Dave H (MI)
Well-known Member
Woke up this morning after a restless night. Didn't really hear anything during the night although I listened out the open window several times. Window has a direct line to the turkey roost about 200 feet away and is right next to the bed. Looked out this AM and thought I had the sucker! So...to recap...I had a dead turkey hanging about 3-4 ft off the ground from an A-frame roost that is overall about 8' high. Trail cam pointed at the roost and 3 leg hold traps under the bird. This morning one trap is sprung and nothing is in it. The A-frame looks like a tornado hit it and is in a pile on the ground. Whatever it fell on lost it's taste for turkey because the bird is laying there in the ruins. Neither Labradork made a peep. Maggie was in her crate in the hay building but Jack was tied to his doghouse 100' feet from the roost and in full sight of it. Neither dog will attack a human but they go after everything else. I told Mrs Dave this morning that whatever did that either scares Jack or they know each other well enough that Jack ignores it. Looks like a bear except we don't have them here and it would not have left the turkey.
Now here is the weird part. Lots of pictures on the trail cam of me setting the traps. Second to last picture is of me standing with a flashlight checking my set. Final picture on trail cam is in full daylight and shows the pile of lumber and nothing else...nothing that would have moved and tripped the camera. I said it before, some predators have a way of not tripping the camera.
The other strange thing was that the box trap with the chicken in it was not touched. We have a lot of raccoons and at least one skunk. Dogs have killed all the possums.
SOOO....1) Scares or is friends with the dog 2) Strong enough and tall enough (or can climb) to tear down a 2x4 A-frame. 3) possibly scares off other wildlife. I am thinking a big male raccoon because he leaves the geese, goats and (so far) the tom turkeys alone. Just not sure why the dogs leave him be.
Now here is the weird part. Lots of pictures on the trail cam of me setting the traps. Second to last picture is of me standing with a flashlight checking my set. Final picture on trail cam is in full daylight and shows the pile of lumber and nothing else...nothing that would have moved and tripped the camera. I said it before, some predators have a way of not tripping the camera.
The other strange thing was that the box trap with the chicken in it was not touched. We have a lot of raccoons and at least one skunk. Dogs have killed all the possums.
SOOO....1) Scares or is friends with the dog 2) Strong enough and tall enough (or can climb) to tear down a 2x4 A-frame. 3) possibly scares off other wildlife. I am thinking a big male raccoon because he leaves the geese, goats and (so far) the tom turkeys alone. Just not sure why the dogs leave him be.