Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: dirtguy on November 14, 2013, 01:39:00 PM
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A friend who has great outdoor skills has stalked up to and touched an adult deer (a doe). Because of my work as wetland scientist, I am often in deer bedding areas and have nearly stepped on deer before they jump up and bolt away. I have also been fortunate enough to walk right up to two different fawns, so close that I could have touched them. To me, much of the fun of trad is seeing how close you can get.
How about it, ever get that close?
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Did it once. A doe was feeding and walked right to me as I stood still. Touched her and then observed quite a show as she turned herself inside out in an effort to get out of Dodge.
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(http://i886.photobucket.com/albums/ac67/peastes/P1030489.jpg) (http://s886.photobucket.com/user/peastes/media/P1030489.jpg.html)
This little deer was hung up in a fence last year,totally exhausted, and I got her back on her feet. Not an adult but it was still fun for me, if not for her.
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The back part of our archery range is a hill covered with trees and bushes. It is part of a dedicated open area, so no hunting goes on there. In fact, we sometimes have to shoo the turkeys away from our targets, because us just being there shooting arrows over their heads isn't enough to scare them off. Once I was walking the ridgeline on the back part of our range with my dog, and I guess we were being pretty quiet, although not intentionally. The dog usually stays about 10-15 yards in front. I saw her go on point and I looked in the direction she was pointing, and my first thought was that someone had hauled a deer target up there, because a buck was standing with his head down, not moving at all, about 20 yards away. The dog's inclination in situations like that is to freeze, and I did too. We both watched the deer for a half minute or so, until it finally woke up and picked its head up and looked at us. Then it turned and trotted off, but not in a panicky way.
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About 6 years ago, I called in 3 yearling 6 point bucks. I was against a three trunked tree cluster. The bucks were on the other side of it. I reached between the trunks and touched one on the back. It just about broke my arm. Another time 20 years back, I saw a group of deer coming, so I climbed up the tree I was standing by along a fence. the deer followed the fence until they right under me. Does, yearling does and fawns. I reached down holding one tip of my 70" 89 pound Big 5 and poked a yearling doe on top of her back end. She jumped so hard that the bow flew out of my hand and hung up in the branches out of my reach.
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I was hunting with Bernie Swank of Mystic Longbows a few years ago. He went his way and I went mine. He must of stirred things up a bit because at one point a not too shabby buck came running past the tree I was standing beside in my ghillie suit. I could have reached out and smacked his back side as he trotted past me. He stood maybe ten yards away all "heads up" and everything for several seconds then trotted off.
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Yup! Twice. Once many years ago a fawn of the year came past me while hunting in a high grass field. Touched her with the end of my bow. The second time was during the gun season and the buck walked right up to me while I hid in a cedar windfall. I poked him in the butt with my shotgun and he made off like a jack rabbit.
Last Friday morn I almost had one jump over my head while I sat in a blown down. Was within 6-8 feet. Nice 10 pt. Scared the hell outta me.
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Two years ago a deer touched me. I was just getting to my make shift stick blind and a couple of yearling does came charging at me. I was on the trail and the one side swiped me. When I regained my footing, I saw two dogs coming in hard on the trail. I caught a twig and missed the lead dog. They both spun and ran back the way they came. The next time that I went back to my blind. It was torn down, my Torges seat was tossed into the ravine and a wheelie guy from Texas was seating in a tree stand that was in the tree that I had my tree seat on. He said that stuff was in his way. Have you ever been so tempted to reach out and touch someone?
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Touched her with the end of my bow.
Smart move.I touched one with my hand years ago.She kicked the crap outa me.All i could do was ball up n take it.I was sittin down.Couldnt pick my arm up above my shoulder,fer a week.
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Touched her with the end of my bow.
Smart move.I touched one with my hand years ago.She kicked the crap outa me.All i could do was ball up n take it.I was sittin down.Couldnt pick my arm up above my shoulder,fer a week.
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I roped a mule deer once upon a time... long story, but true. The dad burn thing drug me through the sage brush for almost 50 yards before i could stop it's forward motion, and mine as well. I was afraid to let go of the rope and have the deer run off and end up hanging itself.... my hunting partner at the time was laughing so hard he wet his pants.
