I saw this on another Forum and thought I would ask here. Do you guys have any hunting stories that scared the daylights out of you? Like things that go bump in the night or before daylight? Here's a couple from me:
One time in archery season I had to walk out a flat about 400 yards to my tree, when I got there I just hooked up my treestand and heard the most blood curdling scream above me with footsteps, like something was circling me. I climbed that tree as fast as I could, never hooking the bow to the stand. I stayed up there until daylight, then climbed back down to get my bow. Never saw anything that morning either.
Another time I was bowhunting, this time on the ground, I just started walking from my truck I heard a noise up on the mountain I never heard before. It was loud enough to echo down the mountain. I can't describe the noise but it was loud. I was shaking while walking to my stand. I got there and then when it got daylight I heard a tree crashing down above me, made a heck of a racket. By then I was on edge and nervous looking around to see what the heck that was. Then I heard something walking heavily above me, and at that point I was ready to turn around and start running. But I stayed there and about an hour later a Porky walked up to me.
I've never really been scared while hunting but I did find myself in an eerie situation one time while turkey hunting.
I was engaged with a hot gobbling bird in Georgia close to a not so old moonshine steel. He was moving parallel with my location. I let him move far enough for it to be safe for me to move. While I was waiting for him to move far enough I spotted what looked like the base of a shed deer antler. Once I decided it was safe to reposition I figured I'd pick up the shed before falling in behind the gobbler. When I got to it I realized it was the entire leg from human remains from the hip joint all the way to the foot. What I had seen was the ball of the upper leg bone. Then I noticed several mounds of dirt that looked like it may be multiple burial sites. It's kind of eerie being deep in the woods looking at what I was looking at.
YES, on 2 different occasions. more than a few years ago. both happened about a half mile from the other.
first, was listening one morning right at day light i heard something at the bottom of the hill where i was listing from. at the bottom is a long beaver pond, where i was at was at the edge of some planted pine about 15 foot high to my left was some big timber and a fire break running down the hill and i mean a steep hill. both cash and t-town knows where this spot is. a i was there i hear something making a scream like sound it was not a cat. but it was coming up the edge of the beaver pond about 150 yds away headed towards the big timber. when it got to the fire break it turned and started up the hill towards me. when it got right below the crest of the hill it went to the left into the big timber going away from me up that big hollow. making that sound until it went out of hearing distance. while it was coming up the hill i had the gun up and was ready for t to top the rise. needlessly to say i didnt hear a bird that morning there.
2nd time was across that hollow where a logging road goes back in towards that beaver pond. as i left the truck and about when i go into that area i go about 400 yards to a place to listen. about half way up the ridge i hear something giving a low growl about 100 yards or so up the road, it was drk with enough light to see about 5 foot in front of me with no flashlight. well after i heard that i got the light out real quick. and shined it up the road. but a small mag light dont put much light out maybe 20 foot. didnt see anything but i did have the gun again. waiting but it quick growling ad dont know where it went. so after about10 minutes i could see about 40 yards up the road and went in anyhow. did hear a bird down by the beaver pond but he went the other way so no luck.
those are the only 2 times that sticks out in my memory. had quail scare the crap out of me. and ducks getting up out of a creek right at daylight but knew what they were.
scott
When I was 14 a buddy of my dads invited me to go on a camping/squirrel hunting trip. We went down in into Ky, way back in the hills. We ate at one of the other guys' folks place, they had the wild hogs with black hair in a pen along with a coon in a pen. Dirt poor, but they gave us the best meal a man could ask for. Super nice folks.
From there we drove back some gravel road for a long time, then took his car top flatbottom up a few miles into the backwaters of some lake. We slept under a big rock ledge for few days and squirrel hunted, but the squirrels population was zip that year. After a few days his brother-in-law joined us, his name was "Sandy". I kind of chuckled when I heard his name..till he showed up - about 6'2" and farm strong. He had a big ol black eye and told us that he stumbled into someone's pot patch and 3 guys beat the crap out of him. He cautioned us about being in places we should be in, wandering around out there in the mountains.
The next day Sandy and I went squirrel hunting up some big holler about a mile up the lake. We had eased up the mountain a ways when we heard walking up the ridge a ways. Sandy held his hand out to tell me to stop and listen. About that time a huge log came barreling down the mountain toward us and we heard more walking. Sandy whispered it was time to leave and I have to tell you I lead the way out!
OK I've got three that I still think about. First one was in PA . A friend and I were walking into our stands in the dark , Deer season. When we heard this, for a lack of better terms, Screaming/ screeching. The only way I can describe it is to say it sounded like someone had an old pull start lawn mower with bad bearings and no compression it was the most God awful Squealing/screeching/ screaming I ever heard. But we were young and packing so we went on with the hunt.
Second I was bow hunting in MD before I learned about tree stands. It was mid September and I dosed off on the ground back against a tree. I awoke to the loudest racket I have ever heard to this day. An old dead tree decided to give up the ghost and fall. The loud crack sounded like a gun shot and the crashing of it coming to the ground, Well I had to check myself for skid marks. Whats worse is when I looked down at my leg a 5 foot black snake was sliding down my leg. that was it for me that day.
Third was the worst My son and I were in a two man tree stand about 9 or 10 years ago. we were crop damage hunting on a friends farm. Every one "Knew" where everyone was but about an hour before dark shots rang out and the slugs went whizzing less than three feet over our heads and zipping through the branches. I nearly threw my boy the 20 feet to the ground. He's not a big fan of deer hunting anymore and he won't go with the guy that made the mistake of shooting at deer sky lined an the top of the field while sitting in the bottom. Thank God my boy wasn't hurt and he does still look forward to turkey hunting with me.
Camo
Another time my buddy called me to try and kill some coyotes. We didn't have a clue what we were doing being 18 and we drove his pickup out to the woods in the dark. There was about 4" of snow on the ground and he pulls out 2 sheets he had sewn together and threw it over his truck. He put the speakers on the hood and popped in a screaming rabbit tape and told he would start it in 3 minutes. I high-tailed it to a cedar point and with the moon you could see really well!
