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plowboy
Member
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Posted: Mon Jul 16th, 2007 01:58 am |
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| I was wondering how often reseachers go to the field to call.can you go to often ? can you call to much.seems like we hear more knocking around dark, then we start calling we will get answer then it gets quiet rest of the night.I left some bait were we called from bait is still there, but also a big chuck of the tree was knocked out on the tree were we tied the fruit. we didnt knock the chuck out. do you think it left us a sign. there were no tracks around tree. did take pictures of the tree.just wondering.
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watch1
Member
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Posted: Mon Jul 16th, 2007 05:23 am |
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This is one of those things I just don't know a lot about. I do know that we had went to the same location about 3 nights in a row. It appeared that on the 3rd night they were waiting on us to show-up. They were already close and they never did make much noise except for what sounded like small rock clicking. This was also the night that the giggling was heard as we were getting ready to leave (in the AM of the morning).
When leaving bait..don't be surprised that it is not touched. It may take several days/weeks to get these creatures to take any bait. They may wait until something else comes and eats it before they ever touch it.
Folks laugh when I say I leave popcorn and beer for bait. I have had something bite the cans of Bud open and tote them off. I pop some microwave popcorn and open it. I would drop a little on the ground and tie the rest up in a white plastic (Walmart shopping bag). Tie the bag to a limb about head high.
I have had it torn down, torn up and gone in some places. Other places..it would not be touched. But..it seems that something out there likes buttered popcorn better than anything else I have tried.
Something to try with the knocking...knock twice and don't knock anymore. Don't make any calls..and just listen and see what happens. Let us know.
Mike (watch1)
plowboy wrote: I was wondering how often reseachers go to the field to call.can you go to often ? can you call to much.seems like we hear more knocking around dark, then we start calling we will get answer then it gets quiet rest of the night.I left some bait were we called from bait is still there, but also a big chuck of the tree was knocked out on the tree were we tied the fruit. we didnt knock the chuck out. do you think it left us a sign. there were no tracks around tree. did take pictures of the tree.just wondering.
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There's something out there talking and it ain't no man!
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plowboy
Member
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Posted: Mon Jul 16th, 2007 05:27 pm |
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| please forgive me for asking to many questions about this. we just dont wont to make any mistakes that might shut them up or not coming around. this is new to us we are excited and uneasy about these animals. the area we are working is a hunting lease that has 12,000 acres that belongs to a timber company. no body has lived on this land since the 1950s .it is very hilly , alot of rock cliffs , several small caves and lots of springs to feed into larger branches.it had been mostly hardwoods till the last 12 years timber company started cutting the timber out in stages.we have some hardwood left on the branches and on the rock cliffs. the rest is planted back pines.the area with the knocking and calling is located in the middle of the lease were a lot of the rock cliffs are located and small branch that flows west to coosa river about four miles away.all the land on the outside of the lease is small farming and some large row crop mostly cotton and corn.have find out there has been activity on this lease for aleast 35 years. iam working on a sighting and some encounters on this lease from years past.i live just south of lease and may have some activity to east of my home on some old row crop land that has grown up. i figure its the same animals.seems these animals like to knock more than call.
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TXScream
Member
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Posted: Mon Jul 16th, 2007 11:04 pm |
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I think Mike has touched a some really good points. The rates and types of responses I have received have been different in different areas. For instance, when reseaching one area, the animals may be more vocal in their response and tend to respond better to "whoops" and the like. Whereas, in another location, knocking is the best means of getting a response. Whether this is because of pressure, preference, or population density of these animals in a particular area is just a mystery. Just experiment. One thing that Mike touched on, that I have also had other researchers tell me is the patience factor. If you do get a solid response, don't go absolutely crazy with multiple call backs. It will be hard not to call back immediately.... And minutes will seem like hours.... But, if you can hold back before responding, you'd be surprised just how close those knocks you are hearing will get!!!
TX
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watch1
Member
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Posted: Tue Jul 17th, 2007 01:50 am |
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Right you are TXScream,
You will want to keep knocking..thinking that everytime you knock..they will answer back and get closer each time. All you have to do is let them know you are there and if they come..they come and if they don't..they don't.
