What are some of your unusual sightings when sitting under a tree when hunting squirrels or in a tree stand? I've watched possums, skunks, coons, coyotes, armadillos, etc. walk past my location. Watched a bobcat grab a squirrel just as I was about to shoot the squirrel. I've had deer see me sitting under a tree and approach me out of curiosity, coming as close as 10-15 yards before catching my scent. Had a bird light on my head when I was turkey hunting and had fallen asleep. Had a squirrel dropping nuts on me from above. My nephew goosed a badger with his gun barrel when the badger walked right next to him. The badger almost attacked him. Watched 30-35 vultures assemble in the top of an old dead tree below which I was sitting. They seemed to have a meeting then all departed at the same time. I flushed a large group of flicker wood peckers, about 30-40 of them; had never seen more than 2 or 3 at a time before that. The woods are such a natural wonder and I'm always happy to be out there. Please share your stories.
Unusual sightings
- Thread starter Sniper66
- Start date
- Status
morcey2
Member
Not hunting, but I almost got hit by a pair of barn owls when I was fishing just after dark when I was in high school. They were both flying at about head-height coming around a tree I was standing by. I've had hawks and falcons that close and I could hear both of those types coming. The owls were absolutely silent. It was both cool and terrifying at the same time.
Badgers are mean suckers. I hope your nephew chalked it up as a "learning experience". Plus, they're murder on ditches and dikes on the farm.
Matt
Badgers are mean suckers. I hope your nephew chalked it up as a "learning experience". Plus, they're murder on ditches and dikes on the farm.
Matt
I once watched a turkey land in the tree my friend was sitting under half asleep. when he realized the turkey was above him he jumped (as much as someone in a wheelchair can) and uttered a few words. causing the turkey to leave and lighten the load as it took flight. I laughed quite hard for a while. he did not think it was very funny as he was covered in turkey poop.
Savage Shooter
Member
I have had a squirrel almost touching my head on more than one occasion. Actually got close enough to me i could here it smelling me.
I thought i was going to get attacked by a great horned owl once. I was deer hunting on a dreary day and it was still fairly early in the morning but these owls kept calling back and forth to each other. As anyone who has ever been that close to a pair of owls in calling to each other can probably attest it is very loud and it was getting annoying. I could see one owl that was probably 50 yards away so i got the bright idea to distract the owl so i started lip squeaking boy did that work. It turned around and looked in my direction, so i did it again and it took off flying and landing in a tree closer to me maybe 20-30ft away. Still hadn't decided that was enough so i did it again and my that time he was looking straight at me and i still hadn't moved (had a ski mask on so he wouldn't of seen my lips) i don't think he knew what the squeak was coming from but he sure knew where it was coming from. He took off at that point and it landing it the tree right next to me 10ft tops. I shut up at that and stood up to get it to leave i had pushed my luck enough.but he did shut up after that
I thought i was going to get attacked by a great horned owl once. I was deer hunting on a dreary day and it was still fairly early in the morning but these owls kept calling back and forth to each other. As anyone who has ever been that close to a pair of owls in calling to each other can probably attest it is very loud and it was getting annoying. I could see one owl that was probably 50 yards away so i got the bright idea to distract the owl so i started lip squeaking boy did that work. It turned around and looked in my direction, so i did it again and it took off flying and landing in a tree closer to me maybe 20-30ft away. Still hadn't decided that was enough so i did it again and my that time he was looking straight at me and i still hadn't moved (had a ski mask on so he wouldn't of seen my lips) i don't think he knew what the squeak was coming from but he sure knew where it was coming from. He took off at that point and it landing it the tree right next to me 10ft tops. I shut up at that and stood up to get it to leave i had pushed my luck enough.but he did shut up after that
buck460XVR
Member
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2007
- Messages
- 10,085
Some of the most memorable events during a hunt had nuttin' to do with the game I pursued, but things I witnessed just because I was there.
