Hunters! What's your most memorable moment in the woods?

Question

I've got three that tie...the first happened about ten years ago, maybe a little longer...I was deer hunting on opening morning back home, and had snuck in to a little spot underneath a tree on the side of a hill. I was hunting on the ground, as is my habit, and I was sitting flat on my butt, with my legs stuck out in front of me. I heard a noise, and slowly turned my head...and out comes a herd of doe...about ten, total. They were running straight at me, and several of them passed so close that a couple of them actually jumped over my legs! They stopped in a clearing about twenty yards from me...except for the last one. She saw me, and stopped about four feet away! She couldn't smell me...cover scent...but knew something was wrong. She came closer, gave my shoulder a good sniff, and apparantly decided I was part of the tree, and rejoined the herd. I swear, though, if I had gotten a chill and shivered, I would have bumped into her! They milled around a bit, then left.

PETA PEOPLE: I DID NOT POST THIS FOR YOU TO HARRASS US. I POSTED THIS SO HUNTERS COULD RELATE THE WONDERFUL EXPERIENCES THEY HAVE HAD IN THE FIELD WITH OTHER HUNTERS.

The second would be a duck hunting trip several years ago back home. We hunt flooded timber, and it was snowing that day...the kind of snow that just kinda hangs in the air, ya know? The kind of day where everything is white; the sky, the horizon, a white background for everything. Ducks were everywhere, and we limited out quickly...but my dad, grandpa and I stayed in the woods for hours, calling in ducks. It was like magic...they just appeared. Where we were hunting, they didn't allow any shooting past noon, and we had a limit by eight that morning, but we stayed and watched the ducks. No painting ever touched the beauty of those ducks, on that day...

The third, and final that would make the three way tie, was this past spring turkey season. I had never turkey hunted before I moved here, and I had a couple of the guys I work with take me out and show me the ropes. After two days being "guided" by my co-workers, I took out on my own. I spent three days out before I even saw a bird, but it was wonderful.
I had been chasing this loudmouth bird for six days, trying to talk him into giving up. The seventh day, I got up to leave, and there was a massive storm going on. No intelligent human would make the hike across a mile of rolling hills, with not a tree for two hundred yards in either direction,during a thunderstorm, carrying a lighting rod with little explosives in it, but that day I wasn't an intelligent human being, I was a turkey hunter!
I kept expecting a tornado to kick up, but it never happened. Finally, around 7:30, the downpour had slowed to a heavy rain. And I hear a turkey gobble...and another...and I realize he's

coming to me. He finally crest the ridge between us about 150 yards away...backlit by the black clouds if you can picture what I mean, and stands on the highest point of the ridge, so I could even see clouds behind his spurs He gobbles, then goes full-strut. At exactly that moment, lightning strikes the ground about six hundred yards way, straight behind him! Looked like lightning bolt was touching his back, he was so puffed up in his strut.
22lbs, 11 inch beard, one inch spurs...and some of the best meat I have ever eaten. But, my God, what a beautiful sight. Wish I would have had a video camera!

TO Eagleflyer BELOW ME:

Naw, that ain't weird...when I was fifteen, I had a jay harrassing me while I was squirrel hunting. I decided I would scare it off, so I blasted through the brush a few feet below it...we were pretty close, so there was practically no chance of the patter spreading that wide, right? Well, I shot, and it dropped like a stone...one pellet from my shotgun...must have been a flier, hit it square in the chest. When I think about it, I still feel bad. I didn't want to kill it, just get it to leave me alone so I could kill some squirrels.
Now that is weird!

Answer 1

Bound's hubby here:

My most memorable hunting experience was the first time I went deer hunting, solo. I was 22 and on the verge of finishing college. I decided the night before to go hunting, and with all the questions I asked my family, they swore I was having buck fever. Fifteen minutes into season, 9 does crossed 35 yards in front of me ... followed by the biggest NJ deer I had ever seen. "Buck" was a ten pointer that dressed out at 135 pounds. "Buck" now graces my livingroom ... a very memorable trophy for my first deer!

Answer 2

My story,

It would have to be last year when I harvested my very first deer after 6 years of hunting deer. And what a deer it was. It was late season and I was having one last go at it before the season would close. Don't get me wrong I had up to this point saw deer. Just never was able to pull off the shot. Due to the deer just not quite doing right per se. So, here I was around 4pm. Hunting the edge of an old logging road. I noticed in the distance a good 500 yards something. I brought up the Binocs and 3 dogs, yup, 3 dogs, were running around. I thought crap it is late no deer today. then they easied into the woods. about 20 mins later. I saw the deer. about 220 yrds out. just appeared...we know how that is lol. I sized this buck up. having a clean area to shoot thru incase I missed. I scoped him, squeezed off the round from my .243 and down he went. perfect shot.

He came out to be a 7 pt. 15-1/2 in spread. dressed out 226 lbs.

I would have to say not bad for my 1st ever deer.

