preparing the hunting shack for fall

[greg setter]

Went down Sunday afternoon to do a little pre-season reconnoiter. I was armed with two canned bug bombs. I decided to take all of the sheets and blankets off to take home and wash before I set the noxious aerosols off, and made sure I shook every one before I folded them up. After all, they were going to be in the car with me and I didn't want anything crawling up my neck as I drove up home. Lo and behold, after I shook one of them I saw this nasty black spider come crawling out and make a beeline under the bed. I didn't see it real close up, but I'm pretty sure it was a black widow. I also didn't go crawling around looking for it. I watched some football, then I closed the place up, put some foodstuffs in plastic bags, and set off the bombs, one in the attic and one on the ground floor. We don't go up in the attic much, but figured that the bugs know that too, and why leave a hatchery from which they can stock the pond whenever they want? Spiders are the real problem there, not too much else usually. All kinds of spiders. Hairy brown ones, little brown ones, tan ones, black ones, you name it, it's there. They remind me of crabs, which I have no affinity for either. Hopefully I have eradicated the arachnids at this point, and will see nothing crawling around next time I am there.

 

[RLLigman]

Northern black widows are primarily field spiders. The classic red hourglass on their abdomen is split at the constriction in this variety. While painful, their bite is not going to kill an adult that is not immune system compromised. Brown recluse spiders would be a greater concern, since they usually opt to live in secretive undisturbed habitats. It would be worthwhile to look closely at a description of a northern recluse spider if you have that many "inhabitants". The large brown guys are likely wolf spiders.

 

[Mike Repp]

I HATE SPIDERS!!!! the spawn of satan! I was walking a trail early morning this past spring turkey hunting. Walked right into a spider web, this huge gigantic spider is right in the middle of the lens of my glasses. Didn't take long for those to go flying off my face. LOL Wolf spiders are just nasty! Hope you get every last one of them!

 

[Rob_F]

The same for me this past weekend.... but the early cold seemed to have put down most of the critters. Left the heat off so they didn't get a reprieve. Over night lows pushing 32, but the sun could bring the mosquitos back out!

We're by the Canadian border in MN. Worst for us are the flies and aphids.

Nothing better than shacks, though. Fortunate to have our own and be the guest of others. Have a great season!

 

[greg setter]

RL, I am sure you are correct, but nothing gets the willy's going like a black widow. Brown recluses's are also around in this neck of the woods. But the bottom line is, no matter what kind, they are creepy-except for the Daddy long legs, which is the only pleasant spider that I know of and which do not bother me. I'll even pick them up and put them outside. But the bottom line is......we'll be duck hunting soon, and spider free!

 

[Carl]

How's this for a spider? This one resides on the front porch. Nice and fat from all the bugs attracted by the porch light. About a 6" leg spread now.
Yellow glob above her on the ceiling is her egg sack. Little spider above her is the male.

[inline Spidie2014.jpg ]

View attachment Spidie2014.jpg

 

[John L]

I didn't have a problem with spiders but did have Osprey and Raccoon issues with one blind. I usually remove all blinds when the hunting season ends. I was finally able to get to this blind in early spring and started the disassembly. On the next trip out I noticed a pair of Osprey had taken it over and started to build their nest on it so I decided I would leave it up for them to use. I was surprised that they chose to build on such a low spot like this but I figured they know what they are doing and just watched them as the season progressed. As time went by I noticed there was no activity so I figured it would be a good time to get back out and finish the job.
On the next trip out I anchored the boat and told the dog to go to the blind. Usually she runs right over and goes inside to wait for us. Not today, she stood outside the blind pointing like an upland bird dog. As I got closer I could hear a little scampering from inside and found a large Raccoon living in it. It looks like this guy has made this his home and didn't plan on moving out any time soon. What I found odd was that this is the only thing on this marsh island beside the marsh grass which is low. The island gets completely cover by water at each high tide. This is the Raccoons only place to spend time during the high tide hours. I tried to force him out but he was having no part of it. I'm going back with out the dog this week to evict him. Then I can clean it out properly, disassemble and remove so we can place it in another spot later this fall.

 

[greg setter]

Carl-that is a nice one!

John-I have fished around Long Beach Island in New Jersey, which has similar marshes, for many years, and I use to fish some marsh islands in my duck boat in the summer. Red foxes everywhere, in the middle of the day. I am pretty sure that most of them had den's on the island, because if you were out late at night you could see them too, but they pretty much had an easy meal out in the marsh, and I'll bet your racoon found your spot, took the penthouse, and has had a smorgasbord out there all summer.