By the time we took the deer down and got the rope off off that crazed deer, we both looked like we'd been run through a shredder. Bull dogging a deer isn't as easy as you think. This small buck was only about 150 pounds, and whipped both of us good and proper.
At least i had it by the head. My partner took a real beating taking the rear end. Talk about a rodeo!.... i wouldn't recommend it.... Kirk
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I'm here to tell you, they can hurt you!
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Hilarious!!!!!
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Kirkll,
That's about like kicking a turtle while riding down the highway on a motorcycle! Seems cool until you do it.
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Originally posted by pavan:
Two years ago a deer touched me. I was just getting to my make shift stick blind and a couple of yearling does came charging at me. I was on the trail and the one side swiped me. When I regained my footing, I saw two dogs coming in hard on the trail. I caught a twig and missed the lead dog. They both spun and ran back the way they came. The next time that I went back to my blind. It was torn down, my Torges seat was tossed into the ravine and a wheelie guy from Texas was seating in a tree stand that was in the tree that I had my tree seat on. He said that stuff was in his way. Have you ever been so tempted to reach out and touch someone?
Sounds like he needed to have an accident
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I was calling coyotes once and had a doe run up behind me and almost bowl me over. She was within a foot of me before she knew what I was and slammed on the brakes. She must have thought I had her fawn?
I got a little video of her at about 5 yards. It's on my youtube channel.
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My late twin was sitting in one of his box blinds on a lease we used to have in Texas. he had the back window open for some air, a doe came up and put her nose on the back of his neck. He about tore the blind down he jumped so hard. I was 300 yards away in a tree stand and saw it happen and heard him scream like a girl, I almost fell out of the tree I was laughing so hard. The doe was a bit surprised but did not run off. He was not happy and since he had a couple of doe tags He put an arrow through her at 10 yards. I scolded him and said, "she was just counting coup, you should have let her go" :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
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I've had a button buck put its nose on my boot. I'd backed into a pine tree, wind in my favor. It came in, stomping its foot, knowing something was out of place.
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I was pushing pheasants for some well to do city slickers for my friends dad as a boy in CO. We were working through tamarisk on a river bottom when I heard a slight noise in front of me...out of the tress a doe materialized 10 feet in front of me and just slinked right past me with in arms reach. It scared the crap out of me, but was awesome to see. What a beautiful animal a white-tailed doe is. God did good on that one!
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I've been close a number of times. One time I was leading a backpacking trip for a group of urban kids and their parents. I was off collecting kindling with one parent who'd never been in the woods before and a doe appeared on the trail heading our way. It was ambling along nipping at stuff here and there, oblivious. I whispered to the women to take one step back off the trail. We did. I then whispered, "freeze". The doe came on and at less than 10 ft away my partner, fairly freaked out, blurted "Will it bite me?" The doe bolted and was gone. I turned and said, "No. They don't bite. We do."
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:biglaugh:
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I just remembered my first mule deer event. We were south of Pikes Peak, heading for some canyon with a bridge and a trolly car, on our Beemers. I saw my first mule deer ever and stopped. To our surprize it did not run away. We had a thermos of coffe and some doughnuts, time for lunch and watch the mule deer. It watched us for a while, and ran towards us. My wife goes "Oh crap, it's crazy." I said, I cannot type what I said. Anyway the crazy mule deer stopped within a few feet, I offered it a doughnut and he took it and ate it. We were still a few miles from that canyon. I don't know whether that was a park tamed deer or are they all that easy. Maybe, I should be taking doughnuts along tonight. That big boy I did not shoot at last night may get closer if he knows that I have a doughnut for him.
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A couple years ago my kid's pet beagle was playing with a doe in my backyard. I was just getting dressed when things turned ugly. The doe started stomping the beagle in the ground. So I ran and kicked the doe like I was punting a football. The doe then came after me, she threw some jabs and I threw some hooks. The doe had enough and ran off. The elderly lady next door come running to help. The funny part was the only camo I had on was some digital camo undies. :laughing: I scooped the beagle up and brushed off the hoof prints on her back. She was a little sore and would not go in the backyard for a week.
