Coming Out of The Woods After Dark!

by **ElkNut1** » 03 30, 2014 • [Post 1]

There will be times in ones elk hunting career that you will be caught in the woods well after dark! Does this bother some? If so let's hear about the things they may give you that uneasy feeling.

You will find that when with a partner it's not as nerve racking as when alone & still an hour or more to get back to camp or ones rig to head back to camp. Who here as made that after dark trek just to get back or even loaded down with meat & horns? What were some of your concerns? This subject could help some who are concerned with after dark treks & how to handle them.

ElkNut1

by **Backcountry** » 03 30, 2014 • [Post 2]

My biggest enemy while hiking in the dark, either in the morning or at night, is my mind. Any noise or sound instantly becomes some long dead woman out to kill me. I find it easier to just click on my headlamp, keep my head down, and just go. Packing meat in the dark is something I do not want to do.

by **elkaholic** » 03 30, 2014 • [Post 3]

Most of the time I don't think about heading back to camp until it is dark, so I'm forced to deal with it. My mind is probably my worst enemy. When I hear a twig snap or something else in the dark I get a little uneasy thinking about all the things it could be..

but settle down when I feel my Glock tugging on my shoulder as I head down the trail. A good bright light is also comforting to have along.. Traveling while the sun is still sleeping is something I feel is needed to get me where I want to be at first and last light.

by **Indian Summer** » 03 30, 2014 • [Post 4]

Depends on lots of things. I wouldn't want to be trying to make my way out of tricky country that I've never been in. If you don't know what tricky is you'll find out.

Some places are no brainers. Ones with a big ridge with no ridges branching off to lead you astray. Or places where you know all you have to do is go up or down and you'll hit the road or trail for sure. If I say "Ray Charles couldn't get lost that way" then there's nothing to be worried about. But if you hear me say "it's easy to get turned around down in there" then don't be down there past dark. I know several places where we have to come down from up high and there are lots of sheer rock cliffs. If you don't start down at the exact spot you need to you'll be doomed and going back uphill to start over. Coming down is always more difficult than going up. The gps doesn't always help when you need to skirt around hazards. When I am in places like that that I've been before I will drop tons of waypoints to make double sure I get it right.

As far as the bumps in the night... that's where having bad hearing is an advantage. ha ha I don't hear them. If I do hear something you can be damn sure something is there! But I carry a sidearm in archery if I'm solo and don't worry in gun. Lions don't bother me at all. Neither do bears. They run. The one and only thing that would concern me is 6-8 really hungry wolves and I've been there. If I'm in camp nothing concerns me.

When I'm hiking every step is calculated. No trucking along like there's not a worry in the world, especially if I'm packing meat. The older I get the less interested I am in twisting an ankle or blowing out a knee! Bottom line... keep a level head and you'll be fine. If not the biggest danger is probably yourself.

by **dreamhunter** » 03 30, 2014 • [Post 5]

I have always had this uneasy feeling about coming out after dark,I do it but don't care for it. I don't seem to mind as far as going in before sunup.I guess I know it's gonna be light soon. I still am concerned about the things that could be watching or listening to me,but more concern about about the things that could turn a routine trip back to camp to one of those stories you read about in magazines. I usually have pretty good lighting when heading off the mountain and those danged tree limbs that catch you by surprise make me concerned about getting poked in the eyes. I was talking to my friends from Georgia last year about how they felt coming out after dark and they say they are only concerned if they have meat on their back otherwise no worries. They also told me that after you come out a few times after dark you learn how to manage your mind and things don't concern you as much then ( as far as get eatin by something ).

by **Ghost** » 03 30, 2014 • [Post 6]

The one and only thing that would concern me is 6-8 really hungry wolves and I've been there

Id like to hear more about this :shock:

. Reminds me of the trapper up in canada, they found him eaten by wolves but not after he killed 13 or so, it was only after he ran out of ammo and had busted the stock on his gun that he was over taken.

I dont worry about it to much, my gps has topos so I can at least see how steep it is, and I carry aerial photos of the area Im hunting. And normally Im so tired, I dont give a rats behind whats going on around me as long as it doesn't get to close.

The first time I packed an elk out, it was dark of course, my hunting/packing partner (it was his elk) was so far in front of me I could barely see his flashlight (200 plus yards), as Im coming down the mountain, I can hear something following me, an occasional twig snap or two was giving away its presence but it stayed 70 or so yards away and my head lamp just didnt shine that far, when I would stop and take a break so would it. I remember thinking, well if what ever it is leaps on my back, hopefully by the time it gets thru the hind quarter I'm packing, it will be full

. I got out of the mountains without incident that night. Fast forward to the next night, heading down the mountain with the rest of the elk, and right in my boot tracks were the tracks of a really big wolf.

by **Wyo67** » 03 30, 2014 • [Post 7]

I've always got my headlamp readily available and a spare in the pack. Even though I'm familiar with the area, as Indian Summer suggests, leave plenty of waypoints in your GPS. Even finding that familiar old trail you came up on can be difficult when it gets dark. Spare batteries for the GPS are always packed as well... Each time we've downed an elk in the late afternoon/early evening, we've always quartered and bagged it up for hauling out the next morning. Usually don't have a problem leaving them over night temperature wise. Just pack the meat a little away from the carcass and hang it. Take the tenderloins and backstraps back of course!! 8-)

by **zpd307** » 03 30, 2014 • [Post 8]

my mind does freak me out at night. but I am the most afraid of getting lost. its so easy to lose your bearings when it gets dark, nothing ever looks the same... I do have my compass and gps. last year I had it so that I was out of the thick and into known territory before it got dark, which still put me into camp an hour after dark. its something I have to work on this year as I recognize I am losing out on some opportunities..... I will have to remember to put even more waypoints into the gps as I go, that would definitely help.

by **flystrait** » 03 30, 2014 • [Post 9]

I have been with some that needed to be back to the pick up or camp before dark and some others that are totally fine. I have packed meat many times and not made it back to the rig until many hours after light. I don't think about anything except where my next step is, so not to blow a knee or ankle, that is my biggest fear. Some others have mentioned it before about traveling through step and thick brush, ridges etc can be very dangerous. One thing that we have have found that has saved use countless times are trekking poles. It allows us to save about 20-25 percent of our energy going the same distance with the same terrain. It also allows 3 points of contact which has saved us from many bad spills. I will not go without them ever again and the same with my hunting partners (4 years and counting). We are more secure coming out anytime day or night with the right equipment for us. Here is our list that makes it very doable. I don't worry about predators when hiking, only when I'm sleeping.

