Trad Gang

So I'm sitting in my ground blind tonight, ghillie. suit on, waiting for a deer to leave the bedding area with enough shooting light left, and all of the sudden, all kinds of little birds start chirping, and swarming the branches around me.  then one decided my Eclipse tipped douglas fir shaft was to cool looking not to land on it.  sat there for a good 10 seconds bouncing back and forth, then flew off with the flock.

I'm sure this has happened to others, but this was my first time.  I thought about the guy who caught it on camera, and wondered how he managed to get the pic.

what cool stuff has ever happened to you guys when out hunting?

A few years back I was in the UP for a late October hunt.  It was a cold gray dawn with a light snow falling and absolutely no wind.
 As I sat in my treestand I had this feeling I was being watched.  I happened to glance up and to my left, and not 15 yards away was a Snowy Owl perched in a tree watching me.  Coolest thing I've seen sitting in a tree..  I'm sure he was trying to figure out how really big that squirrel was!

A few years ago while setting in the stand I was watching a squirrel mess around when all of a sudden everything got quiet and he just froze in his tracks. I thought this was odd, so I gave him my full attention when out of nowhere the squirrel jumped straight up with a big ol bobcat right on his tail. I never even seen the cat setting there, it was the coolest thing ever!!! The squirrel got away but then the kitty just looked up at the squirrel while he was barking his head off then it was like he shrugged his shoulders and just walked off.

The last two years I sat in my treestand and watched a mink hunting thru the brush.Very cool.

Several years back I was hunting the edge of a wheat field.Earlier that mourning I had seen an eagle flying around the field.I doin't see many eagles in my area but knew they were around.The eagle had been gone for sometime when I see it flying toward me.It was going to land close to me in a tall pine tree.The eagle started kinda back peddling with its wings,its claws looking to grab a limb about the size of your arm.The limb broke off and started falling with the eagle hanging on to it.For a short period of time the eagle was actually upside down falling with this tree limb in its grasp.Seemed like slow motion and with just feet to spare the eagle let go of the limb and sailed out across the wheat field only a few feet off the ground.It was really cool to see and will never forget it.

I had a Great Horned Owl land on the same limb that I was standing on a number of years ago while bowhunting. Those things are HUGE! I was sure glad when he took flight and left me on the limb alone.

That's cool Mike. Makes you feel like one with nature.

I was still hunting once on a cold windy and snowy January day. I was creeping from one tree to another when a. Big gust of wind blew up. One of those kind that makes for a temporary white out condition. I caught movement up and to my left and when I looked  I saw a Red-tailed hawk soaring down thru the snow blown tree tops. It was so cool to see the snow move around him due to the air flow from him soaring. Suddenly I realize his talons are out and he is thinking the tree stump looks like a nice place to land. I WAS THE TREE STUMP!  He came at me till our eyes locked and he swooped directly over my head. I could've reached up and touched him easily and I could feel the rush of air as he flew over. It was one of the coolest things I've ever witnessed. Looking back it was to close for comfort but what a great memory!!!

I had a chipmunk pounce on my Dyer moccasins last month while still hunting.  That was a great victory for me, as my still hunting skills are fledgling.  Great fun.

Tom

Last year while deer hunting I had a hen turkey fly and land on a limb 5 ft above my stand. I got pictures and video of it on my old phone. I almost stood up and grabbed it.

Some years ago a bunch of birds came in pretty much like you described. One landed on my longbow and just slid right off the end. It looked like a cartoon with all his wing fluttering. My stand was not very high so He fell almost all the way to the ground. His wings were a flurry of motion as he frantically tried to get airborne again, but he finally did. I had a good laugh over that one.

I have had several other birds land on me or my arrow, but this guy is the only one that got all excited about it.

I did have a squirrell jump in my lap once, and he bolted very quickly when he realized something was wrong. That one uneased me, because I knew a guy once who got bitten by a squirrell, but foolishly he tried to pick it up. I may be dumb, but I ain't stupid, so I kept my fingers out of the way.

My Dad and I had a Tektite fall into a canyon we were climbing out of one night while hunting. It lit up the canyon with a blue green light ,similar to the blueish light an Arc welder puts out. We could even hear it sputtering on the way down. Talked about that one for a few years I'll tell 'ya!!

Last season in early October I got to watch a big ole hawk pester the heck out of a bunch of squirells in my little block of woods. The best part is he kept landing about 10 feet up on my tree to use it as a vantage point. Also yesterday morning I had a red fox come trotting in to about 30 yards. I've never been that close to one before.

I was sitting on a downed tree leaning against a part of the trunk that was still standing (maybe 10 feet tall).

It was snowing but not white-out conditions, I was just sitting there taking it all in really enjoying the serenity of the moment.

Something caught my eye and I looked up at what I thought at 1st was a falling leaf being blown toward me but it turns out it as a flying squirrel and he landed just above my head.

Strange looking little critters up close.(huge eyes)

I can still remember the pleasure I got from those few moments.

God bless,Mudd

Several years ago in central New York, we arrived to camp late in the day.  As the sun set, the moon was full, with wispy clouds moving by, and the wind whistling in the pines.  We could have filmed a horror movie that night.  After finishing up dinner, we heard a screaming sound and a bunch of coyotes barking and growling.  The following morning we found a deer skull and spine, still covered in fresh blood.

We didn't see any deer after that.

A few years ago I was sitting in a tree watching some squirrels chase each other on the ground about 30 yards away.  From what seemed like out of nowhere a blur of what turned out to be a bobcat came rushing in, chasing the squirrels.  One of them started up a tree and the cat went about 8 feet up and caught it.  When the cat hit the ground, the squirrel was limp between its jaws. The bobcat walked toward my tree, and when it was about 10 yards away it looked up at me with the squirrel in its mouth.  It then slowly walked up the mountain, heading for someplace to enjoy its evening meal.  
The speed at which this all took place was incredible, and something I'll never forget.

two weeks ago i built a ground blind with my backing being a big oak that was recently cut by a timber company and i cut several sweet gum limbs and placed them around me several feet away to give me enough room to "sprawl" out(it was hot and i was tired   :D   ). i was sitting 2 feet from the end of the stump where the logger cut the base of the oak because it was big and would hide me with plenty of limbs front and back. well right before dark i feel/hear my blind moving behind me. it was so close I couldnt move. after 2 minutes went by and silence i veeeery slowly moved my head around and there was a spotted fawn in between the end of the trunk and my sweet gum limbs i had stuck in the ground 2 hrs before. it was close enough i couldve taken my arrow off my rest and stuck her/him in the heart. talk about a rush. didnt have a clue i was there. it was the closest i've ever been to a live deer in the wild. it just walked on thru and went and ate under my persimmon i was hunting.

A few years ago I was turkey hunting out of my blind with a single hen decoy out. A hen came in and was just feeding around the decoy when all of a sudden a shadow passed over and a hawk swooped down and attacked the decoy. The hawk must have realized something was wrong and flew up into a small tree nearby. The live hen ruffled up her feathers and started squacking and ran right at the hawk and it flew off.
  The poor hen was visably shaken and walked all around the decoy, clucking and very distressed. She finally wandered off down over the hill but in a few minutes came back and went through the routine again. I surely enjoyed it.

