End of the Road Ruins

[Ben Ruset]

Today I decided to visit a spot that has been nagging at me for a long time. I've been all over the Forked River Mountains, but never to the ruins that are located near the Chamberlain Branch. Since the weather was good, I decided it was a good enough excuse to take the new Jeep out and see how well it handled off road.

I ended up going down the road to Webbs Mill, and stopping right before Eureka. The map shows a trail that leads down to the ruins, but I couldn't find it. So I backtracked to Webbs Mill, and took the road less used that leads out into the woods. That turned out to be the proper road, and it brought me right out to the trail I was looking for. I was able to drive right up to the ruins.

Here's a map of the area:

I parked the Jeep and easily found the first ruin. All that was left was a cement slab and some bricks. It reminded me of Nash's Cabin. I was unable to locate the second ruin, but I did find something extremely disturbing.

I decided to take our new puppy with me. She loves the woods, and is generally well behaved and doesn't wander off too far. Well, we were exploring the area around the ruins when she wandered off into the woods near the river. I had noticed that she had seemed excited about that one spot the two times we walked past it, and I decided I would let her explore a bit. Usually I can walk a little ahead or behind of her and she'll come back to me in a few seconds. This time she didn't. I heard her rustling around, so I went back to check. I saw her lying on the ground, and looking like she got caught on something. It turns out that someone had laid a trap of some kind, and Zoe got caught in it. It was a slipknot noose, and had pretty much stopped my dog from breating. Fortunately I got it off of her in the nick of time, and she's fine. I went back into the woods and found several dead animals there, most likely laid as bait for whatever the person who laid the trap was looking for.

Since it was very inhumane, I removed the trap from the tree that it was tied with and I took it home with me.

So I learned an important lesson - don't let your pets out of your sight for an instant in the woods. The idea that there would be traps around NEVER crossed my mind. She's not coming with me into the woods anymore.

I was ultimately unable to find the second building. The ruin across the river was not accessable from where I was. On the map it looks like there might have been a path or bridge across the river, but I saw no evidence of that. To get to the third ruin, you'd need to go up by the gun club near Aserdaten and take the left road at the crossroads. But you'd have to hike as it's too narrow for a vehicle. I will probably hike back there one day soon to see what there is left at that site.

Here's the link to some pictures. One of them is of a dead animal, so be prepared to be grossed out.

http://www.njpinebarrens.com/module...ery&file=index&include=view_album.php

 

[bunnymom3]

Oh my Ben I'm so glad you find Zoe in time and she is now fine. Poor little thing must have been scared to death.

Glad you finallt got that Jeep out into the woods.

Nykki

 

[bobpbx]

Ben, suggest you report what you saw here:

http://www.state.nj.us/dep/fgw/contact.htm

You were in the Greenwood Forest Wildlife Management Area. What you found is pretty serious trapping. I'm not sure that type of trapping is legal. Even if not, its disgusting.

 

[Ben Ruset]

Bob,

Thanks - I'll send them an email. I noticed that the trap had a tag on it "TN 104"

That leads me to think that there are 103 other traps out there, OR the State put it in.

 

[bach2yoga]

Ben,
Zoe is adorable. I can't believe that...it is absolutely horrible and inhumane.
I do hope you report it.
How did the Jeep handle?
Renee

 

[Ben Ruset]

The Jeep did good. There were some puddles on the road to Webbs Mill and it got pretty dirty.

 

[bach2yoga]

The Jeep did good. There were some puddles on the road to Webbs Mill and it got pretty dirty.

Now who would want a clean jeep??? :shock:
Renee

 

[RednekF350]

Trapping and Hunting in the Pine Barrens

I'll probably really make some friends here, but here goes.
I have been hunting, fishing and trapping since the late 1960's and fully support the legal pursuit of all those traditions that are part of our heritage.
The people on this site ESPECIALLY should be aware of all of the legal hunting and trapping seasons that are taking place in the same woods that you are exploring.
The body gripping snare is a legal trap and it was being used legally in a WMA when you came across it.
If you got Fish and Game's website you will read that the trapping season is from 1-1-04 until 3-15-04 for all WMA's.
Bruset, you have broken the law by taking a legally tagged snare from its set.
Trapping is a Pine Barrens tradition and is deeply engrained throughout other parts of the region as well. If you want to be a weekend explorer read the game laws.
Incidentally, the rotting animals are legal bait when using snares if 30' from the snare or covered when closer to the snare.
Okay let the criticism begin.
Scott

 

[Ben Ruset]

Scott,

The bait wasn't 30' away nor covered.

Should the owner of the trap wish to reclaim it, they can contact me. Other than that, the F&G people can send me a fine.

I don't mind hunting at all. I just don't like inhumane methods of hunting. No criticizm of you or your post - different opinions are welcome here.

 

[Ben Ruset]

I'm sorry to hear about the upsetting experience you had in Greenwood
WMA.

A snare, such as you found, may be used for trapping muskrat and other
species until March 15, and the dead animal you took a picture of looks
like a muskrat that has been skinned. Snares must bear a legible tag of
durable material with the name and address of the person setting it, or
their trap identification number, issued by this agency. Since you
mention such a tag it seems to me the trap was legally, though
inopportunely for you and your dog, set. Removing a legally set snare is
illegal.

