It's that time of year again. Have you ever been scared while hunting? Let's hear those stories.

Bill Dillard is laughing his ass off at this thread.

There are alot of snakes still out this time of year, and liveing near a river cotton mouths will always give me the creeps.

Walking in the woods before daylight to my bow stand with no flashlight and walked into a covey of quail that decided to all fly up around me at the same time. I almost had a heart attach at the ripe old age of 18 right then and there.

I think my heart just skipped a beat reading this.

Sasquatch fought a black painter for a sack of dope dropped from a helicopter in my greenfield. Enough said, luckily daddy was in law enforcement

That time I walked up on a family of black painters eating a 16 point buck I was hunting... I just knew that I would never get a shot at another buck as good as him... That was the scariest part.

Only once, it was nearly dark, no flashlight, and I didn't know for sure if I was going in the right direction to the truck in the Bankhead. Turned out I was but I'll never again go even a little ways without a light.

I was 30' up a poplar tree one day and my phone rang. I looked at the caller id and it was my Mother-in-law!!! (You should be hearing the shrill shrieking sound that they played in "Psyco" right about now)

True story no bs: I was in a hunting club in Franklin county a few years ago. We had approximately a little over a mile and a half of gas line on the property that had some hills and flat spots. Me and a guy in the club had hunted the gas line one evening and at dark we started walking out. When we got to one end of the power line we noticed a ear sticking up out of the leaves in a hardwood thicket. When we approached it we discovered it was a doe. The doe had been covered up with leaves and only the ear was sticking up. When we pushed all the leaves off the doe we stood there looking at a half eaten doe with deep claw marks on the un eaten portion. Then we hear something walking towards us. We took off running and didn't stop until we got in the guys jeep. We had numerous pictures of cats on this club. We sent pictures in to the state but never heard anything back. True story, this hunting club is at the Colbert county and franklin county line on highway 247.

I can vouch... His daddy was in law enforcement

sounds like you had a painter that covered her meal to come back later.

I always forget to bring a flash light when I walk to my stands in the mornings, and anything from a rabbit to a bird will scare me to death not knowing what it is, and trying to shine my phone light at it.

I typically carry an arrow in the thick stuff with me during bow season to nock the devils with 8 legs outta the way. If I am walking down a dirt road to a stand in the dark or out I carry my Keltec 9mm in one hand and the bow and flashlight in the other. shadows can scar the hell out of you in planted pine rows.

I've had some LONG walks out of COE land in Sumpter Co after dark. You tend to start thinking something is following you !

i never been scared while hunting . i've always been the meanest ugliest thing in the woods . lol

have had odd things happen though . one time i had some thing fallow me out of the woods , never knew what it was . i normally walk inside the edge of the woods that night i walked in the edge of the field . it never came out of the woods but i could hear it .

I was about 13 and was dropped off by my uncle on the side of a dirt road to hunt a certain field with him going to hunt just a mile or so down the road. I hated hunting here bc it was at the intersection of hwy 41 and a dirt road that always had sketchy activity. Anyway about the time the sun went behind the first limb I decided it was about time to start making it back to the truck because of how long a walk it was going to be (200 yards) I didn't want to miss being picked up. I get back to the dirt road (with about 45 minutes of light left) and start waiting......... I keep hearing something from my hiding location ( bc at this point I'm an escaped convict and can't be seen by anyone who passes by, I'm talking face net and all ) down from me. My mind starts to race on what this frequent walking noise is.... bigfoot??? Coyote???? Gill man???? As dark finally fell on that hellish dirt road it only got worse. Louder and closer. I was losing my mind. Finally my uncle pulled up from the opposite direction the noise was coming from. As I sprinted to get in his truck I heard him say something thru the open door I was about to dive into. There in the headlights were two armadillos coming down the ditch. At that point I vowed to kill everyone I ever saw from that point on

A buddy and I went to south Alabama years ago. We were camping during bow season and had been talking about wild hogs all evening. We were both a little concerned about meeting up with hogs armed only with bows.