I've got a couple. A couple of years ago I was in a stand my Dad and I built. An owl flew in and landed in a tree about 15yds from me. I thought well thats cool. I was fully camoed with a mask on. The owl saw me looking at it so it flew in to 5yds. I said to myself this is too cool. Well then it flew in and perched on a limb of one of the trees the stand was nailed to. I started to get a little uneasy then. So I got the big idea to jump at it to scare it away. Well this owl had no fear it just puffed up its feathers and gave the look to say big guy you do that again I'm going to claw your eyes out. So intimated I sat back down and 5min later it flew away.

The other was on the first morning of season this year. I got in my ladder stand before daylight. It was just getting to where I could see when I started to hear a sound that I've never heard before and it was close. I'm almost def anyways so I knew if I heard it it was real close. I kept looking around and couldn't see nothing. Then i caught a glimpse of movement  in a tree just to my left where my bow and pack were hanging. I looked and a coon was looking around the tree eye level with me. You talking about uneasy. I knew if that thing jumped on me it was a fight I was going to lose. I just froze. It played peek a boo with me for a minute or two and finally climbed down and left. A couple of fun experiences I can tell my kids about.

I had a red fox mark the tree I sat in one time. That was an awesome experience.

Sitting in a climber once, and I heard rustling leaves on the ground. I spotted a water moccasin and just then, it struck and snatched a frog. Pretty neat to see.
I hunt from a 4 legged platform stand. One day, a small kite or kestrel type hawk was perched on it. He flew off when I climbed up. On the platform was literally hundreds of insect parts. On closer inspection, they were mostly the heads praying mantis. Found that a little weird.

Kook68~"On the platform was literally hundreds of insect parts. On closer inspection, they were mostly the heads praying mantis. Found that a little weird."

I would bet that the heads were from male praying Mantis as I've read that the breeding female will behead their male partners after breeding.

I guess we men can all be grateful that things don't normally go that route for us...lol

God bless,Mudd

Had a couple things happen.When i used a tree stand seen an albino squirrel and about 2 years ago seen a decent sized bobcat hunting it's way through the woods and several years back while out scouting seen an almost black colored deer.

That's funny Mudd!
Actually, I think the bird was eating them. Evidently, he didn't care for the heads.  

I've watched a flock (or gang) of turkey fly across a field and then swoop up and land in the tree with me and the surrounding trees.  I was sitting up in the branches without a stand.  Closest one was 10' from me.

Another time I watched a vulture try to land in the top of a pine near my stand.  For some reason, the limb too small or he missed, instead of landing he tumbled down bouncing off limbs all the way to the forest floor.  He looked around as if to see if any of his friends had seen him look foolish and then walked away.

Last year on a moose hunt I arrowed a nice ruffed grouse.........bowled him over with a tarantula head and then out of nowhere a lynx grabbed the grouse, looked at me like I just insulted him,(typical cat) swapped ends and exited stage left at a brisk run.......taking "my" grouse with him. I had to eat bacon and sausage for supper in camp that night instead of the chicken dinner I had planned.  :knothead:    :D  
Darcy

Great thread  :thumbsup:  
I have two that come to mind. The first one was three seasons ago. I was hunting on the ground watching a few grey squirrels going about their daily business and really enjoying watching them. After about two hours of this one got really skiddish and treed itself. The other one wasnt so lucky and before it made it to the nearest oak a hawk swooped down and got it. The quickness and intensity of the moment is something I will never forget. Another memorable hunt is from about 10 years ago when I was hunting in a stand of pines that overlooked a clover field. One particular pine offered great cover and natural shooting lanes if I backed myself against the trunk. On this night a doe and a fawn were feeding in the clover. I had every intent on trying to harvest the doe but she knew someting wasn't right. The fawn didn't have the same instincts and its curiosity brought it under the pine boughs I was standing in less than a few feet away from me. It tried all it could to make me move, bobbing its head in and out of the tree, but I didn't move. Finally I couldn't take it anymore and let out a chuckle, that poor fawn almost died of a heart attack as it reversed ends and got out of there.

A few weeks ago I was hunting in one of my hang-on's overlooking a small field, I had been watching the usual squirrels and chipmunks to pass the time when I heard something behind me moving through the leaves that sounded more like a deer's calculated footsteps rather than a chipmunk scurrying or a squirrel hopping around. I slowly turned my head and didn't see anything (not very thick so if it was a deer I would have seen it). I turned back around, a few seconds later I heard it again, I again slowly turned to see nothing! This went on for about 5 minutes finally I stayed turned looking to where I thought the noise was coming from and I heard it again but this time I could zero in on the exact location and still didn't see a thing!!!! I focused on the 2 foot area where I was sure the noise was coming from when suddenly I caught movement.... It was a box turtle!!!! Funny thing is this is the second time this has happened to me!!!

Keep em coming!!! This is great!!

1. This year I had a red tail hawk land in a near by tree.  we set up there together watching the forest floor together.

2. While in a tree I was inspecting a blistered toe.  stood up to get a warmer hat out of my pack.  I had one hat in one hand and another hat in the other hand one shoe on one shoe off and looked down there stood a BEAR at 10 yards... nothing I could do...

I had an otter in a tiny creek under my stand this morning by Mt Sterling Illinois.  Took a few cell pics and video. Most wouldn't believe it. Saw a 10 pt while I watched the otter...

Scary stuff that has happened to me:
Flying Squirrels landing/bouncing on me or tree
  at dark.
Great Horned owl lands on limb a bow length away.
Fox Squirrel climbs off shoulder.
Mt.Lion stalked up on me while I rattled bucks.

Funny stuff Seen:
Two Squirrels are at the top most branches of a mighty oak. they are fighting and really tearing it up. I watch them chase each other for a few minutes and then all goes silent,I watch them fall through every branch and leaf on that tree until they bounce off the ground. They get up and shake themselves abit and walk off in different directions.

Cool Stuff:
Otter in the pond behind my stand. Not many around Clinton county.

Always cool to be pout thats for sure.
good thread Mike

best part of all these, is you will never see it sitting on a couch.

I spent a long time one day watching a fox hunt mice in the snow.  He would listen and then pounce, listen and pounce, over and over agin. His red fur against the white snow was just beautiful. He had no idea I was there.

A squirrel took me for a tree trunk and climbed on me and up the tree I was against!

I had a 6 point buck standing broad side at about 20 yards holding my bow in ready position. Just then all of a sudden a chickadee landed on my arrow peeping, Your Not Gonna Shoot That Buck Are You! He was there about 30 seconds and flew away. Actually i was going to let the buck pass the whole time. It was a pretty cool moment and i got a good chuckle out of it.  :)

Several years ago I was glassing late afternoon for mule deer on a ridge I like too hunt. Around a dozen does and fawns along with 5-6 bucks got up around 5:00 to feed. I just sat there glassing from 500 yards away with the spotting scope, hoping to see a big buck get up.

I watched for quite a while, waiting for anything else to get out of their beds, maybe a big one. Suddenly, all the deer stared to the south of the ridge. I glassed that way and saw a lion slowly stalking them. Once it was 100 yards or so from the deer, it took off on a run at them. The deer scattered everywhere, and the lion got within just a few feet of catching one.

