Very Uncomfortable Feeling!
 

Has anyone ever been hunting and had a buck get inches from you. When I first started bowhunting I hunted from the ground. I was sitting under a big white oak at the edge of a bench/flat. The wind was fierce, I couldn't hear anything. At about 5:00 the unthinkable happened to me. The wind was blowing so hard it unknocked my arrow from my string, as I took a knee to get it I heard him step around the Oak right behind me. I had my bow covering most of my body and my face, and my easton arrow in my other hand. Its bad enough to be in a stand with no arrow on your string with a buck 50 yrds away, try being on the ground with with a buck within 5 feet of you and you sitting there like a gubber saying "Why Me Sweet Jesus". He was only a 3 pt but for a young hunter it might as well had been a 10. There I was heart beating, sweat pouring, and feeling like the dumbest hunter on the planet. I didn't move a muscle and I kept my eyes to the ground. I guess the good Lord wanted this to be a very exciting experience for me because as I was stirring at the ground I seen a hoof step within 10 inches of me. I thought I was going to come out of my skin. He walked about twenty yards to where a tree was between us. I knocked, drawed, and when he stepped into my shooting lane I let the once held easton go. I shot a little back, but found him the next day. Has anybody else had buck this close to them. Please share the story!

RE: Very Uncomfortable Feeling!
 

Almost the same story but it wasnt a buck, but a huge doe. I was hunting in an old loading shoot, and about 10 minutes before shooting time was up, the loadest snort ive ever heard rang out through the woods. I turned real slowly to see these big brown eyes and the biggest eyelashes ive ever seen, lookin right at me. I didnt get her, but it was an experience i'll never forget

RE: Very Uncomfortable Feeling!
 

I wasn't bow hunting, was with a rifle. I was hunting blacktails on Prince of Wales Is. AK. Its was a buck only area then, we were sitting up on this rock knob using a deer call, the wind was blowing the rain sideways, and this doe shot by us and stepped on my pack laying about 2' away.

RE: Very Uncomfortable Feeling!
 

<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>aint it great. That's what makes bowhunting so great. You just never know what's gonna happen. Frustrating? You bet, but satisfying none-the-less and I'm greatful for every second I can spend doing it.

I happened on a feeding mule deer in the Sierras about 8 years ago. When I spotted him he was about 40 yards away from me with a gravel logging road and some open space as well as a very large bush between us. I managed to sneak within a few feet of the animal but in order to do so I had to keep the large bush between him and me. Once I got there, I was on one side of the bush and he on the other and was way too close to move into possition for a shot. I could only sit there, arrow nocked, ready to rock and watch him feed. I knew the hunt was over when I felt the breeze touch the back of my neck and then he was gone. I consider it one of my most successful hunts even though I didn't get to take home the meat.

RE: Very Uncomfortable Feeling!
 

Spit on a few of them....Hit one with an apple.....Had one play with my hoist rope that I forgot to pull up...Saw a yearling playing with a house dog....

RE: Very Uncomfortable Feeling!
 

A couple years ago one of my hunting buddies had a hunting experience that still makes me laugh out loud every time I think about it. He went to his stand in a creek bottom about 2:00p.m. When he got to his tree he looked down through the woods and saw a buck walking slowly towards him. He said that the buck, an eight point, was going to pass just to his left. When the buck went behind a tree he drew his bow and waited. He lost sight of the deer because he was standing directly behind the tree, but he could hear the buck's footsteps closing. The buck suddenly stopped, no more than 10 or 12 yards on the other side of the tree. He then heard the buck change direction and realized the deer was going to pass on his right side. He remained at full draw and leaned back to bring his bow around the other side of the tree. As he brought the bow around the other side, the broadhead end of the arrow hit his hoist rope which was hanging from his lock on stand. The rope looped around the end of the arrow a couple of times, just as the buck stepped into view at about 5 steps. The buck froze in his tracks and just looked at my buddy standing there at full draw with that rope looped around his arrow a couple of inches behind the broadhead. He said that he kept trying to jerk the bow slightly in an attempt to make the rope unloop itself. Finally the buck bolted and all my friend saw was a white flag going through the woods. When he told this story to me, I thought I would bust an artery laughing. I know it sounds far fetched, but he swears it happened.

RE: Very Uncomfortable Feeling!
 

Cutnrun, after my experience I don't find anything far fetched. I have had other experiences bowhunting that would make the story you told sound like the Gospel. Thanks for sharing the story. It was a good one!

