Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: jhg on October 15, 2021, 10:20:35 AM
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This is more directed at those of you who hunt where there are the big bears, but there are also the cougars and maybe the wolves.
When you go into the timber in the dark or have to walk out late, how do you manage the fear?
I rarely get nervous where I hunt, the bears are black. But sometimes I get the feeling all is not quite safe. I do worry about the big cat sometimes and have had a couple sketchy moose encounters.
Tell us your story and your ways of dealing.
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While we do have a few bears and reports of cougars in this area, they are not a concern. I am bothered more by the possibility of venomous snakes, since I have had a few close encounters.
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I worry more about wolves than anything else. I encounter them fairly frequently while hunting here at school and they just don't have any fear of people. Two years ago I was walking out after an evening hunt in the snow. I turned and looked behind me and could see a dark shape following through the woods about 40 yards back. I turned my headlamp on and there was a big wolf trotting along in my tracks. I swept around and counted 5 other sets of eyes glowing at me from the woods. They followed me all the way back to the truck. That was the longest walk out of my life.
Another time I watched a pair trot through, hit my tracks and turn on a dime and start following them straight towards me. I stood up and told them to get when they were about 30 yards out. They kept right on walking until they were about 20 yards and just stood there staring at me. No sign of fear at all. They eventually circled out around and kept on going.
I believe that like the grizzlies out west, they've learned to associate gun shots with food. Opening day of rifle season a few years ago I shot a buck, gutted him and drug him out to the truck. When I came back for the rest of my gear a half hour later they had already come in and cleaned up the gut pile. For them to move in that fast I'm almost certain they were just sitting up on the ridge watching me work.
Bears don't bother me too much as all we have are black bears. I had a sow charge me this fall and keep me up my tree for a while this bear season, but she eventually backed off once her cubs moved off a ways. I respect bears, but they always seem willing to give me space if I give them space so it's not usually a big concern.
I have not seen a cougar yet, although I have seen tracks. That's not something that I care to run into in the woods either.
I definitely try not to let these encounters influence my hunting or prevent me from doing it. It's just important to keep ones head on a swivel and pay attention to what's going on around you.
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Are you sure that isn't a bigfoot track? Now that would scare me. :biglaugh:
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when I am hiking out in the dark I try to remind myself that I am the baddest Predator in the woods. And it helps that my headlamp last for about 4 hours before I need to change out battery's .
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On the land I used to own, I had bear and timber wolves (personally observed) and suspected mountain lions.
I never worried about it too much, but was always prepared with a handgun or long gun, when walking back in the dark.
Sometimes with a 9mm but mostly a Ruger BH 45 Colt.
I took pictures two years ago of an adult timber wolf and two juveniles. I’m assuming the adult was a female but she was big, larger than most deer around here. Once I saw them, my deer sightings dropped to almost nothing.
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While the worst I could probably expect to encounter in my woods is an angry racoon I have experienced more danger sadly from other hunters. I was walking back to my car from a hunt on private property, treestand on my back, large flashlight in one hand, bow in the other. As I it the trail I picked up movement and focused my flashlight on a hunter with a compound bow pointing at me. Needless to say I was over the top angry and gave the guy a piece of my mind. What happened was he was driving down the road and saw a buck jump the fence into the property I was leasing. He drove his car onto the property and decided it was ok for him to hunt. I bet this bozo also believes in Rudolf because I know if I see a deer with a flashlight, treestand and bow coming at me, I'm done.
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As Pete stated, people are the most worrisome around here. And bags, can’t forget the bats.
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Years ago, before all of NYS was open for bear hunting, I was hunting the local archery club property.
One of the members had a ladder stand out by the 80yd target. He told me he had dumped a bag of corn out there for the turkeys, and was welcome to sit in his stand if I wanted to... Now baiting is not legal in NY, and old woodchucker never was much of tree stand guy. However, there were several wooden benches set around the 3-D course, and 1 of them was out by the 80 yarder..... I stillhunted around the 3-D course trail, and set on a couple benches. I ended up over by the 80yd target and there was the stand. About 5 yards in front of it was a pile of corn. About 20-25 yards away, was a bench. So, I set my butt down for a bit.....