We were cooking some Salmon patties and heard them coming at us through the woods. We both grabbed out bows and jumped up on a concrete picnic table so we wouldn't get slashed and got ready to do battle.

About that time two Armadillos ran into the camp and started ransacking everything. They were running around scattering our stuff everywhere, and at such a speed, we just stood there amazed by their antics. They were gone about as fast as they appeared and we just stood there on the table and started laughing, and laughed until we cried.

I wouldn't say scared but un nerved yes. the worst was hunting the nat frst in maplesville and having to walk through a bunch of hogs. I kept waiting on one to charge but they stayed just outside my light.

walking in the morning with a bow in what has now become hog heaven has me paying more attention now than I did before the hogs.

I was hunting Oakmulgee back in my teens. Opening day of bow season I'm making a long walk down in to a holler. Oakmulgee has some of the deepest, darkest hollers I've ever been in. I kept hearing leaves moving behind me and swore something was following me. I would stop and look back and nothing. I did this probably 10 times. I was just about to take of when my boot got hung on something. I looked down and saw my drop cord had been dragging. What a releif it was.

I had a whole den of coytes howling and chasing something within 100yds of me while making a long walk with a bow. Went on for about 10mins and kept getting closer. To close for comfort. Fortunatly I had my 40 and put 2 shots in the air. I felt better for about 10sec after they shut up. Then I realized at least I knew where they were at when they were howling.

Nope. I have never been to war. But, I can't ever remember as an adult being in fear.

Before 3toe gets on here and calls me a liar. I was once chased by some hogs in Bullock County. He and outback claim they heard me scream like a girl. I don't believe them, but they have not wavered from there story.

Only 2 thinks come to mind. Walking in bow season in the morning a tree was across the road so I had to cut around just inside the edge of the woods. Was pretty thick so had my light and eyes in the ground. Just as I almost get out there was a growl and I look up and see a 3 sets of eyes. 1 big yote and 2 pups. I think holy shnit. I slowly pulled an arrow out. I was standing in some water about ankle deep. After a 2 min stare off I finally just kicked quarter at them and made the loudest noise I could and ran at them. Luckily they took off. I was shaking so bad I couldn't walk. After that i always had a pistol with me. Legal or not I didn't care. I was about 16.

Few years ago walking out at night a flock of turkey decided to make a roost on a low tree over hanging the road. As I proceeded to walk out without a light the helocopters start taking off. I swear it sounded like a herd of bison coming down on me. I bowed up ready for impact. After they got out of the trees I could hear the wings flapping. I had to set on the ground to let my heart find its rightful place.

I got up in my climber real early one morning during bow season. It was still pitch black outside. The woods were silent and dead so I decided to close my eyes for minute or so. I was in that half asleep, half awake phase when a dang owl (Barred Owl I think) made the loudest screaming/siren noise in the tree next to me about 4 feet away. Loudest racket I had ever heard in the woods. Glad my Ol'Man was steady because I about lost it Scared the piss out of me! Still don't know why the owl didn't fly off when I climbed the tree.

Climbing in my climber, in the dark, and having a turkey fly out of the same tree when I was about 15' up.

Scared?

A couple weeks ago I was walking in to get a trail cam, noticed some huge walnuts and reached down & picked one up, then saw the 40" timber rattler coiled about a foot from my hand. As I called out to my Savior in a loud voice, Mr. No-shoulders came apart & lost his ability to do me harm.

I was scared. Fear can keep you alive.

The property I grew up hunting in central florida was terrifying for me to walk around at when I was a teenager. We had Florida panthers, black bears, gators, hogs, tons of poisonous snakes. It felt like a death trap walking all alone in the dark to a stand. Not to mention the covey of quail and turkey roost spooks. I really only ever had a stand off with a bear which seemed to be a lot more scared of me than I was of it. When he saw each other I put my hands up and tried to look as big as possible and it ran up a tree and started jaw slapping at me.

With all this said it was a sportsmans paradise, a huge diversity of wildlife and habitat, and just about every game animal you could hunt. Super bass fishing as well!

