A bloody mystery Part 2

My previous post was about finding blood, then fur in the snow [A bloody mystery Part 1]. The next day, Saturday morning, I suited up: snowshoes, backpack with water, camera, GPS, and off I went.
It was supposed to rain Saturday night, so I thought I'd best follow the trail while I could. It is beautiful and peaceful on the frozen wetland. I follow the deer trails, as it is much easier to walk. This time, I had a mission, to see if I could see what happened.
 

The blood drops lessened.


There were lots of deer beds. This next one, below, looks like where our victim bedded down. Happily, after that, the blood spots were absent. I'm glad I had the GPS, as it's easy to get turned around. The constant moan of traffic helps!


Isn't it beautiful?!
 

I'd gone from solving the mystery, to wandering. The snow is incredible, powdery, and deep in spots. It's best to follow the track. I had to take my coat off, I was overheated! The bulrushes accumulates the powdery snow, it's difficult walking, even with snowshoes.
 

The deere navigate around trees, making it difficult walking in snowshoes. They don't have a care about low-lying branches, either.


I recognised the tall cedars, that and the GPS helped.


THEN, I tripped! It was a soft landing. Tricky to get up, though, when you put your hands down, and they sink up to your shoulders! It is just like standing back up on skis, be careful where you place them. I wondered if I'd have to take them off, but I managed.


I know this tree! It's on 'the point.'


This evergreen is on the back 40.


I did well. It's easy tracking with drops of bright red blood in the snow. Excellent exercise. The sun was warm. My average speed was pretty lame, but I was in deep snow! I was only out 1 1/2 hours, I should have shut the GPS off, and stopped tracking when I arrived home.


Hubby went walking above the arena, while I snowshoed, then he went to watch curling, did some shopping, and he brought me home a pizza for lunch and dinner, which he cannot have. After I snuggled under a blanket, I had a hot bubble bath with epsom salts.
The only idea I had, we've been watching the deer for signs, was this yearling with something on its chest.

The hunt is on! Hunt #2

No, not deer hunt, shed hunt. Venture #2. Our buck has lost his second antler, and I took off this morning looking for it. I know they cover miles and miles, but you never know. Besides, last night the temperatures were dropping from this Sunday's ZERO (32 F.)  to -18 C. and I thought I'd best get out while I could. Happily, getting back into routines, getting exercise, keeping up the fire, I've lost a kg. Hubby is no longer fetching me wonderful meals from town, and I can get back to normal cooking. It's been a trial. I am so grateful to be on the mend. I have much empathy for my client with COPD. It's a horrible feeling not being able to breath. She is in hospital now.

Lots of deer tracks,
about 2" ice
WHOOPS

The other side of the gully,
with the holes in the ice!

Buster declined to come with me. Dweeb. I purposefully let him out, to give him a chance at walkies, but he meowed at me from the driveway and waved me on, then begged JB to let him in. He still doesn't play well with others. We just keep him busy and he's on a new chewy medication.

My trek was not without trials and tribulations. I followed various deer tracks, hoping for the best. I could tell where they slept overnight (there were lots of deer beds). The snow was quite soft and the walking wasn't too bad. I didn't need snowshoes, despite the 6" of snow.

However, when I made it to the other side of the hill, cruised around, Bambi has circled around back to the bog. Do you know that sound? That tell-tale crack of breaking ice? Yes. The 150 - 200 lb. deer had been crossing back and forth, but I sunk. It was the closest non-soaker ever. The water went right up to the tops of my boots. They were JB's boots, insulated, and tall. Thankfully. I was SO close to a soaker and it would have been a cold one.


As it was, I had to take my foot out of the boot, then I fell on my bottom. Removed the boot, with that awfully smelling sucking sound as I yanked with all my might! Then the other, and I was free. Snickering at myself, I'll tell you.

Carrying on my way, I managed 1.9 km. While one buck has lost his antlers, they are still marking trail. I'm hoping to find Tigger's later. We shall see.
It was a lovely trek. I would stop, get my breath back, marvel at the trees with the green pine needles, and the cold places where the deer hunkered down.

My book, Whitetail Savvy, tells me that young 'uns will hunker down near momma, and you can see the beds with spots touching. I think this is our doe with her twins. The one twin is always lagging behind, last to leave as the others have moved on, down into a gully, or off into the forest.


It's amazing the ups and the downs. I didn't go far, but there are a lot of hills.


Sunday's trail in red. The other day in turquoise.