Now, I'm a law abiding bowhunter.... I'm not really hunting "over" bait? If I wanted to, why not climb up in the stand right?? So, I'm sitting there, thinking, and watching, and thinking, and.... Here comes a black dog.
I'm watching this dog coming through the woods, and it's getting bigger.... I think to myself, that's a BIG dog!
I'm thinking it's probly a big Newfoundland like my brother in-law has. Then, it dawns on me.... That Newfy has no tail...?? It's a BEAR.... and a BIG BEAR!!!! He walks in to the pile of corn, plops down on his belly with the pile of corn between his paws, and starts licking it up....
So... there I sit, on a bench, in plain sight, with a bow in my lap, no legal bear season, and it's getting darker....
So, I holler... HEY!! He picks his head up, looks around, and goes back to the pile between his paws.
Well, THAT didn't work. So, I holler again.... HEY BEAR!!!! He picks his head up... and looks at ME!!!
Hmmm? MAYBE this isn't a good idea.... So I think, maybe I'll try and wait him out? It's getting darker....
About dusk, he's cleaned up the pile of corn, then he get's up and wanders back into the woods where had come from. Now, I'm sitting in the woods, in the dark. The dark woods, and the trail out, are in front of me... So is the bear!! Behind me, is a strip of power lines. The still gray sky provides more light, and it's more open... But a tangled mess of briars and wild rose bushes..... The choices are... Ripped to shreds by the briars, or maybe the bear?? I chose the power lines. I reached my truck a ripped, tattered, cut and bloody mess.
But, at least I wasn't eaten by a bear!!! :archer:
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That was a great story Woodchucker !!!
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Guess I really didn’t give it a thought although there are Bears where we used to hunt up north. In Ca. we had mountain lions but really didn’t give them a thought either. They preferred joggers anyway. No wolves so can’t comment. Yotes don’t count here. I am in the “fear man” camp. Still have visions of an article I read back in early 70’s where a guy walking to his tree stand got shot by another bowhunter. He was on the operating table for hours while the docs tried to sew his guts back together. Now that scares me.
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We were mule deer hunting a few years ago. My step son shot a doe at a waterhole. My two brothers and I went back to help him track the deer. When we got to the brush blind by the waterhole that he had been sitting at, we started shining flashlights around to find blood. I happened to shine behind where he had been sitting and saw one pair of eyes at first. I was trying to figure out why the doe would have circled around behind to within about 20 yards of where he had been sitting. I moved a little closer and realized it was a cougar. Then I saw another pair of eyes. It was an adult and a subadult. They just stood there watching us not afraid, not running off. We started hollering at them with little effect. Finally, they just turned and wandered back into the brush. We started tracking the deer through some thicker brush and happened to flash the light behind us. There were the eyes. They were tracking us as we were tracking the deer. We ended up finding the deer and my step son had to finish it off. Meanwhile the eyes had moved around and were behind the area where he had to shoot the deer. He got the deer finished and we drug her out into the open to gut her out. We got her out to the truck, the same truck that had my pistol in it! We went back the next day to check the gut pile. They had eaten a couple of the better parts but had taken all the rest and drug it back into the brush and piled it up neatly for later. That was certainly a memorable encounter. After that, I was a little better about carrying a pistol with me at least for a while. It does help take some of the nervousness away.
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Where I hunt in PA, I have encountered Black Bears, especially in the northern part of the state. They normally run away when they realize that I'm around, so no big deal there, but there was this one time...
It was fall about 5 years ago-early season-& I was hunting a 16 acre wooded parcel that I own up in Warren County. I had made a nice natural ground blind at the intersection of 4 trails that previous winter when I was up there doing some scouting. The trails all ran into very thick stuff-briars & scrub, & I figured that it may be a good bedding area for deer.
