Have owls ever messed up a hunt?
07-05-2018 | 10:56 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,924
Likes: 1
From: Monticello, FL USA
Have owls ever messed up a hunt?
Have any of you guys ever had an owl mess up a turkey hunt? I've had a few times when a Barn owl flying nearby will make a bird(s) go silent. During wet years with lots of grass and mice, this can be a frequent problem where I hunt turkeys. It can also happen later in the day here too. We have an endemic owl species, Pueo. It is a small, day hunting, ground nesting owl. Have you ever had a bigger owl species, like a Great horned owl or Barred owl cruise by your hunt?
Whenever I have a bird go silent, the first thing I do is scan tree tops and visible high dead trees. If I see an owl, I just sit tight for a while. I learned that by moving too soon after getting the "silent treatment", I would sometimes scare off turkey that were in the area.
When the owl flies off, the birds usually go back to "talking": after a few minutes. Adult turkeys are way too big for the owls we have to take down, but chicks are not.
Whenever I have a bird go silent, the first thing I do is scan tree tops and visible high dead trees. If I see an owl, I just sit tight for a while. I learned that by moving too soon after getting the "silent treatment", I would sometimes scare off turkey that were in the area.
When the owl flies off, the birds usually go back to "talking": after a few minutes. Adult turkeys are way too big for the owls we have to take down, but chicks are not.
Last edited by JoeA; 07-05-2018 at 11:01 AM.
07-09-2018 | 07:38 AM
#4
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,907
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From: SW Michigan
Yes. I was out one foggy morning in CT when a great-horned owl swooped in about 1ft above my head and attacked my hen decoy. She picked it up and dropped it a few yards away; I suspect she didn't feel feathers and ditched it because she knew something wasn't right.
Over the years I've had them glide silently, relatively quite low off the ground, just before sunrise on more than one morning hunt. Seeing an owl on a hunt has never led to a good outcome either...
Over the years I've had them glide silently, relatively quite low off the ground, just before sunrise on more than one morning hunt. Seeing an owl on a hunt has never led to a good outcome either...
07-09-2018 | 12:12 PM
#5
Super Moderator
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,366
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From: Choctaw, Oklahoma
Never had one ruin a complete hunt but I have had owls and hawks take my dekes for a ride. Had a few yotes pounce them also. I just went and got the dekes back and set them back up and continued hunting. I think its pretty cool when it happens. Just adds to the story
07-31-2018 | 01:30 AM
#6
Spike
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Adelaide
Yes.. very often.. one little sound and they start flying scaring the hell out of you.. You lose focus for some time, get that adrenaline rush, heartbeat pumping and then you are back to hunting..
The last time we went hunting, we laughed out when it happened because one of my friends lost it. He ran scared and fell. So next time look for owls before you start hunting
The last time we went hunting, we laughed out when it happened because one of my friends lost it. He ran scared and fell. So next time look for owls before you start hunting
