Scouting, stumping and tracking - track quiz

[Forester]

Some of the snow is receding on south faces around here and I was itching to get away from the desk and into the sunshine today.  I grabbed my bow and headed for the hunting grounds to see what I could find.  Trails were identified, stand locations were selected, stumps were shot and I was mesmerized by a myriad of tracks.

I didn't get pics of all of them but I have a few images for a quiz.  Who can identify these prints in the snow?

First one is easy.  There were a million of these and they inspired optimism for coming months.


 

[K.S.TRAPPER]

Hen turkey!

Tracy

[Forester]

Second one is a little tougher because the individual tracks are not detailed but there is a pattern and general shape to them.  The animal was traveling left to right, down a slight grade.  The tracks are in the snow on top of an ice layer so they slipped a little.  Here are two pics, good luck with this one.

 


 

[Benny Nganabbarru]

They don't look like donkey tracks.

[Forester]

And here is one that will be difficult because the image is poor.  For scale reference, the pine needle toward the right edge is just under 2" long and there are two footprints side by side against each other in the lower left.


 

[Forester]

Two correct answers so far....   :rolleyes:

[Bowferd]

That's a baby curmudgeon!!!!

[mcgroundstalker]

I'm thinking the first set of tracks is from a T-Rex. Yea! That's It! And the second is from a real little Big Foot! Like one only a couple years old. If it were an adult Big Foot it woulda broke through that ice. Yea!  :p

... mike ...  :rolleyes:  ...

[fido dog]

First tracks are definitely turkey.

I'm guessing the second are the rare Left Winged Griffon Squirrel? Been tracking them for years, so I know what I'm talking about.

Yotes?

[ozy clint]

2nd set of tracks is a snow shoe hare.

i'll have a guess that the 3rd set of tracks are that of a pine marten.

[Forester]

First set is turkey.  There were turkey tracks all over the woods.  I bumped two flocks up the hill while stumping.

The second set is not donkey, curmudgeon, little bigfoot or LW Griffon Squirrel - but I like the way you guys think (I think).

Not 'yote but I did see those tracks as well.  Not snow shoe hare either.  It is a predator, wish I had pics with good print detail

3rd set is not pine marten but that was a good guess for that pic ozy clint.


Here is another clue for the #3:

 

[Jack Denbow]

I think it is the Moomaw Monster.    
Jack

[ChuckC]

looks like some sort of fox print to me.  I am admittedly not very good at tracks.  The clue about the pine needle gives it a bit of size reference.  I believe I have seen foxes "skipping' along like those tracks indicate, but also  weasel kinda thingies.

I don't think I have seem coyotes do that.

Tell me tell me   what are they ?
ChuckC

[Winterhawk1960]

Third set is a mink.

[Forester]

Good guesses so far.  Although I think WRB may be joking.

The second set is not from a Canid.

Third set is from something a little larger than a mink, and not something you normally see in the snow....

[Jerry Jeffer]

Turkey, polar bear, Tiger.    :rolleyes:

[Winterhawk1960]

O.K.........shoulda went with my FIRST THOUGHT.

It's a skunk

[glass76]

Did you witness these tracks being made?

[Tyke]

turkey, bobcat, grounhog

[Forester]

Good job Tyke!  You got it.

Turkey - I witnessed the making of those tracks.

Bobcat - I didn't see the animal but followed and inspected several tracks over a good distance.  Didn't get a clear enough pic so I posted the arrangement and movement pattern

Groundhog - Witnessed this one too.  He has come out a couple times and traveled the neighborhood looking for love.  I'll bet he's not real happy with cousin Phil.

I saw several other tracks as well - deer, coyote, fox, skunk, raccoon, gray and fox squirrel, cottontail, and crow.

Thanks folks.  I'll try to have better pics next time.