After the dust settled, I saw the lion go into a small patch of trees, but never came out. I had a tag in my pocket, so I tried calling it with my voice, using a deer distress sound. (I call many coyotes with that) Anyway, I never saw the lion again.

I will probably never see anything like that in my life again. That was pretty darn neet!

Ok ,I'll type after a few beer: My hunting buddy and I set up about 75 yds apart well before daylight. Got up in my stand and a great horned owl lit about 5 feet from me . I wiggled my finger like a worm and he locked right on me . I figured wow we can see real good in the dark . about 5 minutes he flew off . At lunch , my buddy says "hey an owl lit on a tree neear me in the dark...i wiggled my finger and he locked on me ....i thought I was dead so i quit moving my finger..." I laughed and told him the story of the previous 20 minutes that morning.  
  I was not on this hunt but believe the story as gospel. Same hunting partner shot a squirrel from treestand....seconds later a red tailed hawk swooped down to claim the squack. took him 10 minutes of effort to dislodge the arrow from ground then flies off. Another good friend and hunting partner a 100 yds down the ridge looks up and sees a hawk with a brightly fletched arrow visisble ??? the texts insue then lots af laughter in the treestands

watched 2 porcupines doin it ! ......LOL ..... believe me the males is very careful !!!

On a bear hunt in New Brunswick I was sitting over a bait and 2 Ravens landed in the same tree as me just over my head....maybe 2 feet away. Stayed there for 5 minutes....I never knew how vocal they can be, really neat!

QuoteOriginally posted by Rick Perry:
watched 2 porcupines doin it ! ......LOL ..... believe me the males is very careful !!!

:biglaugh:    :laughing:

It was on the Second Day of Fall Turkey Season, trying out some Brandly New Land to me, and as I was sitting there, trying to look like a Bush, I watched a Good Sized doe come creeping through the woods to my left. She was Very Cautiously stepping closer and closer to where I was sitting!
  She got within about 10 yards of me, when the wind changed, she stuck her nose in the air just about the time she stuck her tail in the air, spun on a dime and was gone in 2 Huge Leaps!! Beautiful Animal, and just awsome to sit and watch her. must have told the Turkeys where I was too, didnt see a one the whole time I was there! Thats ok, it was a Great Day just to be Alive and in the Woods!! Thanked God for that Moment too!!

Some neat stories.

A few years ago I was hunting mountain goats and watched a stand-off between a large male black bear and a nanny guarding her kid.  A friend and I were on the top of some cliffs above them, and watched the bear slowly work his way closer and closer.  The nanny wasn't having any of it and ran him off after a bit.  I was disappointed and embarrassed for the bear !

Also a few years ago had an eagle land a few yards away from me when I was camped on a little 50-some foot high knob above a glacial river flat, waiting for a brown bear to show.  Got a pic of that one.
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(http://i258.photobucket.com/albums/hh271/chinook907/rszdEagleclose.jpg)

Someone Whooooo was checking me out while scouting this year.

 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/Stumpkiller/DSCN0645.jpg)

 (http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v169/Stumpkiller/DSCN0641.jpg)

Great stories. Here's mine
Was on stand one morning when i saw my first otter come slinking through the woods  looked like an animated slinky and took me a few secounds to realize what i was seeing. A murder of crows came over giving it to a hawk.  Hawk and about 10 crows all light in tree and crows  keep insulting the hawk. I turned back to look at the otter and he is gone. When the hawk makes a break for it the crows follow and mr otter reappears and heads on his way towards the only water i know of, about half mile away.

These kinds of stories are awesome.  They are examples of what most non-hunters do not experience or understand, and are exactly why there is no better place in this world for me than the woods.

For me several are similar.  One of my earliest hunting memories was rifle hunting on the Vt/Can border with my late father.  He woke me up to a chickadee sitting on the front sight of his Remington.  Little guy danced on that barrel for the longest time.  

Since then many chickadees and tufted titmice have made me or my bow/arrow into a temporary perch.  Have had squirrels run up my legs in the treestand, and have watched mink, fox and coyote all hunting below me.

On two occasions have had raptors cause me to almost fall out of the tree.  Once an owl, the other a goshawk. Both of whom must've thought my wool hat looked tasty!

It is amazing what else you might see beyond the animal you are hunting. That stuff is frequently more rewarding than watching your fletching disappear in an animal.

Sitting at the base of a tree once with my legs stretched out in front of me, I saw movement to my right. It turned out to be a red fox trottin toward me. He never saw me and jumped right over my legs. I was young and kinda freeaked out by it but after it happened, i realized how cool it was.

Really cool Barn Owl Charlie......   :thumbsup:    :notworthy:

I had 2 caribou hanging in my garage.  My pregnant wife walked out and started around the car and had several bald eagles standing in the garage and they would not move.  They probably thought they had the upper hand.  Shevretreated

a few years ago when i was in BC canada working for an outfitter i was laying under a huge spruce tree at the bottom of an avalanche slide watching for black bears. i small bird landed on my leg and stayed there for a few seconds. that made my day.

Several years ago while turkey hunting I had myself in a comfy sitting position at the base of a tree trying my best to look like a bush. Soon a hen was coming my way with two Toms, trying their best to impress her, about twenty yds behind. My plan was to let her get to a trail in front of me and then turn towards the field to my left with the toms in tow. When she got to the trail she kept walking towards me so I lowered my head to hide my exposed eyes. Next thing I know there are a pair of turkey feet right in front of my boots. Being curious you know I had to look. I slowly raised my head till I was eye to eye with this hen not two feet in front of me. It took her about a half second to realize there were two eyeballs staring at her from the bush! No lie, I actually heard her gasp as she fell backwards. She scrambled to her feet and took off puttin' the whole time. Of course the Toms followed but I was to busy with a full on belly laugh to care.

I must repeat Mike, you have started a very interesting thread. Lots of squirrel storys and as aggrivating as these little critters can be they offer us hunters a lot of entertainment during those long hours waiting. Back in the mid 80's I was hunting up a tree with my quiver fixed in an additional bracket attached to my stand. I heared a soft flutter over my right shoulder and slowly turned to see a hummingbird with it's bill stuck into one of my flourescent nocks. Hate it had to leave hungry!

I was using a downed tree top as a ground blind,when a rabbit decided he was going to chew a hole in my rubber boot.I wiggled my foot,it jumped back and eyeballed me,then came right back and started chewing the boot.It took me reaching down and tweaking one of his or hers ears,while telling it boots are'nt cheap.It did'nt come un-glued,but slowly hopped out of the brush pile and out of sight.Still makes me smile.
Leland

Yesterday I was sitting in my treestand and a chickadee landed on my shoulder, moved to my bow, and then finally flicked onto my arrow shaft. I moved my head just slightly and the little guy just about did a backflip, flew off and scolded me from another tree. I thought it was pretty cool. Must be getting better at holding still!

last night I heard the snap of a branch, turned around and much to my surprise was a piebald buck.... never seen him in this area and certainly hunt hard.  Really a beautiful animal to see!

The ever present chipmunks were racing up and down a batch of fallen trees behind my tree stand.