Most scared I've been outside of that property was in georgia. First time at a buddy's place and he just pointed and said go that way and pick a tree. I was coming out after dark and hear a lot of commotion so I shine my flash light up and see hundreds of eyes. I tuck in as close to the biggest tree I could find and wait. After sitting there shaking in my britches for what seemed like forever with these eyes getting closer and closer I hear moooooo. Damn herd of cows. I feel like that something you should mention to a friend when your sending them off into the unknown. Oh yeah buddy there might be some cows in there!

I had a screech owl in the tree above me let out a yell before daylight once. Another time I was hunting on the edge of a swamp when I was about to climb down for the evening and head home. Just as I stood up I heard the loudest roar I have ever heard. Looking back it had to of been a bear. I sat back down and scanned my surroundings just knowing it was right on tip of me as loud as it was. After about 20 minutes I decided to get down while I still had enough light to see. I don't think my feet touched the ground for the first 15' as I made my way to the truck. I get to the truck and the 4 wheel drive wouldn't engage so I'm stuck in this now pitch back hollow. I back the truck up and get a running start and come out of that hollow like I was riding a rocket. Literally had the truck airborne at times.

I had a stand made from 2X4 and plywood nailed in an old swamp pine tree. I used a 5 gallon bucket and a boat throw cushion for a seat. When I would leave the stand I would take the seat cushion and stuff it up under the stand to keep it dry and frost of of it.

Opening morning I arrive at my stand, on a 5 acre island a 1/4 mile thru a huge swamp, well before daylight, climb the 18 feet to the stand using the 60d nails for steps, holding on with one hand I use the other to grab the cushion to throw onto the top of the stand. Suddenly I am covered with flying squirrels. They are squealing, barking and running all over me head to toe. I heard a girl screaming from somewhere as I tossed the cushion somewhere into the woods and began flailing about like a flag in a hurricane and I think that scared them off of me.
After I gathered my composure I climbed back down and fell out on the cold, frosty ground heart pounding a mile a minute with 3 flying squirrels in the tree raising cain at me. I went back to the truck, cleaned my drawers out and drank some coffee and ate a honey bun.
I wasn't scared, just...uhhhh.....surprised for a second.

I hunt a tract of property that is an old Indian mound. Once the shadows start to fall, it gets eerie on that tract. Kinda like the spirits of my ancestors start to stir again. Spookiest place I have ever been in my life.

I put my climber on pine one morning well before daylight and climbed until I thought I was high enough. As it started getting light I could tell something wasn't right and then noticed the pine was broken off about 6 ft above where I had stopped. It shook me up pretty good.

Another time, I was using an old amaker climber and went WAY up a tall pine. About 30 min before dark I shot a small buck and went to climb down. I then noticed I had forgotten to put the wing nut on one of the bolts on the top piece. It was inserted from the bottom of the bar and I have no idea how the bolt didn't drop out while I was climbing up.

I've had no trouble checking for those two items every time since then.

Bump. Does anyone have any new stories?

I see dead people

A few years ago I leave the house walking up to my favorite ridge and hear something walking behind me. I wait and see it's an old orange house cat we have. I throw some rocks at him and he heads back toward the house. So I go on climb my tree and about 8 the sun is starting to shine and I'm just waiting to catch a buck slipping back to his bed bow onthe hanger ready to go. I am in the zone ready for that buck. About that time something comes from behind in between my legs on the old summit platform. We'll my killer instinct strikes and I grab this beast and fling it. As I look it's the old orange tom cat with all 4s spread out like a parachute making a 25 foot drop from my tree. He hit the ground on all fours rolled and made a break to the house. Needless to say he never followed me in the woods again.

Took this ol gal I met at the bar out riding after we were done visiting I noticed the rubber had broke. You talking about terrified.

X2

About 25 years ago going in before daylight my flashlight died on me, had a moon but over cast, so I could make out where I was going. Got to the tree my climber was hanging on, I notice something white about 2" diameter laying next to the tree. (Piece of paper maybe?? Who has been messing around my stand??) I decide to pick it up and put in my pocket and check it out after daylight. When my hand is about 6" from it, it moves and I jump back then I can see the sillouette of it.....a damn skunk with a white spot on it head. Lucky I didn't get sprayed.

