How close do you get to other (non-deer) wildlife?
 

We all see lots of wildlife(other than deer)when we're out bowhunting, but how close do you come to it? Let's hear your stories.

1. Last week I have a couple birds fly between my legs while sitting on stand.
2. A few years ago I have a bird land on my nocked arrow, as a perch for 10 seconds or so.
3. I've had several squirrels come with 1-2 ft. Luckily they never jumped on me.

RE: How close do you get to other (non-deer) wildlife?
 

I have had a couple close encounters with bats. This year I reached around the tree I was in to keep my ballance so I can turn around and there was a bat up under the bark that I layed my hand on and it fluttered to the ground then flew off later. Then one turkey season I set up back in some thick stuff off of a field and kept hearing a hissing sound and I finally spotted this bat up in the brush pile in front of me just hanging there. I have had coons cross logs right in front of me. Alot of close encounters with possums.

RE: How close do you get to other (non-deer) wildlife?
 

I've had owls/hawks take a swoop at my face andget pretty close before they see me about to jump out of my stand.

The first time I ever bowhunted, I had a bird land on the tip of my arrow.

It all plays into why I love being in the woods bowhunting.

RE: How close do you get to other (non-deer) wildlife?
 

Pretty Close

RE: How close do you get to other (non-deer) wildlife?
 

1) racoons on numerous occasions
2) Fox
3) Owls
4) Turkeys
5) Bird on my nocked arrow
6) Squirrel within 5'
7) 1 coyote (while in PA)
8) 1 Mad Dumper

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RE: How close do you get to other (non-deer) wildlife?
 

I had a friend get attacked by an owl it must have thought his hat was an animal and it went after it cut him up bad he had to go to the hospital. I had a turkey roost on the limb about 6inches from my arm it was just for a split sec until we both jumped

RE: How close do you get to other (non-deer) wildlife?
 

I've had groundhogs walk right up to me while sitting at the base of a tree. One was while turky huntingI poked him away with the gun barrel. THe other was while archery hunting, I just tapped him with my arrow.

Had a coon walking up to me that same way, but I moved a little sooner to spook him away, about8-10 ft.

Hiding along a brushy creekbed I had a gray fox emerge from the brush not 5 ft away, I was expecting a ground hog.

Squirrels haven't jumped on me YET, butI have had them inches away going up the back side of my tree.

12 ft from a bear? I was about 16 ft in the stand and he was on 2 legs at the base of my tree looking up trying to figure me out.

I had 3 grouse in a tree about 10 ft away.

Several hawks landing in nearby branches. Boy they spook quick once they realize you aren't supposed to be there.

RE: How close do you get to other (non-deer) wildlife?
 

usually squirrles within feet, thought one was going to jump on me this season :D
birds
turkeys, alot
racoons
and"no" mad dumpers :D

RE: How close do you get to other (non-deer) wildlife?
 

Oh I did slap a deer this year;)

RE: How close do you get to other (non-deer) wildlife?
 

I have had a few owls swoop down at me. I had one this season while it was still dark flying directly at me and all i could see was a blacl blob flying at me. Then it perched up in a tree staring at me prolly 4 ft away. Finally I waved my hands and it flew away.

A couple years ago i was rifle hunting in a homemade ladder stand and had a fox squirrel climb up each rung of the ladder until he got to the platform and he just sat there on the platform sniffing my boots. Thats was pretty cool! I could have kicked him off, but it was a lot cooler just to watch him try to figure me out. Then he just hopped back down.

Last week, I shot at a squirrel and hit the branch he was sitting on so what does he do? He comes to find out what just shot at him. He crawled down a tree about 5 ft away and just sniffed the air and starred at me.

RE: How close do you get to other (non-deer) wildlife?
 

funny you posted this Sunday i was out and this squirrel came along through the trees and was about 2 feet away on a branch getting ready to jump on to my stand. i quick moved my hand so he wouldn't jump. I don't what would have happened if he did jump. I probably would have freaked out. he scampered away after that . I guess my camo is working good

RE: How close do you get to other (non-deer) wildlife?
 

2 years ago bowhunting i had a a coyote come within 8 feet of my stand and then about 30 secondslater i had a wolf come within 8 feet of my stand chasing the coyote. I alsohunt in Wisconsi, and where hunt wolves were not common at all. Now there are are maybe a couple wolves in the area. Only one person has gotten a picture of one crossing the road and there have been very very few sightings on wolves around where hunt.

RE: How close do you get to other (non-deer) wildlife?
 

I've had lots of interesting encounters!
1. Coon above me in the tree and it walked on top of my head (hat)
2. Squirel walked on my head also
3. Hawks and owls have swooped at me, i brought my bow up in time. Both times there claws hit the bow, that one scared me the most!
4. I've had bear climb up my tree 7 different times. The closest one was about2 inches away from my foot and leg. I let him do what he was doing, after that he crawled back down and got zipped at 10 yards! Bear are very curious animals, 95% of the time they don't mean no harm when doing this.

RE: How close do you get to other (non-deer) wildlife?
 