Thanks

Answer 3

Mine would be my first bow killed deer. This was the day, I found out what hunting was all about. I had taken deer with my shotgun, but the bow gave it a whole new meaning. It just seemed so pure. Since then I spend as much time in the woods with my bow, as I can. I even take it turkey hunting. Although I am yet to draw, without getting busted.

Answer 4

The very first time I went hunting I was 6-7 months pregnant. I wore my make-up, my perfume, curled and sprayed my hair. I had got a 8 point and was back in the house by 7:30 or so. The guys didn't even want to look at me. They decided to put me on a drive the next day, so here I was, big ol' belly with boots on that were 2 sizes too big that were just heavy to lift.
My instructions were simple enough. Walk into the woods for 10 minutes, turn and walk east. No problem.
The snow was about 2-3 ft. deep and after walking awhile my legs were getting tired.
Then there it was right in front of me. This long fallen tree was blocking my way. I figured I would be smart and go right over it so I set my gun down away from me, broke some branches off, and flung my left leg over.
When I went to get my right leg over, it wouldn't go.
So there I sat, stuck on that tree. My legs felt like rubber from walking in those boots.
I figured I'd give it awhile, so I just sat there. My mind started playing games with me and I thought of wolves, so I looked over at my gun which was out of reach, when I heard a snap. I did not move.
Out of the corner of eyes I saw a movement and without turning my head, only my eyes, I saw a big buck sneaking by through the woods. It came into a small clearing and looked right at me. I looked at the buck, looked at my gun, looked at the buck, looked at my gun. I realized the predicament I was in, and burst out laughing. I lmao!! Needless to say the buck took off. And I was still stuck, so I laughed some more. I almost fell off the tree.
What I didn't know is that I was being watched during all of this. My bf's brother was up in a stand and had me in sight. He came over and got me off the tree. He thought I had just been taking a rest. He also wondered why I didn't shoot the deer that was just standing there and he had just it sighted in when I burst out laughing and it took off. I was the only one that got a buck that year. And saved the life of another one.

Answer 5

Sitting on the tailgate rehashing all of the events of the mornings hunt, while my dad stands in front of the hissing coleman stove stirring a pot of soup, as the steam rises from the soup my son presses into my side trying to warm up just a little. We discuss strategies for the afternoon hunt while we eat toasted sandwiches and soup. Dad pulls out a bag of homemade cookies for desert. It doesn't matter if I see any game this afternoon, the day has already been a success.

Answer 6

your first story also happened to me what a rush ay? mine was when i took my bro. in-law deer hunting for the first time and he was using a grunt call but he didn't expect a six pointer to come charging at him thru the woods, the buck stopped five ft. in front of him, once they seen each other the deer split and my bros. in law was standing there looking like a scared little kid with his mouth hanging open i was about 150 yds from him and witnessed the whole thing that was the funniest thing i ever seen in the wood.

Answer 7

My memorable hunts is taking my first animal of every thing we hunt with my DAD. It is an awsome thing to have taught you everything about hunting watch you kill yor first some people dont have that chance and i am very luck to have that. See him smile and give a huge hug and then a high 5 tells you good job and he loves you I am glad my dad taught me how to hunt and I will carry on the traditon with my kids someday. Thats memeroys are made of.

Answer 8

actually i had a very memorable hunting moment last weekend. i had been sitting in my tree stand overlooking a swampy area since daybreak. about 8:30 am i noticed some movement. i could see that it was a spike, so i hesitated and actually looked at it through my scope. i had him in my cross hairs, but decided not to shoot and then he saw me and split!! well actually the memorable moment came about 30 minutes later. again i noticed some movement and slowly raised my 06 and waited. then i saw the yearling doe coming right under my stand. and then i noticed waht appeared to be her twin come right behind her. well both of them were very small so i decided to put down my rifle and just watch them. they kicked and played for almost 20 minutes right under my stand, i could have jumped on them had i chosen too!! anyway finally they got tired of playing and disappeared into the woods. waht a memorable morning and i hadnt even fired one shot. i left without a deer that day, but i had a smile on my face just thinking about how fortunate i was to be in the woods while others were sitting in rush hour traffic and cusing the world. i was truly lucky that day. thank you god!!!!

Answer 9

We were backpacking for 150 miles and reached one campsite that had deer coming through. We fed them and were able to touch one of them. We called her Split-Ear because one of her ears was split down the middle. It was a really magic moment. The next morning she brought a friend. Well, not much of a hunting story. I did shoot a bird with a BB gun once. I felt like sh*t afterwards. Weird, huh?

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Pretty darn amazing stories. Enjoyed the read.

Answer 10

One that comes to my mind was sitting on the back of my dad's truck, eating ham, cheese and crackers. It was a beautiful sunny day with just enought chill in the air to make the coveralls feel comfortable. Just sitting there and spending time with my dad was great. I hope that when my kids are old enough to hunt with me that they will have memories like the ones my dad gave me.