Spooks and freaky stuff in the woods

I’m not scared of the critters, it’s the spooks. You can’t kill whats already dead!

Not scared of the dark, but thought this story kind of belongs here.

Just last deer season (opening day), I was going to a new stand right above a fresh scrape. I ended up going down the wrong finger. It was pitch black due to cloud cover and I broke off the trail a little to early. I couldn’t find my tree but I knew I was close in proximity so I nestled up to a tree thinking I would be able to find my tree as soon as there was a little light.

I was there about 5 min when I heard something below me on the trail (assuming a deer) About 5 min after that, I heard some crashing and snorting coming towards me. One of the animals ran past me on the trail where I heard the previous deer, but the other animal was a little closer. Sounded like it was coming right at me. As it ran past, it kicked up a stick that landed on my lap.

Talk about giving you a jumpstart. I guarantee there wasn’t going to be any napping waiting for light. I just wish I could have seen the rack on him.

JD

Not scared of the dark, but thought this story kind of belongs here.

Just last deer season (opening day), I was going to a new stand right above a fresh scrape. I ended up going down the wrong finger. It was pitch black due to cloud cover and I broke off the trail a little to early. I couldn’t find my tree but I knew I was close in proximity so I nestled up to a tree thinking I would be able to find my tree as soon as there was a little light.

I was there about 5 min when I heard something below me on the trail (assuming a deer) About 5 min after that, I heard some crashing and snorting coming towards me. One of the animals ran past me on the trail where I heard the previous deer, but the other animal was a little closer. Sounded like it was coming right at me. As it ran past, it kicked up a stick that landed on my lap.

Talk about giving you a jumpstart. I guarantee there wasn’t going to be any napping waiting for light. I just wish I could have seen the rack on him.

JD

I hate going out in the woods in the morning. I don’t like going in, especially where I hunt, early in the morning where anyting can get in all night. I’m always afraid of what I might come upon.

I hate going out in the woods in the morning. I don’t like going in, especially where I hunt, early in the morning where anyting can get in all night. I’m always afraid of what I might come upon.

It sometimes can be a little leary. I hunt a farm in North Dakota, that is basically a pheasant and deer haven. The guy has sloughs, CRP and plants corn for the critters It is 280 acres of wildlife Haven. They have everything including yotes. I absolutley hate walking in there in the dark. Walking through the grass and having pheasants erupting at your feet scres the crap out of you. One morning every step I took for about 6 in a row, one busted below my feet. I stopped after every step because I had to clean my shorts. Talking about enough to give you the BIG ONE, my heart was a thumping. By the 4th step I was talking ot the birds, daring them to try it again. Well they did and it still scared the Bejesus out of me.

Same Farm, walking out one night with my buddy Paul along the corn edge, when the corn erupts and something is headed straight for us, I managed to fumble and shine my light in the direction of the noise as what ever is coming through is coming right at us and it is big. Paul and I are side by side with are arms spread like we are protecting the qaurterback. We take a look at eachother like what do we do now???? The object breaks out of the last few rows and it is a nice 8 pointer headed dead for us. I think we had a screen play called because we both let him go right down the middle in between us. Barely missing each of us. Now if that doesn’t get your attention.

It sometimes can be a little leary. I hunt a farm in North Dakota, that is basically a pheasant and deer haven. The guy has sloughs, CRP and plants corn for the critters It is 280 acres of wildlife Haven. They have everything including yotes. I absolutley hate walking in there in the dark. Walking through the grass and having pheasants erupting at your feet scres the crap out of you. One morning every step I took for about 6 in a row, one busted below my feet. I stopped after every step because I had to clean my shorts. Talking about enough to give you the BIG ONE, my heart was a thumping. By the 4th step I was talking ot the birds, daring them to try it again. Well they did and it still scared the Bejesus out of me.

Same Farm, walking out one night with my buddy Paul along the corn edge, when the corn erupts and something is headed straight for us, I managed to fumble and shine my light in the direction of the noise as what ever is coming through is coming right at us and it is big. Paul and I are side by side with are arms spread like we are protecting the qaurterback. We take a look at eachother like what do we do now???? The object breaks out of the last few rows and it is a nice 8 pointer headed dead for us. I think we had a screen play called because we both let him go right down the middle in between us. Barely missing each of us. Now if that doesn’t get your attention.

A part of our hunting land up north near Park Rapids has about 60 acres of “witch trees”. It also has around another 40 acres of the “Wooley Swamp”. If you ever go back to the wooley swamp, you better not go out there at night. I think I have seen the ghost of Lucias Clay out there roaming from the witch trees back to the wooley swamp.

