I think this topic will generate some really unique stories. I'll go first. Opening day of archery last year, I saw a squirrel fall off the top limb of the biggest oak tree in the forest. It must have been about 200 ft high.? He had a longer hang time than an NFL kickoff. He hit the ground and started looking for more nuts!! Amazing critter!! Tell me some of your great stories. I have a lot more!!
I have had a Great Horned Owl, and a Cooper's Hawk try to land on me. They set down on the branch just in front of me, and we stared at each other for a while. The first time I had ever seen wild turkeys up close was two years ago. Two toms, and a Hen came in through the thicket behind me, and the toms started duking it out. They cleared a good area out. Took out 1/2" sapplings, branches, leaves on the ground, everything. I watched this for about half an hour. It was all of 20 yds away. Later that day, Maybe two hours...I got my 8 pointer. My favorite day ever! I still have Henry. He is a chipmunk that has always been next to this tree that I hunt out of. I like it because there is a deadfall right next to it, that the deer need to hop, or duck to get under. I use it as a shield to keep them from seeing me. Every year this same chipmunk is there, and every year, just before getting out of my stand, I try to line an arrow up, and drop it on him. He is the most annoying, lucky chipmunk ever! I have also watched squirrels fall from great heights. Never did they move when they landed though. They just went into the vest...XD
Had a goshawk fly across my lap at mach1 while sitting in a tree stand.He pitched off a side hill,I was on a flat.Scared the heck out of me.
Lots of cool things. One had to be the bear that followed me into the woods, and I didn't even know it (sneaky fella). Turned around and there he was at 30yds:D Later that season I had one try to climb my tree. That was well...interesting.
I also had a HUGE owl almost land on me. I put a 15 ft ladder stand into a 20 ft sapling because it is the only tree in a field. I guess me and the owl had the same idea! I've had a small chickadee (sp) land on my arm. It stayed there for about 5-6 seconds before flying away. They are very stupid little birds! Very cool experience!
On a late season bowhunt on private land I came across 2 set of boots tracks in the snow coming up from a bordering highway straight up one of the steeper, thicker hillsides in the area. I naturally followed them to see who was up to what and followed them to a hole dug into the hillside with a bunch of wadded up newspapers strewn about. Many of the wadded up papers were bloody and it was obvious the tracks were dragging something behind them when they left. Spooky:huh: !
I was sitting at the base of a tree once since I couldn't find my way to a ladder stand I had never been to, let alone try to find it in the morning darkness. As it was getting light I spotted the ladder stand and a few friends heading my way. Well, the three fawns ended up checking me out, sitting against the tree, bobbing and weaving their heads at 5 yards. That was pretty cool! They never spooked.....it was then I decided to continue to wash my clothes in scent-free stuff.
Those guys were acting all tough.... I knew we would get laughed out of the building, so I decided to go Balls style and laugh at myself first! :D
Greg, your not the only one!! Stuff that I can talk about though- I've had a coon put It's feet on top of my head while sitting In my tree stand. I've had a Red Tail Hawk scrape my bow limb thinking I was something else in the tree. I've had 3 different bear crawl my stand tree and get pretty darn close to me. 6 Inches away was the closest. I've had a few bear stand on there hind legs and woof and chop there teeth and lips at me looking me directly In the eye's 5 yards away from my tree. That's a little nerve racking at times. I've had other people's muts (dogs) showing teeth and allot of aggression In my own woods while walking thru It going In or out of my stand. That pissed me off!!:mad1: Out west In Montana I had a pack of at least 20 coyotes make a complete circle around me 20 yards from me thinking I was dinner until they figured out I wasn't dinner. Once they figured out I was a human they were In the next county. In 2003 I was elk hunting In Montana this particular year all by myself. I got lost and turned around for about 6 hours In pitch black. My compass 1st failed me and then my light followed an hour later and quit working. Man I was nervous but I made It out luckily without loosing my cool. I ended up coming out about 3 miles east of my camp when I finally realized where I was and from there I knew how to get back. Getting lost when your hunting with other people Isn't so bad but when you get lost and your 17 hours from home all by yourself It has a different feeling to It!
Sick I went out to bow hunt at first light. I just finished my harness and sat down when I realized I had to #2. By the time I got down I was ready to explode. I ended up going on the strap to my overalls. There I sat all day... smelling it. Oh wait... that was the worst thing that ever happened to me. Oh well, a good story is a good story.
That isn't the cover scent you are looking for Steve. Doe Pee might be a better alternative next time!