The newborn fawn suckling from it's mom one morning while on a late spring turkey hunt. Had spotted the fawn earlier on the way in, hiding by itself in the windbreak. Hour or so after we set up she came back and checked in on the little guy/gal. Fed it and off they walked up the hill before bedding down in heavier cover.
The group of coyotes making an organized drive of a flock of turkeys towards two more coyotes hiding in wait at the edge of the field. Watched it happen sitting in a treestand while bowhunting. Watched the 'yotes set up on the field before the birds even flew down. Once the flock hit the ground the 'yotes slowly entered the field and did not chase the flock, but only made enough of an appearance and just edged close enough to get the flock to walk in the other direction, towards the two in wait. While the coyotes were not successful that morning, the flock never knew the other two in hiding were there and probably did not even know they were being driven. Seemed the 'yotes had patterned that flock well.
On top of seeing numerous hawks and owls take small mammals and birds while on stand, I once while standing still in full camo during bowhunting had a owl come out of nowhere and fly at my face. He swerved only a few feet away when I jumped back in surprise. I assumed all he could see was my eyes moving and the slight movement of my head and suspected it was some sort of small prey.
Had a spot one season where every night I took stand, I got to watch a weasel that had changed to it's Ermine white, hunting voles and mice on the forest floor below me. Like a little white ghost he ran from spot to spot hitting virtually every spot possible within my range of sight. He was easy to see against the dark ground, even in low light. Those little creatures have a lot of energy.
Have watched turkeys fight, bucks fight, bucks breed does, toms breed hens, yote's catching snakes and attacking my decoys. Have had deer stick their heads in my blind while actively calling turkeys and have watched deer chase turkeys around a field like kids on a playground. It's the whole experience that makes it a hunt....not just the kill.
The newborn fawn suckling from it's mom one morning while on a late spring turkey hunt. Had spotted the fawn earlier on the way in, hiding by itself in the windbreak. Hour or so after we set up she came back and checked in on the little guy/gal. Fed it and off they walked up the hill before bedding down in heavier cover.
The group of coyotes making an organized drive of a flock of turkeys towards two more coyotes hiding in wait at the edge of the field. Watched it happen sitting in a treestand while bowhunting. Watched the 'yotes set up on the field before the birds even flew down. Once the flock hit the ground the 'yotes slowly entered the field and did not chase the flock, but only made enough of an appearance and just edged close enough to get the flock to walk in the other direction, towards the two in wait. While the coyotes were not successful that morning, the flock never knew the other two in hiding were there and probably did not even know they were being driven. Seemed the 'yotes had patterned that flock well.
On top of seeing numerous hawks and owls take small mammals and birds while on stand, I once while standing still in full camo during bowhunting had a owl come out of nowhere and fly at my face. He swerved only a few feet away when I jumped back in surprise. I assumed all he could see was my eyes moving and the slight movement of my head and suspected it was some sort of small prey.
Had a spot one season where every night I took stand, I got to watch a weasel that had changed to it's Ermine white, hunting voles and mice on the forest floor below me. Like a little white ghost he ran from spot to spot hitting virtually every spot possible within my range of sight. He was easy to see against the dark ground, even in low light. Those little creatures have a lot of energy.
Have watched turkeys fight, bucks fight, bucks breed does, toms breed hens, yote's catching snakes and attacking my decoys. Have had deer stick their heads in my blind while actively calling turkeys and have watched deer chase turkeys around a field like kids on a playground. It's the whole experience that makes it a hunt....not just the kill.
Grumulkin
Member
There was one time I was flying a helicopter when, maybe 30 yards off the runway I saw a couple of hawks on the ground locked in combat. I hovered there quite awhile before they ceased and desisted and took off. I had considered landing to see how close I could get to them but thought better of it.
gamestalker
member
This is a cool thread.