The screaming started and man was it eerie! Almost immediately some coyotes started yipping on the neighbor's property, then another group to the south. After a few minutes they yipped again and were close! I gripped the 12ga pump just knowing one was gonna pop out at any time when I heard something thump DIRECTLY behind me. I screamed inside and spun around in slow motion, knowing a pack of yotes was probably in mid-air, jumping for my jugular. As I finally made it around with the shotgun I saw where a big clump of snow had fallen off of a small cedar.
No we didn't kill a thing that night, but I think I DID soil my shorts!
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Good thread, brings back some old memories, last one:
About 30 years ago I was out with my bear whitetail recurve, the big tall one with pulleys everywhere, lol. I was hunting a property with a buddy, where the owner had problems with wild dogs and told me to whack em if I got the chance. I was on-stand and heard a pack of dogs barking....so I got down and went to the edge of the field to see if I could see what was going on. About that time a yearling doe came running up out of the holler and stopped right in front of me, did she EVER look beat...mouth open and worn out. She took off and about 30 seconds later 2 dogs come running up.
I zipped the first big one and while he was flippin around I zipped the 2nd one. The second wild dog was down and I missed the first dog with my last arrow, trying to anchor him. The wild dog went down into the woods and I went over to find an arrow..so I could go finish him. About that time I heard a growl and looked up to see the biggest freak-of -a-dog I have ever seen and did he looked like death. He was only about 15 yards from me and all I had was my bow out in the field with no tree anywhere close. I was deciding on what to do. Maybe I could use the bow like a ball-bat if he came for me, but then he turned and was gone, and I breathed a sigh of relief!
I found one of the arrows and went down into the woods after #1. I saw him lying there looking around and when he saw me he laid his head down and closed his eyes, playing dead. As I moved closer I saw him peek a few times, just waiting for me to get close enough, but I drilled him in the neck and he clamped down on the arrow and was gone.
I met up w/my buddy and dark and he said, "I take it you found the wild dogs?" I never forgot that last dog and the look of death he was giving me. I was lucky.....but then again, so was he, that I didn't have another arrow!
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Those were the days! YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wess
After reading flintlock's post and the last line "I lead the way out" It made me chuckell and think of my little brother Dave. We were fishing on the Potomac river one summer, and a thunder storm rolled in on us really quick. We started back to the car through the woods and a flash of lightning hit a tree ... Oh I don't know ... lets hust say I was deaf for a little while and remember seeing a flash. Now knowing he was hundreds of yards behind me, I looked back to see where Dave was and was almost knocked down as he passed me at about 90 MPH.. I laugh about that to this day. Dave never moved at anything more than a snails pace before that day.
Camo
Quote from: guesswho on December 30, 2011, 08:49:24 PM
I've never really been scared while hunting but I did find myself in an eerie situation one time while turkey hunting.
I was engaged with a hot gobbling bird in Georgia close to a not so old moonshine steel. He was moving parallel with my location. I let him move far enough for it to be safe for me to move. While I was waiting for him to move far enough I spotted what looked like the base of a shed deer antler. Once I decided it was safe to reposition I figured I'd pick up the shed before falling in behind the gobbler. When I got to it I realized it was the entire leg from human remains from the hip joint all the way to the foot. What I had seen was the ball of the upper leg bone. Then I noticed several mounds of dirt that looked like it may be multiple burial sites. It's kind of eerie being deep in the woods looking at what I was looking at.
Wow
I was calling a gobbler one morning when I got an eerie feeling something was looking at me. Don't know how to explain it. I was determined to stay put and kill the turkey. Ab out 2 minbutes later a mountain lion screamed about 50 yards away. I as clutching that shotgun like it was my lifeline, I guess it was. I have no doubts that lion was looking at me from my rear and realized I was human. Then goit mad after it went a little ways and let me know he was there. I knew this area had some mountain lions and the rancher that let me hunt told me they had been seeing some. That was the first time I had been hunted. It was a liuttle scarey.
TRKYHTR
Harrison and I were driving to one of my favorite spring hunting spots, and as we were just getting to the driveway, we saw a doe go racing across the road in front of us like the hounds of hell were on her.
I didn't think too much about it, and we drove up the driveway, parking at the farm got out of the car and headed across the field.
Well, it was a full moon, and I was anxious to get to my spot without being seen by birds.
Well just as we hit the field, the song dogs lit it up! We had coyotes baying all around us! I swear to God, I have never heard so many!
Well, I tell you boys, it rose the hair on the back of my neck a little bit, and I don't believe I coulda pryed Harrison off me with a crowbar! I looked at him, and he was pretty scared. Gotta admit, probably only time I was a little nervous in the pre-dawn woods.
I shot a deer early one morning back in Clinch Mtn. below the big cliff above White Rock Cove.
Got it dressed and drug it up to the road where me and my uncle meet at noon.
Incredible view from the cliff and I've always enjoyed glassing for game up there. With nothing else to do but wait, I laid my pack and gun down and walked out on the cliff with my binos and a drink and sandwich.
I had probably been there 20 or so minutes, just taking it easy and enjoying the view, when I heard something behind me. (I was sitting on the edge of the cliff and there's about 10 or so feet of rock you walk out on, no where to go really.)
Turned around and there were 2 bear cubs staring at me from about 6 feet away. Didn't really know what to think as I'd never been this close to bears before, so I just tried to stay still. They sniffed around a bit and it seemed that they felt about the same as I did.
Now I had no gun on me, and literally no where to go. Probably 80+ feet drop below me. Mother bear walked out behind them and stood up on her hind legs. This is when I got pretty scared. Cubs turned and walked behind the mother and to her right into some laurels, and she came back down hard on all 4s. She never came any closer (maybe 10 feet away) but swung her head a few times and make some kinda weird, almost cracking, noise.
I guess this "stand-off" lasted about 20 seconds or so, then she just walked away, the same way the cubs did.
Needless to say, I take my gun with me now when I'm on that cliff.
I think it was 3 years ago, I got on a bird on a Saturday that lead me on a cross holler march. I had never been in this area so, down the ridge, over the edge, across the holler, up the other side, ease up the ridge. Steep and rough country I was in, lots of pines but it opened up to nice timber. I walked an old road out and I knew exactly where I would be on Sunday morning when I came back after that bird.