With 2 knocks they will get an idea of where you are at. Just give them time to check you out. You will be wanting to knock again to get another reply real bad..but wait it out. Give it an hour if you can, then if nothing else is heard try 1 knock and wait again and listen.
You are just going to have to play with this knocking thing..there are no sure-fire instructions on how to do this. It is a try it and see what happens research.
Make notes of it. There may be a lot more to this than we think. The season may even have an effect or the moon for all I know.
It sounds like you are in a great area to do some good research into this knocking so keep us posted.
Mike (watch1)
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There's something out there talking and it ain't no man!
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plowboy
Member
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Posted: Tue Jul 17th, 2007 05:19 pm |
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| thanks for the information.if anyone wants to come go with us sometime please feel welcome.
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watch1
Member
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Posted: Wed Jul 18th, 2007 05:56 am |
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Is it any cooler up there than it is down here? We are getting a few afternoon thundershowers and seems like it gets hotter and muggier even after them..LOL
I need to find a cool place to hunt for these critters. 
Mike (watch1)
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There's something out there talking and it ain't no man!
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plowboy
Member
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Posted: Wed Jul 18th, 2007 04:08 pm |
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| I wish I could say it is cooler, we have been getting showers just about every evening for over a week. it does feel a little cooler at night after the showers.but the day time is hot and muggy.my pasture and rowcrops sure are proud of the rain. but ill be glad to see fall and winter.i plan to give a try with the popcorn and beer for bait might even try some myself.thanks for the advice hope to have some information soon. plowboy
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JayB
Member
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Posted: Thu Nov 1st, 2007 07:27 am |
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Hiya, Mike -
I have a question about your popcorn. I can understand the preference for the buttered variety over the plain, which tastes kind of like packing material. What I wonder is if a liberal salting would make it even more preferable. (Of course, enough salt could cause their beer intake to go up!) As to the beer, the thought that comes immediately to mind is that if you find they prefer one brand over the others, there could be some serious coin made in advertising.
Another point I wondered about has to do with their obvious preference for peanut butter (from the field report over on the website). Would there be any advantage to removing the label before it's put out and, perhaps putting some substance on the plastic jar that might hold hand/finger prints? This raises the question as to whether such prints would be of interest. (They certainly would be to ME.)
Just a couple of thoughts.
JayB
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watch1
Member
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Posted: Fri Nov 2nd, 2007 07:24 am |
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I used the buttered popcorn because it always seemed to have a stronger and better smell than the plain. It was taken a lot more freqently than the plain also.
About the beer..LOL
Well maybe Budweiser needs to get into the action on this one. I don't know why..maybe it the color of the can or maybe they been watching some of the good ole boys out coon hunting and having a cold one..I don't know..but "Something" out there seems to like Budweiser.
Notice the top was never opened. It didn't much matter if I popped the top or left it unopened. Sometimes they would be gone, in 2 peices, shreaded or have teeth marks. One of the other researcher is supposed to have several photos of the cans. I will try and get them.
The peanut butter..I am not sure about this one.
Mike (watch1)
Attachment: BeerCan1.jpg (Downloaded 74 times)
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There's something out there talking and it ain't no man!
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JayB
Member
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Posted: Fri Nov 2nd, 2007 08:46 am |
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Thanks, Mike. Good pic. I once had some friends who would open their beer that way.
As to the popcorn, I was curious if adding a substantial quantity of salt would make it more preferable. I suspect that they need salt and I wonder about it's availability in your area.
Concerning the peanut butter, it was mentioned on the Alabama Bigfoot site in the field report of the investigation which took place last summer in south Tallageda County, near Sylacauga. On 12 August, a full jar of peanut butter was nailed to a tree using a gutter nail. On the 15th the clean jar was retrieved from another tree. (I think it can be deduced that they seem to REALLY like peanut butter! Maybe as much as beer!) The report mentions an intention to test for DNA found in saliva which mithe remain in the jar. I simply wondered if it would be worthwhile to prepare the outside of the jar to possibly obtain prints.
While on the subject of that particular report, on the night of 7 July it was reported that a 'section' of the Sierra Sounds CD was played and brought a response. Has it been determined that any part of that CD is more effective than the others?
