I was swapping hunting stories with a buddy of mine that is a compound shooter. He knows I hunt with a longbow and from the ground. He told me that he shot a nice 8 point buck from his stand last year during the rut. He said the buck came in so hot to his grunting that he was sure if he were on the ground, he would have gotten charged. He showed me pictures of the buck. A nice 8 pointer indeed. But that got me thinking, has anyone had this happen to them while ground hunting and how did you defend yourself?
I haven't had that happen...
...but..I carry a few sticks with pointy ends just in case he gets close..
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Never had a buck do it but have had a number of bull elk come looking for a fight. Shot one 7 steps and another at 8. The one at 8 yds was coming to a cow call and looking for love. I don't know which is worse. LOL
Mike
bring it
I was hunting with three others. We were pushing shelter belts. I was posting at one end, standing next to a large blown down tree. There was a slight ridge a few yards away, and I was on top waiting for any deer to run by.
One minute there was nothing and the next instant a mature buck was running full bore directly at me. I had to lean backwards to avoid getting hit. I could have hit him with my bow! So not charging me on purpose, but it was a rush!
Ha! Mike - that is funny! I never thought of it that way. Ya - how about an amorous buck! I hunt with a Big Jim Ground Hunter seat and the thought occurred to me that I could pick that thing up and keep the angry buck at bay with the foot end of that seat. But with what you mention, maybe I should just stay seated! LOL!
I didn't have him charge but I did have him one step on my foot opening day 3 years ago as I was kneeling in my ghillie. He and I both about dropped a deuce...
This year I killed a buck at 8 yards after he walking at me for 20. I really think he would have walked right over me had I not started drawing and turned him.
I had a spike coming flying in when I got to my tree and accidentally dropped the treestand I was carrying and it made a ratting sound. Should of seen this spike, he was breathing hard with snot dripping from his nose, he was red hot. That's what I love about bowhunting, you never know what is going to happen.
Thanks to all for chiming in here. In all seriousness, I think this is something the ground hunter needs to consider and have a plan of what to do in case it happens. I heard about an incident last year at a state park in Northern Indiana where a hunter did not come home when his family was expecting him. The conservation police went looking for him. They found the deer first. It had been shot and was dead, but they could not find the hunter. They eventually found him a few hours later slumped over under a tree. He had died from a lacerated liver. The best the CPO's could figure as to what happened is that the buck charged the hunter. The hunter was able to get a shot off but it was not enough to stop the buck and the buck got him with his antlers. Sad story.
I had a big 8 charge me a couple years ago on a wheat field right at dusk. I was walking to my truck and I noticed the silhouette of a buck a hundred yards or so on the tree row line against the wheat field. I knelt down to try and break up my outline so I wouldn't spook the buck and he came right for me. I knocked an arrow just in case and the buck just kept coming towards me on a fast trot. I couldn't believe this deer was actually coming towards me, I was thinking I was going to have to shoot this thing in self defense at one point. The buck faced me at 20 yards and started to make soft grunt sounds at me. It was pretty intense for awhile but eventually the buck turned broadside and trotted off. I had to check my shorts after he left. Here is a picture of him, pretty sure he would of won the battle too.
(http://i.imgur.com/WB4lM0O.jpg)
I've been around a lot of wild bucks, bears -black & grizzly, a few bull elk, as well as assorted other wildlife - the only time I ever even thought I was in danger was a mountain lion I called in while elk hunting. It was stalking me and even when I waved my arms and yelled at it, it kept coming, just circling to get behind some trees. At less than 10 yards I shot at it, but the arrow hit the shoulder and glanced off the quartering to me cat - then he ran off about 30 yards, paused to look around, and with a twitch of the tail walked off up the mountain.
Never even crosses my mind that a deer would be dangerous, next we'll have to watch for meteors.
There have been some hunters killed by deer but most are from approaching a wounded animal they thought dead and getting cut or run through by feet. We had a guy in Washington state years ago that had a deer open his leg and required over 100 stitches.
Mike
I've had two different friends charged by wounded bucks they were tracking. One was knocked over by the charging deer while he had his head down following the trail. When he got to his feet the buck was dead a short distance away. The other friend saw the buck he was tracking coming for him and was able to jump behind a tree to avoid being gored. He was able to finish him off with another arrow.
Just think how hunting would be if they knew that they could easily kick our butts, even the does ! I tell you it's humiliating.
I had a big buck come up behind me a few years ago. His hair all bristled up, drooling, nostrils flaring. All I could think of was, I'm about to get raped or killed by this thing. After trying to get turned around for the shot, he finally split.
The three that did it to me ended up dead. always associated with rattling /calling and movement.
I have had them come in real close looking for a fight but never charged.
If you are ground hunting in WI you have to be very careful of our aggressive bucks. Same for da U.P. of MI. They have been known to search out hapless bowhunters, especially those foolish enough to have doused themselves in doe in heat scent. I have heard countless stories of big bucks sneaking up right behind bowhunters during the rut and. . . well, we don't talk about that, never mind.
Oh those autumn days, such a wonderful time to be afield ! So full of energy and excitement.
And some folks thought those screams were bigfoot ! ha :scared:
ChuckC
:rolleyes: :knothead:
Just the opposite for me; either they didn't know I was there or took off when they saw me.
When I was a teenager I killed a doe that expired on the edge of a field 50 yards onto the neighbor's property. I had to cross the fence to get to her. Once I got to her I was admiring her when I heard a sort of a growl and stomp. I looked up to see a buck coming toward me with his ears back and legs stiff. He was licking his nose and looked like I owed him some money. I sprinted to the fence and rolled under the barbed wire expecting to feel his antlers in my behind at any moment. When I rose up on the other side of the fence I looked back to see him standing over my doe. I reckon if you shot my woman I would act the same way. I yelled at him and waved my arms and he turned and trotted back into the woods with his tail high.