I "felt" more than heard something and turned my head slowly... a Red Tail was on one of the logs--Looking for chippies.

He hopped down on my side of the fallen log...took that great wing and stretched it over the top of the log to the other side...then would tap the wing and peer under the log as it moved forward along the log, trying to chase out a chippie with it's wing tip to it's waiting beak on this side of the log!

Where do they learn this stuff???

Some of my most memorable:

About 20 years ago, I was squirrel hunting on some family land. I was sitting on a stump and had 4 or 5 bushy tails laid out on a downed log next to me, within an arms length. I was quietly sitting there, and heard a noise right behind me. The next thing I knew, a big red tailed hawk was making off with two of my squirrels. His wing actually knocked my hat off.

Later that fall, in a nearby spot I was sitting in a deer stand. A huge flock of grackles (a black bird) came in, landing all around me. They were on practically every limb around me, some within a couple of feet of me. Every few seconds or so, they'd all leave in unison, fly around in unison, and come right back. I immediately noticed a bright green bird, flying around with them. It was a parrot. I guess someone's pet got loose.

When I lived in Alaska, I was on a moose hunt in Southeast Alaska, near St. James Bay.  I was taking a nap under a big spruce tree, an was awakened by a big tug on my foot. I sat up and was face to face with a young black bear.  The eyes about bugged out of his head, and I'm sure mine did to. Fortunately, he hightailed it out of there. Earlier, I had been poking a dead salmon with the toe of my boot, and I think he thought I must have been something good to eat.

Earlier this season, on a particularly warm day, I was sitting in a ground blind hoping to get a shot on a whitetail. I heard some scratching and rustling behind me and assumed it was a rodent of some sort. A few seconds later, I saw some movement out of the corner of my eye about a foot from my head. It was a huge black rat snake. He had to have been at least 5 feet long. He stretched himself out on one of the limbs I had made my blind out of and licked (smelled) my bow as he crawled past. I let him sun himself for a little while, but when I moved to stretch myself, he crawled off.

Last season, I had a grey fox jump over my feet after I blew a little squeaker call.  He didn't hang around long.

Many years ago I was sitting in a washed out area watching an apple tree from an old homestead in the mountains of NC. I fell asleep. I awoke a while later to find a chipmunk nibbling on something sitting on top of my left knee. Not sure who jumped more, but it sure was cool.

My buddy saw a bobcat kill 3 squirrels in a row while deer hunting, efficient!

I rode my mountain bike up to a mountain lion in CO while elk hunting, both unsuspecting!

I was napping on a mountain in CO when a sow (big...aren't they always in stories) and 2 cubs walked in on a buddy and I, about 10 ft before retreating. That will wake you up quicker than a cup of coffee.

Turkey hunting a box turtle walked up to my feet, checked me out, turned and walked off.

From the ground I missed a big 4 yr old buck in MI with a longbow at age 17. After a retreat of a few steps, he turned, bowed his head and charged as I drew another arrow from the back quiver and shot him at about 7 yds through the inside of the shoulder, the pocket by the neck. He didn't like that and ran off about 50 yds and tipped over. I didn't think, just reacted. It was peak rut, and I was sitting in the middle of a field on a fence row, which was littered with scrapes in fresh snow.

Hunting squirrels with a friend in the Ozarks of Missouri...long time ago. Seated against a stone outcropping, just as it was getting dusk when a very loud high pitched scream went off right above me.....

Without another single thought I was running out of those woods on a trail....I passed animals that looked at me with open mouthed total astonishment since only the very tips of my toes touched the ground......

Then I heard it gaining on me from behind...ran faster...

then my buddy passed me on that trail like I was standing still.

We went back the next day and got our stuff.

I have been very fortunate to see some pretty cool things.  I have had a squirrel sit on my knee, a grouse in my blind, an owls wing sweep over my shoulder as he dived for a squirrel on my bait pile, a bobcat sneek past me at 35 yds, I have seen bucks fight and breed doe's, red fox right underneath me but the greatest thing I have ever seen while hunting was when I saw my daughter and my son harvest thier first deer while hunting with Dad.  I still have one more daughter who needs to punch a tag and she is very determined to do so.  But that I would say is the most magnificent thing I have ever seen!  It only happens once for the first time and those hunts are burned into my memory forever.  Take your kids hunting!

Adam

Russ Clagett,
That is some funny stuff right there. I could just picture that in my mind, and had me a good chuckle.
Adam,
I couldn't agree more! My son is still waiting on his first ( he is 13 ), and I'm looking forward to the day it happens. Dosen't matter though, I still love to be in the woods and on the water with him!!

Love these kind of threads!

Jason

Owl grabbed a squirrel never heard a critter scream like that before. Another time a bobcat jumped up in tree after squirrel I watched the cat seak up there for 20 minutes he missed and went home hungry.

I was duck hunting in a blind built in between two cypress trees, boat pulled up the bank behind me. I saw something swim towards me, blowing bubbles under the water. It was an otter. It made it's way to the bank behind me, propped it's front paws on the front of my boat, and sniffed around for a minute, then turned and went about it's business. I have been fortunate to see quite a few up close. They are very curious animals.

Earlier this season I had a squirrel running around picking up acorns while I was waiting to try and take a shot at him when I hear a crunch beside me. I look down on my stand and there is a squirrel sitting on the back of my ladder stand eating acorn watching me... He saw me move looking at him and ran off and down the tree some 20 yards out I start trying to get a good shot on him when I hear the same crunch I look back. Sitting there in the same spot as the previous squirrel is another eating and acorn watching me!He left and I figured the squirrels had won the battle for the day and returned to my seat to wait for a deer!

Just the other day a squirrel came up a limb and when he noticed me he jumped on and off my arrow that was nocked on my string and and knocked the arrow off  my bow.

While Turkey hunting I had a family of Sandhill Cranes walk by. Not just walked by, the two adults walked within a foot of my feet, and the babies, about 12" tall and all fuzz, scampered around my leg, in between my legs, and then around again.  The adults make a calming rumble noise to assure the chicks there is no danger.  I felt a little nervous, they are ALL BEAK, NECK, AND WINGS.  I would imagine they can get ornery if necessary.  They are extremely wary and I don't know of anyone getting so close to wild ones.  They have made quite a comeback in MI.

So many memories over the years. Watched a golden eagle take a young antelope; looked like a dive bomber making a strike on a ship.
Having a young bear climb the tree with me before I woofed at him. I didn't know a bear could run that fast.
Kind of the opposite of the above; having a big boar griz woof at me as I snuck along an elk trail in black timber. I'm glad he decided to leave rather than smack me around.
Touching a whitetail fawn that fed right to me without having a clue I was there. Did you know that deer can turn themselves inside out when surprised?
Having a big bull elk bugle 3 paces away; I could actually smell his breath. Nope, didn't get a shot.
Jake Diebolt's chickadee story struck a nerve. I thought I was a chickadee magnet while deer hunting this year. Had one land on my hat, on my shoulder, a couple on my bow, and one sat on my broadhead. Very cool.
That's just a few. I have been blessed.