Sunday morning I shut my truck door and the bird is already gobbling, yes! This is in a National Recreation area and I had to hike through a blue zone and my gun could not be loaded. I slipped quietly down the sanded horse trail making no sound at all. I stepped out of the trail and into the woods. I had walked about 75yds into the woods, close to 1/2 miles from the truck down the trail.
As I eased through the woods listening to the bird gobble I heard a cough. I froze instantly, "no way someone else is in here", I thought. That's when it coughed again. It was not a cough but a woof. Not from a dog but from a very angry black bear that was somewhere right infront of me in a thicket.
Think back to the blue zone, gun was not loaded.......gun is still not loaded. My flashlight sucked so bad it would barely shine on the ground.
I started talking to the bear, this lead to the popping of teeth and the swiping of the ground, false charge? I did manage to get 2 round into my gun. I did not feel any better about the situation though. It was mad and I had NO clue to where it really was other than infront of me and really close. I more or less hollered at the bear and I stood my ground. It eventaully got tired of the stand off and left. It went down the holler woofing and blowing. I was scared as hell to be honest with you and I did not move until daylight.
When I could see really good I remembered the turkey. I eased on down the ridge and set down. I made a couple of yelps and it gobbled at me. I ended up calling the bird in and killing it, 11.5" beard 13/16" spurs.
Let me tell you, everytime the wind blew I thought that friggin' bear was right on top of me. I don't know if I have ever been so jumpy in the woods.
I got one about Big Foot but I don't think anyone would believe me. besides launching that truck across that tank trap of a ditch was scarier than the creature anyway.
Camo
i believe in bigfoot, cause i seen him before... he was sitting between me and elvis on the ufo one night.
scott
Quote from: camotruck on December 30, 2011, 10:58:57 PM
I got one about Big Foot but I don't think anyone would believe me. besides launching that truck across that tank trap of a ditch was scarier than the creature anyway.
Camo
Let's hear it. I'm all for hearing scary stories.
One morning my brother and I were hunting deep into a wilderness area. We heard what sounded like a deer snorting at the west end of the mountain we were on. As we got closer, we continued to hear this non-stop sound. Finally, determining that it couldn't be a deer we decided to investigate. What we found was a very small black bear cub, maybe the size of a boar coon, about 30 feet up in a pine tree. He was bawling, so of course we get out the video camera and videod him, then the realization sets in that momma is probably close by. We could see where she had been bedded down in the leaves. Anyway, I remember hoping if the time came, those turkey loads would do the job if need be. Never did see her, but we eased out of there.
I was out deer hunting one day, bow in hand, and walking along the top of this mountain. I came through a spot that had two rock formations on both sides. I got the sensation that something was watching me and I could hear what sounded like a cat purring. Every hair was standing up on the back of my neck. I looked and looked, but couldn't locate anything, so reluctantly I eased on through and as I got through them just down the hill I heard something come off the rocks and land in the leaves. Needless to say, I thought I was about to be lunch for a mountain lion.
1. Got attacked by dogs when i was little out behind the house squirrel hunting. 2. Found myself on top of a mountain in the middle of a lightning storm with a tree stand and rifle strapped to my back. 3. Middle of a lake in Florida bass fishing when a lightning storm rolled in. 4. Standoff with a very large bear in Canada at dusk while dragging the bear i had just shot out.
The most startled I've been was when I was sneaking out to my deer spot in the dark (back when I was in high school). I saw something dark laying on the ground in my path. I couldn't make out what it was, so I decided skirt around it...keeping my eyes on it at all times, of course. While doing so, I walked right into a covey of quail. The sound of covey flush at my feet in the pre-dawn hours when I was already on edge certainly tested my body's ability not to soil my pants.
The most recent scary moment happened two years ago when the guy pictured below brushed up against my hip while stalking my hen decoy. I probably scared him more, though. :D He stopped about 10 feet away and let me take his picture. There wasn't enough room to swing my gun barrel. It's just freaks me out that he could sneak up that close to me (right underneath my elbow) and I had no clue.
(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b209/stinkpickle/IMG_0012_cropped.jpg)
I just remembered another one. My cousin and I were hunting a certain gobbler that came into a field just about every day. I told him we would get to the edge of the field well before daylight and get set up with decoys. So off we went and set up early, we were sitting there waiting for it to get daylight when a thunder storm rolled in. Lightning was streaking across the sky and it was pouring down with rain. I don't know what made me do this, but I looked around behind me in the woods and saw a round blue light floating through the trees. I nudged my cousin and said look behind you. He said that's probably someone walking up the road to the field. I said, RON that road isn't THAT close to us. He said, you're right. I had a chill go up my spine.
I was pretty deep back in the swamp I hunt, opening day deer season and I was just packing up and had just unloaded and put my gun away and heard a screech/scream come from not far away that made my skin crawl. I think it was a bobcat or something definately startled me.
Same area just 2 years ago I was just finishing up for the night and a lone coyote howled not far from me in the hills and the another and another then all of a sudden the hils sound like they were alive with coyotes, definitely had my hair standing on end. That morning my dad had mistakenly taken a whole box of shells out to his blind with. At this time I thought that that might not be a bad idea because 5 shots seemed woefully inadequate at the time.
This year my brother almost stepped on a racoon or Yote or something like that early one morning bowhunting, I heard the growl but thought it was my brother, he side stepped quickly, I thought he rolled an ankle but he said that was whatever growling at him. My son was their in between my brother and I and it rattled him pretty good.
Laslty , this one happened to one of my Uncles years ago. While deer hunting in Canada he walked out onto the bank of a small river to see 2 small bear cubs at waters edge, Immediately they start bawling when they see him. He looks around to see Mama onher hind legs looking at him. He is between the cubs and Mama. She charges ( not a mock charge either) He unloads a semi auto 30-06 into her with her last step and dying swipe tears his hunting vest and outer clothes apart welting his skin. He now has the bear head mounted after getting it form the CO's and underneath has the hunting vest framed. To this day he doesnt hunt anymore.