I was deer mule deer hunting about 3 years ago, and while glassing from my spotting scope I spotted a herd or deer, all doe's. They were probably 700-800 yards away. Then just above them on a rock out cropping, I spotted a mountain lion with a couple cubs. She appeared to be looking down at the deer, which shortly after was confirmed when she came down and began her stalk on the deer. Both the deer and the lion left my view, but before that happened I saw the deer break into their typical escape mode, po go-ing away as they do. I didn't find any sign of a fresh kill over the next couple days, so I assume she failed?
One year while hunting turkey in SW New Mexico, I sat down just above a gob I had put to bed the night before, waiting for it to get light. As I was sitting there against the tree, I heard branches snapping and bark landing on the ground right in front of me. I figured it was turkey, probably hens, or maybe gobs that didn't sound off the night before. Then all of a sudden I heard this horrendous crashing, branches snapping, and then thud! A big black bear had fallen out of the tree just a few feet away. It got up and looked at me, then it just walked away, as if nothing happened. Come to find out, bears often fall out of tree's, I just happened to be next to the wrong/right tree.
I once had a mountain lion run me off from a roosted turkey I was putting to bed. Came back the next morning and found nothing but feathers. that one was a very close call, IMO, that cat was going to eat me and did get aggressive toward me, rather unusual I thought.
I was quail hunting with my German Short Hair, and watched as he nipped at the heels of a herd of 5 Oryx. He eventually got tossed through the air by one of the big bucks. This went on for a good 10 minutes or so, I ended up having to empty my bird shot at both him and the Oryx to break things up. I've actually had more than one encounter with Oryx, they are aggressive and have charged me more than once while quail hunting.
I got chased around a big pine tree by a large bull elk once. It was during the rut, and having heard a bull sound off several hundred yards away, I got this stupid idea to try something I saw on a video. Mind you, I wasn't hunting elk, I was hunting fall turkey. I took a large branch and started thrashing a tree. that bull came in hot, and when he saw me I thought he would just take off the other way. But to my complete surprise, he started chasing me around the tree. I barely escaped with my life. I ended up having to discharge a round from my shotgun to run him off.
I once had a bear come straight at me and my 3 yr. old son while I was pre scouting spring turkey. I was stopping at various spots trying to locate turkey with a box call, but all that responded were yotes, elk, deer and such. They would come in, see or smell us, and then depart. So when I came to the last spot and called, I heard something coming through the trees and naturally thought it was another deer or something. No, it was a sow with a cub, and she came charging straight at us, when she got right up to within several feet of us (we didn't move a muscle) she stood straight up, turned and went crashing through a stand of oak sapplings. As soon as she turned, I dropped my box call, grabbed my son and ran for the truck, I had to come back for the call later, after changing my under wear.
I've got more interesting stories for ya, I'll be here all week.
GS
I was deer mule deer hunting about 3 years ago, and while glassing from my spotting scope I spotted a herd or deer, all doe's. They were probably 700-800 yards away. Then just above them on a rock out cropping, I spotted a mountain lion with a couple cubs. She appeared to be looking down at the deer, which shortly after was confirmed when she came down and began her stalk on the deer. Both the deer and the lion left my view, but before that happened I saw the deer break into their typical escape mode, po go-ing away as they do. I didn't find any sign of a fresh kill over the next couple days, so I assume she failed?
One year while hunting turkey in SW New Mexico, I sat down just above a gob I had put to bed the night before, waiting for it to get light. As I was sitting there against the tree, I heard branches snapping and bark landing on the ground right in front of me. I figured it was turkey, probably hens, or maybe gobs that didn't sound off the night before. Then all of a sudden I heard this horrendous crashing, branches snapping, and then thud! A big black bear had fallen out of the tree just a few feet away. It got up and looked at me, then it just walked away, as if nothing happened. Come to find out, bears often fall out of tree's, I just happened to be next to the wrong/right tree.
I once had a mountain lion run me off from a roosted turkey I was putting to bed. Came back the next morning and found nothing but feathers. that one was a very close call, IMO, that cat was going to eat me and did get aggressive toward me, rather unusual I thought.
