Unforgettable experiences in nature while hunting

I remember taking my chocolate lab for a walk when he was about a year old. He ran into a weasel in the standing corn. I couldn't see him, just heard hissing then my dog letting out god awful yelps and the corn getting shook around as I ran in not knowing if he was fighting a coyote, coon or maybe a bear. I was pretty worried and when I found him he was rag dolling that weasel and had him killed, but my dogs nose and muzzle was completely covered in blood and it was affecting his breathing. I couldn't believe this little animal the size of a small rat had made my 50lb dog leak so much blood.

That pretty much turned that dog onto killing anything small and furry. He got a possum about 6 months later behind the barn, he wouldn't drop that ugly thing for about 12hours lol
 
I've had a few fun moments while deer hunting. Once, I heard a beagle belling and coming toward me. I was overlooking an old logging road with my back to a large rock with a fairly steep slope to my right. Something large was tearing up that slope, crashing through the brush and scrub, and coming toward me, pushed by the dog. I was thinking "deer". Nope! A good sized black bear tore past me about 6 ft. in front of me. He gave me a sideways stink-eye on the way past and kept on going. Another time, in the same area, I was overlooking a valley when a moose cow, calf in tow, came walking toward me. Mama and her young'un stopped about 8 ft. away just checking me out. I stayed still, but the wind probably shifted just enough that she caught my scent and she took off at a good trot with her baby.
The most memorable was watching 2 great red-headed woodpeckers battle to the death. I was bow hunting and decided to head back to the residence for lunch. I left my backpack, with my vid cam, at my stand. Dumbass! I'm walking down the old logging road and hear a tremendous ruckus in a young fir tree ahead of me. Two red-headed woodpeckers burst out of the fir, tumbling and pecking like mad at each other. They landed in a bunch of deadfall and just kept fighting. Finally, one got into a dominant position and pecked away at the other until it was still. The winner took off and perched about 6 ft. away on a limb, watching the loser. The dying bird gave a low squawk, and the victor swooped down and started pecking away again until the loser was silent. It flew back onto the same perch, the loser made some noise, and the whole process repeated itself. This time, the loser was silent and died. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched an owl perch on a branch watching the final moments and then a fisher came around the back of some brush to make it's way to the kill site. All this while I was about 12 ft. away, kicking my butt for not bringing my camera. The really stupid thing was the fact that I totally forgot about my cell phone (old dog and new tricks and all that) with which, of course, I could have captured the whole thing.
Most recently, a coy-dog or coy wolf is in my area. I'm in the suburbs of west Toronto. One early morning, I see what I first supposed was a big dog off leash doing a dump on the front lawn of my apartment building. It took a couple of seconds before it trotted under the street light and I realized what it was. A couple of days later, on a sunny mid afternoon, the same thing was trotting back and forth across the road, crossed the road without a care in the world, and trotted between my building and the adjacent one.
 
When I was in my teens, I was out on a solo hunt for deer in west central Alberta on a dreary November day. Huge snowflakes began drifting as I sat waiting at the edge of a cutline. Just when I began wondering just what exactly I was doing out in the snow, something black popped out of the trees behind a small rise about fifty yards away. I could only see the top of its back over the hill and at first I thought it was a bear. As soon as I got the binoculars up to take a look, Its head popped up and I found myself staring into the yellow eyes of a big black wolf. He knew something was up right away and had this wary/confused expression that any dog owner will know and understand. I didn't move a muscle and just watched him. For close to a minute he cocked his head side to side trying to figure out just what exactly I was. He eventually decided that caution was a good choice and began to wander off down the cutline, stopping every twenty or thirty paces to look back over his shoulder at me with a curious glance. After he disappeared I remember going and looking at his tracks in the snow and shaking my head in disbelief at the size of them. I'd never seen a wolf before and had only encountered signs of them once or twice at that point in my life. It is certainly one of the coolest memories I have from my days hunting as a teenager.
 
GREAT thread, brings back a lot of memories.....

Bowhunting late one season, up in a tree, and saw a couple black butterflies skitting along the snow. What the heck??? When they finally got closer, it was the black eyes, whiskers, and tail tip of a weasel (or is it an ermine when it's white?). It circled the base of the tree I was in, and kept on its path over the snow.