Here's a story for ya's
I was bow hunting in the middle of October 2009 in a rural area close to the house. I was standing on the edge of a woods watching a clearing that led to a corn field a 100yrds or so away. I had my back to the woods and was still hunting my way through. I heard something behind me so I eased around and there's this guy standing there 20 yrds from me LOL. He was dressed in a leather coat with blue jeans on and a stalking cap. He had strips of cloth tied around his knees, elbows and head. His beard was real long and he was pretty dirty to say the least, I could smell this guy 10ft away. This guy started to circle around me not sayin anything. Stairing all the time while he circled me with his hands out like he was gonna jump on me at anytime.
Well, I started laughing at this guy thinkin to myself "You gots to be kiddin me", He just stopped and stood there. I said "Come on man, what hell the you doin" He said "I'm huntin people" I told him that I hadn't seen any as I was still laughing!! I then told him that he'd best be movin on cause I'm done with all this stupid sh*t and fixin to put it on em. So he backs up with his arms out and slowly walks backwards away from me. He said "Watch your back!" and then runs off throught the woods. LOL I wasnt real scared, but I didnt hunt that area anymore LOL. I think that guy was a crack head or something LOL, who knows!
I used to hunt an area that was next to a cemetery. Had hunted it a few times with a stand for deer. I always wait until 1/2 hr after sun down to come out of the woods. Well that night it was a full moon so I could see out over the clear valley up to the edge of the cemetery. I came down to my edge of the valley and walked along the edge of the timber. I got about a half mile up the valley and I heard this...... This cross between a screech and a cackle. Stood every hair on my body up. Sounded like a movie special effect for a flying sic-fi creature or something. At first I thought it was across the cemetery which meant it was 3/4 mile away but you could hear it getting closer. It was moving fast enough that it had to be flying and the second time it cackled it was close to the near edge of the cemetery. I don't know what that thing was, but I didn't stick around to find out either. I only hunted that spot in light hours after that and it never panned out anything so I only hunted it a few more times. Never hard a noise like that except in movies/cartoons.... I don't scare easy, but that night Carl Lewis couldn't have beat me back to my truck.
Quote from: Crappiepro on December 31, 2011, 08:42:44 AM
Here's a story for ya's
I was bow hunting in the middle of October 2009 in a rural area close to the house. I was standing on the edge of a woods watching a clearing that led to a corn field a 100yrds or so away. I had my back to the woods and was still hunting my way through. I heard something behind me so I eased around and there's this guy standing there 20 yrds from me LOL. He was dressed in a leather coat with blue jeans on and a stalking cap. He had strips of cloth tied around his knees, elbows and head. His beard was real long and he was pretty dirty to say the least, I could smell this guy 10ft away. This guy started to circle around me not sayin anything. Stairing all the time while he circled me with his hands out like he was gonna jump on me at anytime.
Well, I started laughing at this guy thinkin to myself "You gots to be kiddin me", He just stopped and stood there. I said "Come on man, what hell the you doin" He said "I'm huntin people" I told him that I hadn't seen any as I was still laughing!! I then told him that he'd best be movin on cause I'm done with all this stupid sh*t and fixin to put it on em. So he backs up with his arms out and slowly walks backwards away from me. He said "Watch your back!" and then runs off throught the woods. LOL I wasnt real scared, but I didnt hunt that area anymore LOL. I think that guy was a crack head or something LOL, who knows!
You have way more patience and risk taker in you than me. The second he said "hunting people" he would have found himself smack dab in the middle of a "predator or prey" situation.
Growing up in the Swamp you hear some pretty weird things, so as a kid you can imagine there were many scary situations. As you get older you figure out they are some bird,frog, coyote or doe deer. You start to actually enjoy some of the screams, except the coyotes.
As an adult, the two scariest moments were both busting critters out of their bed in the wee morning hours in the pitch black dark.
On several occasions, Ive walked up on wild coveys of quail roosted in the swamp thickets. The first time was probably the worst. When I stepped on them, the went every direction......including upwards. They were hitting me on the legs, in the crotch, fluttering in my face. I screamed bloody murder and came very close to soiling my pants. i think my heart skipped a beat or two. After a few moments my legs quit shaking and I got back to business, but my stomach had turned so bad I couldnt eat breakfast when i got out of the woods.
The second story is basically the same, only I walked into a pile of baby piglets and a mama Hog. I stepped right on one of the piglets and it let out a bloody curdling scream. They went scattering everywhere. they were hitting me in the legs as they ran. I think I startled mama just as bad as me. She must have been big because She took off busting brush and I could hear the thuds of her feet on the ground. i think she was long gone, but i jumped into a small scrub oak anyway until daylight came. I dont care much for pissed off mama hogs.
Quote from: guesswho on December 30, 2011, 08:49:24 PM
I've never really been scared while hunting but I did find myself in an eerie situation one time while turkey hunting.
I was engaged with a hot gobbling bird in Georgia close to a not so old moonshine steel. He was moving parallel with my location. I let him move far enough for it to be safe for me to move. While I was waiting for him to move far enough I spotted what looked like the base of a shed deer antler. Once I decided it was safe to reposition I figured I'd pick up the shed before falling in behind the gobbler. When I got to it I realized it was the entire leg from human remains from the hip joint all the way to the foot. What I had seen was the ball of the upper leg bone. Then I noticed several mounds of dirt that looked like it may be multiple burial sites. It's kind of eerie being deep in the woods looking at what I was looking at.
Ronnie, I hope you did contact the authorities? Neill
Several years ago, I was hunting on public land in Oklahoma. There were several other hunters in the area, judging from the number of vehicles parked along the roads. Turkeys were scarce, and I saw what I am sure was a gobbler at the other end of a long field, just in the edge of the timber. I circled the field and slipped up to near where I had spotted the bird. It was on a fairly steep hill, and I was at the top. I heard what I thought was a hen clucking just down the hill. I set up, preparing to call, but before I did, I got the weirdest feeling, like I was in danger, possibly from another hunter. I never called, I just slipped back out to the open field and walked away.
