THE COMPLETE OUTDOORSMANS HANDBOOK.pdf - Doczine

However, our sense of smell does allow us to enjoy the outdoors more the fragrance of flowers, thepleasant but pungent odor of humus and moss, the sharp smell of cedar, and the sweet smell of pine. Butat times it is possible to smell more than that. A bull elk in rut has a very strong odor. I once knew a biggameguide who could smell elk before he could see them. Big rattlesnakes also exude a strong, goatlikesmell when angry. Bears sometimes emit strong odors. At times I have smelled bear long beforeseeing their fresh tracks in soft earth. These odors are so distinctive that once they are identified, youwill never forget them.As I write this, my favorite dog is curled up at my feet underneath my desk. This is her favorite spotwhen I am working. I have often wondered what it would be like to have a sense of smell like hers. Shecan point a ruffed grouse at thirty yards or farther.INTERPRETING ANIMAL ACTIONSInterpreting the actions of birds and mammals is something that can be learned only by observing them.Once while on a canoe trip in northern Manitoba, I met a young couple on an island campsite. Our talkeventually turned to blueberries. The young woman expressed great interest in picking some. The threeof us paddled across to the mainland and climbed a steep hill to look for a blueberry patch. We foundone, but a black bear in the brown-color phase that is common in western Canada, had found it first.The bear greeted our intrusion by standing up."He's going to charge!" the man injected fearfully. With this, the bear dropped onto its four feet and witha loud "whoof " bounded into the bush."What made you think he was going to charge?" I asked incredulously."When I saw him stand, I thought we were in trouble," the young man said."Bears standing on their hind legs charge only in wood cuts of old books and calendars," I answered.The bear had stood up to have a better look at us. He was trying to figure out what we were. Bears havevery poor eyesight. When a bear charges, he comes on all fours. That is the only way he can run fast. Ina really determined charge, his mouth is wide open and his lips are in full snarl. He is likely to roar whenhe begins the charge. And, of course, the only bear that will charge a man unprovoked is a grizzly or apolar bear.Almost everyone knows that to approach big game you must have the wind in your favor - blowing intoyour face or at least across your face. But there are other things to consider as well. Wild sheep andpronghorns have extremely good eyesight. A man appearing against a skyline will frighten both species.If you want to get close to a bighorn or a pronghorn, walk below the ridge top, stealing only peeks overthe hilltop. Sheep are generally easier to approach from above. They don't seem to be as watchful in thatdirection, probably because potential predators such as wolves, cougars, or bears generally approachfrom below. Get above the sheep if you want to have a closer look or if you want to get within camera