I was quail hunting with my German Short Hair, and watched as he nipped at the heels of a herd of 5 Oryx. He eventually got tossed through the air by one of the big bucks. This went on for a good 10 minutes or so, I ended up having to empty my bird shot at both him and the Oryx to break things up. I've actually had more than one encounter with Oryx, they are aggressive and have charged me more than once while quail hunting.
I got chased around a big pine tree by a large bull elk once. It was during the rut, and having heard a bull sound off several hundred yards away, I got this stupid idea to try something I saw on a video. Mind you, I wasn't hunting elk, I was hunting fall turkey. I took a large branch and started thrashing a tree. that bull came in hot, and when he saw me I thought he would just take off the other way. But to my complete surprise, he started chasing me around the tree. I barely escaped with my life. I ended up having to discharge a round from my shotgun to run him off.
I once had a bear come straight at me and my 3 yr. old son while I was pre scouting spring turkey. I was stopping at various spots trying to locate turkey with a box call, but all that responded were yotes, elk, deer and such. They would come in, see or smell us, and then depart. So when I came to the last spot and called, I heard something coming through the trees and naturally thought it was another deer or something. No, it was a sow with a cub, and she came charging straight at us, when she got right up to within several feet of us (we didn't move a muscle) she stood straight up, turned and went crashing through a stand of oak sapplings. As soon as she turned, I dropped my box call, grabbed my son and ran for the truck, I had to come back for the call later, after changing my under wear.
I've got more interesting stories for ya, I'll be here all week.
GS
Grumulkin
Member
I was driving down a highway once and saw a couple of small birds chasing and diving repeatedly at a hawk. The hawk which was apparently paying more attention to it's attackers than to the surroundings, ran into a wire and fell out of the air.
Macchina
Member
- Joined
- Nov 14, 2006
- Messages
- 998
I was squirrel hunting on some family property when I was a teenager. I had a nice Marlin .22 Magnum and sitting near a field when I heard something come running through the woods. It was a nice 8-point buck being chased by a large pit bull and a beagle. I wondered if I was supposed to shoot them for chasing the deer but they were gone before I decided. I got up a few minutes later and began walking to another good spot when I heard something rustle behind me. I turned around to see the pit bull creaping up on me low with it's teeth bared. Just as I turned it tensed and growled a real low growl... I raised the rifle and fired into its chest as fast as I could. I am almost certain it was hunting me and was about to make its move.
WestKentucky
Member
I have seen a lot of crazy things, but never anything more crazy than a chicken that was hanging around with a flock of turkeys. He thought he was a turkey I guess. I have tossed orange hats and such out to draw squirrels attention only to have them go sniff it. I once had a group of teenagers ride their 4 wheelers through the woods under me, their parents got pictures of them in text messages and the kids 4 wheelers vanished for a while.
Another brief story....was shooting prairie dogs and watched a hawk come down and carry off a kicking dog I had just shot. I also learned that prairie dogs know the difference between hawks that are a threat and vultures that are not. When a hawk swoops over a dog town they all start barking and head for their dens, but when a vulture glides overhead, they ignore it. I've watched while 3-4 vultures are eating a dead dog and see live ones grazing a few yards away seemingly unconcerned. One hawk came down hard on a kicking dog, made sure it was dead, then hopped a few feet away and sat just looking about. Then a vulture glided past and he raced over to the dog and carried it away.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Well, not very high road.
But the time a young couple came hiking through the woods and spread out a blanket 25 yards from my tree stand was a pretty 'Unusual Sighting' before they got done.
But I didn't look of course!
rc
But the time a young couple came hiking through the woods and spread out a blanket 25 yards from my tree stand was a pretty 'Unusual Sighting' before they got done.
