexican Wolf skull, judging from the large crest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 (edited) Very cool find BT ! Sure seems to point to some serious predation going on for along time in the area. How far off one of the highway loops is it? No specifics meant not trying to locate your spot but rather for the general distance of this type of wildlife activity prey and predator in proximity to busy roads, businesses or homes etc. Edited March 24, 2014 by GEARMAN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigtex Posted March 24, 2014 Author Share Posted March 24, 2014 Hey GEARMAN.....my town is fairly small, with rolling hills, large creeks, and deep ravines snaking all through town. You can hike these ravines/creeks all over town, never be seen, and many animals use these hidden 'Critter Highways'. Not far is the Balcones Canyon-lands NWR, the Colorado River, and a main Power Line that goes through town. The streets are certainly less traveled, and usually wooded on both sides, with only one main road in/out, which is FM1431. It has 4 lanes coming into town from Cedar Park, and 2 lanes to the next town Marble Falls to the West. There's a sighting report just down FM1431 going towards MF on the www.woodape.org site, Travis County I believe, and is worth a read. For those unfamiliar with that site, I would have to say that their criteria for posting a report is by far the best of any BF site I've seen, and the most complete.......very good reports for sure. There are 3 Golf Courses in town, with the main one Highland Lakes, and has had numerous Cougar sightings over the years - still does. I saw them plenty too when I used to live on the 17th fairway. The Deer hang there in large lazy herds day & night, and the big cats literally line up in the wooded areas along the fairways for an easy ambush. These are what we call 'City Deer', and they are more traffic savvy than the kids or dogs, EXCEPT when spooked. As you can see from the photos, they are quite tame, and most like a good scratch. I have had several dear Deer friends over the years, and could write a book about Deer behavior.......no two are alike personality wise, and some are quite extraordinary. There is one Golf Course very near my hiking/research area, and was closed 5 years ago. The fairways have turned into beautiful grasslands, and attracts many animals, tons of Deer, and has turned into a predator hang out big time. You should come on down bro, and can show you the areas first hand........it always looks more impressive live:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 24, 2014 Share Posted March 24, 2014 WOW, very cool. If I find a weekend I can do that , will let you know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bigtex Posted March 24, 2014 Author Share Posted March 24, 2014 Excellent.....try to come before it gets too dang hot:) ALSO, that's Burnett County for the sighting report @ www.woodape.org on FM1431. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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