Up late and was reading a piece in an older TBM about listening to the animals in the woods while hunting and how it can help. Obviously wisdom that's been around for ages but not talked about often. I love to listen to the squirrels yell and the birds scold. It's fun to sit still and see what they are trying to communicate.
Thought I might see if anyone out there had any stories about success or interesting events after listening to our friends in the woods!
Skitch,
Having animals give away the presence/movement of game has happened to me more times than I can recall - hunting bears, moose, deer, etc.
Many years ago I had my 8 yr old daughter with me in the woods, not on a hunt but to relocate a tree stand, when we heard a flock of bluejays about 100 yds distant scolding something.
That became a 'teaching moment' as I explained that the birds will scold predators such as owls, hawks, fox, coyote and even large critters moving through.
On a whim, I cow moose called and got an immediate response - a bull! Within 2 minutes the moose was standing 20' away grunting. When he looked like he would continue our way (hidden behind a large tree), I yelled and waved him off. Hannah is grown now but still talks about that encounter.
Yeah, it can pay big time to pay attention to the chatter.
Cool thread. Todd
Blue Jays are famous for letting you know something is around......sometime it's you.....lol
Ron,
So true! In our neck of the woods, the red squirrels too can either be boon or bane!
Todd
LOL, speaking of Reds.......I was still hunting in the Adirondacks, in a thick Evergreen swamp. I came to small opening that looked like a spot to pause.....to look and listen. Three or for minutes into the stop a big red squirrel came down the spruce I was leaning against. About 4 feet over my head he sat on a limb and began to chatter. He went on and on until I couldn't stand it any more.......I took my bow and wacked him. Man did he take off. I laughed to my self and decide to forge on. I took one step into the opening and up jumped a 150 class buck that had been laying 15 yards away in the low seedlings. I saw that buck 2 more times in the next few years but never got a crack at him.
I saw some deer communication on a hunt that still has me baffled as to its complexity.
I pulled my wife's and my treestand to food plot at the end of a huge hollow on a deer cart. I got her set up overlooking the plot, left the deer cart in an old field road behind the plot and climbed a tree overlooking a honeysuckle patch about 50 yards from the plot.
Later I herd deer coming down the hollow toward the plot, there were seven of them if I remember correctly. The deer stopped on the back side of the honeysuckle patch, they sent a sacrificial fawn ahead to check for danger.
The fawn walked down a well worn deer trail and stepped out into the field road near my deer cart. It instantly spied the cart and stood there looking at the it, flicking it's ears and bobbing it's head. It turned and walked back to the main group of deer.
When the fawn got back to the group they formed a circle around it, it proceeded to go through the same head bobbing ear flicking motions.
A big alpha doe left the group and walked down the same trail the fawn had walked back to the field road. She stuck her head out of the honeysuckle thicket, looked at the deer cart then turned and went back to the group.
When the doe got back to the group they formed another circle with their heads facing each other. The big doe went through the same head bobbing, ear flicking routine as the fawn had. In a moment, with a loud WOOF, she led the rest of the deer back up the hollow at breakneck speed.
These deer were communicating on a level I had previously thought to be impossible, pretty strange.......
Very interesting thread.
I hope more chime in and keep it going.
The only hunting communication story I can think of is when my ex used to indicate that I shouldn't hunt so much.
Just Kidding...like Larry the Cable Guy...I just made that up.
LOL
Part of good woodscraft is paying attention to the sounds of animals in the woods. In my area it is mostly squirrels and birds. They have alerted me to numerous deer. Likewise, they have announced me to numerous deer. It is a really interesting and informative aspect of hunting.
Christmas Eve all the animals talk. That's why I never hunted Christmas Eve.
Last season I was watching a couple does as they meandered away from me along the edge of a corn field. a squirrel started scolding down hill in the woods bordering the corn.
It was interesting to watch how much that bothered those does. From head down feeding, to full alert with heads up, ears pivoting around. They turned around and started back my way, but eventually turned and walked deeper into the corn.
This day was cold and quiet until the sun came up and started to warm the tops of the trees.. The squirrels were romping and working the tops. Their work and play turned serious and warning barks and chatters put me on alert, thinking something was coming into my setup???
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d34/kkmorace/IMG_0284_zpsdkorrc0u.jpg) (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/kkmorace/media/IMG_0284_zpsdkorrc0u.jpg.html)
It turned out there was more the one hunter in the trees!
(http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d34/kkmorace/IMG_0281_zps4fnpxchr.jpg) (http://s32.photobucket.com/user/kkmorace/media/IMG_0281_zps4fnpxchr.jpg.html)
This season past I was in a treestand when a gray squirrel started his alarm bark. I could see through the timber to a stand of oak trees where the squirrel perched. Suddenly, a fisher sprinted into the scene and up the oak. The squirrel went suddenly quiet but I couldn't see the outcome.
This ain't the Disney channel.
One evening late in the year I was hunting a ladder stand back in the woods - we had a ton of acorns that year, and the deer were still mopping them up late.