Rifle hunting last fall for deer here in Southeastern Ontario. Saw a flash of white through the trees, must be a deer's tail, right? Nope, it was a mostly white squirrel. Later I saw another squirrel in the same area that was mottled white and grey. Every time one of them hightailed it through the bush I was sure it was a buck waving his tail at me.

Bowhunting very late one season, might have been New Year's Eve (our season closes 31 December) and a pair of rabbits came out into the clearing maybe ten yards from me. They got up on their hind legs and started to box each other, apparently just in play, never saw that before nor since.

The first time I saw a ruffed grouse with its ruff up and displaying his fan. From a distance I thought I was looking at the smallest tom turkey ever - it was only when I got closer that I could see it was a grouse. That I have seen quite a few times since, but the first time was very neat.

Bowhunting in a tree stand, probably October but I no longer recall, TWICE I was "attacked" by an owl. Both times I saw him just before he got to me, and waved wildly. I guess my head in camouflage looks like something good to eat, sitting up in that tree. Scared the crap out of me both times....

Turkey hunting my first season for them, and I had a decoy set up at the edge of a clearing. All of a sudden, there's a coyote homing in on my deke. He got a faceful of number six shot instead of a mouthful of turkey...

Three of us on the edge of a swamp, waiting for the geese to come in before dark, and a great blue heron flew in and settled on a dead tree branch. Briefly. The branch broke off and down he went, with a great flapping of wings. We were laughing so hard none of us could have shot a goose at that point for love nor money.

And all of the critters and birds that I would never have seen had I not been in the woods hunting. And the sunrises and sunsets, good weather and bad, breathing in clean air and shaking off the cares of work etc. It is very much a privilege to be part of this.

Doug
 
For me the most memorable time was on a grizzly hunt being in the middle of a 100+ pod of dolphins that were all porpoising, was the coolest thing and sounded unreal. Watched them go right on past us and up the channel for a long ways
H2h6d
 
Doug said:
GREAT thread, brings back a lot of memories.....

Bowhunting late one season, up in a tree, and saw a couple black butterflies skitting along the snow. What the heck??? When they finally got closer, it was the black eyes, whiskers, and tail tip of a weasel (or is it an ermine when it's white?). It circled the base of the tree I was in, and kept on its path over the snow.

Rifle hunting last fall for deer here in Southeastern Ontario. Saw a flash of white through the trees, must be a deer's tail, right? Nope, it was a mostly white squirrel. Later I saw another squirrel in the same area that was mottled white and grey. Every time one of them hightailed it through the bush I was sure it was a buck waving his tail at me.

Bowhunting very late one season, might have been New Year's Eve (our season closes 31 December) and a pair of rabbits came out into the clearing maybe ten yards from me. They got up on their hind legs and started to box each other, apparently just in play, never saw that before nor since.

The first time I saw a ruffed grouse with its ruff up and displaying his fan. From a distance I thought I was looking at the smallest tom turkey ever - it was only when I got closer that I could see it was a grouse. That I have seen quite a few times since, but the first time was very neat.

Bowhunting in a tree stand, probably October but I no longer recall, TWICE I was "attacked" by an owl. Both times I saw him just before he got to me, and waved wildly. I guess my head in camouflage looks like something good to eat, sitting up in that tree. Scared the crap out of me both times....

Turkey hunting my first season for them, and I had a decoy set up at the edge of a clearing. All of a sudden, there's a coyote homing in on my deke. He got a faceful of number six shot instead of a mouthful of turkey...

Three of us on the edge of a swamp, waiting for the geese to come in before dark, and a great blue heron flew in and settled on a dead tree branch. Briefly. The branch broke off and down he went, with a great flapping of wings. We were laughing so hard none of us could have shot a goose at that point for love nor money.

And all of the critters and birds that I would never have seen had I not been in the woods hunting. And the sunrises and sunsets, good weather and bad, breathing in clean air and shaking off the cares of work etc. It is very much a privilege to be part of this.

Doug
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The biggest pucker factor moments for me have been cruising ridges in the Peace. Giant spruce bark creatures up and fly off right beside you. Great grey owls are pretty silent for being the size of eagles, they're owls after all.

Another cool one, was walking on a newish skid road. Found a stump to sit on just inside the bush line, watching both ways. Maybe a foot of recent snow, turned to corn, me all white and camo. Walking out, here comes a 2x3 mulie, 4pt or better season. Stood still watching him out of the corner of my eye. Sniffed the end of my paddle stock M77 7mag.
 
