Joined by an unexpected hunter

[YORNOC]

Yesterday was the last day of archery here. Due to abnormal southern winds I had to sit my "robin" stand. (Very dense area, in early fall the robins would roost here by the thousands). I nestled in, and soon after first light a small hawk silently swooped into the branches right in front of me...about ten feet. It was awesome to watch him, he did the same as I did, fluffed himself up and nestled in. He was waiting, just like me in the very same tree. Coolest thing I ever saw. A few minutes later, hoards of chickadees and juncos filtered through the area. The very shooting lane that I was hunting over was his ambush spot also. He dusted off four juncos that morning, diving down and nailing them in the deer trail as they filtered through. Then brought them up to chow down on the same branch. After about an hour he took off to do what hawks do. When I finally climbed down, deerless not only for the day...but for the season, I wondered how my own hunting would change if I needed to hunt for survival much like brother hawk. He did a helluva lot better than I!!! Time to rethink my strategies, do I give up comfort levels in order to raise my chances? Naw! I'm happy. Nice to have that option isn't it?

[Ken Babicky]

Very cool. I would have to say that is one of the coolest things about doing what we do. It's part of the experience we get to enjoy and we are seeing nature first hand doing what they need to do to survive. I also have to agree with your assessment of the situation.

Thanks for sharing.

[E.AllenIII]

Great story...it is amazing what you see when you spend time in a tree stand

[ron w]

Cool.....I have seen hawks grab tree rats with great skill....all fun to watch!

[Bonebuster]

I remember when my then twelve yr old son had a Great Horned owl, that had a perch beside his treestand near our house. The owl learned that we were not a threat to him, and would tolerate us getting into the tree stand(s) a mere twenty feet from him.

One evening, there was a Fox squirrel that was bouncing around underneath us. The owl watched it for a while, and then attacked. The squirrel put up quite a fight, but eventually succumbed.

The owl started tearing chunks from the squirrel.

The owl eventually flew back to his perch, after eating his fill.

My son remembers every detail of that evening.
At dark and we were climbing down, i heard him whisper "I`m glad owls ain`t bigger".

[Mike Vines]

Nice story.  I'm in the same boat as far as freezer success, but I wouldn't trade a minute of my season to sit on the couch.

[bad arrow]

My brothers a professional photographer and is always looking for new subject matter. I told him to get his butt in the woods and he'll get plenty of pictures....Phil

[Traddict]

Very cool! That would be enjoyable to watch.

[KellyG]

I seen a hawk swoop down on a red squirrel once in Co on an elk hunt. The little red guy was in a lone pine in a clearing. Tried to cross the clearing and out of no where a red tailed swoops in and misses. I think the squirrel is still in that tree today.
Thanks for shareing

[GingivitisKahn]

Absolutely outstanding.  That's some cool stuff.   :D

[SpencerL]

The Hunters and Hawks think the same out west as well. I hunt mule deer in some pretty open country. Last week I took a spot and stalk stand on the top of a knoll in front of some tall sage. I had a sparrow hawk try to land on the brush just above my head, but he saw me look up at the last second. He couldn't have been more than 6 ft. from me before he went to look for a new perch.

[ishiwannabe]

That is awesome! I love watching predators, especially birds of prey. I was just going to PM ya. Sweater is awesome.

[Huntschool]

That is way cool.  Birds of prey are really something to watch.  I am not a "bunny hugger" and feel their population has advanced beyond their interactive carrying capacity in a number of habitats but they are cool....

[YORNOC]

Bruce, I cant believe the EXPLOSION of hawks around here, I've NEVER seen such a huge jump in population. But we have more chipmunks than ever before also, soooooooo.....

[Huntschool]

There is that "balance" thing again.... LOL.

Remember David, most of them have a migratory path... its called easy food....

You should see it out here along the Interstates.  My wife and I went to Paducah, KY yesterday and counted about 10 dead along the road.  Hit by vehicles as they "swooped" from the sides for prey in the median.

[crookedwoody]

that was neat for you to see.seen a hawk take gray squirrel last year.this year learned how possums carry leaves for nest.
 
they make a pile,then wrap tail around them to carry them.thought it was pretty neat...chris

[KYArcher]

Awesome story    KY  

[TNstickn]

Very neat!!