RE: Very Uncomfortable Feeling!
 

HAD IT HAPPEN TO ME ONCE, WHEN I WAS ELK HUNTING, TALK ABOUT SCARY. SHE WALKED ABOUT 10 PACES FROM ME AND I COULDN'T DRAW MY BOW SO I HAD TO SIT AND WATCH HE WALK BY

RE: Very Uncomfortable Feeling!
 

During peak rut , quite a few years ago , I decided to drag a scent pad into my stand. Well , I got about half way there and I caught a glimpse of a deer straight ahead.Before I could even think of what to do , this basket rack 6pt was 15yds ahead coming straight at me with his nose to the ground. When he got within 5yds I finally waved my arms and hollered , I dont know who was scared worse. Probably me<img src=icon_smile_blush.gif border=0 align=middle>

&quot;Nocked,cocked & ready to rock&quot;

RE: Very Uncomfortable Feeling!
 

Wasn't deer hunting...but about 10 years ago I was sitting under a big oak squirrel hunting in early season. I wasn't paying much attention, then I heard something. I hadn't even looked to my right when I saw a hoof about 3' from my leg. I sat still and the doe eventually ate an acron that was about 6&quot; from my boot. She lifted her head and looked right at me...then all hell broke loose and she was gone. My heart was beating like a freight train...Still don't know how I didn't hear her sooner.

RE: Very Uncomfortable Feeling!
 

I'M FAIRLY NEW TO THE BOWHUNTING SCENE--GOING ON MY FOURTH SEASON--TWO SEASONS AGO ME & BUDDY SET ABOUT 90 YARDS APART ON THE IN SOME VERY THICK COVER--MAX. SHOT PROBABLY ABOUT 20 YARDS--IN THE OPEN AREAS--ANYWAY,WE'RE SITTING ON LOGS & UPROOTED TREES AND IT STARTS!! I SAW TWO BUCKS GO BY WITH NO CHANCE AT A SHOT--IF I WERE UP IN A TREE I PROBABLY WOULD'VE HAD TWO SHOTS--AFTER THE SECOND BUCK IS OUT OF SIGHT I START TO TRY MY GRUNT.THE FIRST COUPLE ATTEMPTS=NOTHING--THEN I HEARD SOMETHING BETWEEN ME & MY BUDDY-CLOSE!!MAYBE 15 YARDS AWAY--I GRABBED THE PRIMOS TROPHY GRUNT-BLEW ONCE OR TWICE & BEFORE I COULD EVEN MOVE I HAD A GOOD SIZE 6 POINT WITH A HIGH RACK STANDING RIGHT BEHIND ME! STILL SITTING ON THE LOG WITH ONE HAND STILL ON THE GRUNT--WHICH I WAS STILL HOLDING UP TO MY MOUTH--I WAS SHAKING--FEAR OR EXCITEMENT OR BOTH--NOTHING I COULD DO--THE BUCK TURNED A BIT AND I MANAGED TO DRAW---PROBLEM WAS THE DEER WAS STILL TO MY RIGHT AND BEHIND ME AND I'M RIGHT HANDED!I HELD AT FULL DRAW AS LONG AS I COULD--SEEMED LIKE FOREVER--AT FULL DRAW WITH THE DEER STANDING TO MY RIGHT WATCHING ME START TO SHAKE FROM HOLDING AT FULL DRAW HOPING HE WOULD WALK OUT IN FRONT--DIDN'T HAPPEN--I WAS READY TO TAKE A NAP AFTER THAT!!!!!I CAME HOME EMPTY HANDED---BUT WHAT A HUNT!!!

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Nothing like shaking in your boots, those are some awesome hunts!

RE: Very Uncomfortable Feeling!
 

Two years ago my son was hunting from the ground at the edge of a field. He was sitting under a tree watching the field when a big doe came out right next to him and stopped. I watch them through my binoc's for 25min before she moved into the field. He sat still so long that both his legs fell asleep. Huge thrill for him and me.

RE: Very Uncomfortable Feeling!
 

I was hunting hogs with my Thompson Contender pistol because I'd been hunting about 4 days and was seeing hogs but could'nt put it all together for a close shot with my bow. With only a day left I figured I'd increase my odds and take my pistol. I saw a 300 lb sow feedding down a ridge and got ahead of her. She did'nt come out where I thought but came out from behind a tree about 5 feet away. My pulse doubled in about 1 second. I could'nt see anything in the scope but black before it hit me I only need to point at that distance. I've always regreted that I gave up on my bow.