1) Head lamp (we carry two each one bright long beam and one that broadcast shorter) extra batteries as well
2) Trekking poles (never leave home without them) Carbon fiber collapsable ones
3) A good pack with all the essentials for first aid/ knee brace etc.
4) The SPOT device incase the worst happens
5) A quality GPS with topos built in and aerials
6) extra energy bar, drink etc. It's nice to get a pick me up when you are exhausted makes me feel better mentally as well!

Craig

by **Trophyhill** » 03 30, 2014 • [Post 10]

Yep, packing in the dark requires a "safety first" mindset. A serious injury could potentially be life threatening. Especially if you're alone.

by **Toby** » 03 30, 2014 • [Post 11]

Like others have said, when hiking out with a partner, not an issue. When I am alone, which happens quite a bit, I am fine if on a familiar route, edgy if in new country.

We have lots of wolves in Wisconsin, and they will follow you sometime, but haven't heard of an attack on humans. We have lots of bears here too and they run when you come across them. But, cats are another story, they worry me. But, Indian Summer, who knows his stuff says they are not a worry and will run as well, so I gotta believe him.

by **Csrbowhunter** » 03 30, 2014 • [Post 12]

Two years ago I got alittle freaked out. My buddy shot a bull then radioed to me on the rinos to go get the frame packs.i was a mile from the truck and 1.5 miles from him. As I was walking back to the truck I stepped in a hole. I turned my headlamp on to investigate. I was standing on a wolf mound. I didn't stay long and got to the truck, bye this time it was pitch black. I dug out the packs and butcher kit and shut the truck door. The load noise made the wolfs start howling. I turned on my headlamp and all I could see was eyes all around me! My buddy two way me on the rinos freaking out! He said can you hear those wolfs? I said not only can I hear them I can see them!!! He asked what I was going to do and I replied" I'm headed your way". To say I wasn't nerves would be a lie but I had my glock with two clips. There had to be at least 15 wolfs and I had 20 rounds so I figured I'd be ok. The whole way to my buddy the wolfs followed me out there. Some were in front of me but most to the side or behind. I got to a fence and I'd thought I'd lost them but after I started to help cut up the bull we noticed them. They were about 100yds out laying in the grass just patiently waiting on us to finish. We had to hang the bags of meat we couldn't carry up in a pine tree while we took the first load back. When we got back to the elk the carcass would be moved but to our surprise the wolfs would be back where they were when we left.
Other then freaking us out the wolfs never messed with us. We hauled the meat out in about 5hrs,all at night. This was a good thing because the next day it got pretty hot and where he shot it at was very open,which made it easy to carry out. I myself always worry about getting a stick in the eye or falling off a cliff or just plain lost. I have a terrible since of direction. If you're lost and ask me which way to go, I'll propably tell you the wrong way. Lol

by **Toby** » 03 30, 2014 • [Post 13]

Carbowhunter, wow, that is wild.

by **stringunner** » 03 30, 2014 • [Post 14]

Once I get walking I'm usually ok, but my mind still goes a bit astray....the most nervous I've been was when I downed a cow right at last light and had to quarter and bag her solo in the dark, that nigth I was nervous for sure.

Csrbowhunter, that is one crazy story.

by **Swede** » 03 30, 2014 • [Post 15]

I have been out in the forest many times after dark. It is usually not a problem. I do not expect to be eaten, but safety is a concern. In the evening and night after a long day, I may be tired and hungry, so extra care is required while butchering or even just traveling through the forest. Some things about butchering in the dark are preferable to butchering in the daylight. You don't have the flies or yellow jackets to deal with. The only people that ever come walking up in the dark are people I hunt with.

by **Lefty** » 03 30, 2014 • [Post 16]

As a kid we were always up and out in the dark checking traps, fishing, and delivering newspapers., never an issue.
Where I hunt elk It doesnt bother me. However last year I was worn out; I had trailed a herd all afternoon till dark. I had emptied my pack earlier because it was suppose to be a short 400 yards from the truck glassing trip and left most of my emergency supplies at my truck including extra water and my lights. It was so dark I was unsure of my direction with no trail to follow it was a long wearing hike to camp/truck I was quite worried I might miss my truck. I was less than 30 yards before I could "see" my white pickup and tent

However when I hunt/ hike in grizzle country the hairs on my neck are alert if Ive seen fresh sign in the area light or dark.

I sometimes carry bear spray and I do sleep with bear spray.
A cow moose with a calf put me in a tree while hiking in the early summer in Northern Utah , her and the calf stayed until almost dark,..now that hike out in the dark was a bit creepy.

Ive bumped lions and trailed them till I coundnt see them( rifle hunting) , never thought of that as spooky

Twice my wife has seen wolves and both times camp was a short distance away, didnt bother either of us
At night I often hear noises, I figure out what it is almost always coyotes, Ive had deer stomp their feet at me, the first instances is a bit alarming.

Some of you guys should never hear a fox, coon or cat scream at night

by **dreamhunter** » 03 30, 2014 • [Post 17]

Wow,this is all good stuff. This is why I am always on this site.There is always something new and interesting to read about.Good tips,etc. The story about the wolves....ooh,no thank you.One pistol and two mags,I don't think so.I want like an extra box in my pack along with 2-4 mags.I will eat wolf if I have to but I don't want to be eat by wolves. lol. I fear them more than bear or cat.I need to get my notepad out again.I think it's a good idea to jot down notes from the forum.It's easier than trying to remember.

by **welka** » 03 30, 2014 • [Post 18]

After getting turned around and thinking I "was close" and hence burning out all my flashlights, I got lost in mid September in northern WI on 10000 acres of National Forest. Lots of bears and wolves. I was lucky to remember a story from a buddy who hunted elk in Idaho and had to deal with the black of night. He was scared sh..less and his lamas were jumping at everything. He found a creek to block the sound out and I was fortunate enough to find one that helped me get through the night. Wasn't fun, but actually got some sleep and it was only about a half hour walk back to the truck in the am.

by **WapitiTalk1** » 03 30, 2014 • [Post 19]

Hasn't ever bothered me too much but yes, it can make a hunter a bit uneasy when coming out on a long access trail or brush after dark in brown bear or big cat country. On two separate occasions in N ID two years ago, a buddy and I had something "follow" us out of the thick brush after dark. The first, I suspect was a curious young lion as the few times we saw glimpses of a silhouette where the sound was coming from, it looked pretty good sized (maybe a wolf but there was only one critter?). . The second that year, was in a different spot but again, we were coming out of a thick draw and decided to forgo the known trail and "bust" up through the alder to the road above. Not a good idea. At any rate, we kept hearing something moving behind us about 50 yards. When we stopped, it stopped. This went on for a few hundred yards until finally the hillside opened just a bit so I could see farther behind us. It was a two year old mule deer doe on our tail

She kept gaining ground and finally got within about 25 yards on our downhill back trail. A well placed pebble on her back sent her bounding off. Crazy dang doe.

by **Indian Summer** » 03 30, 2014 • [Post 20]

Toby wrote: But, cats are another story, they worry me. But, Indian Summer, who knows his stuff says they are not a worry and will run as well, so I gotta believe him.

