Cat hunters do yourself a favor

[bluedog4]

Good stuff Mike. Us that live up here in Canada know exactly what your talking about.
This year has been very cold with above average snow fall. I use all wool Filson clothing with good gators and Schnees Boots. I have to wear a hoody because I hate having snow down my back, Most important I carry a Mountain Equipment down jacket with hood, very light but also very warm, and please carry some sort of Fire Starter and don't be affraid to use it. Vasiline and cotton batten, wax paper, or any of the camping store fire starters.

[liontracker]

Mike, I got out the Russell book and for the life of me ,I can't find the part about tracking down the couger. Do you suppose it could be in another of his books or did I miss it?

[Mike Leonard]

No Tim that's the book it is in. It is an obscure writing ion one of his winter stories from the north. I had to read the whole book to find it, all I know it is near the end of the book. He was talking about the kind of nutrition these guys took on to handle these marathon tasks.

I sure wish I hade those guys with me the last couple of days becasue this brittle snow has caused the lions to hole up in the canyon. They only move along the shelfs and most have kills they can go to easily so you have to wade in there to get the tracks. Wet, muddy, sore, beat up, and dogs wore out. I am going to have to give them some supt. vitamins tonight becasue we gotta go again tomorrow and this makes five days in a row, but getting a little fresh on top now to quiet it down and they will move tonight a bit more.They are earning these tracks, and going in last night had a big old tom bob run right across the road, and I just kept on driving with those wore out dogs I couldn't use any more humiliation. LOL! I have had those kind kick my butt with fresh dogs. LOL!

[liontracker]

Thanks, I'll take a better look.
It sounds like you are coming in from above in the snow and trailing out onto the rocks and mud. That's pretty tough going. This fresh ought to tip the odds. Good luck and keep me posted.
We are supposed to get 4 days of snow up here. When it is done I will see what moves.

[Mike Leonard]

Not really getting to the mud Tim, they are just sifting along those little patched ice snow sandston rims and boulder clusters. Up, down, up around and all the crazy stuff they do. Mostly loafing for a lion but it's murder on a man or a hound who can't jump 8 ft. up and then 8 ft. down around and back and do it again. Sure gets the fresh off the dogs and they dang sure better know how to get around in the rocks. 6 mo. Old Sammy Joe out of Old Samson is a chip off the old block and bounces around them rims like a monkey. I guess that is one thing that keeps me doing this after all these years to see and hear and youngster like that hit a lion track, and just let out a beller and go down it as fast as their legs can carry them.

Well dig in pard she is gonna get deep up your way and you may have to get them old UP Michigan webs out and dust them off. I am carrying my old Maine models. Lord I hope I don't have to use them because I know the Charlie Horses and the Marle De Raquet that puts the pain in your legs when you are not use to these things. Ouch!

[liontracker]

They are out and dusted. From the looks of it, they will get some miles on them this winter. I found the part about tracking down cougars in the snow. Those guys were in some kind of shape!

[twispcougarhunter]

Nobody never did answer houndcrazys question. He ask about what to use over the wool to keep it dry. I use wool pants too and buy this spray on stuff called PermaDry that you spray on anything and it puts an invisible coat of waterproff on. My old junker snowmobile has the seat all busted up and the foam gets soaked soz when I sit down , it's like settin in a puddle of water then the whole day I got a wet butt. This spray on silicone works real good and ya ain't gotta do it very often neither. I spray it on my goves too cause they get wet after a few hrs. in the snow.
Bit uh advise. Don't spray it in yer house bedroom. I lost sum points in fakt a lot uh points yesterdee doin that. But then I ain't tu smart neither. gotta git. Hillbilly Bill

[sourdough]

It's that time of year again.

Just thought I would bring this subject back up for those that have not read it.

Time to dig out the wool, snowshoes, winter boots, and all the other winter gear! it's a good thing I have a extended cab pick up!

Be safe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's all fun until you spend the night in it.

sourdough

[Brady Davis]

I just got some new Filson Feild Pants...24 oz Mackinaw wool....sweet as pie for hunting...There is no better wool....I know I said it last year and guess what, it's still the real deal, has been for over a hundred years. www.filson.com

[liontracker]

Nobody never did answer houndcrazys question. He ask about what to use over the wool to keep it dry

I use gaitors and if the snow is still hanging on the brush and trees, light weight Goretex bibs over mine. Easy on, easy off. I also take a lightweight matching Goretex jacket. I can put this on over my wool and lay right down in the snow and stay dry for a short sleep if need be, on those long all night walks back to the truck.

[2ndhound]

interesting post,Ive never owned any filson gear,but sounds worth checking out,Ive always used swiss military surplus wool pants now you guys got me wondering if the filson stuff is that much better??

[Stubby]

I'm not one to jump on any bandwagons and like old tried and true better than untested and new but...
A couple years ago I was hiking in to start work on a very miserable winter morning. The snow was almost waist deep but light cause it was cold and we had to cross a creek and the only crossing was a skinny log. I almost made it but slipped in and went in but only my upper arms up to the armpits and the front of my chest. I'd worn the old wool stanfields for years but had just switched to some synthetic stuff. Well I stood up my shirt was dry to the touch. I've got wet many many times in wool but really there is no comparison to some of the new stuff out there. What would have been a miserable day was just fine. Wool pants are ok and I still wear them but for up top after that experience there's no going back it's synthetic with a spare in my pack.

[Brady Davis]

interesting post,Ive never owned any filson gear,but sounds worth checking out,Ive always used swiss military surplus wool pants now you guys got me wondering if the filson stuff is that much better??

It is that much better....

[liontracker]

Synthetic is lighter and dries quicker, but doesn't hold the heat near as well when wet.
Also the wind blows through it quicker unless it also has windstopper behind it. Windstopper is loud when cold and I don't like that much.

[catdogs]

The following are handy fire starters to throw in your saddle bags or back packs that are cheap and easy to make and work great.

1. Strips of inner tube (like from a bycycle) that are cut into 1/2" x 4" strips. Of course we all know rubber is water proof and burns hot.

2. Cotton balls that have Vaseline rubbed into them. These work fantastic. Put them in an empty film canister.

3. Pitchwood or "fatwood". This is something you can find in the woods when you need it, its basically wood saturated with pitch found in old tree stumps and old blow downs.

4. Fritos corn chips. These are dual purpose. Snack or fire starter which ever is needed most. I threw this in as kind of a novelty as they don't work to well when wet. They sure burn good when they are dry though.

There are many others that can be made with egg cartons, sawdust, lint, wax and whatever else. These are the easiest, lightest to pack and work the best as far as I am concerned.