Injury avoided at the last second

[Mudd]

I was getting ready to break down my turkey set up after playing with them for a few hours this morning. I had gone out and brought my decoy back so she could be put in her place for carrying her out of the woods. I stopped for a minute to survey the area once more to see if I might make a better set up when I came back next time.

I saw a spot at least that's what I remember thinking and it was getting larger very fast. Suddenly I realized I had a small type hawk almost in my face, feet 1st. I knocked just about everything over to avoid the talons. I don't know who of the two of us was more surprised.

I still had all my camo on but I think it could see a part of my beard showing through where I had cut the face mask for a mouth opening.

I might have figured it out sooner if it had been a larger bird but it was no bigger than a large blackbird or very small crow.

Go figure!...lol

God bless,Mudd

[Eugene Slagle]

Awww come on he wasn't going to take much. LOL

Just Kidding, good thing you're alright.

[Doc Nock]

Sounds like a kistrel. They are neat.

Love close encounters with wildlife when it ends well!

Sounds like a Cooper's Hawk.  I was attacked, or at least my arrow was attacked once, by the largest giant 7 inch tall screech owl ever. It scared me so bad that I thought I could pass out, then my feet missed every peg while I was climbing out of the tree. The owl didn't do as much damage a bunch of crows did to my arrows once , when I left my back quiver hang while was off to the little boys room. "Ya gotta watch for dem critters, they'll get ya when ya least expect it." I thought the old trapper that said that to me when I was a kid was just messing with me, maybe not.

[Ragnarok Forge]

Sounds like a great experience without any real pain, just the emotional kind.  Good story.

[gudspelr]

Thanks for the story-it provided a great visual in my head....   .  OH, and glad you came out of it unscathed-happy hunting.


Jeremy

[ronnyg]

I can relate to that. I was hunting on the ground sitting on a dove stool many years ago.  I had one of those rabbit fur looking hats on, my head leaned up on the tree and an owl was in my face!! Came from nowhere.  Talking about breaking the serenity of the moment!!

[crotch horn]

Cool story seeings you didn't get injured. I had a close call once myself. I was leaned over the edge of my ladder stand lowering my bow down when a hawk came right at me. I quickly brought my hands up to block my face as he hit the rope just below where my hands had been. I figured he saw the movement and thought it was an easy meal. I think we were both embarresed after and agreed to go our separate ways.  :D

[sou-pawbowhunter]

Mudd,
I'm happy to hear nothing was injured but a raptors pride.  Such happenings could be cause to fetch a shovel to hide the evidence, in my case that may have been some soiled skivvies.  

[Earl E. Nov...mber]

I've had that happen several times while on deer stand, Not sure what attracts them, my glasses, blinking eyes etc,
Years a go I had a hawk land on a branch not 10 feet away, stared at me for a while then flew off, only to swoop down on me from behind.. I felt the air off his wings.
Always cool when it happens