Results may vary. LOL

I ran hounds for years in the Bitterroot for lions. There are plenty of houndsman in the Root. But for a very long time we were only permitted to harvest toms... no females. In addition to that lots of houndsmen won't shoot anything but a big cat. For that reason there are lots of cats in the area that have been treed, or at least run by hounds. The point is that they know we are the tops dogs and I don't know of a single incident of cats doing anything but run the other way. North of Missoula I know an area with little to no lion hunters. My brother had a lion follow him a long way one night up there while he had a quarter on his back. He knew something was back there but not 100% sure and never saw anything. But then he said he heard the unmistakable sound of a twig snapping and spun around to see a lion about 10 yards away and coming fast. He had already had his handgun drawn and he shot half a dozen rounds... while turning to run and without actually aiming. Scared the living daylights out of him. I wouldn't want to pack elk meat in the dark in California where lions are not hunted and don't perceive humans as a threat.

I had a buddy bow hunting elk and he was hiking back to camp one night when he heard a sound for sure. By the time he turned around 8 wolves had him surrounded at 15 feet. He had no sidearm and just froze in fear. They circled and growled and snarled at him for a very short time before all disappearing.

One time in broad daylight I was in a huge wide open meadow when I saw a wolf walking the trail toward me & a friend. I had a hound with me too. I grabbed the hound by the collar and crouched down a bit. The wolf clearly saw us and stopped but only for a moment. Then he got off the trail and circled us at only 20 feet until it was down wind and then ran off. I've had several wolves just sit and watch me go by.

Had a pack of 8 run 2 horses out of a portable corral. Didn't find the horses for 2 weeks. The next day they were back, 30 yards from the 6 wall tents in broad daylight howling like mad looking for more. Me and the cook snuck down the hill and they didn't run but kind of faded into the cover. We howled mocking them and they came right back in to about 50 yards before busting us. I hiked a couple hundred yards from camp and sat down and called a big alpha male in with cow calls. He came trotting right down the trail. I was off to the side sitting with my back to a big Douglas fir and he passed me at about 15 feet.

Walking down a heavy bear trail in Alaska with my wife in Katmai National Park, where the Grizzly Man was killed. Come to a trail intersection and see a sub-adult griz moving left to right on the other trail. He gets to the intersection and wouldn't you know it hangs a right heading directly toward us. 60 yards, 40 yards, 30 yards and I'm facing him talking at a normal volume but he just keeps coming. He never made eye contact but he surely knew we were there. At 30 yards I started walking backwards away from him. That's close! At 20 yards he bailed off the right side of the trail circles around us, gets back on the trail and continues on the way he was heading. Whew... 20 yards! You can almost count eyelashes at that distance. :shock:

I've had my share of encounters but the griz in the lower 48 do concern me. They have no reason to fear us or anything else. It is a fact that the griz attack stories never seem to make their way back east. It happens every year in Montana. Up near Ovando and the Bob Marshall the bears have gotten used to elk carcasses as a food source. Not good. A few years back a guy was killed when he returned for a 2nd quarter just after dark. I have friends that hunt and guide in BC where there's lots of game being killed and they tell me gunshots are like a dinner bell. It's mandatory to have to people present when gutting and quartering. They have some insane stories.

by **Indian Summer** » 03 30, 2014 • [Post 21]

Oh ... one more. Me and a buddy taking an afternoon nap while out scouting n late August. He is throwing dried deer duds at me and I wake up and we start wrestling. The hill was fairly steep and we rolled down the hill about 20 feet or so. When we came to a stop I looked up and there's a small lion, around 100 pounds, standing about 15 feet from us. Holy crap that's close! I said to the other guy in a low voice.. look man there's a lion! He looks up and the thing is standing there broadside facing to the left. This little staring match goes about a full minute which seemed like forever.... and he walked away slowly. I always figured he thought we were predator and prey the way we were wrestling down the hill. Crazy.

by **easeup** » 03 30, 2014 • [Post 22]

you guys have some great stories.
Going out or coming back in the dark is just part of the game and all of us realize that. The older we get, the more that safety is first in our minds as it should be. Hunting the southern states is basically less risky I guess or I have a halo I don't know about.
My small contribution to the thread is to portray the good things about the dark that I have learned. Now many of these events were on horseback but even the solo hiker can experience the same.....what fantastic memories I have of riding back to camp on the ponies with a full moon while miles from the trailhead; other darker nights riding back to camp up a narrow canyon with elk bugling on back and forth on each side; even total blackout nights where you couldn't see the hand in your face and trusting them to stay on the trail and find the correct way out; or just singing to myself in the dark, How Great Thou Art....the ponies don't seem to mind..lol

by **WapitiTalk1** » 03 30, 2014 • [Post 23]

Indian Summer wrote:
Toby wrote: I wouldn't want to pack elk meat in the dark in California where lions are not hunted and don't perceive humans as a threat

Insert Washington State for California.