RE: Very Uncomfortable Feeling!
 

Twice I have had em close enough to kiss...

1) I was walking to my stand one afternoon and for some reason decided to go a different way. As I approched a ridge, I looked down to see this small buck feeding up the ridge towards a ravine. Thinking I knew where he was going to cross the ravine, I eased my way around and kneeled down beside a stump with a paw-paw tree growing out of it. As I waited for the buck to cross the ravine, I heard something directly behind me. The 4 pt was just on the other side of the stump, about arms length away, close enough I could here him chewing acorns. He finally fed out 4 steps away and got behind the only big tree in the woods. I was so close that when he stuck his head behind the tree and I drew, he heard me draw my bow. When he stuck his head out to see what was up,, all I could see was his head and his butt. After holding back about two hours (ok, maybe 30 seconds but you know the feeling) I had decided the only shot I had was a head shot, at four steps how could I miss? About the time I had decided to shoot, he steps out from behind the tree and I made the WORST shot I have ever made. I didn't even line my peep up with my pins, I just let 'er fly. It was such a bad shot that I hit him in the liver and he died within 60 yds.

2) I was hunting a permenant stand in this huge red oak in the middle of a thicket. Right before dark, a six point and two does comes thru the thicket and are going to past about 60 yds to my left. The steps to the stand were on the other side of the tree so I decided to get down and try to belly crawl to within range. I got down successfully and made my way to this row of fallen trees. There was a small field (2000 sq ft) and they were going to cross just on the other side of it. The grass in the field was about knee high so I thought maybe I could belly crawl across the field, I only had to make up about 30 yds to get a shot when they crossed an old road. I put my turkey call in my mouth and with bow in left hand and arrow in right hand, started inching my way across towards an old shack that had fallen down. Every time the deer looked my direction, I gave a few soft purrs and yelps with the turkey call and it seemed to be working, as a matter of fact, working too well....
I had made it about half way across when I looked over at the deer and noticed the buck was no longer with the does, so I just froze there until I could spot the buck. Out of nowhere, the six point appeared right in front of me,,,no less than 5 ft away. I put my face in the dirt and waited for him to pass but he was curious as to what I was. After about two hours (again, maybe only 30 seconds) I looked up and the buck was sniffing the arrow I had in my right hand. I about crapped, I could imagine him smelling the tinks on my pants leg and either stomping the piss outta me or violating me in ways I did not wish to be had....
He finally turned and started down beside me and I lost it.......I think he either saw me shaking or smelled me when I crapped my pants because he turned and ran towards the does and stopped about 35 yds, giving me a shot. I eased up and knocked my arrow but he didn't stick around for the shot. It didn't matter tho because I was shaking to much to draw my bow back....




Edited by - mr4pt on 02/13/2002 08:47:14

RE: Very Uncomfortable Feeling!
 

Hunts like these even though you may go home empty handed, still gives you memories to cherish for a lifetime!

RE: Very Uncomfortable Feeling!
 

Got one - two years ago - I had to pee really bad. I was in my stand 20 feet up. I got my bottle out and was getting releaved when I heard a snort behind me (I was facing the tree, so it was right in front of my stand). I was in mid stream and I couldn't stop. I was looking over my shoulder and it was a real nice eight point. He was looking right at me. I still wonder to this day what he was thinking. Non-the-less he lived to see another day. These are all great stories, and you have to love them and laugh!

RE: Very Uncomfortable Feeling!
 

close encounters of the buck kind.
these are some really good stories. the only one i have conserns a fox.
i was sitting under a oak tree squirl hunting and a red fox came in to about 5 foot. it was so awsome he remained there for about 5 min. then moved out of the area.

RE: Very Uncomfortable Feeling!
 

I have had a bunch of &quot;close encounters&quot; with deer while ground hunting. Lots within 15 yards but off the top of my head I can think of two young bucks that walked within 5 feet of me. Once was when I was rattling for a buddy on the last day of the season, I had a little 6 pointer come walking directly up a hill towards me. I was whispering to my buddy that one was coming but he didn't hear me. I kept trying to get his attention without spooking the buck but my buddy was in la la land and never paid any attention and he had his back facing me and the approaching buck so he had no idea what was about to happen. Well, I lowered my head and crouched down next to a fallen tree and the buck walked right next to me, so close I could see the bottom of his stomach when I peeked out of the corner of my eye. Then I got the giggles because I knew my buddy had no clue that a buck was two feet behind him and closing fast. I was doing all I could to keep the laughter in until finally the buck startled my buddy and he gasped out loud and scared the begezus out of the buck and the buck snorted and bolted. It was hilarious.