I jumped a moose in the pitch dark while hiking out to my watch with only my headlamp on. It scared the sh*t out of me, I had no idea what it was until I got a glimpse of its rear end dashing off but the noise and suddenness of that bastard getting up and crashing off will stay with me forever...

Patrick
 
Cool thread, some interesting story’s in here!! It’s amazing what a person can experience in the bush, some bad, but mostly good.

My rarest and scariest moment, was getting pursued by a pack of 13 wolves (I had shot the alpha male I suspect), being froze, scared stiff to the point of, you mind works, but your body doesn’t, it’s not just a myth, it was a experience I will never forget, or wish to experience again.

My oldest hunting experience, I was 8 years old, sleeping on the wrong side of the mountain with my dad, no tarp, no sleeping bags, the wind was blowing the snow and sleet horizontally into our little balsam patch, but, we did have my first mountain goat in dads pack, it was a long cold night, but we did have full belly’s.

Once while goat hunting, sitting on a ridge about 5500’ up, what did I find beside me, a small sea shell, what’s the odds?

My gal and I called in a big bull moose this year (50’ish”) while goat hunting. He grunted his way up to 15 yards, it’s the one and only time Iv had to shoe a moose away, it was my gals first experience calling moose, one we will never forget.

We also had a ornery grizzly in camp while sheep hunting this season, again, her first experience, with a grizzly bear. For as nerve racking as it was, it’s those experience that stick in a persons mind forever.

Another with wolves, camped out with my dad on a sheep hunt, we were by the lake below timberline. Laying in our cotts beside the fire, pitch black out, a pack of wolves lit up with howles, so close that I’m sure they could see us, but we couldn’t see them.

I am not a believer, so to speak, but I do believe there is something out there, I refer to her as mother nature, some call it god. This is a long story of my first ram, the odds were so far against me, all through this hunt, that when it came time to pull the trigger, I believe my ram was sent to me by a higher power, and that higher power also gave me the strength to do it solo. I often catch myself gazing up at my ram on the wall, and wonder what made him come back into range, knowing I was on his heals.

https://1drv.ms/w/s!AnjVmOetZTayfjvA5KCKmtElyfA
 
Wasn't hunting, but off roading. A Seaking Helicopter just came up over the ridge. We didn't even hear it and it was fairly close. We smiled and waved at each other and he flew off.
 
Decker9 said:
Cool thread, some interesting story’s in here!! It’s amazing what a person can experience in the bush, some bad, but mostly good.

My rarest and scariest moment, was getting pursued by a pack of 13 wolves (I had shot the alpha male I suspect), being froze, scared stiff to the point of, you mind works, but your body doesn’t, it’s not just a myth, it was a experience I will never forget, or wish to experience again.

My oldest hunting experience, I was 8 years old, sleeping on the wrong side of the mountain with my dad, no tarp, no sleeping bags, the wind was blowing the snow and sleet horizontally into our little balsam patch, but, we did have my first mountain goat in dads pack, it was a long cold night, but we did have full belly’s.

Once while goat hunting, sitting on a ridge about 5500’ up, what did I find beside me, a small sea shell, what’s the odds?

My gal and I called in a big bull moose this year (50’ish”) while goat hunting. He grunted his way up to 15 yards, it’s the one and only time Iv had to shoe a moose away, it was my gals first experience calling moose, one we will never forget.

We also had a ornery grizzly in camp while sheep hunting this season, again, her first experience, with a grizzly bear. For as nerve racking as it was, it’s those experience that stick in a persons mind forever.

Another with wolves, camped out with my dad on a sheep hunt, we were by the lake below timberline. Laying in our cotts beside the fire, pitch black out, a pack of wolves lit up with howles, so close that I’m sure they could see us, but we couldn’t see them.

I am not a believer, so to speak, but I do believe there is something out there, I refer to her as mother nature, some call it god. This is a long story of my first ram, the odds were so far against me, all through this hunt, that when it came time to pull the trigger, I believe my ram was sent to me by a higher power, and that higher power also gave me the strength to do it solo. I often catch myself gazing up at my ram on the wall, and wonder what made him come back into range, knowing I was on his heals.

https://1drv.ms/w/s!AnjVmOetZTayfjvA5KCKmtElyfA
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Thanks for a GREAT read of your sheep hunt! I got exhausted just reading it...........

