DayTrader
Well-Known Member
The word "might" was used, but I hear you.
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Quitting deer hunting...hit 1 w bow @ 36 yards, couldn't find it. Trespasser whistled at me in the dark.
- Thread starter DayTrader
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SC Manimal
Well-Known Member
Completely agree. Seems like a very real possibility of being shot in return fire, especially since he sees you and you can't see him.
Huntaholic
Well-Known Member
On another note, and Im sure you dont want to hear this, but mountain lions WHISTLE! It sounds just like a person when they do it too! Do a youtube search for it and see if thats what you heard. IM SERIOUS.
Huntaholic
Well-Known Member
DayTrader
Well-Known Member
Very cool! Glad that's not what I heard! Almost sounds like it is trying to lure a sleepy bird into giving away it's location.
Huntaholic
Well-Known Member
Don't sweat the lost deer. Hell i killed the same deer twice. It sucks but it happens.
As far as the "whistle" here's my take.
1- You are scared of the dark
2- You owe a huge gambling debt and paranoid that they coming to get you
Or
3- You just a wuss
Cmon man. You hear all kinds of things when you in the outdoors. The mind can play all kinds of tricks on you if you let it. Grow some thicker skin and enjoy the outdoors. Or don't.
As far as the "whistle" here's my take.
1- You are scared of the dark
2- You owe a huge gambling debt and paranoid that they coming to get you
Or
3- You just a wuss
Cmon man. You hear all kinds of things when you in the outdoors. The mind can play all kinds of tricks on you if you let it. Grow some thicker skin and enjoy the outdoors. Or don't.
Is it possible you just heard a young deer blowing? I've noticed that smaller deer sound much higher in pitch when they blow at you. it sounds very much like when a human puts two fingers in their mouth to whistle. I've had it catch me off guard in the dark before. Either way, hang in there man.
Loukiii
Well-Known Member
Warning shots while bow hunting? lol. Might as well throw $20 bills.
I hope you figure it out and I really hope it's not trespassers. I hear all kinds of weird stuff out there. The other morning as I was getting in my climber a pack of coyotes started going off. The way it echoes in the hills and ravines bouncing around makes a couple dogs sound like a hundred lol. Needless to say I think I set a record getting up my tree.
I hope you figure it out and I really hope it's not trespassers. I hear all kinds of weird stuff out there. The other morning as I was getting in my climber a pack of coyotes started going off. The way it echoes in the hills and ravines bouncing around makes a couple dogs sound like a hundred lol. Needless to say I think I set a record getting up my tree.
I wouldn't fire a warning shot, that will probably get you shot for sure. Especially when you can't see what's going on in the dark.
I had coyotes all around me when i climbed down from my stand. They're everywhere these days.
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Gray foxs can make a whistle sound that's very similar to a human whistle. Could've been any one of lots of different critters making a warning sound cuz you were in their zone. Don't be so paranoid or overthink things is all I can offer.
And practice. Good shooting takes lots of practice. More than you realize. Don't underestimate that.
Crossbows make a lot of racket when you fire them. It's not like a bullet that arrives before the sound of the shot. Deer usually duck down when they hear a loud foreign sound, so you should aim lower than you probably did, but not so low that you'll miss if they don't crouch. A 30+ yard shot leaves them time to initiate a crouch in prep for running away from the sound.
That's the paradox of crossbow hunting. You might be able to hit a target at a long distance in practice, but the bolt or arrow is not going to arrive before that deer starts to move. How much it moves determines if you kill it or not. So don't take really long shots with a crossbow unless you're prepared to miss a moving deer.
And practice. Good shooting takes lots of practice. More than you realize. Don't underestimate that.
Crossbows make a lot of racket when you fire them. It's not like a bullet that arrives before the sound of the shot. Deer usually duck down when they hear a loud foreign sound, so you should aim lower than you probably did, but not so low that you'll miss if they don't crouch. A 30+ yard shot leaves them time to initiate a crouch in prep for running away from the sound.
That's the paradox of crossbow hunting. You might be able to hit a target at a long distance in practice, but the bolt or arrow is not going to arrive before that deer starts to move. How much it moves determines if you kill it or not. So don't take really long shots with a crossbow unless you're prepared to miss a moving deer.
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DayTrader
Well-Known Member
lol, okay, some back story on this: There is a neighbor who shot a neighbor's dog this past winter. While he was talking the Sheriff's deputy down from arresting him (the dog was on the property where he lives, not illegal to shoot it, but he stated he knew the dog's name and whose it was so he knew it was a friendly dog), he told our neighbor he was going to hunt both of our properties (total of 235 acres) without our permission because he saw a ten point. (And, apparently, already had been doing this.)
There were other threats while the deputy wasn't there.
I was not involved in any of the conversation and have never met the man.
Also, there are two packs of coyote back there. I do not want to meet them.
So, my guess is anyone in that situation would be a little on edge.
AFTER the fact, I found out from the "good" neighbor that the man is in prison for rape/incest so he is out of the picture.