In all seriousness. I love the stories and I have to be honest that it makes me feel a lot more comfortable when I am roaming the witch trees with a 7mm rem. mag or in the swamp with a 3 1/2″ automatic and a large dog.

P.S.

I heard the Blair Witch is hot anyway.

How about ya “BonesH” and the “the Grump”? I know you guys have stories of the witch trees. “I ain’t hunting the witch trees!!”

A part of our hunting land up north near Park Rapids has about 60 acres of “witch trees”. It also has around another 40 acres of the “Wooley Swamp”. If you ever go back to the wooley swamp, you better not go out there at night. I think I have seen the ghost of Lucias Clay out there roaming from the witch trees back to the wooley swamp.

In all seriousness. I love the stories and I have to be honest that it makes me feel a lot more comfortable when I am roaming the witch trees with a 7mm rem. mag or in the swamp with a 3 1/2″ automatic and a large dog.

P.S.

I heard the Blair Witch is hot anyway.

How about ya “BonesH” and the “the Grump”? I know you guys have stories of the witch trees. “I ain’t hunting the witch trees!!”

I have had too many (close calls) in the woods when the sun is in the wrong direction. But my worst scare was hunting down in Whitewater. 2pm in the afternoon, were doing a drive. I am heading to my spot to post for the drive. Great spot, overlooking the bottoms and 2-3 trails come right to where I am supposed to sit. I am about half way there, walking through tall grasses and cedars that cover this area we called the Table Top. I am just walking along, not paying much attention, and a BLEEPING turkey burst out of the grass about 2 feet in front of me. I have had pheasants, squirls, grouse many other different critters scare the out of me, but a wild turkey is real big and noisy when you bust them out of their cover. I am pretty sure I screamed like a school girl that afternoon.

I have had too many (close calls) in the woods when the sun is in the wrong direction. But my worst scare was hunting down in Whitewater. 2pm in the afternoon, were doing a drive. I am heading to my spot to post for the drive. Great spot, overlooking the bottoms and 2-3 trails come right to where I am supposed to sit. I am about half way there, walking through tall grasses and cedars that cover this area we called the Table Top. I am just walking along, not paying much attention, and a BLEEPING turkey burst out of the grass about 2 feet in front of me. I have had pheasants, squirls, grouse many other different critters scare the out of me, but a wild turkey is real big and noisy when you bust them out of their cover. I am pretty sure I screamed like a school girl that afternoon.

The only time I had a “hard time” staying in the woods was when I was 15. Just watched “Children of the Corn” the night before.

Walking through the cornfield, heading to the stand an hour before light just about took every bit guts I had.

The only time I had a “hard time” staying in the woods was when I was 15. Just watched “Children of the Corn” the night before.

Walking through the cornfield, heading to the stand an hour before light just about took every bit guts I had.

That was some of the best reading I have read on this site!

That was some of the best reading I have read on this site!

Just stay away from the the witch trees.

Just stay away from the the witch trees.

Was gun hunting in Southern Iowa about five years ago. We had stoped at bar in Kellerton swapped stories with the locals and headed back to the motel in Lanomi around 10:00pm . We stopped along the way to water the ditch. Staring out into clear sky I see three bright lights aways off moving towards us. I’m like Bill whats that? We thought at first they were helicopters. As they moved across the sky they broke up into six lights and went further and broke up again into a bunch more and then disappeared . They seemed to have broke up right in front of us . I looked at my buddy and said nobody is going to believe this. We stopped at our guides house the next evening and told him and his friend about it . They looked at us and thought we were nuts. I’m guessing this was a meteor shower but its something I’ll never forget.

Was gun hunting in Southern Iowa about five years ago. We had stoped at bar in Kellerton swapped stories with the locals and headed back to the motel in Lanomi around 10:00pm . We stopped along the way to water the ditch. Staring out into clear sky I see three bright lights aways off moving towards us. I’m like Bill whats that? We thought at first they were helicopters. As they moved across the sky they broke up into six lights and went further and broke up again into a bunch more and then disappeared . They seemed to have broke up right in front of us . I looked at my buddy and said nobody is going to believe this. We stopped at our guides house the next evening and told him and his friend about it . They looked at us and thought we were nuts. I’m guessing this was a meteor shower but its something I’ll never forget.

I will say, I’m not scared of the dark. Never was as a kid either but, usually if something is going to freak you out, are minds let it happen in the dark. Most stuff that gets your heart pumping only is a mild incidence during day light hours

With that said….the first time I almost spoiled myself was during a deer hunt. 14 years old and knew everything I drop my Dad off at his deer stand and headed up the trail another 300 yards and made myself comfy in a ground blind. About 10 minutes before light (and seeing a ton of stuff that wasn’t there) a screech owl cut loose 15 foot up in the tree I was leaning on. Without saying, I had to poke my heart back down my throat with a sharp stick. After I collected myself (and also broke out in a quiet laughter), it came to mind what it was. I do not believe that incidence would have had the same effect if would have been light out! I’m sure I would have jump some. Just like mentioned before, exploding grouse should get you to jump.