But I didn't look of course!
rc
Armored farmer
Member
One of my early October bowhunts must have been at the height of the Hackberry crop. I had used my climber in a new spot in the middle of our property. A giant Hackberry tree was beside me. Within minutes of getting settled in, the 'coons started to arrive. Soon there were 4-5 coons in the tree. They absolutely raided that tree all afternoon. It was a treat to watch the acrobatics of a 25lb-30lb coon out on the very tips of the limbs where the berries were. As soon as one would get his fill and leave, another would show up. I watched the show as long as there was daylight. I went back to witness it again a few days later, but unfortunately....the show was over. All the berries were gone. That was three or four years ago, I have never got the timing right since.
There has been other unusual things, like the time I was quail hunting and a hawk dropped a half-plucked quail within 20ft of me.
Or the deer that got away unharmed after jumping the log that my dad was sitting on while deer hunting.
Or the time the hounds were feverishly treeing, and in my dim headlamp light, I shot out a bluejay from the treetop.(that one was hard to live down)
There has been other unusual things, like the time I was quail hunting and a hawk dropped a half-plucked quail within 20ft of me.
Or the deer that got away unharmed after jumping the log that my dad was sitting on while deer hunting.
Or the time the hounds were feverishly treeing, and in my dim headlamp light, I shot out a bluejay from the treetop.(that one was hard to live down)
elkhunterCO
Member
Once I was sitting under a big pine taking a break from chasing an elk and about 30 to 40 turkeys came cluckin through the woods on either side of me just carrying on peckin at the ground. I sat still and at times I think I could of reached out and grabbed one by the neck.
Once I was runnin a cat leveling some topsoil out in the middle of nowhere and a yote came up and chased the dozer like a dog chasin a car. He ran back and forth with me for several passes, every once in awhile he would find a worm in the fresh dirt.
Once I was runnin a cat leveling some topsoil out in the middle of nowhere and a yote came up and chased the dozer like a dog chasin a car. He ran back and forth with me for several passes, every once in awhile he would find a worm in the fresh dirt.
AKElroy
Member
Nothing all that weird, but pretty cool. Three weeks back my son and I were sitting an open field under a tree, hoping to see a decent buck. The wind was so high, and the acorns so plentiful that the deer are not going to the corn, so we are actually having to hunt. We sat for two hours when a small yearling spike walked up on us. I mean really walked right up to us, bobbing and weaving like they do, trying to decide if we were real. It was hilarious, must have been a minute or so of him bobbing and weaving, not 15'-20' away, staring right at us. We were so still my neck was seizing up, so I finally had to move my head and he bolted.
I commended my 13 year-old for being still enough for that animal to get that close. I've had them do this many times while in a blind, but never sitting in the open.
I commended my 13 year-old for being still enough for that animal to get that close. I've had them do this many times while in a blind, but never sitting in the open.
caribou
Member
My first time hunting Wolves.
Me and an old fella, Jerry, went up to where he wanted to show me a good place for such, and it was.....
We sat for 2-3 hours , drinking tea and trying to stay still at -30 when the Caribou below started running up to us, (as they will) and we watched 6 Arctic Greys and a Black one too catch and eat a Caribou. Some ate, some waited and watched, and when the big ones were done, the big ones watched around while the smaller ones ate too, and no fighting.Was a most iimpressive show of animals owrking and eating as a group........ For almost 3 hours we watched untill it was 1/2 gone, and the whole time Jerry was having a smoke, making more tea and Im going crazy , waiting waiting and waiting some more I was going nuts. Jerry slowly explained that Caribou always run up hills, and so the Wolves will naturally come up, dont get excited.....then he slowly explained how full Wolves cannot run far or fast and that letting them eat was to our advantage, as well they dont run when its very cold (and it was) so they'll be much easier to get if we wait some more......oh agony!...... and then Jerry quietly announced it was time to get ready, and I sat up and layed my rifle over the snowgo's seat (we had white sheets on them) as the Wolves were all stirring, not sitting around, when sure enough the Alpha started up the trail comming right at us. The hours, the cold and the urgency penned up inside wen out as I knelt down on the coldest ground ever, shivering while waiting as they approached.
