Evaluate This Picture

[Swede]

That trail has been there longer than that pond.

Interesting commend. How do you know that? Beaver do make trails. You can probably Google beaver trail and find some pictures for verification. I really can\'t say that is a beaver trail. Mutt said it was a beaver pond, so there is a beaver dam somewhere near. The beaver carried in material for their dam from somewhere. My guess is that trail was a route they used for that and likely a lodge too. I can\'t be sure from the picture what made the trail or used it, but I see no real elk evidence there either.

In Oregon there are places where the pine is choking out the aspen. The Malheur N. F. is trying to protect, and restore some of the aspen stands it has been losing over the years. I have not seen where aspen is choking out the pine.

 

[iccyman001]

This pond is present in a dry year. Right now, it is it much higher than normal.

If I had referred to the body of water as simply a pond and not a beaver pond, would we be talking about the beaver? The beaver has not greeted me yet. They do not like visitors, so I doubt I will ever see it. There are Brook Trout in the ponds.

You all are teaching me how to analyze places like this, so good job everyone!

Lurkers, please chime in with comments and questions. I have only hunted for 5 seasons, so I know even less than most hunters.

Beavers and I don\'t get along. They used to make nasty messes up in the north Maine woods.
I am excited to see what you catch on camera. :upthumb:

 

[cnelk]

Of all the beaver I have snared, shot and trapped on a beaver trail, my experience would tell be that I wouldnt catch much beaver on that trail.
Most beaver dont like to stray too far from the water as they make tasty treats when then get caught outta the water.
That trail goes a long way from the water with little cover.

Trails that lead to water used by big game tend to fan out once they get close the water\'s edge.
Its a matter of survival once again.
That trail dives right into the water which IMO means it goes further down the slope [under the water]
Even if it was a cattle trail [which i think it is] they do the same

That trail gets the least of my attention in the pic.
If any game comes to water it will be at dark or the animals will be young and dumb and early.
I will be getting up that slope, find me an ambush spot and wait for animals to BEFORE it gets dark in the cover of trees, where they wont be suspecting danger.

The above is just my opinion based on my experiences....

 

[Swede]

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As stated in the above web postings, I too have seen where beaver travel several hundred yards for food and supplies. Usually it was after they had removed everything that was closer in. There is nothing for the beaver to eat or build with close in, from what we see in the picture. Since we are told beaver are using the pond, that trail looks like a reasonable choice. I really don\'t know what caused the trail in the picture, but it goes straight down the hill and directly into the pond. That would be a good drag for a beaver. Maybe Mutt can shed some more light on this subject.

 

[bowhunter]

The trail looks like a deer trail to me. I also think it is still being used. The grass is green and lush. Why hasn\'t it spread onto the trail if the trail wasn\'t being used. I bet some small game use it too. I would bet the beaver are cutting the trees downstream closer to the dam. They would go after willows or aspen before they would the dry pines up the trail. Beaver cut trees to dam up the water to raise the level. They then stash young branches in the mud under the water to feed on during the winter after the pond ices over. They feed on the green inner bark. That is why you see white stripped branches or small logs floating. I see a few in the pic. I notice current in the water from right to left.

I really like the spot just uphill and to the right of the trail. Great ambush spot.

 

[mtnmutt]

I learned a bit about beavers from your postings. Thanks.

The beaver is most likely long gone. I called it a beaver pond because the beaver dam is very apparent. The ponds are not naturally formed. I don\'t recall seeing a beaver lodge, however, beavers sometimes use burrows for their homes when making a lodge isn\'t suitable. During this high runoff, the water also goes down the paralleling trail behind me in the photo because of the damming at this spot.

More facts about the area...