Another time I was ground hunting and had a little forkie walk in to within about 3 feet of me. It was the first morning hunt of a 5 day trip me and a couple buddies were on and the night before we were all so pumped up about the upcoming week that we celebrated with the shots of Jack Daniels and beer chasers a bit too much and I was hangin' in a big way that morning and when this little buck sauntered in and kept getting closer and closer, I was getting more and more nervous which got the ole butterflies a goin' which in turn, coupled with stale Jack in my gut, resulted in major gastrointestinal pain. I tried to hold the flatulants in but the pressure was too great so I had to blow it all out my arse. It wasn't long that the young buck got whiff of my funk and looked me straight in the eye and started stomping and blowing and finally bolted. My stench ruined that spot for the entire trip.

RE: Very Uncomfortable Feeling!
 

I would have loved to have seen the first hunt, as for the second hunt well, will just talk about it from a distance HA!

RE: Very Uncomfortable Feeling!
 

One time walking to my stand with a couple of buddies, before we split up we jumped a few deer which ran out ahead of us. About 100yds ahead, I cross over a little wire fence. There's this little buck all caught up in the fence, terrified, hanging upside down. He never so much as flinched as I grabbed his antlers and a leg and spun him over so he had a little slack. As I backed up, he stood up and jumped free, none the worse for wear. On a side note, I had two piebalds come by me together about an hour later, which of course, I spooked before getting a shot.
I also had a small spike come up to me and a friend as we were eating our lunch. He dozed
off, and the little guy heard the snoring. He seemed fascinated, and kept inching closer, quivering the whole time. My buddy was leaning against a big rock, as was I, so the deer had no idea what we were. He finally walked back up the mountain, looking back every few seconds.

RE: Very Uncomfortable Feeling!
 

Man a lot of good encounters, the funniest was wolfens second one. I have had a number of deer in the 5-10 foot range over the years, but the two best encounters I know of were not mine.

1. My uncle years ago was sitting in a travel lane with his back to a tree and had covered his legs with leaves, the wind was to his back blowing straight across the path. Well this doe comes meandering up the path and stepped right over his legs, then she caught his wind, turned, looked him dead square in the eyes, threw a flag and pissed all over him!!!

2. A good friend of mine was hunting in Ca. and had fallen asleep, well he was awakened by something rooting in his coat pocket where he had hard candy!!!! Ed said he almost crapped himself, because he knew there were black bear in the area. He said when he finally got the guts to look certain death in the eyes it turned out to be a yearling doe with a sweet tooth! Bucks only.

The Tazman

RE: Very Uncomfortable Feeling!
 

My second year of bowhunting I was on the ground behind a stump while some of my buddies put on a drive. Three deer came busting out of the brush heading right for me. The doe went to my left, a small six went to my right and the big 8 or 10 went right over me. It happened so fast I never got my bow drawn. That's one I'll never forget.

RE: Very Uncomfortable Feeling!
 

same thing happened to me, kind of. I had just sat down behind a huge red oak along a tree line in a corner of a big field. I no sooner sat down when I saw the 3 pt. approach. I was able to stand up as he fed right up to the base of the oak, just on the other side of me (2 feet max). He was so close I had to wait for him to walk away because I never shot my bow at 2 feet before and wasn't sure of where I'd hit him. He walked to about 15 yds. and my heat-seeking 100 grain muzzy found his lungs. He wasn't big, but I still was shaking like a leaf.

RE: Very Uncomfortable Feeling!
 

i've never had it happen but i'm sure it would be uncomfortable

RE: Very Uncomfortable Feeling!
 

This past season I had 2 close calls.

1. Got to my stand but decided I wanted to look down the lane at another potention tree stand spot. I set down all my gear including my bow (big mistake) and walked about 40 yards down the lane. I was standing there on the trail when, sure enough, a small 6 pointer stepped out giving me what would be a perfect shot!! Then the deer turned and walked right up to me!! I just stood there too shocked to move. He looked me over then kept coming even closer. Finally he stopped about 5 or 6 feet away. I then moved my hands and he took off.