POW! was the way Jerry let me know it was time to shoot, and he plowed over the rear Wolf, and I felt the warm rush over me and my shivering stop, took a breath and lined up.....and got the Alpha...the rest trotted away as best they could and died tired.
I got 2, the black and the largest, Jerry had the rest as fast as his trigger finger worked.
It was magic to me!!! Hunting Hunters, that was the start of my Wolfing, and its still as exciting.
Me and an old fella, Jerry, went up to where he wanted to show me a good place for such, and it was.....
We sat for 2-3 hours , drinking tea and trying to stay still at -30 when the Caribou below started running up to us, (as they will) and we watched 6 Arctic Greys and a Black one too catch and eat a Caribou. Some ate, some waited and watched, and when the big ones were done, the big ones watched around while the smaller ones ate too, and no fighting.Was a most iimpressive show of animals owrking and eating as a group........ For almost 3 hours we watched untill it was 1/2 gone, and the whole time Jerry was having a smoke, making more tea and Im going crazy , waiting waiting and waiting some more I was going nuts. Jerry slowly explained that Caribou always run up hills, and so the Wolves will naturally come up, dont get excited.....then he slowly explained how full Wolves cannot run far or fast and that letting them eat was to our advantage, as well they dont run when its very cold (and it was) so they'll be much easier to get if we wait some more......oh agony!...... and then Jerry quietly announced it was time to get ready, and I sat up and layed my rifle over the snowgo's seat (we had white sheets on them) as the Wolves were all stirring, not sitting around, when sure enough the Alpha started up the trail comming right at us. The hours, the cold and the urgency penned up inside wen out as I knelt down on the coldest ground ever, shivering while waiting as they approached.
POW! was the way Jerry let me know it was time to shoot, and he plowed over the rear Wolf, and I felt the warm rush over me and my shivering stop, took a breath and lined up.....and got the Alpha...the rest trotted away as best they could and died tired.
I got 2, the black and the largest, Jerry had the rest as fast as his trigger finger worked.
It was magic to me!!! Hunting Hunters, that was the start of my Wolfing, and its still as exciting.
AKElroy
Member
Same trip, I am sitting an open 12' chair blind, and I am there 45 minutes to an hour before first light. It was DARK, I mean zero moon, overcast, stone dead black kind of dark. After flash-lighting in to my spot, I settle in.
After 30 minutes or so, I hear pigs at the feeder, grunting and snorting like they do. I have a ladder wired to a tree that they have to knock a little sideways to get into the pen, and I heard three pretty good clanks. I'm hoping that they will be there when the light breaks the darkness, but instead they work their way the 80-100 yards up the hill to my spot, rooting around for grubs directly under and around my chair.
It is seriously creepy having 3-4 pigs rooting around not 12' below in that pitch black. I thank God for not blessing them with opposable thumbs.
After 30 minutes or so, I hear pigs at the feeder, grunting and snorting like they do. I have a ladder wired to a tree that they have to knock a little sideways to get into the pen, and I heard three pretty good clanks. I'm hoping that they will be there when the light breaks the darkness, but instead they work their way the 80-100 yards up the hill to my spot, rooting around for grubs directly under and around my chair.
It is seriously creepy having 3-4 pigs rooting around not 12' below in that pitch black. I thank God for not blessing them with opposable thumbs.
DeepSouth
Random Guy
Well, this bring to mind one time when I was duck hunting with my brother and a younger (16-17) kid and while we riding in the boat down the river the kid says "maybe we should try over there (pointing) because I just saw a bunch of ducks land in those trees."
I always wished I had seen that.
I always wished I had seen that.
