Tell us about your good luck charms and hunting superstitions

[H&Hhunter]

I always wear one of three lucky hats when after a trophy animal. I can change out the hat only after it's run out of luck. The process to find a new lucky hat involves finding one with just the right feel, color and it must be blooded on it's first outing or it won't make the cut.

My biggest hunting superstiton was taught to me by an old timer from Rhodesia when I was just a child of 10 years or so. It is extremely bad luck to carry money, either cash or coin when actually hunting. If you are following an animal and happen to find money in your pocket you must throw it into the brush immediatley as to not curse the hunt.

This superstition is strong in my mind and it has never failed to prove itself wrong. I don't think I've ever made a kill with money in my pocket. And every time I've had a serious fu.. uh mess up I've always found an errant coin or paper money on my person.

I'm sure there's notthing to it but bygolly I'm to set in my ways to change now and I wouldn't want to piss off the hunting gods.

 

[Keith]

>>>>If you are following an animal and happen to find money in your pocket you must throw it into the brush immediatley as to not curse the hunt.<<<<

All guides tell you that... then go back later and pick it up!

Keith

 

[Dr.Rob]

I kept my first spent cartridge and recovered bullet in a small 'spirit bag'. I know other hunters who keep their elk ivories for the same reason.

I've never carried coins but paper money doesn't make noise (and I've had to bribe a land owner.. er offer to pay a tresspass fee to follow up a wounded animal before.)

And this may sound strange, but I say a little thank you every time I pull the trigger. Showing respect for the animals we harvest and the powers that brought us together is a good thing to do.

There are a lot more things I do in the woods for good luck but they'd take a lot longer to explain. Not to sound cryptic but a raven is a good omen.

 

[H&Hhunter]

In southern Tanzania if you see a black snake during a stalk it must be left alone as it is a good omen and to kill it will curse the hunt. If you see a green snake it must be dispatched immediatly for it is bad luck and if you have seen a black snake and didn't make a kill and then see another black snake it must be killed to regain your hunting kuck.

The Zulus in South Africa believe that a small green turtle is the worst omen imaginable on a hunt and will go to great lengths to kill one if seen on a hunt. When I inquired as to the snake superstition I was told in no uncertian terms that the guys in Tanzania were simply crazy to believe such rubish that in fact only a turtle has any power to adversly affect a hunt.

Keith,

Darn it!!!
And I suppose that thing about my wife having to sleep in the guide tent for luck ain't for real either!?!

 

[Al Thompson]

OK H&H, you owe me a key board. Lucky it was Evan Williams and not the Famous Grouse.

No big superstitions, but the first day or first hunt at a new place is always a good day for me.

The money thing is sort of spooky. I need to think about that one - it may be true for me as well.

 

[coldshot03/04]

None here.

Its the "Spirit of the Wild" Kill the Beast.

 

[dakotasin]

dr rob has the same 'superstition' as i do... after i ventilate an animal, i always say a thank you and a quick couple of words.

i used to smoke - no longer, but i have learned it is bad luck to not have a cigarette immediately following the field-dressing of the animal.

 

[griz]

I believe it’s bad luck to be superstitious. Accordingly my only habit is to try to make sure I have the right ammo for the gun I’m carrying.

 

[H&Hhunter]

Accordingly my only habit is to try to make sure I have the right ammo for the gun I’m carrying.

Did you know that .270 Weatherby won't even think about fitting into a a .270 Win?

Many years ago I learned this after picking up a box of .270 Wthby out of my buddies truck while hunting with a .270 win.

The really bad part is that years latter he chambered a .270 win in his Weatherby and darn near blew his left hand off at the wrist. (you've never seen a floor plate come apart like that sucker did)!!!!!

The Persian Ibex however was unharmed.

 

[sm]

Accordingly my only habit is to try to make sure I have the right ammo for the gun I’m carrying.

Ding Ding Ding we have another winner folks--guilty

(we probably need a poll on this question)

You know 12 ga shells will not fit in a 28 ga...same color...whittlin' won't work either.

Not supersitious either...I was reminded yesterday out "hog hunting" * I always have beef jerkey on me when I hunt. I also seem to always manage to have dog treats when I bird hunt with dogs. I respect the the dog owner training bit...my birds always get found tho'

* Groundhogs are evil--don't care what you fella's say

 

[Andrew Wyatt]

I've found that if i don't have a gun with me, i don't get any game. I don't know why.

 

[Dr.Rob]

What? You mean you never crawled in a bear den armed only with a knife and a bad attitude?

What are you some kind of whimp?




















Ok, truth is I knew the bear wasn't home and I was doing it to impress/scare my older brother who outweighs me by 100 pounds. In fact I think most Colorado Black bears do not weigh as much as my brother. But you should have seen the look on his face when I leaned my rifle against a tree, told him "if the bear gets past me you shoot him" and proceeded to unholster a 44 mag and a flashlight. Truth is I was more afraid of finding a snake hibernating or break an ankle.

 

[St. Gunner]

I always forget my knife in the truck, it works everytime. If i have it I rarely if ever kill anything. Unless of course I am checking stock tanks on an August afternoon when it is 110degrees in the shade and then I always find a hog, but the drag out if only 50yds will almost kill ya; so the jury is out on whether it is good or bad luck. I've also found that leaving the video camera at home ensures you see many things you want to video from the stand.

 

[Brian Dale]

Okay, I'll come out...

I'm with DrRob--

saying the "thank you." Showing the respect. I think that's not strange at all; you put it beautifully.

Also, re1973 wrote, "You know 12 ga shells will not fit in a 28 ga."

But since 20 ga. shells will fit in a 12 ga., I try never to have any 20 ga. shells around my 12s. It's reached the level of a superstition with me, and the world is full of beautiful 20 ga. shotguns. I only have 12s.

We'll be after doves on Monday, and the landowner's one of us. I'll try leaving my money (what little there is of it) in the car. I'll want all the luck I can get!

Best to all come Opening Day.

 

[Subby]

I always say hello to Orion in the sky when I start out hiking in the dark. The same thing to the trees I sit against.

Sub

 

[stevelyn]

My beliefs are similar to Dr. Rob's. The Athabascans believe that any animal you take gave up it's life for you to sustain your's. A word of Thanks and a show of respect are definitely in order. I also carry the spent casing from the prior years' hunt with me. Never been able to recover a Nosler Partition to take along.

 

[Newt]

This is the way I do it. If I know I'm going deer hunting, then I'll say "Well, I'm gonna go squirrel huntin." or visa versa. If I'm going squirrel hunting, then I'll say "I'm gonna go deer huntin." Never seems to work as far as bringing home the meat, but I always see deer when squirrel hunting and squirrels when deer hunting.

Newt

 

[Mr. Chitlin]

I had a dry spell on deer for several years back in the early 80's. For Christmas 1984, my mother in law gave me a new Bucklite knife. The following season I carried it, and killed a deer. Since then, I carry it every time I am in the woods. I have killed deer almost every year since then, and will not go deer hunting without it. Might leave the gun home, but not that knife.

 

[crowsnest2002]

I keep my shell casing

I keep my shell casing from the year before's hunt and carry it in my pocket. Of course the year befores shell casing has to have been shot at an animal and you had to have gotten the animal. So far its working. I guess if it stops I'll just have to find a new good luck trick.

crow

 

[Pumpkinheaver]

I always bring my camera hunting but it must stay in the truck or it will jinx me, same with my hunting knife. I also load the same cartridge over and over untill I get a kill with it or the season is over.