To make the story even a bit better for me, and to keep it short for you I had the number one daughter on a cat fishing trip last year. Anchored along shore we had a screech owl cut loose above our heads a little after dark. My daughter threw white caps away from the boat

Dark is cool. It just makes you a little more aware of your surroundings
Great stories
Bret

I will say, I’m not scared of the dark. Never was as a kid either but, usually if something is going to freak you out, are minds let it happen in the dark. Most stuff that gets your heart pumping only is a mild incidence during day light hours

With that said….the first time I almost spoiled myself was during a deer hunt. 14 years old and knew everything I drop my Dad off at his deer stand and headed up the trail another 300 yards and made myself comfy in a ground blind. About 10 minutes before light (and seeing a ton of stuff that wasn’t there) a screech owl cut loose 15 foot up in the tree I was leaning on. Without saying, I had to poke my heart back down my throat with a sharp stick. After I collected myself (and also broke out in a quiet laughter), it came to mind what it was. I do not believe that incidence would have had the same effect if would have been light out! I’m sure I would have jump some. Just like mentioned before, exploding grouse should get you to jump.

To make the story even a bit better for me, and to keep it short for you I had the number one daughter on a cat fishing trip last year. Anchored along shore we had a screech owl cut loose above our heads a little after dark. My daughter threw white caps away from the boat

Dark is cool. It just makes you a little more aware of your surroundings
Great stories
Bret

I should have also mentioned, when I went back down to dad at noon, you know (to check in, have a soda and sandwich, Make a Drive To Dad ). He asked if I had heard that owl in the morning, after I told him the story he was in tears. We still crack up to this day

I should have also mentioned, when I went back down to dad at noon, you know (to check in, have a soda and sandwich, Make a Drive To Dad ). He asked if I had heard that owl in the morning, after I told him the story he was in tears. We still crack up to this day

I am the one you will see with a maglite walking down the trail to my stand during deer hunting. My mind starts racing with all the noises around me. Is it a bear? Is it a big cat? Is it a mean dog? But before I shoot a fellow hunter I will first use my light to confirm what is stalking me or making the noise around me. Better safe then sorry. Needless to say 90% of the noises in the woods around me are squirrels the size of house cats..
I love the dark and find it the only way to sleep when I do sleep, but again as stated above it is the most likely time for the mind to play with ones head…

I am the one you will see with a maglite walking down the trail to my stand during deer hunting. My mind starts racing with all the noises around me. Is it a bear? Is it a big cat? Is it a mean dog? But before I shoot a fellow hunter I will first use my light to confirm what is stalking me or making the noise around me. Better safe then sorry. Needless to say 90% of the noises in the woods around me are squirrels the size of house cats..
I love the dark and find it the only way to sleep when I do sleep, but again as stated above it is the most likely time for the mind to play with ones head…

The night time is the right time!

The night time is the right time!

My first year at Ripley, my brother in law, gets to his stand, and then sends me down a big draw, to go set up on the other side of it. I took his word for it, that it was a big draw, because it was pitch black. I started down, and chit started exploding all around me. I believe I found a spot where the deer bed !!! I didn’t see a thing, but I am guessing(hoping) they were deer. Then I get to the other side and find a tree on the top. I start putting steps in, and meanwhile, the sun is getting a little closer to being able to do something, when I hear something about 20 yards away, on a tank trail. I hop up onto the third step, to get a better look. There is the biggest, blackest, meanest Timberwolf I had ever seen. I am talking about seen in pictures, as I’ve never seen one in person before !!! You would not believe how fast you can screw in steps, when you really need to !!!

big g

My first year at Ripley, my brother in law, gets to his stand, and then sends me down a big draw, to go set up on the other side of it. I took his word for it, that it was a big draw, because it was pitch black. I started down, and chit started exploding all around me. I believe I found a spot where the deer bed !!! I didn’t see a thing, but I am guessing(hoping) they were deer. Then I get to the other side and find a tree on the top. I start putting steps in, and meanwhile, the sun is getting a little closer to being able to do something, when I hear something about 20 yards away, on a tank trail. I hop up onto the third step, to get a better look. There is the biggest, blackest, meanest Timberwolf I had ever seen. I am talking about seen in pictures, as I’ve never seen one in person before !!! You would not believe how fast you can screw in steps, when you really need to !!!

big g

G you may want to invest in climbing sticks, they are much quicker when it’s crunch time!!!!