Unexplained animals when out hunting???

[darb]

I shot a beautiful peacock with a wheelie bow about eight years ago in central Ohio. It would actually chase around hen turkeys, and the first few times I saw the bright blue flash through the brush, I couldnt figure what I was actually seeing.  

Those were like the worlds largest chicken breasts!  Have also had one friend kill an axis deer that escaped from a local game farm.
Darb

[Steertalker]

Funny.....the predominance of weird sightings has to do with Mtn Lions or panthers.

The Colorado Division of wildlife claims there are no wolves or grizzlies in the state.  I have personally seen wolves on 2 different occassions while elk hunting near Plutoro, CO.  As far as grizz....the outfitter I have used for the past 3 years claims that he has seen one grizz NW of Durango.  I also know a licensed wildlife rehabilitator that claims to have seen one on 3 different occassions south of Del Norte.  I don't know.

We occassionally get black bears in W. Texas.  Becoming more and more prevelant.  Mtn Lions are common in W Texas and are considered varmits and usually shot on sight, around here at least.

Brett

[GMMAT]

The animal in the 4 photos I posted was a blackbelly Barbados Sheep.  

Still interesting to see come by my deer stand.

[The Vanilla Gorilla]

We are getting a lot of feral goats running around in the woods around in my parts. Lots of dairy and meat goat farmers in these parts. They'll find a way out of the fence and become part of the wildlife.  I've shot a couple with a rifle, but haven't got a chance to take one with a bow yet.   They're pretty freaky to see the first time because you wonder if you're hunting on someones property.

[Sharptop]

I know that black panthers exist because I saw one on a Daniel Boone episode back in the 60's. Ol Dan shot him.

[slivrslingr]

Oddest wildlife sighting for me was a mountain goat on a mountain that wasn't supposed to have goats.  This was in Eastern Oregon, the nearest goat population was at least 50 miles north, so that billy had a lot of sage, pasture, and roads to cross to get where he did.

[scrub-buster]

I live in S.E. Indiana and several years ago I heard an elk bugling.  I didn't see it, but I heard it and it was moving through the hills.  I thought I was imagining it, but when I came in that evening I called my brother and uncle who were also hunting in the area.  I asked them if they heard anything and they both said they heard an elk, before I even said what I had heard.  Also a neighbor down the valley heard it later in the year.  I have heard that there are some elk farms many mile away, maybe one is AWOL.

[SpikeMaster]

I think Bird Dog is on to something about people mistaking Fishers for black panthers. Google Fishers and take a look at a picture. Very dark colored with long feline bodies and long tails.

The strangest thing I've ever seen wasn't when I was hunting. My wife and I were driving home from my parents house and stopped at an intersection behind a truck with a cab on the bed. All of a sudden a live bobcat looked at us from inside the cab. I told my wife that I hope the guy who's driving the truck knows its back there otherwise he's in for a nasty surprise.

[Bill Tell]

In the late 80's I was driving through Yellowstone and saw a wolf dive in to the trees from the road.   I was working in a fly shop at the time and I told the owner.  He said, "There aren't any wolves in the park."  I said, "No I know I saw a dark wolf.  It couldn't have been a yote it was too big and the eyes were more centered...."  "You aren't hearing me!  There are no wolves in the Park."  He said.

This was all still before the re-introductions out there and it was a very political issue at the time.  I think he just figured that the pack in the park was in a good place and could be protected.

Things can sure change in twenty years.  Wolfs were just de-listed in most of the country.

[spiaailtli]

20 minutes from me a lady reported a black bear headed her way while she was working in her yard, and in my town a 12 year old boy captured a 4 foot gator and took it home because his dad wouldn't believe he seen it in the creek.

The CO in both cases guessed someone turn their pets loose.

[Mudd]

A couple of weeks ago I was driving home from Fulton using the back roads because its more scenic, as I started up a long slow grade something caught my eye. I came to a complete stop to stare at a single hump camel. Looking closer I saw it was behind a fence with a couple of emu and elk. I guess the farmer was diversifying.

[Mo. Huntin]

Everybody knows you get more horsepower out of a double hump camel whats he thinking.

[straitera]

From a pit blind, I saw a Lynx within 10 feet. He was fat w/bobbed tail. TP&W said it was likely a pet escaped or released. Last day of this past hunting season, I stillhunted to 10 yards of a pale albino doe. No doe tag. 3 other albino deer were killed within the same general vicinity.

[trashwood]

My old hunting partner (Bruce) is quite a jokester.  His non-hunting brother was coming from New York for a vist and his first hunt of any kind ever.  It was over thanks giving. Bruce owned 800 acers near Cool, Texas.  At the time you could get a Emu if you just would show up at a Emu ranch with a trailer.  the Emu market had crashed.

Bruce put the emu in a long narrow fenced strip.  When his borther got there he put him in  a blind that would over look the narrow fenced strip.  Sure enough the emu comes along soon or later and borther takes him.

Bruce told him it was a Moy Grand Turkey.  Took his picute with his 6' tall 75# turkey.  Took him to a local bar (Woody's) to celebrate.  He showd the picture to everyone in the bar.  the whole dang bar went along with the joke.  told what a dandy turkey it was.  one of the best they had seen taken.  

Bother went back to New York with his picture of his Moy Grand turkey.  Quite taken with his hunting ability.

So yes I am one of the few peopke to have every seen a Moy Grand Texas turkey.  6 foot tall and bit over 75#  

rusty

[John McCreary]

I once saw a pot belly pig and an emu both in Crawford County Illinois. Obviously these where either released or escaped domestic animals.
  We hear about couger sightings quite often, personally I think some folks WANT to see a big cat. Truley wild? I believe it is possible but not probable. Again, escaped domestics perhaps?
I am reminded of a float trip we made in '92 on The Yellowstone river. The guide discussed the various animals we could see, ie: moose, elk and especially bear. About an hour into the trip one of the other passengers, a German tourist traveling with his wife, excitedly yells "BEAR". I'm looking all around, searching into the brush, scouting the horizon... nothing but a beaver...
With our contemporary urban society I believe the average individual's wildlife identification skills are not as keenly honed as previous generations. To that German fellow a beaver certainly looked like a bear.

J-Mac