So I am sitting in my tower blind Wed. of opening week of gun season and I keep hearing this scratching noise. The blind is right next to a fence and I finally realize the noise is coming from an 8" well pipe that was driven into the ground as a gate post. I had shined a flashlight down in it once and it is about 6' deep and someone in years past had thrown a 1 gal. plastic jug down it. Something is scratching that jug about every 20 min. or so then the noise stops. I didn't see any deer all evening and after it got past shooting time I had to get down out of the tower and see what is in this pipe. All evening I am thinking is it a possum, snake, rat?
So I shine a flashlight down it and I see a young hawk that can't be more than 10" tall. He is trying to get out but he can't open his wings wide enough to get any lift. I decide I got to get this bird out of here but how? I remember the tow strap I have under the seat of my Rhino so I get it, unroll about 6' feet and start lowering it down while holding the flashlight in my mouth. When the silver hook started getting close to the hawk he/she started freaking out so I move the strap as far away as I could and kept lowering it. As soon as the steel hook gets past him the hawk latches on to the strap and I start hoisting it up hand-over-hand. As soon as his head and shoulders cleared the top of the pipe he took flight. What a great feeling to see him fly off!
It was a rotten week for hunting as for as seeing any deer but that experience made it all worthwhile.
Two days later I am sitting in the same blind and I see a small hawk cruising over the blind and I know it probably wasn't him but I like to think it might have been.

Happy Thanksgiving to all and save a little bird for someone else to enjoy.

thats a cool story, nice going saving the little guy. I love watching them work the fields when deer hunting, not so much duck hunting

Good on you...

Way to go man! The hunting sucked out here this week too.

Treebass and I helped a buzzard out of a hog trap. Really wasn't the same thing.

yea, I remember that. Not quite the same thing

Good deal!!

Thats pretty cool! Don't knock your instincts, very well may have been the same hawk two days later. They don't travel to far when learning to hunt/fly unless I'm mistaken.

Bill

fill the pipe with rocks. nothing will get in there again. nice job on the "rescue" too.

Good story.

Great rescue man, feels good to give back....

Cool story and things like that can make a non-productive hunt very interesting and rewarding. it very well could have been the same hawk you saw later .

DONT CLICK ON THIS PUNK! Mod gonna get you

Cool story.....good on you.

very good on you, and very rewarding helping a fellow creature out.
My wife doesnt understand how we hunters kill animals and in the very next breath are doing something to help another animal out.

Great story. Hopefully the hawk is having a nice Turkey day!

Thanks guys, I am glad you liked the story. It still makes me smile when I replay the little hawk flying off in my mind.
I hope you and your families had a great Thanksgiving, to those that are hunting good luck and keep your ears open, you never know what you might hear.

TB

hit the notify button & the mods can remove the spammer

good story, good for you man

Great story!! you did the right thing. The purpose of all this outdoor and hunting thing isn't to kill every living thing we see. Just take what you need. Hope most agree.

+1
Good idea.

also if you will it full with rocks cap it off with a little cement and the rain wont get in & rust it out.

Great story!
Made your day didn't it!

great story...