Sitting in my Whitetail stand a few weeks ago, this guy came along to check me out, we had lots of snow on the ground and I left the "spray" in the truck thinking he would be sleeping by now.
(http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/hh216/quartermoonlongbows/P1000228.jpg)

Gee Bert, why is that photo fuzzy?   :scared:

A couple years ago my son and I were Turkey hunting and had a lone "blow up" turkey decoy about 20 yds out in front of us. When, out of the corner of my eye I caught some movement and saw that it was a bobcat. I knudged my son and pointed to the bobcat as the bobcat was sizing up our decoy.  After about 30 sec. the bobcat took off at a blazing run and attacked our decoy.  It was amazing the speed he had, and we both were all smiles as we listened and could hear the air coming out of the decoy.

Rabbit hunting with a buddy...long time ago. We had read in an outdoor magazine all about how to rapidly field dress a bunny without opening it all the way up. Goes like this....

You make a cut to enlarge the bunny's anus, then squeeze the top of the bunny to push all the guts down into the abdomen. Then you stand with legs shoulder width apart and forcefully bang your arms on your thighs...exactly like hiking a football...

The guts are SUPPOSED to fly out of that enlarged hole.......( I know, I know....it's just one of those things you have to try)

We made the cut, then my buddy squeezes the bunny down and hikes it down between his legs...

You should have seen the look on his face when all those bunny intestines flew out....looped up around over his back and landed up on his shoulder right up against his face.

Still makes me laugh 30 years later..

Great stories.  

Sitting in a treestand along a river some wood ducks that had been swimming around flushed.  A goshawk chased one down and struck it, driving it into the water just off the bank.  It stood there chest deep standing on the duck for a minute or two.  Then it flapped hopped up onto the bank with the duck in its talons.  Repositioned the duck head first and took off.  

Watched another goshawk chase a squirrel around.  It would dive at the squirrel and the squirrel would jump onto ta tree.  After the miss the hawk would sit in a sapling and watch the tree.  After a couple of minutes the squirrel would forget and go about its business on the ground and the hawk would try again. I watched this for quite awhile until they worked their way out of sight. It seemed more like a game than a life of death struggle.  Don't know if the hawk went hungry or got a meal.

I was sitting in my stand of the edge of a cane break and hardwood woods a few years ago. The sun had just set and I was sitting with my copperhead snake skin backed osage bow across my lap. All of a sudden a brown thrasher began to dive bomb me. This went for about 10 minutes before I got disgusted and got out of my stand and headed back to camp.
 The next evening I was back in the same stand and shortly after sun set the same bird decided he didn't like me in the stand and ran me out again. As I walked back to camp it dawned on me that it wasn't me the bird was after but the snake across my lap.

Stump hunting a clearcut one day in Oregon I spotted a Doe coming from my left along the treeline. As I watched she went out of sight behind a 7' stump. About 30 seconds later a Cow Elk steps out from behind the stump and continues down along the treeline to my right. I swore David Copperfield was out there that day. I walked over and saw that the stump sat in the "Y" of a trail coming into the clearcut from the woods. The Doe had headed into the woods down the trail as the Cow was coming out.

One January I was hunting Desert Muleys here in AZ and spotted a nice bench with a good glassing view. As I climbed onto the bench I flushed a covey of 60 or so quail. I sat down got comfortable and started glassing. About 10 minutes later I heard quail making their way back onto the bench. I sat still and within 15 minutes I was literally surrounded by quail. They eventually made their way off the bench and down a draw.

Another time in Oregon I had managed some time off midweek and headed out to my favorite  Roosevelt Elk spot In the Wilson unit of the coast range. Midday I stopped for a break and sat up against a log mid trail. I dozed off and woke up to loud breathing in my ear. I sat up and heard a yelp as a dog jumped back. As I got my senses back I saw there were 5 dogs running in a pack. All of them within 10 yards of me. My partner and I had seen this same pack chasing a deer the weekend before. I slowly grabbed my bow and knocked an arrow as I stood up. The lead dog was growling at me the whole time. He crouched and started walking to me. I don't remember drawing my bow but distictly remember my fletching disappearing into him. The pack scattered up the trail and I headed the other way. We never saw that pack again.

This one time at band camp...... oh wait that's another story....  :D  

Terry

A buddy and me went on a bow hunt for Elk just West of Crested Butte. This was several years ago. We hiked in several miles and along came a snow storm that lasted for most of the afternoon. It was near white out conditions. My buddy is one of those who wont budge until dark to leave and with it snowing, I was worried about our directions. Everything was looking different now plus it was still coming down hard. I thought I knew the direction to go, but his opinion was'nt the same as mine. Well,....we got turned around and walked miles 90 degrees off of the correct direction even though we had our compass. Lots of trials and near mishaps. Had to cross creeks that we had not crossed on the way in, but we thought we could get to a landmark that way so we persisted.

Anyway, we recognized a trail and creek junction and struck out toward the main road. Now here's the cool part. The storm clouds passed about then with clear sky behind them and the moon was full and it lit up the whole wonderous scene. I dont know if I have ever seen a more beautiful scene. The timber and meadows covered in fresh snow. I was glad someone else was there to witness that. We still had a long hike from there but we didn't mind after that.

Two years back while squirrel hunting and I had stalked a fat grey squirrel for a while.  The moment I shot, I heard whoosh-whoosh behind me.  Before I could snap my head around I felt the wind of its wings as it flew somewhere between 1-2 feet over my right shoulder.  As it passed over me with claws out I realized I had a red hawk flying after something in front of me; surely it wasn't that same squirrel...

It turns out a red hawk can catch a squirrel falling and flipping through the air after being shot in the head and knocked off a tree limb.

The bird flew down to eat my kill about 25-30 yards in front of me.  It was one of the coolest things I've ever seen.  That was the only squirrel I saw that day and I was happy that I got to see it go to the hawk.

Watched a mother bobcat and a near grown cub try to tree a squirrel. I had been looking in that exact spot repeatedly yet don't know how long they were there before I saw them. Nearly got him too, had it isolated with no tree to jump to but tops of the white oak were just too skinny for even the cub.

Mr. Nuts was able to back track and get away.

My wife and I were out on one of our small hunting parcels and saw a beautiful snowy owl.  Not that big of a deal, but our local DNR says that there are no snowy owls in Indiana.  I beg to differ!  It was very cool to see and this is a great thread!

I had a new experience just a couple of weeks ago. I always wear a face mask in the stand, which leaves only my eyes exposed. I just happened to look up, and a hawk was less than 10 feet out, boring in straight at my eyes. At the last instant he pulled up and passed overhead. It was really cool but could have been a problem if he had struck me in the face. I have seen this guy at fairly close distances several times, but this is the only time he seemed to be coming after me. However, he does not hesitate to go after the crows. This bird loves a good fight.

One winter about 25 years ago I was trying to learn how to call predators.  I had been practicing with my calls for a few days, then decided to give it a go.  

I eased down into this patch of woods along the creek that runs through the farm and sat down against a tree and began to call.  

I was about ready to give up when I heard a squirrel start to get really irritated at something, then the crows started in.  I figured that it would be a good idea to just stay put for a while to see what was happening.  I looked towards the creek and saw a big bobcat heading my way, then it dipped down into a little low spot and I lost sight of it.  When I looked up again there was another bobcat where the first one was, just smaller, then another right behind it.  