In the last 30 minutes of light, a group of does started working by, and I had no intentions of shooting one that night. So I just leaned back against the tree and tried to hold still.
As the does got within about 20 yards of me, I started hearing really quite "maa - pause - maa." It was a cold quiet night, and the deer started feeding right under me.
For the next 10-15 minutes, they crunched on acorns and bleated ever so softly back and forth to each other.
To top it off, one them audibly let out some gas as a parting shot!
Great thread, Patrick!
The only thing I have to offer (besides about a half a million times the squirrels or tweety birds tellin' on me) on this subject:
I believe it was Saxton Pope's book "Hunting With the Bow & Arrow" where he was talking about hunting with Ishi. (Someone, please, correct me where I get parts wrong) He said that they had paused their still-hunting to listen to a squirrel (or a bird, I can't remember which) making a fuss. Pope asks Ishi what the commotion is about. Ishi replies with something to effect of "Our friend the squirrel is scolding a fox, for being too close to his tree." Pope didn't believe that Ishi knew exactly what the squirrel was saying, so they stalked over to the tree in question, and sure enough, there was a fox near it's base. I thought this story was pretty awesome.
My own personal story, that stands out the most is:
Before I had switched full-time to trad equipment I was still-hunting through an area of a local military installation, and spotted a group of does moving leisurely west about 100 yds. to my south. I noticed the the wind was coming from a mostly south direction, so I decided to give a stalk a try. I don't think I had even moved 10 yds. when the does blew the alarm 2 or 3 times and then exploded out of there to the southwest. I was baffled! I stood there for a long time thinking, "What the hell did I do wrong THIS time?!?!?! The wind was in my face, and there was NO WAY they saw me yet!" I gave up trying to figure out how I screwed up and started to head back west, when I heard a squirrel raising a ruckus just 30-ish yds. ahead. Again, frustrated, I threw my hands up and thought, "I might as well give up today! I can't do anything right!" Then I noticed that the squirrel was in plain view, but facing his vicious bark toward the base of his tree, and NOT towards me. So I sat tight waiting to see what it was that had the little fella so wound up. In short order, I spied one of the fattest bobcats I have ever seen (how he got to be so fat, I really don't know because he seemed to be an even worse hunter than me! LOL), making his way north. I did my best to judge the distance and raised my (unmentionable) bow. Then I realized that I wasn't sure if bobcat was in season, so he got a pass. When I got back to my vehicle, I looked in the reg. book and found that the season had just recently opened....
If only I had been better studied in what critters were legal to kill, and had the skills that Ishi possessed, I would have known what the deal was all along and would have gotten a fine pelt that day.....
QuoteOriginally posted by CoachBGriff:
To top it off, one them audibly let out some gas as a parting shot!
:wavey: :laughing:
Most people might not believe this but I've got it all on video. A couple years ago I passed up a giant buck in late October at 15 yards. Even though he was likely B&C I knew for a fact he was only 4.5 yrs. old. I'd passed him up the year before too and recognized him because he had a broken back/left leg. In fact, I nicknamed him Clubfoot. As big as he was at 4.5, I knew how much antler he put on between 3.5 and 4.5. So I pretty much knew he was really going to be something special when he fully matured at 5.5. So I reluctantly let him walk and just video taped him. He was broadside at 15 yds., kind of flexed his hips, lifted his tail slightly and let one rip and I got it all on tape clear as a bell. I think all animals pass gas but I think this is probably the first time anyone was lucky enough to get it on video both visually and audibly. I plan on sharing the footage someday so hopefully you'll all get to see it. BW p.s. I haven't seen the buck since, so I guess he got the last laugh.
Are you sure it was the deer Barry or is it like blaming the dog...... :biglaugh: :biglaugh:
I think I would have fell out of the tree laughing.
Eric, your account of the head bobbibg does is almost creepy. I wonder how they chose the fawn to be point.
Fatyony, I too remember the accounts regarding Ishi understanding the animals. That would take some serious time in the woods to get that good!
Great stories guys! :clapper:
QuoteOriginally posted by SKITCH:
Great stories guys! :clapper:
I was going to type those words exactly!
Bisch
I love calling animals, from elk to deer to birds while hunting or not.
Best occurance was elk hunting, I followed a heard all morning and finally, lost them. they actually split up and I walked by them. As the herd gathered together again they all were talking. Every elk had a unique voice and language. I sat and listened, actually forgot that I was hunting and just listened. I have called in lots of elk and talk to lots but never had a chance to sit in the middle of a herd yards away from twenty or so elk and had them talk their true language, undisturbed.
If your going to go after some game you need to understand and speak their language. My dog talks to me all the time. Love being out there listening to the animals.
Fat tony, I enjoyed your contribution to this great thread, thank you...
Hey Thumper....I knew you had a trick when it comes to all those Coyotes you take. That damn dog calls them all in for ya doesn't he??? :goldtooth:
Fmscan....Tony's a good guy and he really isn't fat. He should just be Husky Tony!!
Eric...that is some pretty interesting stuff. I agree with RJones above, kinda creepy!!
