Track find by BFRO field researcher witnessed in Washington County, Oregon

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10/14/01 3:30pm Partly sunny 65 degrees I was hunting the Wolf creek Rd area. 3.5 miles up the road is a clearing. I decided to walk down into the timber stand about 1/2 mile down the side of the slope. The path then cuts right and follows the wood line and the creek at the bottom. I am always looking for any signs of our big friend. I am involved in ongoing research in the Salmonberry area, so my eyes are always scanning. About another half a mile up the trail I caught sign of pretty big print. I measured the print to the following dimensions. 17 inches long 6 inches wide Could count all five toes in the print I am 282 pounds and left no impression in the soil. This print left a 1-inch depression in the soil. In scanning the immediate area I could see the trail it followed up from the creek bed. The print was heading in the westerly direction down the trail where I was heading. No odor was detected and no scat was found. Foliage in the area was low to the ground so I ...