Amen brother. Had a couple of Tacoma, WA PD's finest hunting with me in a WA wilderness area a handful of years ago. They hunted together that morning while another buddy and I hunted elsewhere. They crested a USFS access trail to a spot we know which branches out to an age old outfitter trail (merely a game trail now) that stabs due south into some really good elk country. They poked in about 1/4 of a mile, just listening for elk chatter, when they faintly heard somebody yelling coming on the trail at them. As the sounds got closer, they heard what sounded like somebody banging two rocks together and yelling. As the guy came around a bend in the trail, he saw my friends... walked up to them and said "thank God!!". It seems he and his buddies had gotten a 5 point the night before, went back in that morning, tracked him, found the bull, and the guy was heading out for the packs while the other two did the field dressing. The guy told my friends that he'd left his bow, stripped down to BDU pants and a T shirt for a quick trip out, and was on his way back to their camp for the packs. Long story short, a lion had been shadowing this poor guy for several miles, up and over the steep little lava ridges that run down to the old trail. He'd seen it at least 1/2 dozen times and it appeared to actually be getting in front of him, off the side of the trail and laying in wait several times as he would round a bend in the trail. The guy had grabbed two big rocks and were banging them together all the way out the trail yelling "get outa here, leave me alone"!! The cat stayed with him for a loooong way. No hound season in WA either. Silly rabbits. It'll take something really bad to happen before this state reconsiders their stance on hound hunting.

by **jmez** » 03 30, 2014 • [Post 24]

It doesn't really bother me that much. I have never headed back to camp prior to dark. There isn't anything out there in the dark that isn't there in the daytime. I actually enjoy the walks in the dark when sky's are clear and the stars are out.

by **wapitibowman** » 03 30, 2014 • [Post 25]

With a hunting buddy, no problem - done it several times with meat!! Alone, I can get a little freaked out (like others say - it's all in the mind)

Wapitibowman

by **slim9300** » 03 30, 2014 • [Post 26]

flystrait wrote:I have been with some that needed to be back to the pick up or camp before dark and some others that are totally fine. I have packed meat many times and not made it back to the rig until many hours after light. I don't think about anything except where my next step is, so not to blow a knee or ankle, that is my biggest fear. Some others have mentioned it before about traveling through step and thick brush, ridges etc can be very dangerous. One thing that we have have found that has saved use countless times are trekking poles. It allows us to save about 20-25 percent of our energy going the same distance with the same terrain. It also allows 3 points of contact which has saved us from many bad spills. I will not go without them ever again and the same with my hunting partners (4 years and counting). We are more secure coming out anytime day or night with the right equipment for us. Here is our list that makes it very doable. I don't worry about predators when hiking, only when I'm sleeping.

1) Head lamp (we carry two each one bright long beam and one that broadcast shorter) extra batteries as well
2) Trekking poles (never leave home without them) Carbon fiber collapsable ones
3) A good pack with all the essentials for first aid/ knee brace etc.
4) The SPOT device incase the worst happens
5) A quality GPS with topos built in and aerials
6) extra energy bar, drink etc. It's nice to get a pick me up when you are exhausted makes me feel better mentally as well!

Craig

This post is dead on Craig! It covered exactly what I was going to post. Lol.

I will add that my Zebralight H600 Mk II and H502W seem to make seeing at night a whole lot easier!

by **Bows4Bulls** » 03 30, 2014 • [Post 27]

Does anybody else prefer to hike at night without a light on? To me, it seems easier to follow a trail or landmarks without the light of a headlamp. As long as it isn't a pitch black night with no moon, once my eyes adjust to the dark I can see way better than I can with a light. With a headlamp I feel like I can only see what is a few feet in front of me, it's easier for me to lose my direction or miss a trail. It's always tough to convince a new hunting or hiking buddy to leave their light off, but just about everyone enjoys it once they let their eyes adjust. I think the best way to get your eyes adjusted to the dark is to not ever turn your light on in the evening and let your eyes adjust with the fading light.
Do you guys think that lights spook or alert game at all? Without a light, and the right wind we are always walking right up on elk, deer, and black bears before they spook. Of course, I'm in southern CO or NM most of the time so we're not too worried about the bears. Being in grizz or wolf country may be a different story though!

by **NCelkhtr** » 03 31, 2014 • [Post 28]

Whenever possible I hike without a light. You can walk right by animals in the dark with no light and not spook them, but the second you turn that light on they are gone. I guess they are just more relaxed in the dark. Almost everytime I have been in the woods chasing elk I left out in the dark. I always wanna try that one more spot or try and close the gap between me and the elk, granted I have been hunting in Colorado and not in grizzley country. But none the less I want to get every last bit of hunting in that I can when on a hunting trip, I dont go on hunting trips to get back to camp early or leave camp late I'm there to hunt.

by **Garrett Drach** » 03 31, 2014 • [Post 29]

Csrbowhunter wrote:Two years ago I got alittle freaked out. My buddy shot a bull then radioed to me on the rinos to go get the frame packs.i was a mile from the truck and 1.5 miles from him. As I was walking back to the truck I stepped in a hole. I turned my headlamp on to investigate. I was standing on a wolf mound. I didn't stay long and got to the truck, bye this time it was pitch black. I dug out the packs and butcher kit and shut the truck door. The load noise made the wolfs start howling. I turned on my headlamp and all I could see was eyes all around me! My buddy two way me on the rinos freaking out! He said can you hear those wolfs? I said not only can I hear them I can see them!!! He asked what I was going to do and I replied" I'm headed your way". To say I wasn't nerves would be a lie but I had my glock with two clips. There had to be at least 15 wolfs and I had 20 rounds so I figured I'd be ok. The whole way to my buddy the wolfs followed me out there.

I'm not exactly sure what the legal fees would be for firing a couple warning shots at their feet, but I would think your situation may have been an acceptable time to find out.

by **Trumkin the Dwarf** » 03 31, 2014 • [Post 30]

Dang, fellas. All this talk about 20 wolves at a time makes me want a flamethrower. Forget pistols! :twisted:

by **timberland** » 03 31, 2014 • [Post 31]

Dad tells the story of his outfitter in British Columbia. They had a bad wind storm one summer knocking down a lot of timber. The outfitter went out for a few days with his chainsaw, just cutting out logs and kicking them off the trail so the horses could get through later that fall. He would fill up the saw out of a little 2 gallon rounded top can and leave it on the trail to continue cutting, getting 100-200 yds ahead before running out of gas. On one fine day he was walking back to the gas there was a fresh (steamy) pile of bear doo on the trail. He fills up and heads back to work. On the next walk back to the can he finds another fresh pile. He cuts another tank full, but this time the bear ups the "threat level" The outfitter found his gas can looking more like a soda pop can crushed.

by **Triplebhunters** » 03 31, 2014 • [Post 32]

Awesome stories. I'm another that hunts till dark, I try to go slow and get back to the main trail before I use a head lamp and flashlight. Once on that main trail I adjust the headlamp for 15 yards ahead of me and flashlight 3 ft ahead of me. I always tell myself to pack safety glasses but always forget them.
The only time I've pulled out my 40 i was packing out my bull one night and a couple dogs were coming up the trail.
As far as fear, the edgyness gets better the more you're out there, and I figure if a man can get past the fear of a marriage he can handle anything else God puts past him.
Let's hear more stories.

by **Gutpile** » 03 31, 2014 • [Post 33]

