Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I was hunting some old stomping grounds not far away, just off the Primrose Highway. It used to be just a 'goat trail,' but a co-worker informed me beforehand that this area was now spiderwebbed with seismic exploration trails, and he was right. (going partridge hunting)
I initially passed this now wide wilderness road at first, because I did not recognize it at first glance. A quick sojourn down the gravel road and I returned to this spot. Parking my car, I grabbed my 20 gauge O/U and walked quietly in a westerly direction. I took my time and stopped often, listening for forest critter sounds. Not a rabbit or game bird to be seen, but occassionally I would hear movement in the deep bush.
On a good note, the swamp that barred the trail 4 years ago, was fully dried up, and I discovered a wide grassy field about a kilometer walk down the trail.
It was getting dark now, so after a quick survey of the southern boundary, I headed back to my parked vehicle.
Lo and behold.....just on the northern edge of this wide clearing...Mr Wolf was sniffing my trail and we saw each other at the same time.
We were about 20-25 yards apart.
He just put his head down and quietly walked into the northern edge of the forest without even looking back. He looked healthy enough, & definitely too big to be a coyote.
I quietly waited for a bit, and about 3 minutes latter, I heard one twig snap from the area where he came from.
(perhaps his pack scented me and decided to stay out of sight until I left the area)
Gosh, sure is something, seeing a wolf on foot. I have been trailed by wolves before while deer hunting in the Cold Lake area, but on foot this is the first time I've had a visual close encounter, since 1988 in Ontario.
I initially passed this now wide wilderness road at first, because I did not recognize it at first glance. A quick sojourn down the gravel road and I returned to this spot. Parking my car, I grabbed my 20 gauge O/U and walked quietly in a westerly direction. I took my time and stopped often, listening for forest critter sounds. Not a rabbit or game bird to be seen, but occassionally I would hear movement in the deep bush.
On a good note, the swamp that barred the trail 4 years ago, was fully dried up, and I discovered a wide grassy field about a kilometer walk down the trail.
It was getting dark now, so after a quick survey of the southern boundary, I headed back to my parked vehicle.
Lo and behold.....just on the northern edge of this wide clearing...Mr Wolf was sniffing my trail and we saw each other at the same time.
We were about 20-25 yards apart.
He just put his head down and quietly walked into the northern edge of the forest without even looking back. He looked healthy enough, & definitely too big to be a coyote.
I quietly waited for a bit, and about 3 minutes latter, I heard one twig snap from the area where he came from.
(perhaps his pack scented me and decided to stay out of sight until I left the area)
Gosh, sure is something, seeing a wolf on foot. I have been trailed by wolves before while deer hunting in the Cold Lake area, but on foot this is the first time I've had a visual close encounter, since 1988 in Ontario.
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