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These are some great stories! I figured there would be more stories about stalking deer, ghillie suits, etc. It turns out some of the close encounters were brought about by the deer, not us!
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I smacked a cow moose on the ass it was exhilarating to say the least. It was great because my father (65) was able to see the whole thing. For some reason experiances are better when shared with him.
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I was still hunting and had a doe and fawn come barreling over a hill and almost run me over! I held my ground and the doe walked away stiff legged - snorting ....the fawn stood not 3 feet away shaking so bad I thought the poor little thing would fall over....after about 30 seconds it followed the doe....funny how those memories come back in living color...
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Glenn
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I'm glad all wheelie guys are not as rude as the one you described, pavan.
Imagine the nerve of a guy tearing down your blind and tossing your chair.
Unbelievable!
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Had a doe come right past me as I was sitting against an oak. as she moved on I reached my hand up and stroked her side as she walked. She then took off like a scalded dog!
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Years ago I was stalking some deep grass and had a doe I didn't see until I kicked her stand up and knock me over backwards. Touched her twice or I touched her once and she touched me once.
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I think the one that tore me up the worst was a black tail doe getting hung up in the neighbors fence and they couldn't get it untangled. My wife called me at work, and the neighbors had called the sheriff. By the time i got home, the Sheriff had cut the wire and got the deer loose, but her leg was badly broken. She had hobbled over and jumped the fence into my pasture, and was laying there totally exhausted. I asked the Sheriff if he was going to put the poor animal down, and he said that i would have to call the game department or animal control to do it. he couldn't justify discharging his side arm for a deer. Besides that he didn't have the heart for it.
You see.... as we were standing there talking, my mama cow was over there licking it like it was her own calf that was hurt.... It was enough to tear anyone up watching it....
I final took care of the deed myself and utilized the meat. But that was a tough one. needless to say didn't spend any time petting the dad burn thing. like i taught my kids...You don't play with your food.
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Not a deer.... But a coyote. I was doing a 1 man push of a thicket for my aunt and uncle during gun week here in ohio several years ago. I was on a trail with thicket on my left and a drop off to a step creek bank on my right. Well I was "tossing" hedge apples into the thicket because I was lazy ;) and this yote blew outta the thicket and ran straight into my legs! Lol he knocked me down and in his panic he went down the steep bank into the creek. He dang near ran on top of that water! I was yelling coyote trying to prepare my hunting partners to shoot. No shooting happened and I was kind of disappointed. When I met up with my aunt and uncle I was still on my adrenaline dump lol.... They said all they saw was a ball of fur go screaming by at Mach 2 hahaha. I guess the coyote was a lil more amped than I was!
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Originally posted by Kirkll:
I roped a mule deer once upon a time... long story, but true. The dad burn thing drug me through the sage brush for almost 50 yards before i could stop it's forward motion, and mine as well. I was afraid to let go of the rope and have the deer run off and end up hanging itself.... my hunting partner at the time was laughing so hard he wet his pants.
By the time we took the deer down and got the rope off off that crazed deer, we both looked like we'd been run through a shredder. Bull dogging a deer isn't as easy as you think. This small buck was only about 150 pounds, and whipped both of us good and proper.
At least i had it by the head. My partner took a real beating taking the rear end. Talk about a rodeo!.... i wouldn't recommend it.... Kirk
I would have paid good money to see all this transpire!! :laughing: :laughing: :laughing:
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Dang Kirk, glad you ended up ok but that would have been funny to see!
A friend and I were hunting southern IA during the rut many years ago, we spotted a nice buck on the hill a couple hundred yards away right at dark, I grunted a few times and it disappeared into the darkness of the hillside, within 10 seconds we could see it again 20yds in front of us coming full speed! We were on the edge of a dry creek bed and by the time he hit the brakes he was so close the gravel in the creek bottom was hitting us in the face. Way to close for comfort. The same friend and I unlocked a couple of stuck bucks the year before that.