Coming out after coyote hunting, stayed too long, got dark. Wasn't going too far so I hadn't taken out my flashlight or anything. While crossing an open field stepped all over a big snake. It rolled under my feet. Couldn't see it, too dark, was about a foot tall grass, it was pissed and hissing, I didn't know which way to move. Was a pond near by. No idea what kind it was. I eased my rifle off my shoulder and started poking around to find the snake. hit it about a foot to my left. Felt it strike the barrel. I moved the other way, got a light out and found it. Big copperhead. I bashed his head with my rifle stock, picked him up and tossed him in the back of my truck with my stuff. Got home and he was gone, took some careful looking but he'd crawled up in my back pack. Killed him again but better. Have him stretched on the wall, 39".

I was told the 40 acres my father-in-law owns in coffee county and i am the only person hunting it, is the land the original settlers lived on years ago and an old man still living near property said his grandpa told him when he was little that the settlers are buried on property and i have looked for gravesite, but not found them. Walking out at dark one night, i keep thinking about a spirit telling me to look in this certain area and i would find their final resting spot and can preserve it for them. This is the same spot that the old man showed me he remembered his grandpa telling him they were buried. I still have not found any markers or sign of a gravesite, and wonder if they could have been relocated by the state years earlier. I always think about this everytime i walk around in the dark out there.

One of the best ways to find an old homestead is to look where you would put one now if you didn't have electricity or utilities. They weren't tied to a road system. The old timers needed fields, a steady source of water, protection from the north wind, and above flood level. Cedar trees were planted for cemeteries. All the graves faced east. They won't be in a low/flood prone area either. Look for an east/west sheltered cove with a water source. They walked everywhere. Nothing was more than a couple of miles away.

Last year i was camping on the bank of Lake G with the wife and kids. About 1 in the AM, my wife is shaking me. She said somethin is out there. I told her it was prob a possum go to sleep. She said to possums scream? Then I heard a shrill call. I was thinking it was some sort of crane. Then I heard it running through the woods making the same scream and getting closer. Dummy me didnt have a flash light, only a pressure lantern. I had to light the lantern and wait on it to warm up to get bright. About that time, right through our camp, came a huge armadillo screaming and making all sorts of racket. All i could do is laugh.

I was backpacking in the Beartooths just north of Yellowstone--was wakened by a growl outside the tent. My dog starts going nuts trying to get out at whatever it was. I grabbed my bear spray and went outside in the moonlight--couldn't see a trace of anything--couldn't hear anything except my heart doing a bass drum. Next morning another hiker asked me if I had seen the cougar that came through his camp. He was up taking a piss and saw it ghosting through the meadow heading toward the little bench where I was camped. In retrospect, I think my dog was the reason it growled. Anyway, it was long gone by the time I got the tent unzipped. Wish I could have seen it.

Never been really scared in the woods. The place I hunt has an old cemetery on it with 6-7 grave markers, and I've hunted right beside it. Never gave it much thought. It's also right down the road from the State Cattle Ranch, and sometimes I would wonder if a convict escaped and was watching me in the woods. I was in a shooting house one afternoon when a big storm hit. I thought the shooting house was going to be blown down, so I laid down in the bottom of it until the storm passed.

There was an incident when my nephew took a friend of his hunting and he called my nephew from his stand and made him come get him. He said something came out in a field that he didn't know what it was. He was shaking he was so scared.

If you are talking about the cattle ranch close to lock 5 I saw something big black with a long tail. I saw the eyes with the lights on the front of the boat hit it with a spotlight. I'm not going to say either way what I think it was but I know it wasn't a dog.

Doesnt scare me to walk out of any woods. if its wants to jump on me with a 270 wsm and 45 on me and a knife then its a critter that wants to die and im going to help it out with its death wish.

Yep, that's the same cattle ranch and this guy is like you in saying that he just doesn't know what he saw, but my nephew says he was terrified.