I still don't know why I felt that way, whether it was just my imagination running away with me, or perhaps what I thought was a turkey, was actually a man. Either way, I just felt like it was not the place to be at the moment. I've never been that "scared" in any other hunting situation since. Neill
Yea I saw a sasquatch, to bad I had my 1930 kodak camera( that's why the picture is a blurr) and forgot my bullets I could not shoot it. oh well yull just have to trust me. :TooFunny:
I got startled by coon one morning deer hunting. I was sitting on the ground . Heard someing come fling over the hill. By the time I got to my light and turned it on. It was about two feet from. It turn and ran about a foot beside on over the hill.
Then one time I was sitting in tree stand. Watching a squirel climb the tree beside of me. When got up about head high. It decided to ju
mp. It landed on my arrow and both hit the ground. If it would of came couple inchs closer it been in my lap.
One time while walking to my stand in bow season my flashlight started to flicker and finally went out. I thought GREAT. It was so dark I couldn't see my hand in front of my face. So I started feeling around for a log to sit on until daylight. I finally found one then set down. It wasn't 2 minutes I hear something walking in the leaves towards me. I'm thinking, what the heck is that? I got skeeerd and started yelling at whatever it was. All of a sudden the walking stopped, I didn't hear another step after that. I sat there until it got light and didn't see anything around. I thought whatever it was maybe climbed a tree or something but looked up at all the trees and saw nothing.
Quote from: savduck on December 31, 2011, 10:10:43 AM
On several occasions, Ive walked up on wild coveys of quail roosted in the swamp thickets. The first time was probably the worst. When I stepped on them, the went every direction......including upwards. They were hitting me on the legs, in the crotch, fluttering in my face. I screamed bloody murder and came very close to soiling my pants. i think my heart skipped a beat or two. After a few moments my legs quit shaking and I got back to business, but my stomach had turned so bad I couldnt eat breakfast when i got out of the woods.
I'm sorry but that is the funniest thing I ever read :TooFunny:
I was bow hunting in southern wv about 5 years ago and the area I was hunting was about an hour walk through the woods to get to. Me in brainy self had worked all night and used the batteries almost dead in my flashlight. So about 15 min into the walk my light died. Having been to the tree several times and having moonlight I decided to go at it in the dark. I made it to the tree in a timely fashion and was somewhat proud of myself for getting there, at which point things went to hell. As I was putting the top section of my climber onto the tree I heard something about 100 yards behind me on the logging road I was on but didn't give it much thought. About 5 seconds later I hear the creepiest growl that anything on earth could make. As I was in the middle of a panic attack I could hear whatever it was running at me and still growling. Thank God there was a boulder in the middle of the logging road that I was able jump on at the time (tried several times later before I left and couldn't begin to get on it). Once on the boulder I could still hear it in the leaves coming toward me and growling. I had just enought battery in my light for it to flash and when I shined it down the logging road there were at least 8 coyotes standing there. I shot an arrow into the dark toward them and screamed out something like the movie Braveheart (kinda funny now) and scared them off. Waited until daylight and haven't been back to that spot since. Tried several times but get the goosebumps as soon as I shut the door of the truck.
Quote from: Deputy 14 on December 31, 2011, 06:43:18 PM
I was bow hunting in southern wv about 5 years ago and the area I was hunting was about an hour walk through the woods to get to. Me in brainy self had worked all night and used the batteries almost dead in my flashlight. So about 15 min into the walk my light died. Having been to the tree several times and having moonlight I decided to go at it in the dark. I made it to the tree in a timely fashion and was somewhat proud of myself for getting there, at which point things went to hell. As I was putting the top section of my climber onto the tree I heard something about 100 yards behind me on the logging road I was on but didn't give it much thought. About 5 seconds later I hear the creepiest growl that anything on earth could make. As I was in the middle of a panic attack I could hear whatever it was running at me and still growling. Thank God there was a boulder in the middle of the logging road that I was able jump on at the time (tried several times later before I left and couldn't begin to get on it). Once on the boulder I could still hear it in the leaves coming toward me and growling. I had just enought battery in my light for it to flash and when I shined it down the logging road there were at least 8 coyotes standing there. I shot an arrow into the dark toward them and screamed out something like the movie Braveheart (kinda funny now) and scared them off. Waited until daylight and haven't been back to that spot since. Tried several times but get the goosebumps as soon as I shut the door of the truck.
I have heard about stories like this happening. That is one of the scariest things I have read. Gave me the chills.
Quote from: mason0366 on December 31, 2011, 06:21:15 PM
I got startled by coon one morning deer hunting. I was sitting on the ground . Heard someing come fling over the hill. By the time I got to my light and turned it on. It was about two feet from. It turn and ran about a foot beside on over the hill.
Then one time I was sitting in tree stand. Watching a squirel climb the tree beside of me. When got up about head high. It decided to ju
mp. It landed on my arrow and both hit the ground. If it would of came couple inchs closer it been in my lap.
I went bowhunting this morning and had a run in with a squirrel similar to this. I had a squirrel in the tree next to mine get curious to what I was so he decided to go up the tree and cross into mine. I could hear him coming down the tree so I decided to stand up. He then comes sneaking around the tree at head level and hangs there looking at me from about 6 inches away. I just froze to see what he would do and was startled to see him start reaching out at me and feeling my shoulder to try to figure what I was. I must haved moved just enough that went flying back up the tree and back to the ariginal tree and sat there for a half hour barking at me. I thought this was quite funny though and wasn't scared.
Quote from: chatterbox on December 31, 2011, 06:45:43 PM
Quote from: Deputy 14 on December 31, 2011, 06:43:18 PM
I was bow hunting in southern wv about 5 years ago and the area I was hunting was about an hour walk through the woods to get to. Me in brainy self had worked all night and used the batteries almost dead in my flashlight. So about 15 min into the walk my light died. Having been to the tree several times and having moonlight I decided to go at it in the dark. I made it to the tree in a timely fashion and was somewhat proud of myself for getting there, at which point things went to hell. As I was putting the top section of my climber onto the tree I heard something about 100 yards behind me on the logging road I was on but didn't give it much thought. About 5 seconds later I hear the creepiest growl that anything on earth could make. As I was in the middle of a panic attack I could hear whatever it was running at me and still growling. Thank God there was a boulder in the middle of the logging road that I was able jump on at the time (tried several times later before I left and couldn't begin to get on it). Once on the boulder I could still hear it in the leaves coming toward me and growling. I had just enought battery in my light for it to flash and when I shined it down the logging road there were at least 8 coyotes standing there. I shot an arrow into the dark toward them and screamed out something like the movie Braveheart (kinda funny now) and scared them off. Waited until daylight and haven't been back to that spot since. Tried several times but get the goosebumps as soon as I shut the door of the truck.
