Widowmakers, Salamanders and a cool new trap !

[pitdog]

I'd only been hiking for about five minutes today when I came across this huge Douglas Fir that had come down and blocked the trail !

It's Widowmaker time of the year here in the PNW so take care guys !







I was packing my Breeden Taiga again today, wanted to test it out some more.







I'd wanted to try out a new trap today, I think you call them Yoke traps. The ones I'd seen previously had been designed to be used on trails and relied on the animal pushing through to get caught. I wanted to come up with a way of using a baited trigger. This is what I ended up with :



Sorry the pics aren't very clear, the weather today was just horrible and it affected the camera at times.





A took a poor video of it being triggered, the apple fell off just prior to me filming and by this time I couldn't even be bothered to put it back on, this is why I like bait such as peanut butter that can be smeared on the bait stick.



On my way back along the trail I came across this really pretty Salamander, she was a fair bit larger than those I'd previously seen, she still blended in so well that I nearly trod on her !







What a cutie eh !

[Hawkeye5]

Boy I wish I had a new knife.LOL. Like the trap and the knife ain't bad either.

[mewolf1]

Good times Pit. Are the Chantrelles done out there? Shaggy Parasols should be poppin too.

[pitdog]

Good times Pit. Are the Chantrelles done out there? Shaggy Parasols should be poppin too.

Didn't see any Chanterelles this year, I have seen some Shaggy Manes though !

[mewolf1]

I saw a Doug Fir like that in Bremmerton that was nearly all Fat wood. I nearly wet myself.

[sicily02]

Awesome pics, neat trap too. I hope that knife performed great for ya. Love the Salamader pics too.
I would like to have been able to see and hear that tree fall. What a sight that would have been.


Bryan

[fujita yuji]

that's a cool looking adorable one.

the trap looks nice especially you have an animal track (and who's using is).

Thanks for sharing.

[ghostguy6]

Cool pics as always. That's not a salamander its a newt. Looks like a rough skinned newt, which is highly toxic if eaten. Better keep misty and snicker away from it and if you handle it make sure you wash your hands.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rough-skinned_newt

http://travel.mongabay.com/us/big_ba...0318-1521.html

[protourist]

Cool pics Pit.
The skin on the newt reminds me of the handles on the JAB line from Kabar. Very cool.

[coaldigger]

Cool trap 'Ol Bud ! That knife looks sweet !