I was hiking the Colorado Trail one summer and the weather was great with a huge full moon, so me and my buddy decide we should do a night hike with the moon and all. We walked for about an hour and were heading up the mountain - finally in some thinner timber and hopefully getting close to a good view of wherever we were. Plodding up a ridge we hear sticks and branches snapping maybe a 100 yards off. The snapping sounds were not stationary and were coming right to us. The ticker started going and whatever it was stopped behind a fairly large Spruce stand about 20 yards in front of us. We heard this really loud popping and clicking noise - which i recognized as a bear popping his teeth at us. You could hear the bear pawing the ground and gruffing at us - no good! We slowly backpeddled and dropped off the ridge behind us with no critter in pursuit luckily. Night hiking? Overrated.

by **Swamp Buck** » 03 31, 2014 • [Post 34]

Maybe it is just me but why is coming out after dark so much more terrifying than going in in the dark??

by **Deafirishman** » 03 31, 2014 • [Post 35]

Great stories on this thread. Some of them enough to make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck ... One advantage for me is I can't hear so anything coming up for behind me, I am toast

Lol. We are usually out and back to camp before dark. Something about walking in the dark in unknown territory. Being followed by something is not what concerns me, it's all safety for me. Especially if you are in some steep country...

by **dapper** » 03 31, 2014 • [Post 36]

The dark puts me on edge. Always worse at night than in the morning, I think because I know it will be light soon in the morning and at night its a long time until it gets light again. I tend to walk faster at night on the way back to camp in the dark, which is probably more dangerous than any of the critters around. My hunting partner/son, the dark doesn't seem to bother him. If I have to wait for him at a prearranged spot it seems to take him forever to get there. Always arrives at camp a lot later than I do.

The worst after dark experience I had was back in 1977 when we went on a bear hunt over bait in Colorado.(still legal then) It was dark when I left the bait and had to walk quite a ways to a pickup spot. As I walked along the trail, I heard rocks clattering in a dry creek bed that paralleled my trail at a distance of about 50 yards. To scare the big sounding critter, I yelled "Hey". Instead of running away, now it was coming directly towards me. I yelled louder "Hey". It kept coming, so I drew an arrow out of the quiver to put up my only defense. Out of the brush steps this motorcycle dude that was looking for water! Him and a buddy set up camp at the end of my trail and they needed water. They had arrived after I was dropped off. And apparently didn't have a flashlight.

Dan

by **BFlatlander** » 03 31, 2014 • [Post 37]

This one has nothing to do with it being dark, but does relate with some of the other posts. Last year during the MT archery season my dad and I were taking a snack break on a grassy knob and leaning against a large ponderosa pine. I reached over to offer my dad some jerkey and a gray wolf was sitting no more than 40 yards away just staring at us. At first I couldn't believe what I was seeing...almost taken in by its mysterious nature. That changed real quick when it lowered its head, stood up, and started stalking towards us. Without speaking a word we both reached for our bows and the wolf was outta there like a streak of lightening. We couldn't help wonder what might have transpired if I hadn't reached over to offer my dad some jerky. It was easily one of the most wild experiences of my life. We still did plenty of hiking in the dark but gained a new appreciation for the predators in the area. It's heavy, but the .357 might be tied to my hip this season. Love the stories guys! Keep em coming!

Brian

by **Csrbowhunter** » 03 31, 2014 • [Post 38]

Garrett Drach wrote:
Csrbowhunter wrote:Two years ago I got alittle freaked out. My buddy shot a bull then radioed to me on the rinos to go get the frame packs.i was a mile from the truck and 1.5 miles from him. As I was walking back to the truck I stepped in a hole. I turned my headlamp on to investigate. I was standing on a wolf mound. I didn't stay long and got to the truck, bye this time it was pitch black. I dug out the packs and butcher kit and shut the truck door. The load noise made the wolfs start howling. I turned on my headlamp and all I could see was eyes all around me! My buddy two way me on the rinos freaking out! He said can you hear those wolfs? I said not only can I hear them I can see them!!! He asked what I was going to do and I replied" I'm headed your way". To say I wasn't nerves would be a lie but I had my glock with two clips. There had to be at least 15 wolfs and I had 20 rounds so I figured I'd be ok. The whole way to my buddy the wolfs followed me out there.

I'm not exactly sure what the legal fees would be for firing a couple warning shots at their feet, but I would think your situation may have been an acceptable time to find out.

I thought about doing that but didn't want my buddy to think I was to big of p***y lol! He did say to me " you're still coming out to help me right"? I was going to mess with him and say no I'll just wait for you bye the truck but I didn't want him to do something stupid before I could tell him I was just kidding.lol

by **POk3s** » 04 01, 2014 • [Post 39]

Well all these stories should help us all out with the fear of darkness! I sure know it's helping me out! Next year I'll be looking for 15 sets of wolf eyes every time I hear a twig snap!

Walking at night doesn't really bother me too much. There's times when I hear something and just like everyone else it's in my mine but I'm pretty good at convincing myself it's nothing. Usually my discussion with myself is, "I haven't seen a bear, mountain lion, or wolf this trip but have seen 100 elk and who knows how many deer. The odds are pretty low it's another predator, and even if it is the majority of them don't want anything to do with us anyway."

The "scariest" time for me is solo backpack hunting. You have to climb in that sleeping bag 4 miles from the nearest road and try to get some sleep. Every mouse turns into 10 grizzlies.

My only hair raising stories all happened during the day. A handful of bear encounters including one grizzly that never even knew I was there...but I sure knew he was there and too close for comfort.

There is the indian chants in the middle of the forest. I've never been back there and if I ever do hear those in the dark i'll be so scared I'll sprout wings and fly off that mountain.

by **pointysticks** » 04 01, 2014 • [Post 40]

i'm not a big fan of the dark. that is why i spend so much on flashlights..so i can see it better. hahah.

my crappy sense of direction goes completly away when it gets dark. i would be doomed. i wont do it solo. i know my limits.

by **Toby** » 04 01, 2014 • [Post 41]

It's funny how many stories about hearing sounds in the dark turn out to be nothin, but then again, guys that heard sounds made by "somethin" probably aren't available to visit the forum any more

by **mongopino915** » 04 01, 2014 • [Post 42]

Darkness does not bother/scare me but hiking through black thick timber with lots of down falls can be challenging at night.

by **pointysticks** » 04 01, 2014 • [Post 43]

i hurt my eye by stabbing it with a branch hiking out at night..smart would to have safety glasses, but i bet most dont hike with a clear pair in the pack. i'm lucky my eye healed, but it did send me to the eye doctor.

by **Csrbowhunter** » 04 01, 2014 • [Post 44]

pointysticks wrote:i hurt my eye by stabbing it with a branch hiking out at night..smart would to have safety glasses, but i bet most dont hike with a clear pair in the pack. i'm lucky my eye healed, but it did send me to the eye doctor.