So I'm sitting there watching the sunset, and a large female bear emerges from the briars with barely a sound-she's about 8 ft away from me. I wasn't sure what to do next, but when she took a step towards me, it was clear that she didn't see me, so I started talking to her in a low calm voice, hoping to gently get her attention. It worked-she stopped and looked at me, then she made a sound like a loud "WOOF." I then heard and saw 2 cubs rapidly climbing 2 trees about 15 yds away, & thought to myself," so Lord, this is how my end is written in the book? I'm gonna be bear chow?!"
I didn't move-she didn't move-this was probably for 3-5 minutes, but seemed like a half hour. Then she turned around and went back into the briars. I stayed right there and didn't move until well after dark, and after i heard the cubs come back down & the 3 of them move off.
...probably cost me 5 yrs on my life span!
I haven't seen any wolves or tracks yet, but the rumors are that they're coming...also haven't seen any lions or tracks, but have seen photos posted on various forums...maybe they're around, or maybe not..
Even so, I started carrying one of my .357 snubnose revolvers or a compact 9mm after that encounter-not a fan of the extra weight & gear, but I'm thinking that it's better to have it and not need it....
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Some years ago I lived in Montana and had a sheep permit both years in what is now the Absaroka/Beartooth Wilderness area. Back then there was only a slight chance of coming across a Grizzly but there were plenty of lions and black bears. I spent many nights alone, camped usually near timberline and don't recall ever being scared. I return to western Montana app. every other year to fly fish. Where I fish there are plenty of Grizzlies, Black Bears, Mountain Lions and wolves to boot. I am concerned with self preservation as much as the next guy and do carry bear spray but am nowhere close to "fear and loathing".
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I hunt South Texas and what I fear the most are rattlesnakes and illegals coming from across the border. They are everywhere. I always wear snake boots and carry a handgun.....just never know.
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I have a wolf pack on my property. Until they start drinking my scotch or borrowing my bows without asking I don’t worry about them. If anything I don’t want to stumble into a moose lol.
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The wolves that swim can be scary.
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We have a lot of bear and wolves in the area I hunt. Cougars are rare to non existent, though a few have reported seeing cougar, and I caught a glimpse of what I thought might have been a cougar about five years ago.
I don't worry much about bear because they're hunted heavily in the early fall here and usually run at the faintest hint of man. I did have a close encounter with a bear while leaving the woods at dark a few years ago. He finally left when I charged at him after he ignored my verbal persuasion, which I later decided wasn't the brightest thing to do.
Haven't had the type of close encounters that Trenton has had with wolves, though I feel I may have been escorted out of the woods a time or two.
I'm most worried about other "hunters."
Used to feel like I was the toughest thing out there, but now that I'm half way through my 8th decade, not so much. I've taken to carrying bear spray. It's a non-lethal way to handle any of the critters above. Hope I never have to use it.
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These are great stories! Keep them coming!
I like the fish photo, knowing well how savage those things are.
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Embrace being part of the food chain and don't worry.
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Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil.
Faced death too many times to worry about what COULD happen. Just face and adjust as it comes.
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Most of my hunting is in grizzly bear, Black bear, mountain lion, and wolf country. They are there, it is a risk one takes to hunt in wild places. Worrying about any of them too much takes away from the enjoyment of the wilderness. Therefore, I don’t worry about them until they are encountered. Yes, I have had encounters with all of the animals mentioned above, numerous times. How one handles themselves in the woods minimizes the number of encounters. How one acts, thinks, and feels, during an encounter often determines the results. I consider myself fortunate, there must be guardian angle that watches over me through every chance meeting with them.
Here is the link to one of those encounters:
https://www.tradgang.com/tgsmf/index.php?topic=13984.msg224414#msg224414
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I haven't hunted the UP since 2015, the year my Dad passed, and took some of his ashes to one of his favorite spots. My brother and I spent 17 years hunting up there with him, the only time I have ever been spooked in the woods was that year when I was walking a logging trail back to the truck, I saw a wolf 60ish yards away crossing the same trail, it stopped when it spotted me turned trotted about 10 yards stopped and looked back at me, I can still see the look in its eyes, no fear. It trotted away, once I got to the main trail, my brother had made an arrow in the snow with his feet to let me know he was headed back to the truck. I hadn't walked very far on the main trail, maybe 50-60 yards when the pack started to howl, it sounded as though there were 6-8 of them in a semi circle around me, still had about 1/4 mile hike back to the truck, it was the longest walk I have ever made. All this being said, I have to admit, that the songs they sing in their howls are some of the best music I have ever heard, and feel very fortunate to have had that opportunity.