I stayed as still as I could, and in just a couple of minutes all three bobcats where within 10 feet of me, and they still had not seen me.  One of the young ones then jumped onto a tree that was right next to me, and was looking straight down at me.  

At that point I decided that I'd better do something, but as soon as I moved there was a bobcat explosion out of there.  I was amazed at how fast those things are.  Oh, and no bobcats were harmed in the making of this story......

QuoteOriginally posted by Sam McMichael:
I had a new experience just a couple of weeks ago. I always wear a face mask in the stand, which leaves only my eyes exposed. I just happened to look up, and a hawk was less than 10 feet out, boring in straight at my eyes. At the last instant he pulled up and passed overhead. It was really cool but could have been a problem if he had struck me in the face. I have seen this guy at fairly close distances several times, but this is the only time he seemed to be coming after me. However, he does not hesitate to go after the crows. This bird loves a good fight.

I think I mentioned this in another thread a few weeks ago, but I had a similar experience with an owl that is frequently seen hunting the same area I like to hunt.

I was in a ground blind and had turned around to watch two squirrels chasing each other a foot or two off the ground, jumping from the base of one tree to the next.  One stopped within arm's reach.

Something reminded me I hadn't scanned my hunting zone, so I turned around... and there was an owl coming straight in at me -- all I saw was a giant gray body and wings; he filled a good 50% of my vision, he was that close.

I'm sure my eyes got as big as saucers, somehow I managed to maintain control of my bladder.  He pulled up upon seeing me move, banked hard to his right, flew around the stand of trees I was in and landed on a limb on the back side.  He sat there craning his neck, staring at me and hooting softly.

I think the most amazing part was that other than a light beating of wings when he pulled up fruiously and banked away, I never heard a sound.

I was standing on a gravel road getting ready to head out to my "spot" when a kestral (small falcon) tackled a sparrow out of the air. They ended up inches away from my feet. I could hear bones snapping then the kestral flew away with its prize. Life can be cruel.

I was riding my bicyle out of a no vehicle zone in Greenswamp WMA in Fl. quiet a few yrs ago. It was about noon time and I see about a 12' gator laying across the two path road. It took up the whole road and I couldn't push my bike around her (had little ones)because there was a deep, good sized, creek going under the road where she was.

Anyway, I'm off my bike and push it up closer and see a guy standing in the road beside his bike on the other side of her about 75yds. He's looking up a tree and I see another guy up in a stand and they are talking.

They can't see the gator and I tell the guy there's a gator in the road down here don't ride through this tall grass. It was the first of the season and the road had grown up and was hard to see the gator. The guy puts his finger to his lips and points up the tree..like be quiet. So I forget about the guy and pick up a big rock and throw at the gator and she ignores it and just lays there. I find one a little bigger than a soccer ball and lob it and it bounces up against her side. She rolls her head straight up, opens here mouth wide and lets out a loud roar. Sounds like an African lion.

I could only imagine what those guys though was down the road from them. I didn't ask them..the gator slid down into the creek and I got on my bike and left.

For me it was seeing a hawk snatch a squirrel off the tree limb that was ten feet in front of me while I was in my stand. Besides watching squirrels having sex the hawk was the coolest !! Don

Once while sleeping in my stand, I woke to some hissing and growling.  Beneath my stand was a bobcat backing foot over foot into the thickest brush hissing all the way. It seems he could smell me but could not locate me in stand. Also had a coyote bust from the cover and leap at my turkey decoy. Pretty funny as he went into all sorts of contorsions trying to get away when he realized it was fake.

Several years ago I had a owl land on a stump about 10 yards in front of my natural ground blind. It was a nasty day, cold and over-cast, just before a storm. The owl started rotating his neck looking for dinner. I watched him carefully. It appeared to me that he slowly rotated his head almost 360 degrees in one direction. Don't think that was possible, but it sure looked that way to me. I've never forgotten that experience.  :dunno:

Was watching a squirrel 15ft. ahead of me while sitting calling turkey. A flash came down in the form of a Red tailed Hawk and tried to snatch the tree rat from off the log he was eating on. Just as the Hawk was ready to impale the critter with his taillons, the squirrel slid to the opposite side of the log to make his escape. The hawk landed on the log and recieved a good cussing from the astute little nut muncher. The hawk and squirrel had no idea i was there. Then there was the time.......
Have a bunch more I'll save for latter.   :campfire:

Here's a couple short ones from this season. We had an early cold snap the night before.  When I climbed into my ladder stand, there was a new squirrel nest built on my seat. It was still cold out, and as I started to remove it, I thought that little bugger might be inside. So I carefully started to pull it apart, and saw fur! But it didn't move. So I grabbed a stick and poked it. Still nothing. I removed a little more, and looked carefully for any signs of life. Finally I grabbed the rest of the nest and threw it to the ground. There lay a dead squirrel all curled up. I think it froze to death, but who knows. I brushed it to the ground and sat down. Next day it was gone.

Sitting in a different stand, a chickadee landed on my pack behind me. I said please don't poop on my bag. He flew to a branch two feet away and pooped! Lol. Then he flew back to me and landed on my bow, then jumped to my arm, then perched on my arrow. Later that day, I was checking some scrapes, and the chickadees were fluttering all around me. One landed on the brim of my hat and looked me in the eye, then flew to a near by branch. I stuck my arm and finger straight out, inviting him to come back, and the little guy landed right on my finger. He pecked at my knuckle a few times, then flew back to the brim of my hat. Not wanting him to peck at my face, I closed my eyes and he flew off. Funny little things they are.

Adam and I were pig hunting a few years ago-when we had that lunar eclipse. Just after it got started there was this huge cacophony of sound break out. I literally thought there must be a giant bad ass fire or accident-then I realized we were miles from the nearest highway! Every coyote and even all the turkeys went crazy when they saw the moon begin to get covered up! This went on for almost twenty minutes. It was the awesomemest experience.

We were elk hunting in Montana and it was late afternoon when we were making our way back to the truck (about a 3 mile hike).  As we hiked down a game/cow trail I noticed a young bull moose about 50 yards off to our right.  We stopped and stared at each other for a couple of minutes when we decide to continue our journey.  Less than 70 yards ahead we crested a small rise with a section of pines and then an open hillside were we noticed several elk near the top.  We quickly spread out in the pines, about 15 yards apart, and my friend Steve started cow calling in an effort to entice the elk to move in our direction, which they started to do.  

The elk were 150 yards out when I heard a loud UUUUUAAAAGGGH and the ground shook.  I looked to my right to see my friend Steve on one side of the tree with the moose we saw earlier on the other.  Steve kept calling to the elk and the moose kept grunting.  Steve did his best to keep the tree between himself and the moose all the while talking to the moose and calling to the elk.  The comment I remember best was "It's ok Mr. Moose we're hunting elk not moose".  

When the elk were within 75 yards the moose took off after them and chased them off the side of the mountain.  At this point it was starting to get dark and as we dug through our packs to get out flash lights we agreed that  our hunt was already a success even if we never get a shot at an elk.

Ever since then I've referred to my friend Steve as "Dances with Moose".