I found that field report to be most interesting and informative. I hope there will be more of them.
JayB
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plowboy
Member
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Posted: Fri Nov 2nd, 2007 04:53 pm |
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| Hello,JayB, In my report from Talladega County,the peanut butter was the first type of bait we used. If fact we have put 5 jars of peanut butter out and have only got two of them back.The one recorded in the report and another that will be in my second report which is just about done.The research area is a hunting lease,of which I am a member,in talking with other club members I find that a lot of baiting was going on for deer during the time period of the first field report and during the time of second field report.One member told me he was using peanut butter and said he had put four of them out on a small food plot and each time he went to check it ,the jar would be gone ,He said he would walk around the perimeter,but wasnt able to find the jars.Also several members had corn feeders in various places on lease.HOne feeder according to member said the corn was disappearing over night ,but what got him he didnt see any deer tracks around feeder,and in fact he put a large rock on top of feeder in case it was coons,several days later he check it ,the large rock was lying on the ground about 20ft away.He figured the rock weighed about 20 pounds.Of course the all the corn was gone.He went back and put up a game camera,most of the pictures he got were the white out type,something to close to camera.He got one picture of a deer .I went to these two different areas looking for sign.Find what looked like something large had beening walking around in pine straw,but just dont know for sure.On the serria calls ,we have used the first part of the call where the long howl is,have used it about five times,with two good responses.The one you read about and one in the second field report.We get better respnses with a drum-bull a device you make from large coffee can or bucket,it has a more real sound ,cutting out the electrinics sound.I am no expert ,just learning as I go,hopefully one day I will get to see one of the creatures again and look forward to learning more about them.I hope Ive answered your question?
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JayB
Member
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Posted: Sat Nov 3rd, 2007 08:51 am |
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Plowboy, I'm grateful. You and all others involved have done an excellent field investigation. And you have written an excellent report. I know Tal is proud. Eagerly looking forward to your next installment.
I think we can surmise that peanut butter is one of their favorite baits. Just wondered if they left anything in the way of hand/fingerprints on the outside of the empty jars. (At least the ones you were able to find.) I have also wondered about fresh corn on the cob. Perhaps some of it boiled in salt water to see if they might prefer it one way or the other.
You folks working in the field are coming up with great stuff. Let's face it - we're ALL learning! Keep up the excellent work.
BTW, your area of investigation is not unfamiliar as, for many years, we lived in Montevallo before shamelessly moving to the mountains of western NC to escape the summer heat and humidity.
Again, thanks - JayB
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plowboy
Member
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Posted: Mon Nov 5th, 2007 04:02 am |
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| Jay, Thanks for the kind words and thank you for support. Since you once lived close to research area in Talladega County you are pretty faimiler with the terrian and area. At moment we are not able to do any baiting ,because of alabama game laws,but as soon as hunting season is over will start back.and I am planning to try to get fingerprints this time.The first jar we find was going to be to expensive to get DNA test done because of trying to separate the different DNA in the process of making peanut butter.So maybe we can come up with something different to try.Hopefully soon we will have some new information to share. PLOWBOY
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watch1
Member
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Posted: Mon Nov 5th, 2007 04:52 am |
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I had a talk with a young man that lived for several years in the Brent, Alabama area. He said that he hunted an area once that was close to the Oakmulgee Wildlife Management Area. This Management area has land in Bibb, Hale, Perry and Tuscaloosa Counties and has around 44,500 acres. Of those counties .. only Tuscaloosa, County has any known sightings.
He has been on the website and made note to the fact that this area has no known reported sightings and he finds that strange. He did say this area is so remote that if anything didn't want to be found in there..it would not have much of a problem.
He told me about the time he was in a deer stand and something came running down a hill toward the patch breaking limbs and snapping small trees. It came right at the edge of the field but did not come out in the open. He said he could hear it "walking" around the edge of the field but it never came out. He said he hollered at it before he came down the stand. He said usually if its a deer or some other animal it will run off. He said this one did not move. He left in a hurry.. almost backing out of the woods with his gun ready.
He said several times he has been hunting and would hear something walking back behind and to the side of him. I would stop..it would stop..I would walk..it would walk.