I have had red squirrels alert me too Turkey and Deer on many occasions. The warning calls go off the chart when a coyote comes through. Their calls go ballistic when a bobcat comes through. You can actually track the coyote and bobcats direction from many other squirrels barking as the predator enters their areas.
I hate when the Grey squirrels start up because I have had them keep the shrieks up for 30 or 40 minutes non stop.
I always pickup my bow and stand up when a Squirrel starts sounding off.
I have recently started to talk to the deer on my property (last 3 years). Everyone you talk to says don't make human sounds but I thought I would try since a photography friend told me he does it (deer wispering). Everytime I see my deer or am sitting in the stand I talk very lightly, to my disbelief the deer that are usually alert totally calm down. I guess animals are not so out of tune with our language.
I have a lot of turkey in my neighborhood and I love to be very still in their midst as a group passes, witness to the almost-imperceptible conversations they have going.
I often find myself involuntarily "Pishing" when I am walking through the woods and hear a faint bird sound or a flit of feathers flying by. It's a sort of universal alarm call for birds, that beckons them to come out to the branch tips and have a looksy at who is making the call and at what it is directed.
I also like sitting and listening to ducks in the fall as they are in the process of pairing up. If you search for Mallard Male Display, you can see videos of them. They have a weird complex pattern of staring each other down and showng off their colors in large groups...and then one breaks and does a neck-bending, peep, while spitting water out to the sides and raising up out of the water...followed almost simultaneously by all the other males in the displaying group.
By studying these duck behaviors, I learned a ton on when to place decoys (throughout the season) into different groupings, so as to mimic what the flocks are doing in the wild. gets even the wariest of ducks to come in for a close inspection.
That's pretty cool MT
Ive been know to mimic Birds, Ravens, Crows, Owls and hawks with my voice or combination of whistles..I have been having fun calling barred owls and great Horned Owls with my voice for years,,now is a perfect time as the great Horned owls are entering breeding season, and I have a blast laying in the snow on a moonlit nite, and call the owls to within feet of my head on an overhead branch, all the while giggling like a little kid, tricking wildlife with nothing but my voice..my friends always ask me to crow call, and I have had fellas say they have never heard a more realistic voice call.
I also use crow calls to communicate with a hunting partner of mine, he uses a raven call in return..we use this while we are still hunting deer or Snowshoe Hare hunting, rather than 2 way radios, something I despise...This is a natural woods sound that does not alarm wildlife..
Snort-Wheeze, Buck Grunts and Doe bleats by voice also come in handy, I use them religiously.
Turkey hen yelps, cackles, and putts/purrs, can be mimicked also...try it! You'll like it!
I've heard Scott above do his calls and he is really quite good at it. I never felt it was possible until I heard him do some of his calls.
No kidding, MT!
I pish in the woods a lot, something I learned from birders.
Stop laughing, you low-lifes!
Went pishing on the VA/WVA border and came up with indigo buntings and rose breasted grosbeaks. Profitable, I thought!
Killdeer
I learned the technique in Ornithology for school many years ago now. Some of the lab practical exams were walk through the woods and fields with a pencil and note paper...Professors would say "that sound there, number 1....that bird there, number 2." last time out we had 37 birds to identify, mostly by sound.
I too mimic lots of birds, part of having to learn them for tests.
I once called some Great Horned Owls in to a campsite my wife (then girlfriend) and I were at... Those two proceeded to finish their "rendezvous" in the branch above us... Maybe 10' up.
Two large birds, making a ruckus like no other, flailing around on a 1" branch... All illuminated by firelight. Romantic.
Around here I watch/listen to the Magpies a lot. They follow Coyotes and let ya know where they are. Sometimes deer too. They have also beat me to a fresh kill.
BlueJays aren't as bad up here about warning everything else you're around. Not like in the Midwest.
Had this happen in MD many moons ago. I had a swamp stand in Cecilton Md. on a leased farm I had. I was getting ready to attempt shooing this 8 pt and getting ready to draw back. Problem I had was this squirrel was looking at me making eye contact in a tree above this deer causing a racket and I was saying to myself whats this thing trying to do alert the deer? He didn't seem to get deers attention until I watched him launch a nut at the deer and hit his back. That got the deers attension and the deer jumped and looked around. The deer was angled just enough not to present a shot so I had to let off and say no shot. The deer moved off at that point and there wasn't a peep out of this squirrel following that. That day this squirrel accomplished saving his brother from getting an arrow.LOL
Great stories, thanks for sharing!
QuoteOriginally posted by fmscan:
Fat tony, I enjoyed your contribution to this great thread, thank you...
My pleasure! I'm glad I was able to contribute.
QuoteOriginally posted by RJonesRCRV:
Fatyony, I too remember the accounts regarding Ishi understanding the animals. That would take some serious time in the woods to get that good!
Absolutely. I told my ex-step daughter this story just last night, and she made an observation that I had missed: Ishi spent a few YEARS completely alone (at least without any HUMAN contact). They say that the best way to learn a language is complete immersion into that language. I would say that immersion doesn't get any more complete than being the only person around.