The next night Steve put his tag on a nice bull elk and I sprinted up the side of the mountain when that same moose started grunting on the other side of the tree from me.  One moose dancer in the gang is enough.

I may have told this story before, but I don't remember....

A couple years ago, I was sitting in a ladder stand before daylight.  I could hear deer milling around but see nothing.

All of a sudden, there was a bright flash...kinda green in color, and it reminded me of a car coming around a corner flashing its brights.

Once the light hit, the deer spooked. I remember it so vividly. I can recall being frustrated thinking someone had driven too close to my set up....because it was still way too early for dawn.

Well, I sat there in the dark for another 30 minutes without an answer. Later that afternoon, I learned that a satellite had fallen from orbit causing the great flash. Talk about a random event.

it happened while i was over in your fine country in the state of virginia hunting with ronhuntalot and  Bob and Bobby walker in 2007  Bob and Bobby went to there hide and Ron took me to a stand of trees and said any where here would be good. so i said i will sit right here  on the  ground as i found out later Big mistake and i mean Big mistake CHIGGERS!!!!!!! any how while sitting i put my bow on the ground and my arrow on the other side of me and thought it was time to eat something soooooooo i put my hand in my pack  to get a snack bar out and heard this cracking sound and i looked up and saw this doe  she was about 4 yards from me with her head down eating all the way. but yup there is always a but  i could not do a thing as when i took my had out of my pack her head shot up as quick as possum crap off glass and she stood there and looked right into my eyes as if to say well what the hell are you doing in my woods so i just smiled at her and waved and boy did she fly out of there if ya blinked ya would have missed her. and i sure as hell would not swap that moment for all the tea in china

I once watched a snowshoe hare hop along one of the many runs thru the thick cover near my stand. At one point, it stopped, and in a very alert looking stance, started thumping one of it's hind feet on the ground. Then it hopped off. Thought that was kind of odd until about a minute later, a Fisher came loping along in the same run. I think this was the only time I've ever seen a Fisher, or heard a rabbit thump it's foot.

While turkey hunting one spring I was watching as 4 or 5 squirrels were running around and doing what squirrels do when all a sudden there was a loud squawk and a thump behind me.  As I slowly turned to look a red tail hawk had caught a squirrel but only by the tail.  They were both struggling on the ground and putting on a show!

That squirrel fought for his life and squirmed his way loose some how from that hawks talons.  That was a sight to see.  Then the hawk set there for a couple of minutes as if to catch his breath then took off.

Another time after climbing into a ladder stand I heard what I thought to be a deer snort behind me but could not see anything.  A couple minutes go by and it happens again.  This time I look even harder down wind and still can not see anything.  

The third time it happens I know there is something behind me and it sounds really close but I can not see anything, no critters at all!  So I look all around and then up and in the tree right beside the one I am perched in is a porcupine in the top of the tree.  When I saw him he started making that sound again as to let me know he was not happy that I was intruding on his territory!

He finally calmed down and slowly climbed down to the ground circled the tree he just came down from and slowly climbed back up to the top of the tree.

I was raised in Western Oklahoma and had never seen a porcupine until this event.  I wish I would have had a camera with me.

Back in about 89 or 90 (I forgot), we were up in Ontario moose hunting. The story we had was that this area had been closed by the MNR for 15 years and the year we were there was the first time it had been opened back up for hunting. The trek back to where we hunted was almost a one day trip in itself, with atv's, rowboats, argos, the whole nine yards so obviously many of the animals we encountered probably had never seen a human being before.

We found that indeed, all the animals we encountered literally had no fear - especially the wolves.

One day we were back at the camp for lunch and I decided to walk down this old, old logging road to shoot some judos. As I got some distance from the camp, I had an eerie feeling I can't describe come over me, but I knew I was not alone - I was being watched. Lo and behold - I was.  Somewhat unnerved, I slowly turned around and not 30 yards behind was a jet black wolf, just sitting on the trail, looking at me - much in the same way a dog would just sit. He did not seem at all tense or threatened by my presence. My gut feeling was that he was just curious but I wasn't about to wait to find out. I yelled a little and waved my arms and he just got up, slowly walked about 10 yards down the trail in the opposite direction, turned and gave me one last look like, "What in the world is THAT?" and just quietly turned off the trail into the thick bush and disappeared.

LOL, needless to say I didn't waste any time at all getting my hind end back to the camp. I hate to admit it but it shook me up a little bit.   But I also have to say that when I think back to that trip, it is always one of the first things I think of and it was definitely one of the most exhilarating experiences I have ever had while hunting - I will never forget it.

This last October I spent 5 days deer hunting up in the mountains north of Yosemite in a little granite valley I found that I like to hunt. I was in camp about mid afternoon sitting on a big rock next to my tent reading my Bible. My bow was hanging horizontal in a tree about 8' away from me. I have bow quiver and my arrow were black carbon with red fletching and bright yellow nocks. Well, this humming bird started hanging around. He would fly in and sit on various twigs, take off for a minute or so and then come back. I was wondering if he thought my arrows were flowers so I just sat there very still. Sure enough, he finnaly gathered the courage to fly down and tried to take a sip out of one of my arrow nocks. After a couple of trys he gave up and flew right over to me and hung suspended not more than 5 or 6 inches from the end of my bible and looked at me as if to say "Hey dude, what's up with the fake flowers". He then flew off not to reapear.

All I saw on the trip were does, but the weather was Ideal and that humming bird really made it special.

I was sitting in a tree stand one afternoon and could hear something rattling through the leaves and  out pops a weasel with a dead chipmunk in it's mouth. It had the chipy by the nape of the neck(like a mother cat carries her kittens)and was dragging the chipy for all it was worth!

Another time while fishing on the bank of a river where the river emptied out of the lake a large beaver was swimming across and an eagle was circling  overhead all of a sudden the eagle dives down and sinks it's talons into the back of the beaver and tries to lift off with it! The beaver started smashing its tail and trying to get free. The eagle made a great effort trying to get his prize but the beaver was just to large and the eagle released its grip and flew off. the beaver dove and resurfaced again smashing its tail on the water  over and over warning every other beaver around finally diving again and swimming off...

Just last week i was out hunting and had a white(albino possibly) squirrel come within 10yards of me.  ive never seen one in the woods before and it was very cool!!

