Three Predators

[BMN]

That's just too cool! It's stories like this one that makes me feel sorry for those people that never step foot into the woods. They just have no idea what they are missing. Thanks for sharing.

Bill

[2fletch]

Matt, it's up close encounters with critters in the woods that many of us enjoy as much as the harvest. I believe some hunters put too high of a priority on  getting a trophy animal and miss a lot of the stuff that you detailed so well.

My hat is off to you for this story. You obviously handled yourself well in the woods, and then told the story extremely well. I'd say that you have a bright future in hunting or writing.  Good luck and hope to hear more stories.

[Flesner]

I think you could'a whooped that bird for that squirrel.    

Good story though.

[Sacred mt]

Good story...you never know who is watching.

[Over&Under]

Extremely well written, I was right beside you the hole time!!!

Awesome!!!!!!!!!!

[trapperDave]

Fantastic story! Poor squirrel never had a chance, wonder what he done to bring on such bad karma  :D

[centaur]

A few years ago, I watched a golden eagle kill a young antelope. He came barreling out of the sky and whacked the goat right in the neck. Very impessive predatory behavior.

[Montyc]

Matt,
One lucky man to witness mother nature at her best.  You have some great memories to charish over the winter months.

[Yolla Bolly]

Good on you for that minute of good reading.

[Killdeer]

How I love sitting back and reading a captivating story filled with the things I seek when I go to the wild. Thank you for stopping and penning your experience for us. I hope you will go to the Baltimore Bowmen Trad Classic in May for some fun on the range and a sit by the campfire with us.

Killdeer      

[bentpole]

Wow great story! You and Killy must have taken the same Creative Writting Class. I can read you folks anytime!

[Mockingbird]

Enthralling, Matt.

These are the kinds of things we go to the wood for. Oh, sure, we're out there hunting game ourselves, and it's great when things come together for us and allow us to harvest some food for ourselves; but there's no replacement for the kind of moments you experienced out there watching the eternal drama of nature reveal itself to you so personally. I've had deer walk up on me while I was hunting squirrel; I've had deer run past me so close I could have reached out my arm and stroked one's neck as she and her fawn ran by; I've been standing out in the open on a wide trail, still and quiet enough to have a bear walk up on me, and I've been atop a ridge and seen a hawk from above, slaloming through the trees at speed only 15 yards below me; I've been sitting on the ground and had a Winter Wren give me a threat display from no more than arm's length; but I've never seen such as you described. I'm a little envious, but not in a bad way. By sharing it so eloquently, you have given us all some of your experience, and I thank you.

Keep hunting, and bring us the stories when you have them; but most of all, treasure every moment out in the woods that you are given. There's nothing else like it.

[rg176bnc]

Awsome story. I say a blue jay kill a mouse one day.  Until that day I was unaware they were meat eaters.  Or they could be just plain mean.

[freeman]

That's so cool Matt. I had a similar experience years ago. Me, a Yote, and a squirrel ended up about 10 yds from each other at the top end of a hollow. The squirrel never knew we were both there until the coyote figured out he wasn't alone and took off down the hill. We screwed each others hunt up, and it was one of my best days afield.

[GRW]

My fishing buddy, tells a story of seeing a Bald Eagle, buzz and Osprey, who had just caught himself a trout.  The osprey dropped the trout, and the Eagle swooped down and pluck it out of the air, right before it hit the water.

As cool as that sounds, I think I would have rather seen the fox, hawk and squirrel.