Doug
 
Was sitting on the road watching a cutblock this spring while bear hunting, watching a good sized cinnamon bear up hill around 300-350y. It was roaming the hillside eating when it started paying close attention to a spot high left in the timber above it, out pops a bigger solid black bear that proceeded to push it out of the block. I watched them for three consecutive days, the third day the cinnamon bear snuck in along the upper tree line and sat at the timbers edge and watched the dominant black bear below. It had the wind in its face and after 15-20 min it snuck back off into the trees, I think watching animals while they are unaware of people is pretty great.

I almost had a shot at the big black one the second day, if I had been 30-60 min earlier I’d have been in position on the rh ridge for a 80-100y shot. Kinda glad I didn't have a shot before I got into position on the ridge as day three of watching was the most fun to watch the two play cat and mouse.
 
Moose hunting in the Chilcotin early October a few years ago. Buddy and I were walking in on a game trail around 0530. Faint glow of a sunrise.

I spot this tall grey shape bouncing about 50yds ahead of us coming towards us. Between trying to identify what the hell it could be and unslinging my rifle, this dude in grey workout clothes came running by us, wishing us a “ good morning”! The rifle never even left my shoulder. That was how fast the guy made up the distance.

We went up the direction the guy came from. There was nothing but thick brush for 5kms and the dude was running out at 0530! There were no houses or vehicles around. Still the weirdest thing that happened to me while hunting.
 
Another one just came to mind while reading this thread. Just before grouse season opened this year Lucy and I were out for a tour in the Ranger. On our way home we came across a Kia stuck up to the scuppers on a winter logging road that was one big swamp at the time. I imagine this is becoming more common place for people who frequent the bush. She was from California and had been following directions her phone had produced. She was in for a long walk had I not happened along. A long legged California blonde in the middle of nowhere. The KIA had a little eye bolt that screwed into the bumper, no trouble pulling her out. One very happy girl and me wishing I was forty years younger :).
 
Once while archery hunting in full camo I was sitting on a stump. I saw this squirrel heading right for me. I thought it would turn away, but it ran right up to me ,climbed up my leg up my jacket onto my head and then realised I wasn't part of the stump. It just about flew off my hat. Must have been a good camo combination I was wearing.
 
amber2010 said:
Once while archery hunting in full camo I was sitting on a stump. I saw this squirrel heading right for me. I thought it would turn away, but it ran right up to me ,climbed up my leg up my jacket onto my head and then realised I wasn't part of the stump. It just about flew off my hat. Must have been a good camo combination I was wearing.
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Last year, spring Turkey hunt.

I was in cammo sitting on the ground with my back to an old stone fence.

I heard a noise behind me. i looked back and was 3 feet from getting stepped on by a buck.

He saw my movement, snorted and did a 180. I could have reached out and touched his big white tail.
 
When doe in heat scent was first introduced, at least to this hunter, I bought some and squirted it on my clothing, like a cover scent. Rifle season, second week, in the Haliburton Highlands. I was sitting in a little rock nook just below the main trail between camp and the watches. I heard "one of the guys" walking down the trail towards me, and stood up so he would see me. I was about three feet face to face from a VERY surprised buck, who let out a snort that was more like a SCREAM, and he jumped off the cliff, down about twenty feet and took off. My pulse was somewhere north of 200 and let's say my two shots at the disappearing buck did him no harm at all. He was coming in to have his evil way with me, and I'm not sure either of us would have enjoyed it a lot...........
 
This part of eastern Alberta has about a half dozen (thereabouts) mating pairs of turkey vultures.

But they are fairly shy of close range attention. I really need a good Canon with long telephoto lens to leave in the truck for the odd photo opportunity.

Folks what is kind of interesting, thier coloration of plummage and head is very simple and cartoon like.

I watched a pair of them this summer but it was impossible to get close as they were literally sharing a dead skunk in the roadside ditch.
 
Brutus said:
This part of eastern Alberta has about a half dozen (thereabouts) mating pairs of turkey vultures.

But they are fairly shy of close range attention. I really need a good Canon with long telephoto lens to leave in the truck for the odd photo opportunity.

Folks what is kind of interesting, thier coloration of plummage and head is very simple and cartoon like.

I watched a pair of them this summer but it was impossible to get close as they were literally sharing a dead skunk in the roadside ditch.
Click to expand...

You should come to Ontario if you want to photograph them. No shortage of them here and they are not particularly shy.
 
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