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1/30/10 predator hunt |
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RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
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Posted: January/31/2010 at 16:53 |
I had an unusual evening last night while predator hunting I wanted to share.
I had just killed 2 coyotes in 2 different locations on my hunting lease and I was setting up for my 3rd and final hunt of the evening in a location near where one of my trail cams had snapped pics of lots of coyotes and bobcats. I have a Johnny Stewart electronic call with remote control, and I hung the call speaker on a limb a short distance from where I had setup a blind. I waited a few minutes in the darkness before pressing the remote to activate the call. After about 5 minutes of the call belting out the high pitched sounds of a distressed rodent, I heard a whistling sound, like something gliding in the air. I switched on my spotlight and watched in amazement as a very large owl dive bombed my call, yanked it off the limb of the tree, and took off with it! Luckily, he dropped my call a short distance away once he realized it wasn't a live animal. It was one of the coolest things I'd ever seen while hunting! That owl was really "dialed in!" Despite an owls outstanding night vision, the call isn't shaped like any living creature and wasn't moving, so he locked onto his target totally by sound. They are amazingly efficient predators! It was also a pretty productive evening of hunting too, as in addition to the 2 yotes, I killed 4 hogs as well. |
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Ted
Money can't buy happiness... but it's much more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle. |
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tahqua
MODERATOR Have You Driven A Ford Lately? Joined: March/27/2006 Location: Michigan, USA Status: Offline Points: 9042 |
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That is awesome Ted. It is amazing how well birds can hear. Sound is a distant second to their eyesight and it is amazing that the sound can fool them.
When Kevin and I were out awhile back, a hawk dive bombed his Foxpro that we had set up out on a frozen lake. That bird had to see the unit, but just kept coming. Doug |
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RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
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Yeah, I wish I'd had a video of it, but it's unlikely I would have been quick enough on the draw to capture it, not to mention the fact it was pitch dark.
I bet seeing that hawk dive bomb Kevin's call was pretty impressive as well! |
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Ted
Money can't buy happiness... but it's much more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle. |
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SVT_Tactical
MODERATOR Chief Sackscratch Joined: December/17/2009 Location: NorthCackalacky Status: Offline Points: 31233 |
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What really sucks is when you have a hawk dive down at your new puppy outside! My wifes maltese was almost a meal
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tahqua
MODERATOR Have You Driven A Ford Lately? Joined: March/27/2006 Location: Michigan, USA Status: Offline Points: 9042 |
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Hawks are pretty cool and we have a bunch of them up here. Seeing an owl is a real treat, though. Especially one trying to rip off your call. That is just great and a hunting story you will keep forever.
Doug Edited by tahqua - January/31/2010 at 19:03 |
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silver
Optics Master Joined: November/04/2005 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 2291 |
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mom has an owl that raises heck anytime somebody steps out at night
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"If we weren't all crazy we, We would go insane." Jimmie Buffet
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helo18
Optics Jedi Knight Joined: December/02/2006 Location: Montana Status: Offline Points: 5620 |
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Very cool Ted. Bet that was a sight to see. I have had hawk come in before and sit on a fence post or hay stack. But it would be sweet to see an owl in action like that!
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AstroVic
Optics Apprentice Joined: January/18/2010 Status: Offline Points: 161 |
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Several years ago I had an owl dive-bomb my patrol car at about 4am. It crashed into the grill of my car - broke the grill and put a pretty sizeable dent in the hood, too. It flopped off into the ditch and when I went to check on it, I was amazed at how large it was. It appeared to be deader than a door nail.
Anyhow, I went back to the location about 30 minutes later and it was gone. Not sure if a critter came and got it or whatever. I was going to see if I could keep it and have it mounted for my wall...but no such luck!
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TexasPhotog
Optics Apprentice Joined: July/22/2009 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 133 |
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That does sound fun. Good thing that dude dropped your call! I very much enjoy watching owls, hawks and eagles hunt. Congrats on the good hunt!