Here's the definition of feeling helpless..........forget your climbing stand and hunt from the ground anyway. 1/2hr after first light an honest 500lb black bear walks to within5 yardsand then makes a complete 360 degree circle around you at that distance the whole time giving you the "Hairy Eyeball".[:-]
My mind was racing between draw the bow, make some noise, don't make noise, maybe if I move? Oh god nevermind don't move he'll think your prey, maybe if I stab him with the arrow........ultimately I probably would have decided on "curl up in the fetal position and cry like a little girl"
:D

That's about as sexy of an encounter as I ever hope to have. Everything else is pretty mild, Turkeys trying to land on my treestand platform, and the usual squirrels, chickdees and one cardinal that landed 6 inches from my face almost flipping me over.

Oh and I almost forgot the FAMILY of skunks (like 6 of them) that camped out at the base of my tree at last light and had me trapped there for well over 1hr until they left.
I was sitting up there in the pitch dark thinking "This stinks";)

RE: How close do you get to other (non-deer) wildlife?
 

Mostly squirrels and small birds. One of my best hunts was when I shot a coyote with my bow on the ground at 10 yards. He didn't seem to know what to do when we spotted each other. Luckily for me I was carrying a nocked arrow while still hunting.

RE: How close do you get to other (non-deer) wildlife?
 

Over the years I've had quite a few opportunities to see different game from my stand anything from Turkey to Coyotes to the usual Squirrels, Raccoons, Possums and such.

A couple of ones that stand out were, once while in my stand I had a very big Red tail Hawk cruse right by me from behind. I never saw or heard him coming, he passed at about 10in from the tree/my head right at eye level over my right shoulder. All I could hear was the wind ruffling over his wings as he passed....it was cool!

The other happened just a few weeks ago. I was up in my stand for the Illinois gun season and I caught some movement out of the corner of my eye, it was a female Bobcat at about 20yds away. I picked up my binoculars for a better view and what do I see? two more!It wastwo kittens and momma. The kittens played like normal house cats would for about 15min. It was fun to watch them interact.

I watched it all through my binoculars (probably missed a slammer buck walking across the field[&:]) until I caught the attention of the momma. She stared at me for a few minuets, through the binoculars she appeared to be right in front of me and I could see all of the detail inher fur, ears, tail, etc.. It was by far the best experience I have had with "other" animals while hunting.

RE: How close do you get to other (non-deer) wildlife?
 

Been within 20ft of a moose,(bullcalf), that bluff charged me! It was cool while it was happening, but it took a good hour to stop the shakes after he left!

RE: How close do you get to other (non-deer) wildlife?
 

Had coyotes within 10 yards this year...had a hawk come down and kill a squirrel within 15 yards of me this year as well....pretty cool.

RE: How close do you get to other (non-deer) wildlife?
 

1' to a squirrel and about 30'from a rabbit...

RE: How close do you get to other (non-deer) wildlife?
 

Flying squirrel on the bill of my cap while in the stand just before daylight. Scared both of us to death.

RE: How close do you get to other (non-deer) wildlife?
 

I got a problem with the weasels in permanent stands. They make it their home throughout the year and then when I go out there they don't wanna leave. Those things are ferocious too. I'm just glad that I always dress in big clothes because I would think that their bites would hurt.

RE: How close do you get to other (non-deer) wildlife?
 

two or threeyears ago, while turkey hunting, i was sitting at the base of this tree waiting for daybreak. i was in that dozing off stage as i felt something on muy shirt sleeve. didnt think anything of it until i felt it again so i opened my eyes to see a possum climbing onto my lap. i dont remember if i screamed or not, but i stood up and ran away. it was disgusting lookin.:D

squirrel ON my leg while turkey hunting. countless within 3 feet.

ive gotten within 2-3 yards of a turkey.

fox within 10 yards first year hunting.

last year a coyote was hot on the heels of a doe and chased her right under my stand. they got to the creek bank, she dove in head first, and he stopped there. once to the other side, she shook off and took off up the hill. he stood there with the funniest look on his face ever like DAMN, i almost had er. i then proceeded to miss a chip shot on him at 30 yards as he was leavin.[:@]

other than that, just my uncles cows sniffin me as i froze there scared to death.

RE: How close do you get to other (non-deer) wildlife?
 

I've had a few small birds land on my shoulder, and more on my bow, arrow, and stand. I've had many squirrels walk up really close to me, but I always move a little to get a better look. I got pretty close to deer while turkey hunting, and a turkey deer hunting

RE: How close do you get to other (non-deer) wildlife?
 

Back when I was a Kid we would catch Squirrels and Rabbits.Like my Sister said I was really good at it.We would also catch Coons,Possums and Skunks.

One time I was setting in the woods,had a bunch of Tom Turkeys around me.One of them came by me and laid down,I eased my hand over laid it on his Back,everything was cool for a little bit,until he realized it just didn't feel right.

big rockpile

RE: How close do you get to other (non-deer) wildlife?
 

i had one squrril that came 10 feet from me up the tree i was on