I had a buddy that got a thorn in his eye coming out of the woods and has to wear a contact in that eye now!

by **mds** » 04 01, 2014 • [Post 45]

I love hiking the hills at night, especially above the tree line. With a full moon on the grassy stuff it's pretty magical. In the thick stuff? I do it less, but still magical. Fond memories of night-hiking around the collegiate peaks last summer. In my ignorance the safety issues worry me much more than the critters.

by **elk-n-walleye** » 04 01, 2014 • [Post 46]

Csrbowhunter wrote:
pointysticks wrote:i hurt my eye by stabbing it with a branch hiking out at night..smart would to have safety glasses, but i bet most dont hike with a clear pair in the pack. i'm lucky my eye healed, but it did send me to the eye doctor.

I had a buddy that got a thorn in his eye coming out of the woods and has to wear a contact in that eye now!

similar for me except I haven't yet got to the point where my left eye needs a contact yet but overall it has effected my vision. but then again, so does looking at this computer screen so much. worth it! :lol:

by **Ghost** » 04 02, 2014 • [Post 47]

Csrbowhunter wrote:
pointysticks wrote:i hurt my eye by stabbing it with a branch hiking out at night..smart would to have safety glasses, but i bet most dont hike with a clear pair in the pack. i'm lucky my eye healed, but it did send me to the eye doctor.

I had a buddy that got a thorn in his eye coming out of the woods and has to wear a contact in that eye now!

The local game warden in WV disappeared for a year or so (would always stop by, more to BS than anything) one day Im out cutting fire wood and here he comes on a gator, I told him we missed him last year, asked how he"s been, he pulls off his sun glasses and his left eye is missing

. Some time last fall, he scratched his eye while walking through the woods, between his waiting and his eye docs miss diagnoses, they had to take his eye, in his words they said, we either take your eye or the infection goes to your brain, and your dead in 2 days, so out came the eye.

Any no, I still dont wear safety glasses :roll:

by **Washington Wapiti** » 04 02, 2014 • [Post 48]

Damn . . . the eye thing. I've been very lucky, but have caught the pointy end of branches in the forehead, cheek, or just to the side of my eye. Always a good time. Without fail, I'm always a little geeked out coming out at night for the first couple of trips, then I settle down. The confidence level goes way up if I'm carrying a side arm or with a partner.

I've hiked as little as a half-mile and as far as 3 or 4 miles following a line of "bright-eye" (reflective tape) that I put out while hiking to my destination in the day. I've never had a bad experience hiking in the dark, only a victim of my overactive imagination . . .which can get pretty creepy in there! Then again, I've never hunted/backpacked in grizz country or areas populated with wolves either. We have chicken-bears here in Washington, which is fine by me. Cougars here on the other hand . . .

by **timberland** » 04 02, 2014 • [Post 49]

The only bear scare I had was last spring about this time of year. It was the first time I could walk my property as the snow was almost gone. I had a black sweatshirt on and I saw a sow with a couple cubs that looked like kittens under her feet. She was about 100 yds away on the other side of a creek when she saw me. She starts wandering my way keeping the kids under her until she's directly across the creek about 40 yds away, close enough that I'm getting some decent pics with my phone. When she turns and directly walks right at me I starting waving and saying (loudly) hey bear. She gets about 20 yds away before she stops and gives me the evil eye before retreating slowly and taking the kids elsewhere. I'm just glad it was fairly open and not close quarters, I wasn't dressed for a fight.

by **elkmtngear** » 04 02, 2014 • [Post 50]

Only thing I hate, is trying to navigate through iffy trails in blowdown areas, etc...getting off the trail sucks!

I've seen bears in my headlamp many times, and had bull elk come running right up to me. I don't worry about the big cats too much, and I'm usually making too much noise walking to trip out on every little noise I hear. 8-)

by **Triplebhunters** » 04 02, 2014 • [Post 51]

All this talk about eyeballs, I just made a note to take my safety glasses.

Swamp Buck wrote:Maybe it is just me but why is coming out after dark so much more terrifying than going in in the dark??

This is prime time for the predators to find something to munch on. In a.m. They are going to crash and let their grub digest. Hope nobody here is afraid of bears.

by **Ghost** » 04 02, 2014 • [Post 52]

Triplebhunters wrote:All this talk about eyeballs, I just made a note to take my safety glasses.

Swamp Buck wrote:Maybe it is just me but why is coming out after dark so much more terrifying than going in in the dark??

This is prime time for the predators to find something to munch on. In a.m. They are going to crash and let their grub digest. Hope nobody here is afraid of bears.

I could give a rats behind about black bears, as you know, we have the biggest black bears on the planet here in PA, now grizzlies on the other hand, Im not to fond of grizzlies.

by **OS hunter** » 04 06, 2014 • [Post 53]

The one and only thing that would concern me is 6-8 really hungry wolves and I've been there.

I have always been scared of what lurks in the dark, even though I know it won't hurt me. However, wolves are a legitimate concern of mine. Had quite the run in this fall during the late afternoon that had me 100% scared to be in the woods. I knew at that moment I definitely wasn't on top of the food chain and was handily out numbered. Because of this I was on edge the remainder of the season and always found a way to be back at camp right at dark. Damn mind getting the best of me.

by **phall** » 04 07, 2014 • [Post 54]

in or out in the dark can get creepy, but i do it. kinda makes it a lil more fun. i love that rush when your heart is pounding, with fear, like it even more when it happens flinging a arrow at a bugling bull and moving at night in my opinion increases those chances in most circumstances. we just aint at the top of the food chain out there. we can take all our tools (guns, sprays, and light) to put us closer to the top of that food chain but dont be fooled we aint.

by **wawhitey** » 04 08, 2014 • [Post 55]

If you're in elk country you're most likely in big predator country. Where I hunt I feel safe saying we have as many if not more black bears and cougars than most areas. Still my biggest concern in the dark is tripping over something and hurting myself. Bears cats and wolves are there in the daylight too. And if you have an overpowering fear of them I have a cure. Buy a cougar tag and try your hardest to call one in. After a week or so of failures you will realize there is not a hungry lion behind every bush

by **POk3s** » 04 09, 2014 • [Post 56]

I was "stalked" by a black bear last year so my attitude towards them has kind of changed. I had just got done boning out my bull and was about 100 yards from it when a big black objected ran in front of me left to right. I thought it was a wolf at first but it stopped and was a bear. Stopped at about 12 yards. I wasn't really all that threatened by it until I kept walking on the same path I had used to come in. He tracked me for well over a mile with his tracks in my tracks. If I had been at my elk carcass just a few minutes longer it could've been a little bit of a different situation.