I have had so many hunters tell me about this same thing happening to them and they would always say..they figured a panther was following them.
I thought I would share this and ask if anyone knew anything about this area and had ever hunted the area?
Mike (watch1)
____________________
There's something out there talking and it ain't no man!
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plowboy
Member
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Posted: Mon Nov 5th, 2007 08:06 am |
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| MIKE.IVE HUNTED THE MANGAMENT AREA BEFORE,LOT OF WOODS THERE. THERE ARE LOT OF PLACES IN ALABAMA THAT THERE ARE STILL A LOT OF DEEP WOODS LEFT.THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE THERE HAS BEEN A SIGHTING AROUND THAT AREA.BUT MOST PEOPLE DONT KNOW WHERE TO REPORT THEM OR THEY ARE SCARED PEOPLE WILL MAKE FUN OF THEM.I STILL HAVE SEVERAL PEOPLE THAT WILL SHARE THEIR ENCOUNTERS WITH ME,BUT DOESNT WANT IT TO GO ANY FARTHER THAN THAT.I BELEIVE IN THE FUTURE THERE WILL MORE SIGHTING REPORTED,THE WAY LAND IS BEING DEVELOPED AROUND THE STATE.JUST MY OPINION.
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JayB
Member
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Posted: Mon Nov 5th, 2007 08:19 am |
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Thanks, Plowboy.
Yes, regardless of state game regulations, deer season is NO time to be in the woods. (Unless, of course, you're hunting deer!)
I wonder what a strip or two of cellophane tape wrapped around the jar, stick side out, would turn up.
Eagerly looking forward to anything you may turn up.
JayB
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JayB
Member
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Posted: Mon Nov 5th, 2007 08:29 am |
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Mike, from reading numerous reports, it's obvious to me that the boogers are capable of moving through the forest almost noiselessly. Whenever I hear about something moving about, making plenty of racket while staying out of sight, I can't help but wonder if there's some real action going on in the opposite direction. You possibly recall (from posts on another forum) my theory that they are seldom alone.
Just a thought.
JayB
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Lorraine
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Posted: Sat Nov 10th, 2007 06:34 am |
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I think in some cases it just means they're heading for cover fast. Hiking through the hills on caving trips, my friends and I were often paced by the sounds of wood-knocking and dead trees crashing to the ground, often in areas where we also saw the twisted, broken off tree tops. When we hike to the area of the cave, we often contour around the hill for considerable distances. At that point, we may be spread out a bit, but we're all following one another in a line along the hillside. This is when we usually hear all the knocking and tree falls pacing us.
If we're not already at cave entrance elevation, however, we'll sometimes make a sudden turn off our direction of travel when we get close to the cave, or we'll suddenly fan out to walk the hillside parallel to one another and about 50 feet apart to look for the cave entrance. Of course, this usually involves several of us suddenly spreading out and heading quickly uphill. When we suddenly veer off our course of direction and head in the direction from which the noise has been coming from is when we usually hear the "large animal running through the underbrush." I suspect we surprise whatever is following us by our sudden change in direction or by suddenly fanning out and heading uphill after we've been hiking along like a row of ducks. Underbrush isn't usually dense in these areas, especially in winter, so I could see something having to scramble for adequate cover.
My friends always blame the crashing on a startled deer, and it could, indeed, be deer. We've surprised them on rare occasions, but sometimes we've been making considerable noise, hollering back to the slower hikers, etc., and have still startled something large into sudden flight when we moved off course suddenly. I suspect any deer in the area would have long since heard us and fled before we got close. The thing that starts crashing through the brush is usually less than 100 yards from us and, coincidentally, starts off from the same area from which knocking was coming. Stuff crashing through the underbrush in the woods isn't uncommon, and I probably wouldn't have made a mental note of it at all had it not been occurring in conjunction with the knocking and suspicous number of tree falls that I'd already been wracking my brain about for years and had it not reinforced my suspicion that we were being observed.
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cracker
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Posted: Sat Nov 10th, 2007 03:04 pm |
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| Deer will sometimes lie up and not move until you literally almost step on them. They tend to be more prone to use hiding rather then flight, until flight becomes an absolute necessity.
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