Great thread!

a couple years back.....I was accending a thick ole white pine with my climber one morning...it was still pretty dark out.  There was a smaller (not much) white pine not 2 feet off to the left side and slightly behind the one I was climbing.  As Im gonig up,  I can hear the usual noises that come from climbing with a stand....the scratching of the tree bark with the back cables of my Summit Viper.  Funny thing was though,  that every time I made a step up the tree,  the noise seemed to be echoing off to the side of me on that other pine....as if I were dragging a branch on that other pine as I accended.  I really didnt think to much of it,  as it was somewhat faint.  When I approached the top of my climb,  obviously,  I stopped and began to secure the stand....but I could still hear that noise!!!!! (its a shade lighter out now, as the sun is starting to come up)  Kinda freaked out now,   Im looking at that second tree!  Something was on the other side of!  It came out from behind that tree and coiled up on a branch to check me out....IT WAS A LARGE FISHER!!!  :scared:   and we were an arms length appart!
Seems as though he had been climbing up his tree as I was climbing up mine,  checking me out the entire time!  We locked eyes for about 10 seconds Id say,  before he climbed back down and disappeared.  
A very cool moment...a somewhat creepy moment as well  :eek:

Love this thread, and I actually have some stories to contribute! Two years ago, while still hunting down a  path, I had a bobcat walk out 10 yds. in front of me. The year before, (on the same path) I was wearing my leafy 3D suit and had a spike buck walk up beside and behind me, close enough to have stabbed him with my arrow. Literally, less than one yard behind me, and BOY did he come unglued when I turned to see him from the other side!! Shot a couple cottonmouths with a couple arrows while they were mating. (The male didn't wanna give up his conquest until HE got hit with a judo too!    :bigsmyl:

Sitting a treestand on a autumn bear hunt, I heard something approaching. It was a small bear - a 3 legged bear. It moved off downhill from me and I watched it turn into a berry patch and stop to apparently watch it's back trail. Within moments, I heard something else coming along the bear's path - a coyote. It was looking ahead and pausing to sniff  along the bear's trail. As the yote approached the now hidden bear, it was attacked by the bear from it's hiding place!! The bear missed but chased the dog out of hearing, chasing very fast for a 3 legged critter.
Best guess is that the coyote saw the limping bear and thought to follow up to see if it might be an easy meal - NOT!!!
Neatest thing I've ever seen in the woods.

Daybreak in a tree stand on a cold morning saw the sunshine cover a tree and the leaves all dropped off and there was no wind.

Saw a turkey running through the woods balls out speed and run straight into a 40 foot stone cliff. 10 seconds later he was up top above me running the ridge. I went over to the base of the cliff and found a cut out like a leaning chimney he had scaled out of my sight.

In a tree stand had a hawk land near me at eye level and just sat. He spread his wings and dropped to capture a mouse. He missed seeing the 200 lb rat next to him.

I was hunting on the edge of a hillside cedar thicket. The cedars were all about 8 feet tall and they made a perfect natural blind. Above me I heard a group of turkeys putting and purring. Having a fall turkey tag and being well concealed, I was getting a bit excited as they worked down the hill towards me and getting closer. The putts turned into purts and I thought that one must have come in and spotted me.  Suddenly, the whole flock took to the air and behind one of birds as it gained altitude, a mountain lion appeared launching straight up out of the cedars taking an aerial swipe at a turkey. I don't remember much of what happened next, but I do remember looking back at the hillside when it was about 200 yards away and thinking that things like this are not supposed to happen in Iowa, but it did explain the piles of turkey remains buried under mounds of cedar duff.

A few years ago while turkey hunting I saw this nature unfold. There was a hen,gobbler and jake on this little knoll about 100 yars out. This hawk would dive down and hit the jake. He did this 3 times. All the while the gobbler was getting closer to the jake till he was right up against him. Then the hawk made another dive at the jake with the gobbler right beside him. Like lightning the gobbler hit the hawk and killed him. He must have put a spur into his brain cause the hawk didn't even flinch after he was hit. It was awesome to see. I just wish I had gotten a video of it.

Seeing how alot of people have bobcat stories, I'll put mine in...  A couple years ago I had a real nice bobcat approach my deer stand.  With it still being Oct, he had nothing to worry about (fur bearer season 1Nov).  

He stayed at 15-18 yards for 10-15 minutes and finally moved off toward the north.  About 45 minutes later, all kinds of commotion erupted to the northwest.  All of a sudden a squirrel ran up a tree barking as he ascended with the 'cat right on his tail!  The tree rat got out on a limb that the 'cat didn't want to try.  That squirrel barked at him all the way back down the tree and until he was out of sight.

Good times!

Not a bobcat story..just a little larger. 2 years ago while elk hunting I was watching a small meadow in the late afternoon. As time went by a cow elk and small calf fed their way to about 40 yards of me. As I watched, the calf started to get separated from momma. All of a sudden the calf started chirping and ran barreling into the side of Mom. Momma threw up her head and started staring back up the draw. I also began looking for the cause of their concern. Then I saw it...BIGFOOT! NO just kidding, what I did see was a very large mountain lion putting on the sneak. What a sight to see! Very impressive animal to see in person with no zoo fence separating you. Any ways I was not allowed to shoot a cow elk in the game unit I was in so I figured the cat was not going to get one either..without violating Trad gang rules.. I fired one shot over the cat and it was all over..he lit out to the east and the elk headed west.. me I went west towards the truck. Very exciting to say the least. Take care.

I once watched a pine marten stalk along a dead log  beneath my tree stand.  When he got to the end he paused briefly then pounced head first into the leaf litter and came up with a mouse in his mouth.  I frequently watch fishers hunt their way by my stand.  Cool animal to watch work the woods for dinner.

Two years ago I was ground hunting and as I was sitting there on my stump a family of racoons climbed down the tree right next to me and scared me to death.

Years ago, bowhunting in a natural ground blind in Quebec province, I had a pine martin (I think it is like a Mink) walk right up to me and stand on my boot.  

Deer hunting in England (with a rifle as bowhunting is banned) also had some great sights - barn owls flying directly overhead in the early dawn - totally silent. Badgers and the badger kits playing outside their sett (den) and foxes just walking straight up to you while still hunting.

I love hunting - you just never know what you'll see next.

I was elk/deer hunting a few years back and decided to sit up against a tree trunk and rest. I woke up about 20 min's later to a coyote pup sitting and watching me from about 10'! Just watching, no concern or fear. I thought about shoot'n then decided against it as it was a pretty cool thing. It just walked away about 2 min's later.

I was deer hunting in Colorado and had decided to lean up against an Aspen tree and watch a deer trail that was up the mountain about 20 yards or so.  I had stepped off a trail about 5 yards and found a comfortable stout aspen to lean against.  I watched a Doe and an older fawn move along the trail above me and was waiting to see what was behind them when I heard a bunch of rustling to my right just across the trail I had stepped off of. I slowly drew my bow not knowing what was making all that racket and if I had missed seeing a bedded deer.  As I was holding my bow at full draw, a bobcat walked straight to the that trail and stretched real good!  I thought about shooting him but his nearest tree to climb was the one I was leaning against!  I lowered my bow slowly and watched him ease downhill for about 15 yards until he caught wind of me and he was gone...it was an awesome experience!

One fall morning in November, during the start of the rut I watched a 8 pointer with a doe in a grassy field.
They were only 60 yards away from where I was sitting.
The buck turned away for about a minute to look at something else, and the doe at that time decided to walk a little ways off and lay down in the tall grass.
The buck turned around and couldn't find her. He had a look like "Oh crap, where did she go."
I had to muffle my chuckle.
He finally found her, and were scared off by my Aunt opening her back door,to let her dog out.

One morning my son and I had stalked into tree stands about 100 yards apart.  After a couple hours of sitting, all the little birds and rodents to might right started to put up a big fuss - warning calls, movement, etc.  The fuss moved like a wave from my right to my left, in the direction of my son's stand.  I never saw what caused the disruption.  A couple of hours later when we were walking out, I described it to my son.  He had the same experience except he knew the source.  A fisher cat had walked directly underneath his stand.