1. The pond\'s water level is extremely high. Higher than last year at this time, therefore, old elk tracks are not visible at the pond and may be washed out.[/*:m:1tludsq2]
2. About 150 yards behind me when taking this photo is the start of a moderate to steep slope North facing pine forest.[/*:m:1tludsq2]
3. The meadow runs along a very short section of the creek (0.30 mile) before being overtaken by pine on both sides of the creek. The creek narrows to 3-4 feet upstream and downstream after the meadow area. The downstream pine along the creek is more open.[/*:m:1tludsq2]
4. Within 150 yards of the picture, there are 2 other ponds with the same features, including a dirt game trail.[/*:m:1tludsq2]
5. After the aspen in the photo is a HUGE bench with Springs. The bench is 0.5 mile wide and 1.5 miles long. The top of the photo shows the pine near the end of the bench. Access to the bench is not easy from any direction. The opposite side access involves miles of hiking and scramble over LOTS of rocks on a steep slope. Upstream access is steeper slope and scramble over easier rock fields. The hill in the photo is one of the easiest accesses to the bench, however, the elk can and do come to the bench from the upstream location by first going 3/4 uphill and then following a contour to avoid most of the rock. Occasionally, I go up on the Bench for a day hunt from the upstream location. I setup near the travel route and I have called in elk.[/*:m:1tludsq2]
6. The Bench sees an occasional bivy hunter and an occasional day hunter. You have to know where the Springs are for water.[/*:m:1tludsq2]
7. The pond is at least 1 mile upstream from the road. The hike is mostly moderate, however, the beginning of the hike is >40 degree slope uphill for 60 yards which may discourage hunters. Black Diamond ski slopes are 35 degree slopes. In September, I use one hiking pole for that short hill climb.[/*:m:1tludsq2]
8. 1.5 miles upstream of the pond also has large meadows for food, but no aspen. The upstream meadows access involves a 0.5 mile easy to moderate hike down from a road. The meadows upstream are on gentle slopes and also have large willow wetland areas. This upstream location dries up for elk during Muzzloader because it gets hammered by MLs. It is a great spot for opening week archery. I frequently hunt this location before ML. The upstream wetland creek area is a final water stop for elk that feed miles away and are headed to the bench to bed. The upstream Meadow/wetland location is also a nighttime feeding area pre-ML.[/*:m:1tludsq2]
9. Most of the Meadow on this steep hillside in the photo may be glassed from a road above to the South, but the ponds cannot be glassed. I know hunters glass and see elk & deer feeding on the slope 6 am-8:30 am & 5-7:30 pm, however, most do not venture to the area.[/*:m:1tludsq2]
10. For decades, this entire creek area was illegally accessed by ATVs & dirt bikes. Labor Day weekend was terrible with loud music blaring from ATVs. The trail through has always been designated non-motorized. 6-7 years ago, the Forest Service brought in front loaders and blocked the upstream and downstream access. Now, I only occasionally see dirt bike tracks and no ATV tracks. Last weekend, I saw a set of dirt bike tracks in the area near the pond. I keep my phone handy to take photos of registration.[/*:m:1tludsq2][/list:1tludsq2]
    All this information came from 3 seasons as only an elk caller for a friend and then 5 seasons of me finally becoming the hunter. This is 8 seasons of information. I am still learning other parts of my area. For the first 4 seasons (3 calling + 1 hunting), I only hunted on weekends. When I started, I knew nothing about hunting anything. I had no hunting mentors for the first 5 seasons. My friend did not know how to hunt either. Forums provided my mentoring. I hope this thread helps others learn.
    
    For #3, upstream of the ponds, why did I place my trail camera at the narrow upstream creek location? Hint: Another list # helps with the answer.
    
    Last season was the first time I hunted the pond/meadow area. Why didn\'t I take this location seriously in the past? I knew about the excellent elk habitat. For 4 seasons, I made the wrong assumptions about this location. What wrong assumptions did I make? The clues are in the list above.
    
    Any questions?
    
    Tomorrow, I will give the final information I know about this spot and what I know about the pond and trail.

 

[StartMyHunt]

After studying the trail for the last couple of nights, I finally noticed that it is probably a well used seasonal trail. The vegetation has started to grow back around the edges, which to me means this is not a beaver trail (score one for Brad). As pointed out by Patricia, not a lot of sign in the area yet. I would place a game cam on the tree directly behind you (notice the branches in the upper left), and see what comes down to the water. If you see elk in the camera, I would set up on the ridgeline at the top of the picture directly above the two dead pine in the water where there appears to be a saddle.

 

[Swede]

Mike, your logic alludes me here buddy. Patricia stated she thinks the beaver, that were once there are gone now, and there is little sign on use on the trail. Vegetation is even starting to grow back, so you conclude, it was not a beaver trail? BTW: Vegetation starts to encroach and grow back as soon as activity ceases.
To my way of thinking, that vegetation is coming back now that the beaver are gone, is stronger evidence that it was a beaver trail. Just my thought.

 

[mtnmutt]

How do I look for recent beaver usage? I don\'t recall seeing a lodge, however, I could have overlooked it. I was on a mission to place cameras elsewhere.

We had an exceptional moist Winter and Spring. The vegetation regrow is likely because the elk have not yet returned to this spot. Vegetation regrow is extremely slow in the CO mountains on a dry steep hillside. In a level wetland area, vegetation grow is much faster during wet years. I have seen phenomenal willow growth in these wet years.

Despite the bench having springs, the elk DO come down to drink at the 3 ponds that are close to one another. All 3 ponds have a very worn game trail.

A frequent bivy hunter of the Bench clued one of us into the use of the ponds during the daytime for a mid-day drink. This was a huge surprised to us. If I move one of my cameras in July, I will place one at this pond which has the most cover and the most worn game trail. I will also see if I can detect any part of the trail by glassing from the road. I don\'t recall it being visible by glassing. The pictures will be the definitive answer.

In July, the water will be receded to view more of the mud next to the pond. When I return, I will also study the wind to determine if is it worthy of a mid day sit.

Th elk are in this area for all of September. This is one of the few locations that is good for mid to late September. Last season, a herd bull bugled in the aspen/pine transition on the fringe of the bench while going back and forth. We saw 2 elk upstream 3/4 up slope in a small section of meadow between 2 narrow sections of aspens. Wind change busted us.

This spot motivated me to train more for steep terrain.

 

[Swede]

Mutt, I would look for fresh peeled sticks around the pond and downstream to see if the beavers are still there. The invasion/regrowth of plants on the trail, will start the spring following use, whether it is beavers, elk or about anything else.