Idk if he smelled the elk blood on my boots or what, but he's a bear, you know he also smelled human and he didn't mind.

by **Kevrod3** » 04 09, 2014 • [Post 57]

I'm amazed at how mulies does will literally let you walk within 10 yards of them in the dark. I walked back to camp last year after my guide left for home, and I still had 2 days left to hunt on my own. While I was only about 400 yards away and 200 ft of accent in elevation I was scanning back and forth with my head lamp, and I caught a glimps of a coyote with his mouth open about 20 yards away just of the horse trail I was on.... After combing the hair down on the back of my neck I realized it was just a stump! haha! After seeing all those mulie eyes glowing earlier, I was on edge just thinking something was out to get me! Nothing was better than seeing the glow of the lantern in the wall tent coming around that last bend.

As Uncle Si says " I'm not scare OF the dark, I'm Scared of what IN the dark!!"

Its is a mind over matter thing. I think if you play things smart, carry your bear spray, and a firearm with plenty of ammo and you should be fine. Be smart, and hunt smart. Guys that take off without survival gear, or sidearm to me are not being smart hunters. You owe it to yourself and your family to stay safe in the dark!

by **Triplebhunters** » 04 17, 2014 • [Post 58]

http://gma.yahoo.com/black-bear-mauls-f ... ories.html

Ran accross this while reading a black bear forum. Don't open it if your afraid of bears. :lol:

Have to show some respect to these guys.

by **8seconds** » 05 18, 2014 • [Post 59]

While solo hunting in the San Pedro Wilderness in 2011 I happened on a lush area with alot of elk sign (trails, multiple wallows, rakings, etc.) it was a bonzana. Involved as i was i let time get away from me and found myself after dark some 4-5 miles from my base camp (small shelter next to a stream).

I had a head lamp, but it was virtually useless in the pitch dark. I mean pitch dark. Without my head lamp, i could not see my hand in front of me.

Using my GPS I routed along a ridge, but for whatever reason, i kept getting off slightly into windfalls. In and out and in and out, at 67 at the time and 10,000 ele, it was sucking my energy. I had ample water when i left that day, but ran out. I was dehydrated, tired, and irritated that i had let myself get into the mess i was in. I thought at one time i would just lie under a huge tree trunk until daylight, but it was mixed sleeting and raining at the time; I didn't like the situation and pressed on. It was at that point of staying it out under that tree trunk that i really got pissed off and resorted to an old energy level i hadn't used in years.

I refused to drink from streams as i had experienced griada years ago while hunting Idaho Bitterroots: It was not a pretty picture. A stiff reminder!

My thoughts at the time varied from running into a bear in the middle of the night or being ambushed by one so i sang to myself along the way. I'm not scared of the dark nor what is in it. I had my bow, 357, and 9" Buck knife. There were loads of bear (black) signs in the area so i wasn't worried about a griz. My experience with blacks has been that they are not interested in two legged creatures unless with a cub. Hopefully singing to them was enough to keep them away. And the wolf population isn't that far south; so that was not a concern. My biggest concern was breaking an ankle, leg or arm in those windfalls and being stranded. The timber was slippery with the rain and i had already fallen a couple of times causing large bruises (i noticed the next day). I also take blood thinners so that didn't help with the bruising.

I made it back to my base camp (10x10 shelter with hammock and sleeping bag) around 1 am; exhausted. It got dark around 8:30pm. I got my wet cloths off and immediatley got into my sleeping bag while sucking down water before passing out. When i'm tired i can't eat. I had to get up multiple times during the night to relieve myself; large prostrate nullifies a full nights sleep; but that didn't seem as bad as normal; and then there were the cramps throughout my back, legs, shoulders, and thighs. But I was happy as hell to be where i was in one piece. I stayed in the rack until noon the next day when the cramping finally quit. Every muscle in my body was sore.

I learned a valuable lesson in view that i hunt solo; it was a wake up call. The next year i invested in SPOT. A little rich in price, but what the hell. At least someone can find me if i don't make it out. And it provides daily footsteps that can be traced by another email address. Plus you can purchase and i did the insurance for a helicopter to come in and get you if you are in deep trouble with the simple push of a button. I wear it on my arm like the old small radios for runners. If the 911 isn't legitimate, you pony up the cost. I won't have to worry about that.

The other thing i started doing was carrying water purification tabs with me. I use a filter device, but leave it at the base camp to lighten my daily load. I don't particualrily like the tab taste, but there is a tab for that so i purchased both to carry in my Badland 2200.

This incident renewed my faith in myself in being able to handle a situation that could have been alot worse. It was interesting in my attitude change when thinking of spending the night under that tree. The GPS was a true life saver in my books (and i had extra batteries for it as well).

Hope this helps someone.

by **COElkFreak** » 05 19, 2014 • [Post 60]

I have walked out in the dark many a times...for the most part it does not bother me. But I do get those feeling sometimes like something is watching me and it makes me feel really weird inside.

I did pack a mule deer out one time in the dark and it made me very uneasy but it just needed to et it done. Weird thing was when I got back tocamp and got the deer hung up in the trees...about 10 minutes later a four legged critter walked into camp snopping around...not sure what it was just saw the shadow against the tent wall.

by **pointysticks** » 05 19, 2014 • [Post 61]

8seconds wrote:While solo hunting in the San Pedro Wilderness in 2011 I happened on a lush area with alot of elk sign (trails, multiple wallows, rakings, etc.) it was a bonzana. Involved as i was i let time get away from me and found myself after dark some 4-5 miles from my base camp (small shelter next to a stream).

I had a head lamp, but it was virtually useless in the pitch dark. I mean pitch dark. Without my head lamp, i could not see my hand in front of me.

Using my GPS I routed along a ridge, but for whatever reason, i kept getting off slightly into windfalls. In and out and in and out, at 67 at the time and 10,000 ele, it was sucking my energy. I had ample water when i left that day, but ran out. I was dehydrated, tired, and irritated that i had let myself get into the mess i was in. I thought at one time i would just lie under a huge tree trunk until daylight, but it was mixed sleeting and raining at the time; I didn't like the situation and pressed on. It was at that point of staying it out under that tree trunk that i really got pissed off and resorted to an old energy level i hadn't used in years.

