Tracking Antelope

December 22, 2007.

I was up in minus 3 degree, snowy Suzuka Range today looking for kamoshika (antelope). Ah…the tracking season is finally here!! I spotted one antelope down in a gully after about 2 hours of walking in circles, following tracks and pellets in the snow. I got um’ on video too!

Suzuka Mountain Range (Mie-ken and Shiga-ken hinterlands)

Later on in the day one spotted me , and after fumbling my camera dropping it not once, but two times in the snow, he was kindly lingering, posing as if I should take his picture. So I did.

Antelope pellets and tracks…

And down below the snow line: A bullet-riddled Mie Prefecture Special Wild Life Protection Area sign – which made me wonder why that kamoshika from a little while earlier was hanging around so long to get his picture taken.