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Though I think it's neat to do. I think your asking for an injury trying to touch an alive animal of that size.
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I've really enjoyed reading this thread! Keep'em coming folks!
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Originally posted by Traxx:
Touched her with the end of my bow.
Smart move.I touched one with my hand years ago.She kicked the crap outa me.All i could do was ball up n take it.I was sittin down.Couldnt pick my arm up above my shoulder,fer a week.
:biglaugh: :biglaugh: :biglaugh:
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OK, yea. I roped a moose once, by the antlers…….DO NOT try this at home, bad Idea :scared: :scared:
When I lived in Colorado I caught a deer as it was running out of a barn and bulldogged it to the ground. I asked the gal that was with me if she wanted FRESH venison. When she could talk again (mouth hanging open :eek: ) she said yes and I dispatched it with a knife.
Way fun !!!!
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in a pen
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Burnsie - I touched an adult doe once in a zoo, in fact the Pittsburgh zoo used to have a pen that you could go into with tame white tails. It was still pretty cool especially when they'd lick you for the salt.
Based on what I'm hearing, Im not going to touch a wild deer, just enjoy being that close!
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This last spring turkey season I had a little yearling doe bed down a few yards from where I sat in the brush. She got up and walked a few yards from me and I considered tapping her on the but with my bow (when she walked behind a big pine tree) but I was real leery about getting a face full up hooves. I think when you surprise them they can react by exploding sideways with their rear legs! Sure is fun to get that close to a deer though.
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Not a deer but while working one summer I accidentally kicked a red fox in the back of the head. Scared me senseless.
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Just saw a picture from a guy I know in MO that decided to jump on a doe that passed within 3 feet. The picture was of the knot and cut on his forehead where that doe kicked him. His words, "Not my best idea."
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Originally posted by saltwatertom:
OK, yea. I roped a moose once, by the antlers…….DO NOT try this at home, bad Idea :scared: :scared:
When I lived in Colorado I caught a deer as it was running out of a barn and bulldogged it to the ground. I asked the gal that was with me if she wanted FRESH venison. When she could talk again (mouth hanging open :eek: ) she said yes and I dispatched it with a knife.
Way fun !!!!
Earned: 1 man card
:D
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(http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu3/dmanwarren/1381360897570_zpsb0632d1e.jpg) (http://s628.photobucket.com/user/dmanwarren/media/1381360897570_zpsb0632d1e.jpg.html)
Here's a doe I came up on earlier this season. We had 6" of rain a couple days before and she appeared to be stuck. It didn't take much to get her out of the crotch of the tree but she was so worn out I had to drag her up the bank. After I got her up on the bank she wouldn't move without help. The video is me trying to get her farther from the swollen creed so she wouldn't fall back in. Checked the area 3 days later and no signs of her or hair piles so maybe she made it. Yes I have touched a live deer!
(http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu3/dmanwarren/th_VID_20131009_184734_701_zps4d0d5c5e.jpg) (http://i628.photobucket.com/albums/uu3/dmanwarren/VID_20131009_184734_701_zps4d0d5c5e.mp4)
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Originally posted by JMG:
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Originally posted by Kirkll:
I roped a mule deer once upon a time... long story, but true. The dad burn thing drug me through the sage brush for almost 50 yards before i could stop it's forward motion, and mine as well. I was afraid to let go of the rope and have the deer run off and end up hanging itself.... my hunting partner at the time was laughing so hard he wet his pants.
By the time we took the deer down and got the rope off off that crazed deer, we both looked like we'd been run through a shredder. Bull dogging a deer isn't as easy as you think. This small buck was only about 150 pounds, and whipped both of us good and proper.
At least i had it by the head. My partner took a real beating taking the rear end. Talk about a rodeo!.... i wouldn't recommend it.... Kirk
I would have paid good money to see all this transpire!! :biglaugh:
So now you have... "The rest of the story" Kirk
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Umm....Kirk... Only thing missing from that recant was "here hold my beer and watch this!" comment!
I'm sure you could have made money with such a video...enough to pay for the bruises anyway!
I once read a story in an email about some guy roping a buck at a stock tank and the rodeo that ensued.