I refused to drink from streams as i had experienced griada years ago while hunting Idaho Bitterroots: It was not a pretty picture. A stiff reminder!

My thoughts at the time varied from running into a bear in the middle of the night or being ambushed by one so i sang to myself along the way. I'm not scared of the dark nor what is in it. I had my bow, 357, and 9" Buck knife. There were loads of bear (black) signs in the area so i wasn't worried about a griz. My experience with blacks has been that they are not interested in two legged creatures unless with a cub. Hopefully singing to them was enough to keep them away. And the wolf population isn't that far south; so that was not a concern. My biggest concern was breaking an ankle, leg or arm in those windfalls and being stranded. The timber was slippery with the rain and i had already fallen a couple of times causing large bruises (i noticed the next day). I also take blood thinners so that didn't help with the bruising.

I made it back to my base camp (10x10 shelter with hammock and sleeping bag) around 1 am; exhausted. It got dark around 8:30pm. I got my wet cloths off and immediatley got into my sleeping bag while sucking down water before passing out. When i'm tired i can't eat. I had to get up multiple times during the night to relieve myself; large prostrate nullifies a full nights sleep; but that didn't seem as bad as normal; and then there were the cramps throughout my back, legs, shoulders, and thighs. But I was happy as hell to be where i was in one piece. I stayed in the rack until noon the next day when the cramping finally quit. Every muscle in my body was sore.

I learned a valuable lesson in view that i hunt solo; it was a wake up call. The next year i invested in SPOT. A little rich in price, but what the hell. At least someone can find me if i don't make it out. And it provides daily footsteps that can be traced by another email address. Plus you can purchase and i did the insurance for a helicopter to come in and get you if you are in deep trouble with the simple push of a button. I wear it on my arm like the old small radios for runners. If the 911 isn't legitimate, you pony up the cost. I won't have to worry about that.

The other thing i started doing was carrying water purification tabs with me. I use a filter device, but leave it at the base camp to lighten my daily load. I don't particualrily like the tab taste, but there is a tab for that so i purchased both to carry in my Badland 2200.

This incident renewed my faith in myself in being able to handle a situation that could have been alot worse. It was interesting in my attitude change when thinking of spending the night under that tree. The GPS was a true life saver in my books (and i had extra batteries for it as well).

Hope this helps someone.

wow. What a story ! I also carry water tabs w me.

by **Duck-Slayer** » 05 20, 2014 • [Post 62]

The stories that hunter's read on site's just like this and start thinking about them when walking in the dark is what make's most second guess going back in the dark...... I get the "he be geebies" from time too time but I pretty much know that anything that feel's like they can take me has another thing coming.... it's all about your confidence in the woods... you need too think about scenario's before they happen, and decide what "your" going too do in those situation's, I have thought about it alot and now i'm fairly confident in the woods at night.... like most carry a side arm, bit azz knife, or just remember you got an arrow in your quiver with a pretty deadly broadhead, start stabbing with that and what ever has got you is gonna let go..... just be prepared and don't let your mind wonder while in the dark.... I know cuz I packed out half an elk 5 miles in the dark with my wife, she was so freaked out it wasn't even funny... but we just laugh about it now... pretty sure your more likely too get struck by lightening than attacked by most any animal... other than when your in grizz country, that freak's me out and is why I probably won't hunt some part's of Montana/Idaho/Wyoming.......

Matt

by **Coveyleader** » 05 20, 2014 • [Post 63]

My biggest fear is walking out in the dark, on the last day, with a tag still un-punched.

by **elkmtngear** » 05 21, 2014 • [Post 64]

Coveyleader wrote:My biggest fear is walking out in the dark, on the last day, with a tag still un-punched.

That was me last Season...it was truly an awful feeling ! :cry:

by **Elkduds** » 05 21, 2014 • [Post 65]

Psychologists teach systematic desensitization to overcome phobias and reduce anxiety. It works like this: Pick a safe scenario of walking around in the dark. Practice walking outdoors in the dark where you know YOU ARE SAFE. At first, spend 30 min, go w someone, use a light, whatever you need to stay out for 30 min, no matter how anxious you feel. If you freak out and leave, your anxiety will worsen. To calm down, listen to music, remind yourself you are safe, breathe deeply/slowly. Practice that 3 or more x/week. After 6-10 times, when you notice you are moderately less anxious, then do it w/o the light. Go through the repetitions again until you anxiety reduces. Next, go by yourself, stay out 30 min, calm self as previously. Again, don't freak out and leave, that just convinces your subconscious that you can't handle this. Remember, you picked a safe situation to practice in. You want to succeed at staying out and getting calm several times. Next you take away a security item (friend, light) and start again, as anxiety usually goes up some when you make a change, before coming back down. Sounds complicated, but it works.

by **Shawn Ryan** » 05 22, 2014 • [Post 66]

I most always hike after dark. Many times I bivouac hunt alone, so I'm sleeping on the ground where the day ends. Usually, I plan that, but a few times, not. I don't have csrbowhunters amazing wolf story, but I have been attacked by owls at dusk for about a 1/2 mile hike back to my wilderness camp. They dive bombed my head and I used the camera flash to back them off. I've been awakened by a raccoon on my head as I slept under the stars. Last year while hiking after dark, a pack of wolves made a kill across the canyon, about 1/3 mile away. For about 15 minutes they yapped and howled; deeper and longer than coyotes on a kill, but similar. During the day, I've accidentally stalked a cougar on a porcupine kill to within 8 yards of the cat and I've had a sow and cub black bear walk in on me to within 7 feet while I was glassing. Those encounters with predators are some of the most memorable of times in the woods. I guess if I don't survive one of those encounters, it will be better than a long suffering cancer death.

by **WapitiTalk1** » 05 22, 2014 • [Post 67]

Oh great, another Evergreen State guy in the mix

Glad you stopped over Shawn. Great shot of the owl trying to take you out! Had a hawk attack my buddy to the point that he was swinging his bow at the bird on a specfific trail, at the same spot, two years in a row. Not sure what the bird saw, but I told my buddy it was his ugly hat that prompted the attacks

by **Shawn Ryan** » 05 22, 2014 • [Post 68]

Phantom, I was doing the same thing. I had my bow above my head, swinging it around as the three owls swooped down on me. In the photo, the owl is not very close. But I'll take three angry owls over a pack of wolves every night.