BWCA Winter Wildlife Boundary Waters Winter Camping and Activities
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vlado4
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11/12/2007 12:08AM   (Thread Older Than 3 Years)
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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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.

Trygve
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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.
Buck Mustard
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11/12/2007 11:30PM  
Whiskey Jacks.... don't bother looking for them, they will find you
motdur
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11/13/2007 06:13AM  
Lake trout, pike, walleye, eelpout(burbot)... on the end of my tip-up.
vlado4
member (28)member
  
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.
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.
TuscaroraBorealis
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11/18/2010 09:13PM  
Anyone ever have any luck finding moose sheds in the winter?
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.
Arlo Pankook
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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.
TuscaroraBorealis
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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.
TuscaroraBorealis
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03/02/2012 03:11PM  
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.
03/07/2012 12:06AM  
you can spend your life searching for bigfoot, they are very tough to photograph. deer are much easier.
03/12/2012 05:22AM  
Great pic of that alert doe... can you add some story to the encounter?
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.
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!
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.
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.
03/13/2012 06:44PM  
my brothers yard in suburban duluth, his deer are almost tame.
03/13/2012 07:28PM  
Ah, that explains it.
wildernessfan2
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03/19/2012 10:05PM  
That North Stars hat Kicks A$S! Awesome picture!
 
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