The property has been known to attract people who know its deer history. Yes, there is a 10 point here. I saw him 160 yards from the house tending a doe around 4:30pm yesterday. His rack is way outside of his ears. It's not pretty. But he and I have run into each other 5 times now over the last 4 years.
There are two early 20 guys who asked and were denied permission to hunt here a couple years ago. The property where one kid lives with his parents touches the back corner of ours. Where the human whistles came from is an easy 5 minute walk from their place. I've placed more cameras in the area so time will tell.
One of our neighbors thinks we're in witness protection, but we're not. I don't owe anyone a penny. And, I'm only a wuss when there's a mental case and two packs of coyote running around the neighborhood.
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DayTrader
Well-Known Member
It was def human; wasn't the two finger whistle. It was a "I can't use my voice because I'm on someone else's land" whistle. lol.
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Coker
Well-Known Member
Don't give up until you kill that 10 pointer. Then you can sleep in late.
DayTrader
Well-Known Member
Different buck with a different doe that we saw from the house tonight. I've been tracking when they're in that specific area and it's when the wind is from the NW, W and clear sky so far. They walk in with the wind behind them. My wife saw a buck and doe being chased across the area by a coyote a couple days ago and they were moving with the wind behind them then too.Don't give up until you kill that 10 pointer. Then you can sleep in late.
Most hunters who have been hunting long enough have lost one or 2 deer. It's awful. We think about it for days, can't sleep at night and never forget about the ones we lost. What does that say about those hunter and now you? You are an ethical hunter. Losing one has affected you. It happens and I'm sorry for your deer and you. But don't let that take away something you enjoy.
Woodchucks (groundhogs for those south of the Mason Dixon line) whistle. Coyotes do not. Humans do. It was probably as you thought. Another hunter either trying to make you aware of his presence or calling to another in his party.
Accidently shooting someone should never, ever be an issue if you follow proper gun safety by being aware of what's between you and your target and what is beyond your target. Self defense is self defense. If you are in the right and following the law you should come out of it ok.
I understand you were not looking for replies. I'm trying to encourage you to keep hunting by looking at what happened through another's eyes. You'll get through it. And nobody thinks less of you for losing a deer. Don't beat yourself up to badly. Call it a learning curve, make the best shot you can the next time.
deerhunter10
Well-Known Member
Ticks are and should be way more of a concern then coyotes. I know one guy that have been attacked by coyotes. It was a completely freaky situation and just not likely at all.
backyardtndeer
Well-Known Member
That would be about the only logical reason I could see anyone whistling while they were trespassing/poaching.
Your land, don't let them run you off it. Carry a pistol on your side during archery. Coyotes are pretty thick around here, i kill every one of them I can.
I just don't think someone would whistle to make you aware of them being there knowingly that they are trespassing.
I always carry a pistol while hunting. It's mainly for walking up on an unexpected bear. They are thick here but usually more afraid of us. We also have tons of coyotes. While they can sound pretty creepy while hunting, especially in the dark, it would be very very rare for one to try and stalk you.
We all have been in your shoes. We've missed deer, wounded them to never be found, had to make follow up shots, went long periods of time in between seeing or killing a deer, dealt with trespassing etc… but you can't let it take away from the joy of being in the woods or as I call it, Gods country.
If it makes you feel better about the situation. Wait until it's light enough to see going in and pack it up prior to dark until you gain your confidence back.
Just last week I was walking into my stand (shooting house) to hunt. I actually have a cam mounted 10 feet away on the edge of the wood line. Little did I know. I scared a bear away while walking in. It wasn't until I climbed down to leave when I pulled the card and seen it. He was a very large bear 300+ pounds. His picture was at 601 am. Mine was at 603 am.
Hang in there man. Find a hunting partner to help you get the confidence back and enjoy it again.
I haven't read through all the replies. But have you ever heard a bob white whistle? We use to do that on our lease to let each other know if we was close or help locate one another.
I always carry a pistol while hunting. It's mainly for walking up on an unexpected bear. They are thick here but usually more afraid of us. We also have tons of coyotes. While they can sound pretty creepy while hunting, especially in the dark, it would be very very rare for one to try and stalk you.
We all have been in your shoes. We've missed deer, wounded them to never be found, had to make follow up shots, went long periods of time in between seeing or killing a deer, dealt with trespassing etc… but you can't let it take away from the joy of being in the woods or as I call it, Gods country.
If it makes you feel better about the situation. Wait until it's light enough to see going in and pack it up prior to dark until you gain your confidence back.
Just last week I was walking into my stand (shooting house) to hunt. I actually have a cam mounted 10 feet away on the edge of the wood line. Little did I know. I scared a bear away while walking in. It wasn't until I climbed down to leave when I pulled the card and seen it. He was a very large bear 300+ pounds. His picture was at 601 am. Mine was at 603 am.
Hang in there man. Find a hunting partner to help you get the confidence back and enjoy it again.
I haven't read through all the replies. But have you ever heard a bob white whistle? We use to do that on our lease to let each other know if we was close or help locate one another.