AKElroy
Member
Last year, my son asked me to come check out a cottontail sitting on the landing outside our hunting trailer, totally unafraid of us standing over her in the open doorway. I pointed out to him the reason why, a large snake had one of her bunnies wrapped up not two feet away. It looked up at us, back down at the dead bunny, then back up at us. He finally uncoiled and left his quarry, with the momma hopping a few feet away while we disposed of the bunny.
I know some will cringe, but I took the dead rabbit to the feed barrel that snake crawled under and left it. 10 minutes later it was gone. I figured he worked for it, and should have his meal. That place is like a nature show.
I know some will cringe, but I took the dead rabbit to the feed barrel that snake crawled under and left it. 10 minutes later it was gone. I figured he worked for it, and should have his meal. That place is like a nature show.
gamestalker
member
One warm spring day, I had been hiking all over creation trying to locate a turkey, it got warm so a sat up against a tree and fell asleep. When I woke up, I stood against the tree for a few minute gathering my wits as it were. That's when I heard this crunching noise, very close to me in fact. Mind you, I was still half asleep, bewildered, I was looking all around me, it sounded like it was right next to me. As it turned out, it was, when I turned around I was face to face, inches, from a huge porcupine, probably about 30 lbs. or more.
Last spring my Son and I were in New Mexico hunting turkey. The wind was ridiculous, so we decided to climb this massive mountain to maybe get a better advantage on hearing the birds. Shortly after climbing this mountain we ate some lunch, shortly after that we fell asleep. When we woke up the first thing we saw was several large elk laying under a tree just 10 or 15 yards away. Quite a sight, and also one that brought back some memories of what happened years earlier in that same canyon, when I was chased around a tree by a big bull. I quietly told my son not to make any sudden movements, so what does he do, he stands up and yells. they jumped up and ran away as fast as they could. But the rest of the story is, when he stood up and yelled, several hens we didn't see 30 or so yards away, went flying off. I hate napping in the forest, weird stuff always happens to me when I fall asleep out there.
GS
Last spring my Son and I were in New Mexico hunting turkey. The wind was ridiculous, so we decided to climb this massive mountain to maybe get a better advantage on hearing the birds. Shortly after climbing this mountain we ate some lunch, shortly after that we fell asleep. When we woke up the first thing we saw was several large elk laying under a tree just 10 or 15 yards away. Quite a sight, and also one that brought back some memories of what happened years earlier in that same canyon, when I was chased around a tree by a big bull. I quietly told my son not to make any sudden movements, so what does he do, he stands up and yells. they jumped up and ran away as fast as they could. But the rest of the story is, when he stood up and yelled, several hens we didn't see 30 or so yards away, went flying off. I hate napping in the forest, weird stuff always happens to me when I fall asleep out there.
GS
Double Naught Spy
Sus Venator
I had gotten to the stand well before dark to wait on hogs. I was watching a young doe at the feeder when she became agitated and walking back and forth along the tree line (toward and away from me) and looking into the trees. Every so often, she would snort. She sort of looked like a dog running back and forth down a chain link fence when some stranger passes its property.
Anyway, a minute or two later, a bobcat emerged from the woods about 10 feet from the doe. She starting snorting more and more loudly and bounding up and down like she was trying to scare the bobcat into running, often coming close. The bobcat did pick up speed and she chased it across the clearing and off into the distance...I could hear her snorts fade away.
Anyway, a minute or two later, a bobcat emerged from the woods about 10 feet from the doe. She starting snorting more and more loudly and bounding up and down like she was trying to scare the bobcat into running, often coming close. The bobcat did pick up speed and she chased it across the clearing and off into the distance...I could hear her snorts fade away.
AKElroy
Member
Last year I had a bobcat walk to the front of my feeder pen, stop and sit, staring at my blind 100 yards up the hill. I shot it, and then waited for the feeder to go off to see if we could get a deer. 15 minutes later my son shoots a nice sized 6-point cull buck, which ran off. An hour of looking we finally find it, so between the retrieval and the search we were 90 minutes or so from the shot I made on the cat. When we went to retrieve it, all we found was blood. No cat. We heard no yotes, so I'm thinking hawk, owl or pig got it. It's a shame, I would have liked to have had that mount for my office.
