I was out this morning doing some stump shooting, trying to learn the land around my property. Now mind you, I'm new to hunting/scouting/archery. This is my first time out beyond my 5 acres.
I found this plot that was grown in but was cleared some years ago and found some mud tracks from trucks and it rained last night, so I followed the trail and found some different prints in it, some deer some that looked like bear and some canine looking tracks.
As I went up further the logging trail, it branched hard right and opened up into a rolling hill to my left and a huge field/clearing. I stood up on a stump and just listened and looked out across the field and out of nowhere I hear this loud exhale sound, I have a hard time describing it, was like when you breath out of your nose hard with your teeth clenched, I know it sounds crazy but almost a tiny pissed off elephant tone(I know it's not an elephant, I'm new but not dumb :p ). And it was repeated about 3 or 4 times, and about 6 feet of the brush/saplings about 35 yards to my 3 o clock was shaking violently. This thing sounded like some type of large mammal, and it sounded mad.
I'm out there with only my bow, with judo's and a knife on my hip..so my hearts pounding I hold my groun don the stump for a few seconds to try and get a visual on what this thing is..well I did'nt. I ended up stepping back slowly, and making my way back the way I came.
I'm curious if this behavior/sound is familiar to anyone, I know it spooked me a bit. I live in southern, centralish New Hampshire.
I plan on going back maybe tommorrow and looking at the area where the violent movement was, and see for scrapes of some sort. If anyone has any idea's I'd appreciate it, and I'm thinking I may have to carry a side arm to stump shoot now :/
Any suggestions?
A good pistol is usually a good idea if you're going to be out in the woods on your own. The behavior you described could be attributed to any number of things, but given your location I would guess it was a small bear. When they feel like they're in danger, one of their warning signs is a loud huffing noise, followed by popping jaws and visual cues.
You probably just surprised it and it was letting you know you were too close. Next time, be sure and make a lot of noise when you're walking, let everything know you're there so it has time to get away.
Just my thoughts.
:scared: BIGFOOT :scared:
Lol, I figured when I was describing the sounds people will think I was talking about big foot. I figured I'd throw it out there and see, bear seems to be the general concensus. I'll have to find some sounds on the internet of a po'd bear.
Just found an audio clip of an angry bear, and it made the same noise. Thanks for the help, and now I'll be more careful.
Any time. You might invest in a good can of pepper spray. Your local sporting goods store will have the bear stuff. It's been said that it works better than a gun, in some cases.
Sounds to me like a deer blew at you (snort). A bear "woof" doesnt sound like "blowing through your nose". And, if a bear "woofed" at you he probably would'nt have stuck around and did it multiple times. Usually its "WOOF" and they are gone.
What you describe most likely is a deer snorting at you. Its common for them to blow multiple times at something they are not sure of.
Or, you can go with your first thought and believe it was a monster roaming the woods of NH. :scared: :scared:
haha, monsters near my house! I'll look into some of bear pepper spray, after hearing that clip of the angry bear..that is exactly what I heard. It did it 4 times, then I started backing up and adrenaline kicked in as I stepped back I stopped for a bit to listen and did'nt hear anything after. So maybe he warned me and then took off.
Not a bear, Like Jashu said deer snorting at you. Rookie mistake!!
Get used to it because it won't be the last time :biglaugh:
Tracy
Racoons make all kinds of crazy noises. They can sound like dogs/bears/and fighting cats or crying babies.
next time just shoot an arrow into the bush! :archer2: :nono:
Sounds more like a Deer than a Bear from your description. No teeth popping or woofing sounds, just a "blow". I say Whitetail.
Them does will blow and stomp trying to get you to move if they have winded you and can't figure out where you are. But being in bear country it could have been either.
Deer snorting for sure. Bears are more likely to run like heck in the other direction without making a sound except for crashing branches as they're hauling a$$!
My best guess is a deer or even, perhaps, a moose. However, if it was a moose you probably would have seen it. The others are correct....there's a big difference in what a bear or deer sound like and bear do not make multiple woofs. What town in NH do you live in. I'm in Epping,
Sure sounds like a deer to me. As stated earlier, bears 'woof' once and then boogie, as a rule. If it was an unhappy bear, you may very well have heard the 'popping' of his/her teeth, as well.
Iam 99% sure u had a deer blow at u.A bear will woof once usually and b gone.
I'm out in New Boston. The closest thing I've heard was a video of a cub in a tree in a suburban area and he was all types of upset. I don't know if I can link it here (if we are allowed.) I'm not going to second guess you guys, since you have the experience. But it sounded very close to the way a bear cub was wailing while up in a tree.
Can we post links to video's here? If so I'll post what it sounded like.