Pound for pound, deer are one tough hombre!
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I was logging with my dad years ago and my brother would trim the limbs and top the fallen trees. I ran the skidder and was returning from skidding the trees out to the landing. On the return trip my brother was sitting on a stump watching my dad fall a tree. A young doe had her nose stuck within inches of my brothers back and he didn't have a clue she was there. As I got closer she calmly waked off without him even knowing what had happened. There were actually times they would walk right in front of the skidder while dragging logs out then calmly step aside as I drove past.
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Oh yeah, a time or two. There's a nice little three point Mulie at wife's work in town that's so tame you can touch him. Course, that's because people feed and water him. There's a good sized deer herd in town that know they are safe!
Well, almost safe. I ride a bicycle and really enjoy finding a small group of does and fawns in the fall sauntering down the road. I've goosed a couple of the does flying past on the bike and they don't quite know what to do. Some will whirl and want to lash out but I'm gone by then!
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(http://i37.photobucket.com/albums/e98/corymattson/srbz2010012.jpg) (http://s37.photobucket.com/user/corymattson/media/srbz2010012.jpg.html)
few years ago I was shooting my bow when this deer walked up to me. I scratched him behind the ears - got him some water and spent a few minutes talking to him in a low quiet voice. Took some pictures and eventually I started to shoot my bow while he watched. He walked away and I never saw him again but he had a white spot in his hooves - to this day I still look at a bucks hooves before I shoot when I hunt the neighborhood :)
me and uncle barry caught a buck one time and saved him from sure death in slush ice.
years earlier I pulled off the NJ Parkway when I saw a deer flayling I ran to it grabbed it and unpopped it off the top of a fence - it had metal just inside the skin and wasn't hurt (yet) but couldn't get off.
one time I walked in on some dogs who ran a doe during turkey season. I shot 2 of the dogs - another ran away - I thought the doe was going to fall over and went to catch her - she steadied and walked off.
another time I came up on a buck who was stuck in a lake at the bottom of a shear cliff and he was fading - front hooves just scraping at the rocks getting zero traction. I idled over spoke softly and grabbed his antler firmly - he instantly relaxed (I think he thought it was game over) I throttled slightly and dragged him 2/3rds a mile across the lake - as soon as his back legs touched sand he regained control and bolted from my grip as is shot out of a cannon.
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Originally posted by onemississipp:
Kirkll,
That's about like kicking a turtle while riding down the highway on a motorcycle! Seems cool until you do it.
lolol
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Yes, some years ago we had a little loner doe around. She would basicaly stick her head in the green briars and be "hidden". She didn't make doe season.
Years ago had a deer drive going on and a doe jumped the greenbriars and landed on a posters foot. Tore the boot and really bruise his foot.
Also like other have, I've touched them with a bow tip.
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About kicking a turtle while riding a motorcycle. I had a buck jump off of high roadside on a hillside blacktop in eastern Iowa while on my motorcycle. I slung the bike over just like I did with my flat track racing bike, as in, kick the back wheel right steer right and lay the bike over to the left. I scooped under the deer. Oddly enough, the bike popped back up on its wheels with only minor damage. I watched the buck for a bit. He seemed to have a slight limp at first, but seemed to walk it off and looked fine. I had deer hair in my pockets, my mouth and inside my leather jack and under my shirt.
About kicking stuff while riding a motorcycle. Once a group of Harley dudes were on a road constuction area ahead of me. The lead dude was being a pain with his foot out kicking over the orange cones at about 45 miles per hour. One of them was filled with concrete and shot him off that bike. The Harley went end over end in the rerods and he got a floppy leg that had an odd 90 degree bend between his knee and his ankle.
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Not an adult, but last year with my ghillie suit sitting up against a gnarly apple tree I had a fawn buck come in and actually sniff and lick my broadhead. He jerked back a little when his tongue touched the broadhead. Then, he put his nose directly on the top of my boot and got a little flustered with the snoutful of human scent. He was within 5 feet of me for over 15 minutes browsing,one of the coolest experiences I've had in the woods!