Jason
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For the return to a gut pile.
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.44 snubbie any time I'm in the woods.
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That is an awesome picture!
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I grew up in Alaska and had virtually no fear of bears back then. I spent countless hours in the woods, fishing and hiking and mountain biking and hunting and motorcycling. Then I moved away and spent 20 years in other places. Got married, had kids. Now I'm back in Alaska. For some reason I'm much more aware of the possibility of bear encounters. But I carry a 3.75" Ruger BH .44 mag everywhere, in a chest holster, full of 340 gr Buffalo Bore. But I'm still not the reckless fearless guy I was when I was younger.
While living and hunting in Illinois, I had several times where I was surrounded and followed by coyotes while walking in pitch-black woods, with a mile to walk. And it was not legal to carry a firearm, so I just had to deal with it and face the fear. Nothing ever happened and it was no big deal, but I must admit that I was a bit creeped out every time.
Maybe it's because I'm a dad now and think differently than in my younger years.
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I worry more about man than nature around here. Idk why but I do. My buddy won’t go into the woods with out his 10 MM On his hip. I could carry my gun too but hate the extra weight since I have my stand already on me. So just use a good headlamp and my knife close by. I can’t carry my gun in Ohio so when hunting there it’s not even a option.
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I don't advocate anyone "breaking the law" but...
My NYS pistol license is valid for all of NY state, except for NY city.
DEC Regulations prohibit "carrying a firearm of any description, or being accompanied by a person carrying a firearm"
while bowhunting in NY state. Violation of this regulation, is a ticket, and a fine.
My pistol is always carried concealed, both every day, as while hunting.
I think I'd rather risk the ticket, than my life.... OMMV
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My biggest fear in the woods are the homosapian K-Mart weekend warriors: day or night.
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After following this thread, I can only recall one instance that really made me nervous. Years ago, I had a setter that I was trying to train and was out in the nearby National Forest. The dog did not always come exactly when called, but when we found ourselves surrounded by a pack of wild dogs, Auburn wasted no time coming to hide behind me. That pack showed absolutely no fear of me. They followed us back to the truck and seemed to be a threat all the way back, almost a mile. My shotgun sure was comforting that day. I am somewhat concerned about venomous snakes and sililar threats in the woods, but I was afraid of those dogs.
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My main encounters that caused concern were people and moose.
A bull in rut ran me up onto a huge downfall pile. I threw and hit him in the nose with a chunk of wood the size of my forearm to get him to relent. He circled the heap like a wolf but wouldn't try to climb it (match stick logs). I would have used my .45 on him (point blank a moose is not immortal, there are tougher animals, like elk) If it had gotten worse I would have had to. The pile was an island of safety- if he had breached that it would have been no other choice, you don't out run moose.
I have met a couple certified creeps while hunting and no telling what they are capable of.
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Vermont has always been full of bears. I never feared them. It’s actually comical watching how fast they try to run away from you. :laughing:
However, bull moose in rut… I have been threatened twice (head shaking, ground pawing, snorting etc…) and charged once. (head down running after me). :o
Very scary.
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When I was younger I used to have to walk across the pasture at night after hunting in the swamp behind my grandpas. Theres a lot to be said about wild animals being unpredictable, but I probably worried more about the black and white thing with horns and a ring in its nose than I did bears or anything back then. I hated dealing with bulls, always unpredictable.
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"Them yotes will get ya." said the young guy almost running to get out of the woods. There were quite a few conversing that evening. I was concerned about a cougar that ventured into our area that left some scat and an occasional track. He also showed up on a couple of trail cameras, but i was told that he could be here today and 50 miles from here by tomorrow and never come back. Then two days later, we talked to a kid that jumped one when he was walking back to his pickup that morning. So much for it being 50 miles away tomorrow. Not too sure what to think about cougars that venture into Iowa. A few years ago, the game warden had to shoot one that was getting bossy.