I have heard about stories like this happening. That is one of the scariest things I have read. Gave me the chills.
That story reminds me of one my buddy told me what happened to him. He was bowhunting in the evening once, right before dark as he was climbing down his tree he saw 3 deer run past him like their tails were on fire. He really didn't think anything about it. As he was walking to his truck with his treestand on his back, a pack of coyotes came running towards him yipping and growling. He quickly shed his treestand and dropped his bow then climbed a tree as fast as he could. The coyotes then circled the tree barking and growling at him. He started yelling at them and about 20 minutes later they all left. By then it was getting dark. He climbed out of the tree and ran as fast as he could to his vehicle. He went back the next day armed to get his bow and treestand. The whole time he was telling me this I was laughing so hard. He didn't think it was funny though. ;D
Lol guys these stories are great!!
I don't have a story of my own.. although the first time I heard coyotes in the woods I was alone, unnerved me a bit.
But my buddy was burning the trash outside his farm one day in a burner barrel.. He starts walking away from the barrel and a coon comes flying out of the barrel squalling; it was on fire!!! He flipped out and didn't know what to do as this flaming raccoon runs away. Well he was afraid it was going to catch one of the building on fire so he chased after it and stomped it to death with his boot. One of the funniest stories I've ever heard in person.
Quote from: Longbeardfever4ever on December 31, 2011, 09:45:40 PM
But my buddy was burning the trash outside his farm one day in a burner barrel.. He starts walking away from the barrel and a coon comes flying out of the barrel squalling; it was on fire!!! He flipped out and didn't know what to do as this flaming raccoon runs away. Well he was afraid it was going to catch one of the building on fire so he chased after it and stomped it to death with his boot. One of the funniest stories I've ever heard in person.
That is quite possibly the funniest thing I have ever heard.
Nice thread!
Gues I will chime in here.
I was deer hunting one evening and it was really windy. I was positioned looking down a road in the middle of cut over that had been planted with rye grass earlier that year to prevent washing. The grass was really good, and I found a spot where I could watch about 100 yds or so down this road. I was laying flat on my belly with my gun propped up on my back pack when I hear the distinct yipping of a coyote to my right coming out of the cutover. The coyote comes out 5 yards in front of me, crosses directly in front of me, the turns to his left and walks 4 yards parallel of me (I am still on my belly). He catches sight of me, stops, and turns around and trots off about 10-15 yds in front of me and stops.
We stare at each other for at least 10 minutes. Finally, the coyote turns and walks away. About his second step a Bobcat jumps out of the brush, way lays the coyote and rolls him across the road. The last view I caught of the coyote was him gettin up and running into the brush, and the bobcat pouncing on him.
I heard the most aweful, screams coming out of that brush as that bobcat killed that coyote. I wanted to kill the cat, but didn't know where it was as I couldn't see it. I got outta there.
A couple of weeks later I come back and was in the same location. I heard a distinct snarl/growl to my right but can't see anything. Had to be the bobcat.
I turkey hunt around the same area, and I can tell you there isn't a moment when I am calling that I am not checking my 6 oclock to make sure that bobcat doesn't think I am breakfast.
Quote from: PaTurkHntr on December 31, 2011, 06:05:18 AM
I just remembered another one. My cousin and I were hunting a certain gobbler that came into a field just about every day. I told him we would get to the edge of the field well before daylight and get set up with decoys. So off we went and set up early, we were sitting there waiting for it to get daylight when a thunder storm rolled in. Lightning was streaking across the sky and it was pouring down with rain. I don't know what made me do this, but I looked around behind me in the woods and saw a round blue light floating through the trees. I nudged my cousin and said look behind you. He said that's probably someone walking up the road to the field. I said, RON that road isn't THAT close to us. He said, you're right. I had a chill go up my spine.
This is ironic.........my father in law had the same type of thing happen with him while hunting. He was walking down a road when he noticed a round, red light following him behind him. It floated. My father in law doesn't make stories up like this. I wish that I could remember more details..... I go hunting there and you better believe that this story freaks me out when I am walking down that old dirt road in the middle of nowhere.
Probably 8 years ago, My then buddy Joe and I were walking up the hill on an old logging road behind one of the local reservoirs to try and get him his spring bird. I had already filled my tag the opening day and was along just to call for him. He was about 10 feet behind me and as we walked in, I was doing the "locating". Just as I crested a little rise on the logging road, I spotted this browninsh/grey lump in the middle of the road maybe 6 feet in front of me. I hunt the area very often, taking my first buck on that hill some 27 years ago, and I did not remember "that rock" in the path. I stopped and as my foot came down, The "lump" let out the most blood curdlling, hissing growl I have ever heard and the mangiest, ugliest coyote...or chupacabra, I don't know, :help: rose up from the ground and snarled at me, its hackles all raised up from what hair it had left on its body. I didn't have my 835 with my and my buddy Joe didn't realize what was going on until he literally ran into me. I YANKED the gun out of his hands and shouldered it, aiming at the coyote, only to pull the trigger on an empty chamber as he hadn't even loaded it yet. At the CLICK, the coyote didn't run, he didn't even flinch. He just kind of "slithered" away into the blackberry thicket, producing this horrible, gurgling grown the whole time. I couldn't move for probably 15 minutes after that, and believe me, Joe's gun got loaded toot sweet!