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SChunter
Optics Journeyman Joined: December/02/2007 Location: usa Status: Offline Points: 376 |
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I had a hawk absolutely maul a turkey decoy several springs ago--it didn't like the synthetic taste, so it finally let me have it back! And like you Ted, even if I had the right camera and had it with me, I wouldn't have gotten the shot--but the memory is classic!
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RifleDude
MODERATOR EVIL OPPRESSOR Joined: October/13/2006 Location: Texas Status: Offline Points: 16337 |
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I have a great deal of admiration for predator birds. The area I hunt is in river bottom habitat, loaded with rodents and rabbits, so we have tons of owls, hawks, coyotes, bobcats, and foxes there. I especially see barred owls quite frequently, and I never get tired of seeing them.
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Ted
Money can't buy happiness... but it's much more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than on a bicycle. |
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pyro6999
Optics Retard OT TITAN Joined: December/22/2006 Location: North Dakota Status: Offline Points: 22034 |
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i had a great horned owl scare the hell out of me a few years ago during deer season. i was sitting in a ladder stand and it was getting close to last legal light and that damn owl landed in the tree i was sitting in. he was probably 10 ft above me, but when owls fly there wings make zero noise so i never even knew he was there until he let out the distinctive great horned owl HOO HOO HOO it was so loud i damn near fell out of the tree. owls are cool.
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They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead" 343 we will never forget God Bless Chris Ledoux "good ride cowboy" |
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SD Dog
Optics Master Extraordinaire OT Scratching Post Joined: February/28/2008 Status: Offline Points: 4177 |
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Great story RD. It is amazing how they can navigate thick trees in the dark. Agree Pyro, when I lived in MN, had a thick grove and we had some resident GH owls, they are silent and big.
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If nobody ever said anything unless he knew what he was talking about, a ghastly hush would descend upon the earth. AP Herbert
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pyro6999
Optics Retard OT TITAN Joined: December/22/2006 Location: North Dakota Status: Offline Points: 22034 |
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graceful too!
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They call me "Boots"
375H&H Mag: Yeah, it kills stuff "extra dead" 343 we will never forget God Bless Chris Ledoux "good ride cowboy" |
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ccoker
Optics Master Joined: February/13/2008 Location: Austin, TX Status: Offline Points: 2041 |
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very cool!
I have had numerous ones zip right in front of me at 10ft while mountain biking at night with a helmet mounted light... gets your attention for sure! |
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Urimaginaryfrnd
MODERATOR Resident Redneck Joined: June/20/2005 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 14962 |
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That is the fun thing about hunting preditors you never know what's going to wind up comming in. We went out and bought more calls yesterday and the one that I think makes the most unique sound is a "Syco Tweety" little yellow thing wiht a split reed gives off some very shrill high tones, cant wait to get it in the field.
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"Always do the right thing, just because it is the right thing to do". Bobby Paul Doherty Texas Ranger |
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Sgt. D
Optics Master Extraordinaire Joined: February/20/2008 Location: North Carolina Status: Offline Points: 4525 |
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Its suprising that you heard him at all. Especially in time to get a light on him. Typically the best you ever hear is a very light air rush as they pass over. He must have had a twisted feather for you to have caught him. I had a similar start from one when I was a kid. I was sittin in my treehouse watchin a full moon rising thru the trees and checkin it out with my bino's. When Mom called for supper I stood up to climb down and this thing almost killed its self leaving the limb over my head. I didn't pee myself but I jumped out of there about 15ft. gettin away. After I landed I saw the critter glidin away with feathers fallin behind it. Since then I look around before I move out of any stand.
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Take care of Soldiers, Show em how its done and do it with em, Run to the Fight & and hold your ground! I die my men go home! If you're a NCO and this ain't you. GET OUT! GOD BLESS AMERICA!
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M7025-06
Optics Apprentice Joined: January/21/2010 Location: Nebraska Status: Offline Points: 271 |
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That's a great story.
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