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We’ve got black bears here in parts of Oklahoma, and we’ve seen an increase in the number of mountain lions. But to be honest our biggest problem predators have two legs, people have gotten pretty upset for various reasons out here in the woods. People thinking they own a particular spot of public land, an unknown area of a right of way (happened to me and nearly got the other land owner in a world of hurt), but the most common are narcotics. My grandfather sold a property of his specifically because the drug growing and cooking in SE Oklahoma had become very prolific in that area. That said, I’ve had bobcats stalk me before, and found mountain lion track on top of my own.
Regardless, 2 legs or four, I’ve got “something” with me all the time.
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Michael Arnette--many of you will know him -- has an interesting story to tell about a mountain lion. Wish he would join in....
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We have lions, wolves and bears but mostly I'm afraid of people
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So I grew up hunting in Florida and years or rather decades ago, I went to the management area I hunted and it was pretty flooded. I had a good ways to reach where I had my tree stand and normally the walk is dry with the exception of a few moist areas. Now I have always had this great fear of snakes. Hunting down there, most of the times you would come across moccasins, and every now and then a rattlesnake, however, there are worse things that lurk in Florida swamps. Anyway, its pitch dark around 4:30am and I am heading to my stand. What was normally a mostly dry walk turned into mid thigh deep in the water for several hundred yards - at 4:30am pitch dark, with nothing but my bow in hand. Somewhere in that dark lonely walk, the water about 15 ft away erupted and I knew I was about to be attacked by a gator and would never be found again. That instant the water erupted the chills went down my spine with that oh crap moment feeling. Turns out I stepped on a long branch that was under the water and I guess I put enough pressure on it that the end of it like 15 ft away popped out of the water. But you know how it is when you are in the dark with a spotlight on your head, you only see what you are looking at and everything else is dark and then you hear the water making noise out to the side of you. Well about had to go back to the truck and change my underwear that morning. After that, I decided walking mid thigh deep through a swamp in Florida by myself with only a bow in the dark was not such a good idea or something I ever wanted to do again!
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I give that "pucker factor"..... A "9" !!!!! :thumbsup: :scared: :thumbsup:
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I’ve hunted my whole life and never feared to much. I will say, this year, one particular piece of woods puts the hair up on my neck and a bad feeling in my gut. Can’t explain it but it’s been there three times this year. 🤷♂️
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I have a powerful headlamp and a G20 on my belt.
I've hunt solo for many decades mostly without a sidearm. I think the thing to realize is that you are safer in the woods than on a busy freeway.....
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I'm a G21 guy.....
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When I first started bowhunting I had never heard a Screech owl. The first time walking out in the dark with that noise going off freaked me out. Was a few years before I learn it was a 7" high bird.
Since then I have called in 3 Cougar elk hunting to within 20 yards. Been face to face with momma black bears. Growled at by a Dall ewe because I was to close. Stalked by Coyotes. Nearly run over by a moose. Had a troop of baboons surround me. Snuck up on by a big black bear while predator calling. Found myself on a Brown bear highway and many other wildlife moments. But the scariest thing was standing in my tree stand after dark listening to the night and having a flying squirrel land on my chest out of the dark, that sent me over.. that and the screech owl still send my heart pumping.
How do I deal with the fear? Its irrational but what i think about most walking in or out in the dark is a rogue buck ramming me out of the dark. Like that squirrel!
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Doug, Its irrational but what I think about most walking in or out in the dark is a rogue buck ramming me out of the dark. Like that squirrel!
LOL, my buddy was walking into his bow hunting stand in the early darkness after dosing himself with doe in estrous scent at the truck. Well this horny buck picked up his trail and was dogging him very closely to the point it charged and tried to mount him. Lucky for my buddy there was a group of several smaller 3 inch trees growing out of a clump and he was able to take refuge inside them while yelling at the buck to go away.
When I caught up with him later on, I asked him what all the yelling was about. I about pissed my pants laughing as he told me what happened.