2. It was late and I was getting ready to leave. Just as I was getting down from the stand, a doe walked in. I tried to get a bead on her but it was really too dark to see more than 50 yards or so. I couldn't tell where she had gone so I waited until I couldn't hear any more movement and then proceeded to get down. I was standing on the ladder when the doe ran under me followed by two coyotes!! I decided to keep going. While walking to the truck though, I started to get scared that I would be attacked by a coyote. My imagination began running away from me. All of a sudden the unthinkable happened!! I heard loud fast footstep running right up behind me!! I spun around fast, raised my arms and yelled &quot;RAAAAA&quot; but this turned into &quot;YAAAA!!!!&quot; I was face to face with that doe!! We scared the living crap outta each other! HAHA!!

-Mike

RE: Very Uncomfortable Feeling!
 

Haven't had close encounters with deer, but this fall I was in my treestand in a huge old oak tree. Just before dark, I saw movement out about 40yrds. While I sat there and watched a flock of wild turkeys worked their way into the oak grove. Eventually there were about twenty-five of them and they proceeded to fly up and roost all around me in my tree. I couldn't believe the racket they made slapping their wings against branches and knocking down limbs. After about 10 minutes they all settled down with two of them so close I could have touched them with my longbow. I thought that when it came time for me to climb down, it would be a chinese fire drill with turkeys flying in every direction. But to my complete surprise, when I eventually started down, not a single turkey budged; they just sat there like statues and watched me walk away.

Jack

RE: Very Uncomfortable Feeling!
 

It'd be interesting to see if they returned to that tree again to roost.

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Thanks folks for shaing your stories they have been great!

RE: Very Uncomfortable Feeling!
 

Thanks folks for shaing your stories they have been great!

[Deleted]
 

[Deleted by Admins]

RE: Very Uncomfortable Feeling!
 

Several yrs. ago I was hunting on top of a ridge sitting on a short stump. I decided to rattle a little and use the grunt call. After about 5 minutes, I heard slight noise coming from my right and behind me. I should have turned my body when I first heard the noise but I didn't as a deer trail was 20 yds. to my right and I figured a deer might come down the trail. Out of the corner of my eye I could see a young 6 pointer using the trail, and then for some reason he started walking right toward me. He walked right to me facing me and there I am holding my bow on my lap because I didn't want to move. He raised his nose a couple of times and sniffed but the wind was in my face. He finally came close enough that I could have touched his nose with my bow but I didn't move still. After a few minutes he started bobbing his head up and down, and a deliberate stomp with one hoof, still sniffing and trying to get the strange object on the log to move. Finally not being able to take it any longer I moved very slightly, and he bolted down the hill. Very exciting and I was not the least in danger. I felt very relaxed and really enjoyed that day's hunt as much as any hunt I have had.

Two yrs. later I shot a Pope and Young 9 pt. 150 yds. away and have always wondered if it could have been the same buck. Somehow I like to think so.

Edited by - Cougar Mag on 02/15/2002 21:45:26

RE: Very Uncomfortable Feeling!
 

I was coyote hunting a few years ago and had no luck, so started home. It was snowing and as I was driving I noticed fresh tracks crossing the road. I had hunted this area before and knew there was a thicket and beyond that some small openings and meadows that would be good places to call from and have a chance to see anything reaspnding. As I started thru the thicket, I caught a slight flicker of movement. I stopped and started squeaking and soon saw more movement in the brush ahead. I just put the squeeker to my mouth again when something jumped on theback of my neck and shoulders.I'll have to say I got real excited in a hurry! I know I was hollering and whirling around, but I can't remember what I was hollering. Wish I could. I had my shotgun in my hand and kind of out of instinct waved it towards my back and hit the critter off me.I then wheeled around and shot kinda from the hip and pretty much destroyed the pelt of a 29lb bobcat. Let me tell you that was a real rush!

RE: Very Uncomfortable Feeling!
 

OK......I got ya all beat!!<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

Try being pinned in your treestand by a gang of killer skunks!!!<img src=icon_smile_tongue.gif border=0 align=middle>

I don't know if they smelled something I dropped or what, but they wouldn't leave.
Eventually I think they took a nap under my stand!!
What could I do!.....I would check every now and then with my flashlight and they'd still be there. I sat there in the dark for almost 1 1/2 hours........Then when they finally left I couldn't tell which way they went and my flashlight died.
What a circus........every dark shape I came across on the trail out I kept saying &quot;Please don't be a skunk......please don't be a skunk!&quot;:)

Ever had an Owl whizz by your face in the half light of a still morning???!!!......you just turn and there's 4 feet of wingspan up your nose. That'll clean the colon in a hurry!<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

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<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>