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Winter Camping and Activities

Winter Wildlife

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Member: NickMc

Last Visit: 05/19/2013 12:59PM
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vlado4

11/12/2007 12:08AM

Although I have no experience winter camping, I am gathering information and gear, and dreaming of how I will end up on a snowy cold BWCA night.

While I love nature as is, seeing wildlife is such a huge bonus.

What kind of wildlife can one encounter during winter BWCA trips? How lucky do you have to be to see animals in the winter?

Anyone have cool animal related winter stories?

Also, since bears are hibernating and wolves are not interested in humans, is there anything to be concerned about?

Thanks all.

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Soledad

11/12/2007 04:25PM

Last March, a bunch of wolves were howling loud enough to wake me up out of a pretty good sleep. The next night, I saw one walking across the river. It was quite the thrill.
I have also seen fresh moose tracks while out, but have yet to see one in the winter.

"Also, since bears are hibernating and wolves are not interested in humans, is there anything to be concerned about?"

I will keep a closer eye on my dog next time. I let her run free all night and should not have while those wolves were around.

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Trygve

11/12/2007 05:01PM

Moose, Deer, Pine Marten, Bobcat & Lynx, Fisher, Otter, Wolves, Fox, Brush Wolves, Squirrels, tons of birds like Boreal Chickadees, Pine Grosbeaks, etc.

Lots of great wildlife in the winter.

Seeing animals while winter camping is very common.

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Buck Mustard

11/12/2007 11:30PM

Whiskey Jacks.... don't bother looking for them, they will find you

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motdur

11/13/2007 06:13AM

Lake trout, pike, walleye, eelpout(burbot)... on the end of my tip-up.

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vlado4

11/13/2007 09:50AM

Sounds great. I am very interested in wolves and from the discussion here I get the impression that there is a much higher chance of seeing wolves in the winter.

What is the story with tracks then? Are there animal tracks everywhere?

If one follows the tracks for a while could you end up finding the animal.

Sounds exhilarating.

Re: Dog Loose all Night,

Would not dream of leaving my dog outside around wolves. From what I have seen in the documentary Nature, they would totally eat it up.

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11/20/2007 10:14PM

Our outfitter had a German Shephard, literally raped by wolves. Beautiful dog apparently was never the same and ended up having a wolf pup. Don't know the whole story but it sounded tragic.

I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy.

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TuscaroraBorealis

11/18/2010 09:13PM

Anyone ever have any luck finding moose sheds in the winter?

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Knoozer

11/18/2010 10:13PM

I think there was a story last year about a guy looking for deer sheds and came upon two sets of moose antlers interlocked with each other, with the bodies of the moose still attached. Both were trophy sized animals.

God let Peter walk on water. To the rest of us He gave knoos.

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Arlo Pankook

11/19/2010 08:30AM

I like to store food either in the tent or in a Rubbermaid type tote with the lid weighted down. Red squirrels, Flying Squires, Fox, Gray Jays etc.

Hold that thought....fish on!

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TuscaroraBorealis

11/19/2010 08:32AM

quote Knoozer: "I think there was a story last year about a guy looking for deer sheds and came upon two sets of moose antlers interlocked with each other, with the bodies of the moose still attached. Both were trophy sized animals."

Yes. That's the story that kinda got me inspired to look around a bit more.

I believe they shed in December-January? Figured that might be a good time to look if they don't get buried in snow right away.

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TuscaroraBorealis

03/02/2012 03:11PM

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awbrown

03/03/2012 10:24AM

According to the latest TV reality show hit, the only creature you need worry about in the winter is the .........Sasquatch!

Just leave a throw away camera outside your tent. As has been noted on this site before, Bigfoots (or is it Bigfeet) are deathly afraid of cameras, and won't come near one.

In a more serious vein, one of life's biggest thrills is to hear the wolves howl on a cold winter's night. Every now and then, the Good Lord reminds us that we are just one of his wonderful creations.

If you get the opportunity to see one, consider yourself very lucky.

Keep the open side up

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jwartman59

03/07/2012 12:06AM

you can spend your life searching for bigfoot, they are very tough to photograph. deer are much easier.

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Sobi

03/12/2012 05:22AM

Great pic of that alert doe... can you add some story to the encounter?

"The price of anything is the life you pay for it." -HDT

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jwartman59

03/12/2012 08:47PM

the doe was alert because i had just snuck up to within 6 feet of her. oh and my stupid (at that time) sony camera had to make a digitized noise to pretend it was a real camera.

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Sobi

03/13/2012 08:25AM

Was she trying to convince herself that you really didn't exist by staring the other way like that? 6 feet? Either she's your best friend or you slide through the forest like a ghost!

"The price of anything is the life you pay for it." -HDT

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fitgers1

03/13/2012 10:47AM

Heard wolves about ten days ago off the Gunflint. It was beautiful.

You will see a couple of these roaming around if you're lucky. Didn't find their sheds.

You might even see some of this;

Or the rear ends of these, talking about the dogs, not me.

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.” Ralph Waldo Emerson...and...“Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading".

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fitgers1

03/13/2012 10:52AM

quote Sobi: " 6 feet? Either she's your best friend or you slide through the forest like a ghost!"

Ditto.
You actually snuck up on her? With your super duper zoom lens? or were you stationary and she came to you. Or, was she one of the deer at the Gunflint Lodge. I walked right up to those deer and didn't even have to sneak. Please tell me how you got so close to her. I'd like to try that.

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jwartman59

03/13/2012 06:44PM

my brothers yard in suburban duluth, his deer are almost tame.

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fitgers1

03/13/2012 07:28PM

Ah, that explains it.

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wildernessfan2

03/19/2012 10:05PM

That North Stars hat Kicks A$S! Awesome picture!

Freshwater is delicious! Saltwater not so much..

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