I was out this morning doing some stump shooting, trying to learn the land around my property. Now mind you, I'm new to hunting/scouting/archery. This is my first time out beyond my 5 acres.
I found this plot that was grown in but was cleared some years ago and found some mud tracks from trucks and it rained last night, so I followed the trail and found some different prints in it, some deer some that looked like bear and some canine looking tracks.
As I went up further the logging trail, it branched hard right and opened up into a rolling hill to my left and a huge field/clearing. I stood up on a stump and just listened and looked out across the field and out of nowhere I hear this loud exhale sound, I have a hard time describing it, was like when you breath out of your nose hard with your teeth clenched, I know it sounds crazy but almost a tiny pissed off elephant tone(I know it's not an elephant, I'm new but not dumb :p ). And it was repeated about 3 or 4 times, and about 6 feet of the brush/saplings about 35 yards to my 3 o clock was shaking violently. This thing sounded like some type of large mammal, and it sounded mad.
I'm out there with only my bow, with judo's and a knife on my hip..so my hearts pounding I hold my groun don the stump for a few seconds to try and get a visual on what this thing is..well I did'nt. I ended up stepping back slowly, and making my way back the way I came.
I'm curious if this behavior/sound is familiar to anyone, I know it spooked me a bit. I live in southern, centralish New Hampshire.
I plan on going back maybe tommorrow and looking at the area where the violent movement was, and see for scrapes of some sort. If anyone has any idea's I'd appreciate it, and I'm thinking I may have to carry a side arm to stump shoot now :/
Any suggestions?