OWLS

[tspoon]

me and a friend was hog hunting last weekend
while my friend was coming out if the green field
(at dusk) he heard something behind him
it was an owl following him with his wings spread out
after about 10 steps it flew up in a  tree and watched him go out
of site. my question was it protecting his nest
the reason i ask. the next day we went back to the spot
and i could not see a nest in the vicinity.

[Shorty]

tspoon,
I had a close encounter with an owl a couple of years ago.  I had a shepherds crook shaped iron pole that one hangs potted plants on at the bottom of my back steps.  One morning as I left for work, something caught my eye, and there was an owl sitting on that pole, not more than four feet from my face!  I about dobbed my britches when he lifted off!  

[longwalker]

We have lots of owls that migrate through South Dakota. During the hunting season it is not uncommon to see them moving through the shelter belts during the day.  The ones around here migrate to Canada and back. I expect they are not as fearful of man as they are back in Connecticut.

I have been aware of owls following me as I still hunt the tree lines. During one encounter I sat down and waited. in about 40 minutes I saw the owl rise up and fly right toward me then drop down on a mouse.

I expect the owl used me to stir up the critters then waited until things settled down to get his hunting done. I was happy to oblige.

longwalker

[LAREDOBOB]

I was bowhunting from a treestand early one morning, camoed head to toe, bow cammoed nothing shiny except the broadhead. (As usual) I kinda got too comfortable and nodded off for awhile. Something woke me up, I don't know what it was because I heard nothing. As i awoke I saw an Owl on a branch about 75 yds away launch off in my direction. Not a sound he just glided closer and closer. I watched untill he was about 20 ft away and figured he was locked in on the shiny broadhead. I waved my hands and he took off in a different direction. Imagine if I had not awakened and he would have attacked  that broadhead. Talk about a load in yore britches. :-D  :-D  :-D

[espuma]

I've had them land and watch me while bowhunting.  It's a little weird when they sit there and stare at you.

[Dand]

We have at least one Boreal Owl staking out his nesting territory around our house these days - other species may be doing this too as some owls breed earlier than other birds so their young start hunting about the time other baby animals are leaving home.  I hear the little guy trilling from nearby trees on calm nights.  Scares the kids a little.

Its about the right time to hear of owl attacks on night skiers in the Anchorage area too.  There have been several reports over the years.  One guy my wife knew, had his stocking hat knocked off by an owl. That time they speculated his floppy grey stocking hat might have looked like prey in the near dark - but it might have been territorial defense too.  The guy was lucky, have you ever seen how sharp owl talons are?  Sure wouldn't like my hair parted that way.

[CEJ1895]

I was leaning against a tree watching a deer trail when a Great Horned owl flew right over my head and snagged a cotton tail rabbit hiding in the thicket next to me. Talk about being startled!  :shock:  Had to check my shorts when I got back to camp!  :oops:  The owl picked up that rabbit, looked at me as if to say that's how it's done son and was gone in a flash! I've also seen smaller owls take mice and red squirrels and never hear a sound except that last squeak from the prey. CEJ...

[Sourdough]

My wife came and got me last night to follow her outside so we could hear the owls in the back yard.  We have Great Horned Owls, the smaller Boreal Owls, and occasionally we see the beautiful Snowey Owl.  We have a large Cottonwood tree next to our house.  The upper limbs are nest to our bedroom windows.  Those limbs are favorite resting spots for the owls at night.  We often see them outlined against the moon light.  And we listen to them at night, it's so soothing to fall asleep listening to the sound of the owls.

[Tim Lonnee]

  I was hunting Deer one season . There was a new guy to the bush with us. As we sat around the fire shooting the breeze, he suddenly jumped up and yelled, its me ---, We sat and watched for a while trying to keep a straight face  as he answered the hoot of the owl, its me ---, Finally we couldn't take it anymore and broke down.

[Bim]

Back in the seventies I was up a tree at dusk bowhunting (before safety harnesses). Off in the distance there were two owls hooting back and forth. I didn't see them but I enjoyed the calls. One of them landed in the tree right next to me without me knowing it and let out a very loud whowhowho. It unglued me. Dang near fell out of my stand. It just opened it's wings and floated silently away.
   I've had owls glide from tree to tree in front of me as I walk through the forest. They turn their heads and watch me and when I get close they would glide to the next spot. So silent it's remarkable.

[Lee]

Big old owl with eyes so bright
on many a dark and starry night
I’ve often heard my true love say
Court all night and sleep all day

Chorus
Jimmy crack corn and I don’t care
Jimmy crack corn and I don’t care
Jimmy crack corn and I don’t care
Old master’s gone away

Said the blackbird to the crow
"Down to the cornfield let us go
Pulling up corn has been our trade
Ever since Adam and Eve was made

[rockbilly]

:shock: It was early November and still awful hot for 5 AM, I climbed into the deer blind and open the windows.  I settled back into the chair and was nodding when the sun popped up.  As I was trying to wake up and get my eyes adjusted a big owl flew in the blind with me.  The blind was 4x4 feet and about 5' 10" high.  That crazy bird was beat me to death with it's wings.  Afterwards, from all the scratch marks on my arms and face it looked like I had been in a fight with a bobcat.  I kicked the door open and slid the 10 feet down the ladder, as I sit there on the ground  the Owl rested on the back of the chair.  It finally cast a glance my way and flew out.

I had a heck of a time convincing my hunting partner that I had been in a fight with an Owl.

[Land_Owner]

My experience was first hearing a Great Horned owl upstream about 3/4 of a mile in the hardwoods of the Western Piedmont of South Carolina.  At about five-thirty in the A.M., I wondered how interesting it would be to see that bird up close.  

Not long thereafter, something large began trying to "climb" the metal rungs of that aluminum tree stand and the hair on the back of my neck stood straight up.  I was on full alert, my eyes wide open and straining to look into the starlit darkness when something decided to alight heavily and with a rush of air on the 4" diameter limb that was supporting the tree stand - eye level with me and three feet from my right arm.

It was dark and neither of us could see one another well in the starlight, but I could tell it was a Great Horned owl and a "damn" big one.  I turned slowlyto face it squarely, with my heart racing in my chest and my breathing so labored that the owl must have heard both.  It let out a screech that split my eardrums from that distance and flew away leaving me to that glad feeling knowing I had just peed before leaving the truck so I didn't have anything left to "let go".

Watch out for what you wish for, you just might get it.

Fair Chase
Land Owner