What's the most bizarre experience or event you've had while hunting?

[gamestalker]

Anything, something funny that happened, dumb stuff, or perfect storm conditions in which something like this could only ever happen. It doesn't even need to be directly involved with the hunt, just something unusual or outrageous that happened while out on the hunt or in camp, while driving or what ever, that you will never forget.

For me, a most recent memory I recalled, was when I was glassing for game. I had just finished glassing a spot and when I got back to the truck I was loading up all my gear, I hung my coat on the side view mirror of the truck, then I slung my 10x42 Leupolds over the top of my coat, remember this is just for a few minutes while I finish putting my gear away, and to take a few minutes break to slam some cold water down, catch my breath in other words. It was a warm day, so I spent a few minutes and was leaning up against the shady side of the truck talking with one of the crew on the radio, when I all of a sudden I saw a bunch of smoke coming from the truck door on the other side of the truck. I ran around the truck and discovered my coat was on fire, burning. It didn't take me long to figure out that the binoculars started the fire, just like a magnifying glass does. I cringed at the thought of what may have happened if it had stepped any further away, gone unnoticed for a few minutes longer, it could have easily progressed to the cab of the truck. The strap on the glasses got toasted pretty good, but fortunately the only real loss was my coat.

GS

 

[jmr40]

A few years ago my brother and I drove into the N Georgia mountains for a day hike in the snow. Driving alongside a mountain stream we rounded a corner and caught a small 4 point buck crossing the stream. He didn't realize we had already spotted him. Instead of running he simply dropped down under water to hide.

When we got even with him we stopped the truck. It reminded me of the photos of an alligator, only with ears and antlers. Only the tip of his nose, eyes, ears and antlers were above the water. Had we not seen him before we would have never spotted him after he went under water.

After 10 seconds or so he figured out he had been spotted, stood up, shook the water off and continued on across the stream.

Pretty amazing the things an animal will do to hide.

 

[gamestalker]

That's truly remarkable jmr40, I wouldn't think a deer would capable of such reasoning, quite calculating actually.

GS

 

[Loyalist Dave]

I saw a very wierd set of claw marks on the surface of some hardened snow that had about 1/2" of powder on the surface..., rather worrisome as they looked like long claws and I'd never seen a track like that before... then I found a pair, then I saw they repeated a couple more times...... then I realized they were the tips of the wings of probably a redtailed hawk coming in very low over the snow, and I found where it had landed hard and a little blood ...probably end of the trail for a field mouse.

LD

 

[Ranger Roberts]

Good call on this thread gamestalker! I started one a while back about bizarre items found in the woods:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=729945

These are my favorite threads! I can read these for hours!

A few years ago my brother and I drove into the N Georgia mountains for a day hike in the snow. Driving alongside a mountain stream we rounded a corner and caught a small 4 point buck crossing the stream. He didn't realize we had already spotted him. Instead of running he simply dropped down under water to hide.

That's incredible!

 

[Dinosaur1]

Spent a dry 3 or 4 hours grouse hunting one time and when we got back to the truck the dog jumped underneath and flushed about 8 or 9. They had apparently went there for shade. We got one.

 

[sherman123]

Almost getting attacked by three pitbulls while holding a single shot 16 gauge with only 1 shell of #6 shot. Glock and j frame were on me but still that would've really sucked to say the least.

 

[Riceman98]

This:
http://www.ktvb.com/home/Missing-Meridian-family-rescued-by-National-Guard-helicopter-225998261.html

 

[HB]

I've seen a couple weird things out in the woods but the most notable have been pot plants, a large tuft of thick black hair which had to be a hog (not common around here), and random piles of very old beer cans. If I'm walking that far into the woods to camp I'll bring a bottle of whiskey for the campfire.


HB

 

[Davek1977]

Spent a dry 3 or 4 hours grouse hunting one time and when we got back to the truck the dog jumped underneath and flushed about 8 or 9. They had apparently went there for shade. We got one.

When i was about 13 or so, my dad's friend and I walked a canyon together in search of deer. After getting to the end of the draw, we turned around, and headed back to the truck. When we got closer, we realized there was a small 3x3 mule deer buck calmly grazing not 70 ft from the truck. I took one shot with Dad's Model 700 .243 and anchored that deer right where he stood, backed the truck up a few ft, dressed and loaded him up!

 

[Patocazador]

Two come to mind. The first happened while walking through the Ala. woods to a beaver pond to fish. I sensed something trailing me and turned around to see a spotted fawn trailing me. He let me see that he was a male and then kept trying to get under me between my legs while I fished. I ran him off when I got back to my 4-wheeler.
The second one was getting bit in the 'nads by a wild sow that attacked me. It took 20+ stitches to sew everything back together at the emergency room.

