cool stuff from last night's hunt

John Y Cannuck

John Y Cannuck

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Sitting in the gathering twilight tonight, listening to the same two red squirrels scream at each other for a solid two and a half hours. (yes really) I was startled by a barred owl drifting in, and lighting on a dead tree 30ft in front of me. The squirrels saw him not, and continued screaming, and chasing each other up and down a huge white pine. The owl opened his wings, and drifted silently under the Hemlocks, and up the side of the big pine. The two squirrels screaming was suddenly replaced by squeals of delight, as one of them got his first ride through the air. (OK,maybe the delight was mine). Awesome stuff you see in the bush.
 
JYC, that's cool.
Quite a different experience than the run and gun truck hunting thread.
Have had some memorable times on stands with ermines, martens (who knew they ate apples? thought strictly squirrel predators), gray jay aka sandwich hawks, and once a low swooping owl that made me duck for cover.
This year at camp heard barred owls quite frequently - "who cooks for you - who cooks for you?" - but only close encounter aside from a cow moose and several antlerless deer was curious swarm of chickadees. Great company.
 
I had a barred owl visit me a couple of weeks ago while I was North deer hunting. Landed in a dead tree about 20 feet in front of me so we both got a pretty good look at each other. Quite awesome how he flew in and a few minutes later took off without even a whisper from his wings; one of many reminders that week of how awesome wild creatures are.

 
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Last week I was watching a Peregrine Falcon rounding up a flock of Starlings trying to pick one off for a few minutes.
Pretty cool to see 50 or more Starlings in a ball and the Falcon flying below looking for one hapless bird.
The falcon came close but no puff of feathers to confirm the raptor ate that evening.
Rob
 
Out bow hunting late 1 season and about 40or 50 yds out in the field half froze into the snow and ice was a dead cottontail rabbit. After sitting for a while i was tottaly amazed and suprised to see a bald eagle swoop down to grab him. He was frozen in so bad that at 1st he couldnt pull him out. He then came back and landed and started picking away at him. After a few minutes he stood on top of the rabbit, and started flapping his wings while holding on with his feet trying to power him out. After about 10 mins of flapping and picking away he went with the tore up rabbit in his talons. It was amazing to watch espiecaly because at that time i had only ever seen 1 bald eagle this far south. Over the 10 or so years since ive started seeing a few more around. Just wish id have had a camera or cell phone at that time to video it.
 
Retirement is awesome, everyone should do it.
I also have watched both Marten, and Fisher hit a corn pile. They didn't eat much, so maybe just testing.
It would be nice if the fisher would take out a few raccoons. I may have to do a coon hunt some day. The neighbour says he had a coon eating a hanging deer at his place.
 
FLHTCUI said:
Last week I was watching a Peregrine Falcon rounding up a flock of Starlings trying to pick one off for a few minutes.
Pretty cool to see 50 or more Starlings in a ball and the Falcon flying below looking for one hapless bird.
The falcon came close but no puff of feathers to confirm the raptor ate that evening.
Rob
Click to expand...

The last place I lived in had a glass sun room of sorts on the deck, that was open on one end. A falcon flew into it and couldn't figure out how to get out. My roommate had to don the welding gloves and go help out. Another time a big woodpecker made it in there, I had to save it from my cats. (the cats didn't want a piece of the falcon though lol)
 
Thanks for posting JYC! We have a couple owls around our place and I love getting the odd glimpse of them and hearing their calls.
 
I love the things you get to see while your sitting quietly in the woods, had a bunch of ravens spread out around me in trees nearing last light. Was fun to listen to them call and talk to each other for awhile before flying off.

Yes retirement is awesome, everyone should get to try it out lol.
 
Great story ... love to see those big birds work.
Seen lots of owls while on stand but never seen one hunt.
 
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