Bull Nutria
Member
my friend Guy and I were duck hunting in a blind in a south LA marsh this year, it was a slow day not much flying and hardly any ducks decoying to our spread. We hear a duck quack loudly, i say guy answer your phone(lots of duck hunters have a duck quack for there cell phone ring) guys says my phone does not ring like a duck. we hear it quack again! so we start looking no duck in the pond visible, it quacked again and i spotted a mallard hen standing on a small peninsula about 35 yards from Guy'send of the blind. I think it is a cripple that has emerged from hiding in the weeds. I say shoot it Guy, Guy says i can't see it, about that time the mallard flushes, guy knocked it down with a broken wing, it falls about 60yds away in the marsh . I send my dog for it and the mallard ran off before the dog could find it!
I have been duck hunting for 53 years and have never had an unwounded duck emerge from the weeds quacking, unfortunately it escaped as my dog rarely fails to find a downed bird.
Bull
I have been duck hunting for 53 years and have never had an unwounded duck emerge from the weeds quacking, unfortunately it escaped as my dog rarely fails to find a downed bird.
Bull
Tim Pierce
Member
I've had few experiences in tree stands over the years, but the 2 most memorable were:
Once, I was in a stand during a heavy snowfall. I heard this hawk flying overhead and squawking, when suddenly he swooped in and landed on a branch I could reach out and touch. I watched him for a full five minutes before he moved. What a sight to see on so up close. It was beautiful.
3 years ago, I was on ladder stand. It was first light, and I heard some rustling in the leaves around the stand. As it got lighter, I could see it was a grouse. That crazy thing flew up to my stand and landed on branch I could reach out and touch. Then it moved over and perched on the gun rest. Then it perched on the barrel of my 870. I watched that thing for 30 minutes, and actually took video of it with my phone. When I was fumbling with the phone I dropped 1 of my gloves on the ground, and that darned grouse attempted to fly down and pick it up! I didn't see any deer that day, but that was probably the most memorable hunt I've ever had. Incidentally, I was hunting on my brother's 50 acres in a remote area. It had a small primitive cabin on it. When I got down out of the stand and walked back to the cabin to warm up, I heard something under the cabin floor and walked out to see what it was. It was that grouse. It just hung out there with me and kept going in out of the space under the cabin. I took more video of it while I reached out and touched it. I still can't believe it. I often wonder if it was the spirit of my brother.You see, I lost my brother to cancer at age 49, the previous February.
Once, I was in a stand during a heavy snowfall. I heard this hawk flying overhead and squawking, when suddenly he swooped in and landed on a branch I could reach out and touch. I watched him for a full five minutes before he moved. What a sight to see on so up close. It was beautiful.
3 years ago, I was on ladder stand. It was first light, and I heard some rustling in the leaves around the stand. As it got lighter, I could see it was a grouse. That crazy thing flew up to my stand and landed on branch I could reach out and touch. Then it moved over and perched on the gun rest. Then it perched on the barrel of my 870. I watched that thing for 30 minutes, and actually took video of it with my phone. When I was fumbling with the phone I dropped 1 of my gloves on the ground, and that darned grouse attempted to fly down and pick it up! I didn't see any deer that day, but that was probably the most memorable hunt I've ever had. Incidentally, I was hunting on my brother's 50 acres in a remote area. It had a small primitive cabin on it. When I got down out of the stand and walked back to the cabin to warm up, I heard something under the cabin floor and walked out to see what it was. It was that grouse. It just hung out there with me and kept going in out of the space under the cabin. I took more video of it while I reached out and touched it. I still can't believe it. I often wonder if it was the spirit of my brother.You see, I lost my brother to cancer at age 49, the previous February.
- Status