 

[Scot43]

Just at daylight one frosty morning I left my pickup and slowly made my way up a hilltop in Kansas ranch country to one of my favorite coyote calling stands. I sat in a position in front of some cedar scrub with the sun rising to my back. I placed my rifle on my shooting sticks and sat there for a moment calming myself after the hike to the stand. I was deciding where I might place my decoy and e-caller when I heard a shriek overhead. I looked up and saw a red-tailed hawk circling with its talon open. It dove into some high CRP grass and hit a baby cottontail. I'll never forget the sound that rabbit made. Then, out of the corner of my eye I spotted a huge apha coyote at about 80 yards staring at the same drama of nature I was watching. I gently moved my shooting sticks and, at the bark of my 22-250, the coyote dropped. I hadn't called or anything. The hawk and the rabbit did it all for me.

 

[drcook]

A friend took me hunting on his family's farm. He had walked around a corner, I heard him shoot and holler.

When I got there, I realized the buck had not been shot in the body. He was hunting with an old Mossberg 500 full choke gun that really didn't place slugs well [Ohio was a shotgun only state at that time].

Turns out he had hit the deer in the base of antler and either broke its neck or knocked it out. The antler was completely broke off and splintered at the base.

I told him he better shoot the deer in case it woke up when he field dressed it.

At the other end of the same place, during a different trip, we found a circle in the woods, 50 to 75 feet in diameter. All the trees had been bent in and broken down to the center, like the spokes of a bicycle wheel. There were no tracks of anything into or out of the woods that could have mashed everything down like that.

It was either a very weird wind burst or E.T. had landed. Strangest thing I ever saw.

 

[rcmodel]

One I still remember from my mis-sent youth is watching two sight hounds chasing a coyote across a big cow pasture.

They were gaining on the coyote by leaps & bounds for the last 200 yards.

Then they came to a brand new, fiddle string tight, 4-strand barb-wire fence!
The coyote went under it without even slowing down.

And the two hounds hit the bottom two wires going 35 MPH!

I swear the fence stretched out like a big rubber-band.
And threw the two dogs back the way they came from about 20 feet, azz over teakettle through the air!

They both got up, apparently unhurt, shook it off, tucked their tails between their legs, and came back to the dog guys truck!

It was like a Road Runner Cartoon, only in real life live action!

Maybe the Acme Barb Wire Fence company made the wire?

rc

 

[scotjute]

Should have stayed in the truck!

Had deer hunted for 5 days in deep woods next to a swamp and not even gotten a shot. Parked the truck up close to the highway and walked about a mile in every day to avoid spooking them. On 6th day gave up hunting, unloaded gun, and walked back to truck at noon. There were 2 deer grazing for acorns about 30 ft from the truck! Naturally they moved faster than I could reload.

 

[Captcurt]

Oops!

I had a bambi come into a food plot in Missouri several years ago. Since this was the first opportunity of the year (plus the freezers was empty) I decided to put an arrow through it. I let go at 20 yards and since the light was fading I could see sparks sneaking through the grass as the arrow skimmed the ground. The deer made 2 jumps and walked away. I knocked another arrow and peered through the limbs to see bambi resume feeding. How did I miss? The deer slowly returned to the original spot and I dropped it. Glancing to my right after leaving my stand I saw the belly of bambi #1. I had killed 2. Not exactly what I wanted to do. I had 2 non-resident tags that had cost me $150. I had to put them on 2 50# fawns. My Missouri bow season was over.

 

[huntsman]

I once shot at a woodcock that I thought I killed but after walking over and bending down to pick it up the bird got up and flew away, I was so stunned I didn't bother to fire again.

Now if we were to include Bigfoot into the discussion...

 

[jerkface11]

The second one was getting bit in the 'nads by a wild sow that attacked me. It took 20+ stitches to sew everything back together at the emergency room.

This is supposed to be bizarre stories not horrifying ones.

 

[ridgerunner1965]

i was deer hunting from a box blind one day and a big male coyote came out at about 150 yrds. i carefully aimed my ruger no 1 30-06 loaded with nosler green ballistic tip 125 grn bullet traveling about 3000fps, right behind the shoulder midway of the body. bang, flop, went back to reading a book.

about 10 min later i look up and the same yote is trotting around sniffing stuff and basically looking unharmed. with my 12 power scope i could see a small spot of blood on entrance side exactly where i had aimed, then as he turned i could see what looked like some meat hanging out the exit side. hmm, i watched him for a few more minutes as he farted around.again looking basically unharmed.

at about 200 yrds he stopped and was faced in my direction. this time i stuck the same load rite between his front legs.dead yote.

upon examination the first bullet was perfectly placed. with a piece of lung hanging out.

i still have no idea how he survived maybe 15 min looking perfectly healthy after the first shot.

the really funny part was the next day i shot another coyote in the same place at the same distance, within 20 feet of where i shot the first, with a 100 rem factory 243 bullet and he never even wiggled was drt.

 

[content]

Saw an 8 point jump into the lake on the run, beautiful sight.
I was amazed he swam the long way across, about 250-275 yards,,,,with hooves...hard enough for me with flippers!

Another time boar hunting a friend and I came across an old bridge with a cable acroos the opening and a sign declaring it was unsafe.

He chucked the sign into the brush an proceeded to walk on across. 1/3 of the way a board broke, he dropped almost out of sight.

His rifle saved him, getting caught between the board in front and the board behind.
Every time I see that dented Winchester 70 I smile and he says "SHUT up about it already".....that was 12 years ago lol.