One other time when I was had just turned 19, I was hunting fall turkey and I had just broken up a big flock after only getting into the woods maybe 5 minute prior. I sat down and started to kee kee and less than 30 seconds later got answers from every direction. I was carrying the old "Long Tom", a full choke 30" barrel, single shot H&R. I was sure this was going to be the quickest fall turkey hunt in history, but then all the calling simply stopped. I was scanning the hemlock bottom where I saw about half the flock break into when I heard leaves crunching behind me and off my right shoulder. I didn't kick any birds that way but thought maybe one had circled back to find the flock. That's when I heard the panting! From my right, less than 6 feet from me I see a coyote come into view. I had never seen one in PA, let alone less than 10 feet from...and obviously stalking my calling! He was up wind of me and had no clue I was there but he had to sense the lump against the tree wasn't supposed to be there because as I turned ever so slowly to get a better look at him, he stared right at me, a that "holy $#!T" look on his face. He about turned himself inside out trying to get away from me! I never did get a shot at him. BTW. That was 1991. Long before the PGC had supposedly "transplanted" coyotes into the state.
Quote from: Neill_Prater on December 31, 2011, 11:17:22 AM
Quote from: guesswho on December 30, 2011, 08:49:24 PM
I've never really been scared while hunting but I did find myself in an eerie situation one time while turkey hunting.
I was engaged with a hot gobbling bird in Georgia close to a not so old moonshine steel. He was moving parallel with my location. I let him move far enough for it to be safe for me to move. While I was waiting for him to move far enough I spotted what looked like the base of a shed deer antler. Once I decided it was safe to reposition I figured I'd pick up the shed before falling in behind the gobbler. When I got to it I realized it was the entire leg from human remains from the hip joint all the way to the foot. What I had seen was the ball of the upper leg bone. Then I noticed several mounds of dirt that looked like it may be multiple burial sites. It's kind of eerie being deep in the woods looking at what I was looking at.
Ronnie, I hope you did contact the authorities? Neill
Yes, I called 911 when I got back to town. They got on to me and told me 911 was for emergencies. I told them thet where I'm from finding body parts in the woods is an emergency. Anyway they sent out 600 lbs. worth of Laurens County sheriffis. There were only two of them and I didn't think they were going to make it back to the spot I found it. It was probably a mile and a half in a straight line and I thought I was going to have to call 911 again and asked if officers down were considered an emergency. Turned into a big cluster.
Quote from: guesswho on January 01, 2012, 01:11:34 PM
Quote from: Neill_Prater on December 31, 2011, 11:17:22 AM
Quote from: guesswho on December 30, 2011, 08:49:24 PM
I've never really been scared while hunting but I did find myself in an eerie situation one time while turkey hunting.
I was engaged with a hot gobbling bird in Georgia close to a not so old moonshine steel. He was moving parallel with my location. I let him move far enough for it to be safe for me to move. While I was waiting for him to move far enough I spotted what looked like the base of a shed deer antler. Once I decided it was safe to reposition I figured I'd pick up the shed before falling in behind the gobbler. When I got to it I realized it was the entire leg from human remains from the hip joint all the way to the foot. What I had seen was the ball of the upper leg bone. Then I noticed several mounds of dirt that looked like it may be multiple burial sites. It's kind of eerie being deep in the woods looking at what I was looking at.
Ronnie, I hope you did contact the authorities? Neill
Yes, I called 911 when I got back to town. They got on to me and told me 911 was for emergencies. I told them thet where I'm from finding body parts in the woods is an emergency. Anyway they sent out 600 lbs. worth of Laurens County sheriffis. There were only two of them and I didn't think they were going to make it back to the spot I found it. It was probably a mile and a half in a straight line and I thought I was going to have to call 911 again and asked if officers down were considered an emergency. Turned into a big cluster.
So what was ever figured out with the bones/graves?
Strange situation. I stopped back by the sherrifs office a couple weeks after that when I was back up there hunting, I was living in Florida at the time. I was told it was a deer leg and it was taken care of and not to worry about it ??? I took that as don't ask any questions, so I told them okee-dokee and went on about my business.
I didn't have a camera but did have a cam-corder. Here's a still shot taken off the tv. I video'd it before I left the first time. Strangest looking deer leg I've ever seen.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v395/olesixbeards/P7150004.jpg)
Quote from: guesswho on January 01, 2012, 03:45:31 PM
Strange situation. I stopped back by the sherrifs office a couple weeks after that when I was back up there hunting, I was living in Florida at the time. I was told it was a deer leg and it was taken care of and not to worry about it ??? I took that as don't ask any questions, so I went on about my way.
I didn't have a camera but did have a cam-corder. Here's a still shot taken off the tv. I video'd it before I left the first time. Strangest looking deer leg I've ever seen.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v395/olesixbeards/P7150004.jpg)
Deer leg my azz!
Actually I got it wrong. After I found it I went and found my Dad and told him about it. He said you find the dangest things but I don't think you found a leg. We went to the truck and got the cam-corder and I took him to it. I wanted to have film to show the cops, so I actually filmed it the second time I was there. It was kind of embarrassing showing them the tape with the audio going. I found out my My Dad doesn't have much cooth in situations like that.
My first one is funny:My buddies brother got a wild hair years ago and went to a National Forest where a black bear and cub where seen.He and his friend hiked into the area and were taking pictures when the sow charged them.This is on film.They ran,he lost his wallet,and had no money to get home.My buddy wired money to them so they could get back home.A year later a hiker in that area found his wallet a mailed it to him. Story two is why I carry a handgun while bowhunting.A year after I was turkey hunting in the Pine Ridge area of NE. some friends of mine went out on a gun hunt.As one of the guys was napping a guy from TX. put a gun to his head and told him if this was TX. he would be dead and buried!He told him to give him his cloths,gun and wallet.He handed over his gun and wallet and told this guy to shoot him in the back becouse he is walking out with his cloths on.My friend was talking to a retired game warden at his truck when his buddy came out.He told him the story and the police were called.They were waiting for the man from TX. when he came out and arrested him.The TX. guy claimed he was leasing the public ground they were hunting.
The first year I turkey hunted, I was about 17 and hunting alone. I was at the top of a mountain at first faint light. Two turkeys started gobbling several hundred yards down the mountain. After about the third gobble from the two birds I was ready to go down the steep incline! At the top there was a bluff about head high and I had sat down and was letting myself down to the slope below when a roosted buzzard that was within arms lengt up under the bluff decided to make himself known with a god-awful screech/skwawk/scream. I nearly turned inside out, I somehow ended up several feet down the slope on my backside trying to figure out what happened. After a few seconds, the gobblers sounded off again and got my head right. I was back on the chase! :you_rock:
Another time I was deer hunting an archery only management area and walking a narrow food plot between the timber and crp field about head high. There was enough moonlight that I was just walking without a light. A small bobcat come out of the crp and almost ran directly in to me. It let out a growl/roar/meow that had me levitating for a few seconds. He was gone in a flash, but I let out a teenage girl scream that may have ruined my hunt.