I will forward your correspondence to our Central Region Law
Enforcement office so they can review your message and investigate the
situation if appropriate. You can contact the office at 609-259-2120.
You can also contact the Bureau Of Wildlife Management, which issues the
trap identification numbers, at 609-292-6685. PT

Paul Tarlowe, Wildlife Education Specialist
NJFishandWildlife@dep.state.nj.us
The N.J. Division of Fish and Wildlife is a professional, environmental
agency dedicated to the protection, management and wise use of the
state's fish and wildlife resources.
http://www.NJFishandWildlife.com

 

[bach2yoga]

Thanks for posting that info, Scott and Ben.
I try to make it a point to be aware of hunting seasons, but had never thought about trapping. Cedar will be staying home until after the 15th.
Renee

 

[ANNM]

Trapping and Hunting in the Pine Barrens

Okay let the criticism begin.

You knew it was coming right?

Pray tell me, just how does that trap work, exactly?

bob

 

[Ben Ruset]

I also got an email from a Conservation Officer saying that he wanted to talk to me, so I expect that I will be getting fined/yelled at.

I did check the regulations, and the 30' rule is true, so essentially the trap was illegal.

 

[bunnymom3]

Ben,,
Do you know his first name? The officer who emailed you?

Nykki

 

[RednekF350]

Trapping

I am really happy about how well my post was accepted and was equally happy about the prompt response you received from Fish and Game.
As to your question Bob, the snare is aircraft type cable formed into a loop with a one way slide mechanism that only allows the loop to tighten once something passes through it .
Snares are set close to the ground along travelled paths for whatever it is you are trying to snare.
If you really want to talk cruel and unusual some of the old pineys used to trap turkey and other game birds (albeit illegally) by setting out a corn pile with numerous corn- baited stainless hooks anchored with steel wire leaders.The bird either died on the hook or the person would come along to check the set and either shoot the bird or wring it.
It sounds cruel but it fed a lot of people and its a part of the pines like it or not.
Scott

 

[RednekF350]

Bruset:
If the dead animal was in fact a muskrat as the Fish and Game rep thought, it wasn't the bait. It was a skinned carcass .The trapper skinned it on site and left the carcass which is legal.
Muskrats are snared by placing the set along their most likely travel pathswithout the use of bait.
Scott

 

[njvike]

Ben,

Glad to hear your dog is okay!!!!!

How did you like talking the new Jeep in the pines

 

[njvike]

The Jeep did good. There were some puddles on the road to Webbs Mill and it got pretty dirty.

Now who would want a clean jeep??? :shock:
Renee

Guess who :lol:

Actually, I'm getting accustomed these days of driving a dirty vehicle. With a little more practice, I might not be such a Felix Unger.

 

[bobpbx]

Trapping

As to your question Bob, the snare is aircraft type cable formed into a loop with a one way slide mechanism that only allows the loop to tighten once something passes through it . If you really want to talk cruel and unusual some of the old pineys used to trap turkey and other game birds (albeit illegally) by setting out a corn pile with numerous corn- baited stainless hooks anchored with steel wire leaders.The bird either died on the hook or the person would come along to check the set and either shoot the bird or wring it. It sounds cruel but it fed a lot of people and its a part of the pines like it or not. Scott

I don't like it, never did. I'll tell you cruel. A guy invited me to his trap line to check for coons along the Mt. Misery Brook in the late 60's. He had a coon on one leg trap (I know, now illegal). The coon was alive and in misery, but full of fight. The guy grabbed a stout stick and starting whacking the coon over the snout and between the eyes. It took a long time, you could hear the bones breaking with each whack. The coon was trying to fight back but never had a chance. It is indelibly stamped in my mind and turned me off to that "sport" forever.

I don't trust trappers to do the right thing. By Webs Mill one guy baits mink and muskrat with tuna or salmon and leaves the freaking cans all over the place. He is an uncaring selfish jerk who does'nt care about anyone but himself.

It's high time trapping was phased out. No one needs the meat or fur that bad. It is just a form of sadistic torture. Note that where Ben found that snare, the guy probably drove up in his car, did not even have to do a decent hike. Imagine a fox stepping into that snare around 11 PM at nite. He immediately trys to work himself free by twisting and turning, the thin but stout cable meanwhile compressing painfully into his organs and muscles. After an hour or so he is in pain, anxious, and desparate. But then he has about 7 hours to go suffering in cold agony until some guy comes and puts him out of his misery in only god knows what manner.

As far as fish and game, they don't exactly earn my respect either cause they allow it to go on, and for what? Heritage you say? Baloney. What a wonderful thing to pass down from father to son.

 

[bach2yoga]

Bruset:
It was a skinned carcass .The trapper skinned it on site and left the carcass which is legal.

Scott

But gross. And probably stinks.
But I guess it's better to let nature reclaim its own.
Some of those methods seem pretty inhumane. I don't doubt that they were necessary for survival, and thus understandable, and there is also something to be said for letting an indigineous culture retain its folkways, but part of me wonders if there isn't a more humane way.
I know our slaughter houses etc are enough to make a person sick. If most of us only knew what goes on, we'd probably eat a lot less meat. We are so removed from the process of how that burger gets on our plate that we are sickened when faced with that type of cruelty-we might know how it gets there-but watching it is another story. I admit to being one of those types. Watching an animal beat to death would have me in tears.
I had the strangest dream last week, where I was expected to beat a monkey. I ran for my life, was caught and then woke up crying because I didn't want to do it.
Renee