First thing he did once back on safe ground was replace the sign and scratch into it "seriously" ..lol

All I have to say now is "Seriously" and he cuts me a look, hoping I won't tell the story again,,,,,neither of us will forget that day...I'm smiling right now thinking of it!

 

[natman]

I had a bambi come into a food plot in Missouri several years ago. Since this was the first opportunity of the year (plus the freezers was empty) I decided to put an arrow through it. I let go at 20 yards and since the light was fading I could see sparks sneaking through the grass as the arrow skimmed the ground. The deer made 2 jumps and walked away. I knocked another arrow and peered through the limbs to see bambi resume feeding. How did I miss? The deer slowly returned to the original spot and I dropped it. Glancing to my right after leaving my stand I saw the belly of bambi #1. I had killed 2. Not exactly what I wanted to do. I had 2 non-resident tags that had cost me $150. I had to put them on 2 50# fawns. My Missouri bow season was over.

I once had a similar experience with a turkey. I called in a gobbler and shot him about 25 yards away. At the shot I dropped my box call. I looked down to find it and when I looked up the gobbler had gotten back up to his feet! I was sure I had dropped him cleanly, but there he was standing again. I lined up for a second shot. At the last moment I saw a wingtip flutter on the ground.

I had killed the first turkey cleanly but during the few seconds when I was looking for my call another one had seen the first turkey fall and had come over to establish dominance over him. I nearly shot the second turkey, thinking it was the first one standing again. That would have been awkward because California has a one per day limit.

 

[buck460XVR]

Earlier this spring while Turkey hunting I had a group of three doe come down the dug-way road I was set up on. From past experience, I knew they were coming to the turkey calls. Don't know if it's because deer feel safe with turkeys around or if it's because deer and turkeys eat the same foods, but this happens quite regularly to me. Problem was, I had a Tom responding to my calls and I figured about the time he decided to come in would be the same time the does spooked. Knowing the Tom was a ways off yet, I stood up and waved my arms at the deer, now only 30 yards away. I was hoping to scare them of without too much commotion and then sit back down and finish my hunt. Problem was, the deer didn't have the same idea. My waving arms, instead of spooking them, only raised their curiosity. Next thing I know they are 5 yards in front and pawing the ground....not stomping their foot like an alarmed deer, but pawing the ground as if looking for leftover hickory nuts. Every couple of gobbles I reply back to the Tom and the deer just look at me. Finally one walks around to get downwind of me. Now I figure they will be gone in a storm of hooves and snorts. I'm still hoping the Tom is far enough away he won't notice, but since I don't know exactly how far he is and since it's early spring and no vegetation, I stay still for fear the Tom might see any strange movement. Next thing I know, I hear something breathing in my ear and can feel moist breath on my neck. The doe downwind is now only inches from my head and can surely smell what I am. The Tom is now gobbling only a hundred yards away. I pull my gun into position in hopes somehow I might still get a shot. The deer do not react at all at the movement of the gun.....only stare and paw the ground. I can still hear the doe breathing right behind me. Now I can see the Tom displaying about 70 yards away and then I hear the hen. She's in the field below me and the Tom starts downhill towards her. I compete with her, trying to make her mad and come to me, bringing the Tom with her. It works. Soon they both are almost within range. Then suddenly, the deer see them and race over to them. The hen squawks at them and they paw the ground in front of her. The hen then turns and heads back to the field below with the Tom and all three deer in tow....ignoring my pleads for them to return.


I still don't know what the 'ell was going on there.

 

[Vincent Price]

I once overheard a couple having sex in the woods.

I was hunting for boar from a rather high tree blind one evening in late summer. As the sun was going down I started to hear a strange noise. Of course it turned out it was a woman in passion maybe a 100 or 150m away.

I was totally perplexed and honestly had no idea what to do. Had I been on the ground I just could have left but climbing down the ladder, getting my stuff together and getting it back to the car would have made things even more awkward because they would certainly have noticed me.
I briefly considered shooting into the ground in order to drive them away. That way I could have pretended that I hadn't noticed anything about them and shot at a boar or something.
But I discarded that idea, too. So I really didn't know what else to do and waited it out. Even though I felt rather bad unwillingly intruding into their privacy like that.
At least I didn't hear everything, just the occasional moan when things got exceptionally heated. But that was a seriously awkward 10 minutes or so.

Needless to say they had spooked all the game away that night...

 

[content]

So that was your car Vincent...lol JK

 

[Armored farmer]

Great thread.
It seems that about every story I read reminds me of a story of my own.
Several years ago, while quail hunting, my dog pointed into a thick bramble. I kicked and backed my way in expecting a covey to flush any moment. When nothing flushed I growled at the dogs for lying to me. They insisted that there were birds there. My second effort revealed a red-tailed hawk in the midst of the brambles, clutching a quail in his talons. I pulled the dogs off and sent them on down the fencerow. We went about ten yards a got another point. This time a covey flushed and I killed a bird that had nearly all his feathers plucked off his neck and breast. Further inspection found talon marks too.
I guess I wasn't the only quail hunter there that day.