On another occasion, I struck up several gobblers mid-morning. I had set up on the closest one and started working him. He was staying put at 80-100 yards, but one behind me had quickly cut the distance from 200 yards down to 100! :you_rock: I gave them the silent treatment and after about 15 minutes I heard walking directly behind me and very close. I froze expecting the gobbler to walk by me and shoot him after he got out in front of me. I was squinting my eyes as I do when turkeys are close. When the walking got even with me, it stopped at 3 or 4 feet to my right. I slowly opened my eyes wider to get a peak to find a big coyote staring me in the eye. I'm not sure who was more alarmed, me or the yote? I somehow landed on my feet from my butt and then I was amused and laughing until the gobbler in front of me sounded off again. I set up a little closer and called in a pair of coyotes, only one left! :you_rock: No turkeys that morning.
I don't consider myself a spooky person. For example, when I was a kid, we lived next to a large cemetery and we had no compunction at all to headlight rabbits amongst the grave stones after dark. My dad was a fearless type of individual and he would not accept any less from his boys. He subjected my brother & I to some scary situations that today I would never subject my son to. I could expound at length on this topic but for purposes of this venue I will limit it to one example.
Dad was a avid coon hunter and loved his Plott hounds. One night when my brother and I were 11 & 12 respectively, we were coon hunting on a September night in the Pearl River swamps, Copiah County MS. Around midnight, the dogs had swum the river and treed a coon on the opposite side. We had good tree dogs and good tree dogs won't leave the tree. The nearest bridge was miles away. So, without too much discusson, my dad had us strip off our clothes and swim the 50 yards across the river, leash up the dogs and swim back with them. I believe if my mother had ever discovered this caper she would have divorced my dad. This was a potentially dangerous and quite spooky event, especially for a pre-teen kid--but looking back==it was these types of events that helped to shape the man I am today.
I didn't intend to belabor my response to the initial poster's request for stories that had an alarming affect on us, but I thought it might help put the following tale in proper context.
in 2007, I was turkey hunting in Marshall County MS. It was a remote track of land about 3/4'ths a mile off the road. To reach the property , you have to gain access to two locked gates. I was on this piece of property early in the season when the temps were still on the "airish" side. The weather was not perfect for turkey hunting and he gobblers seemed to agree----it was after 9:00 AM before I heard my first gobble--it was a distant, faint and weak gobble, but a bona fide gobble just the same. That lone pathetic gobble was all it took to renew by spirits and off I went in that direction. I got close enough to work this bird a bit, but I could tell he had some hens with him so despite my best efforts in luring him within shotgun range, he drifted off to the south. I backed away from my position with a plan to make a safe circle and get in front of this bird.
I did go far until I came upon a very steep sided, sandy botton creek with a 1/2 inch of clear water trickling in the bottom. I decided this would be the perfect travel route for me, I would be hidden by the tall banks and walk quietly on the soft sand. I had not gone up the little creek but very short ways when I saw something that literally stopped me in my tracks with amazement and gave me more that a touch of a spooky feeling. It was that kind of feeling that makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck like a mad dog. What I saw was a bare adult human foot print in the sand. It had crisp edges to it and I could tell it was fresh. Keep in mind it was cool, I was way deep in the middle of brier infested country and to my knowledge--there was not a house for miles. I rationalized that who ever owned this print was very tough or very crazy with a good possibility of being both. I was a bit surprised to find myself "spooked" at this situation and had absolutely no interst in proceeding any further up this creek. I deliberately turned around and eased myself out of there. For me on this day, it wasn't so much what I saw that gave me a chill, it was the imaginary image of what I didn't see that gave me the "willies" and caused me to leave a gobbling bird.
2 Scary ones for me. My brother in-law and I were bow hunting in Cannain Valley WV.
We were about 75 yards apart. Just at darkness fell, I heard the most blood curdling screaming. Then I saw a spot of white coming directly towards me screaming so loud. I thought I'd just try to scare what ever it was and made a mountain lion type growl.
It worked and it turned and ran off...whew!!! Got up to my brother in-law to see if he may have seen what the heck it was. Here there were two gray foxes playing beneath him and he decided to stick one. It was first the combination of both of em screaming then just the live one that came at my direction. It was sad and he felt so bad after he did it...the other one crying for it's mate/brother/sister/mom. He did mount it though, but to this day that screaming haunts him because his decision was the cause.
#2 I went hunting alone in Cannain Valley. hiked the mountain that day and found a heavy trail. the first day in the tree, I saw this HUGE body moving slowly through the saplings. Then I could make out a foot step then the belly line. It was enormous...couple steps more and I'm thinking, Oh God, please let it come this way". Then it stepped out and lifted it's head. I tell ya, it looked like he was lifting a tree. As it turned to go the opposite direction, I could plainly see it was an elk and it was indeed huge. If it had bugled, I'd a probably fell from the tree for sure.
I watched it too long and before I knew it darkness fell. It was so dark I couldn't see my hand in front of me. I knew the mountain pretty good and it was a 20 minute hike back down to camp. I knew it I got "off track", I could easily get hurt and maybe still be laying there. Anyway, I got to the first ridge and was just walking at a slow pace. Then I heard something directly behind me. FEAR set in, I turned and looked but couldn't a seen anything any how it was so black. With the hir standing on my neck I dared to take a few more steps. Three steps, then something behind me took three steps....Holy Crap...took three more, it took three more...two more, it took two more. took one more, it took one more. Thought " I'm SO out of here"!! I'll never know how, but I made it off the mountain without once falling, walking into a tree or stumbling over a boulder. TO heck with the camp, I jumped right into the van, slammed the door shut and locked it and sat there shaking like a leaf. THEN, I got my flashlight from the van and looked around and saw nothing, never did I hear anything more. I had two more days to hunt, but I was totally done with the mountain top.