the only other time I got really scared was when I went to Davy Crockett by myself during bow season. I don't normally go by myself because if something happens, no one would ever find me. But this time I did. I gave my wife a map of the forest and told her if I wasn't back in time for church sunday morning, here is where the truck will be parked and my body will be somewhere in this area. I hunted in that tree from sun up to sun down. After I climbed down I had this bright idea to take a short cut back to the truck. I was worn out and the trail I walk in on is an winding 20-25 minute walk. I know it's possible to walk in a straight line thru the brush straight back to my truck because at times I can catch a glimpse of my truck when I'm up in my tree.
So off I go on a straight line to my truck. After about walking for what seemed like half an hour, I realize one of my legs must be shorter than the other because I can't seem to walk a straight line in the dark. I have no idea where I'm at. I left my compass at home, get no cell phone reception, there's no moon, no stars, no wind nothing. Now I'm getting nervous. Hadn't seen a deer all day and all i see in front of me are at least six pairs of green eyes staring at me. The more I walk the eyes stay right in front of me, I turn around trying to figure out where I'm at that's when I see four pairs of orange eyes behind me. Now I'm getting spooked, I'm lost in the woods and have all kinds of creatures following me waiting for me to die. Now I'm thinking about climbing up a tree and spending the night in my tree stand until morning except I told my wife if I'm not back by morning, it means I'm dead and call the sheriff. And my body wont be where I showed her. CRAP!!! So I just keep walking with 30-35 lbs of gear on my back praying to God to help me find my way out of there. Finally I see headlights which means a ROAD!!! Got back to the truck and vowed never to take a short cut thru the woods at night again.

Got this off the TBH...
Imagine walking to the stand after seeing this on your game camera.

lol

Just because I have hog lights on my feeder doesn't mean i'm afraid of the dark and need to sit 3 yards away. Typo I promise.

I used to have that feeling but after hunting by myself for a couple of years i came to the realization that if something wants to get me they are gonna get me and God is ready for me to go. But i do carry a pistol when i bow hunt.

Not walking to and from the stand in the dark, but I stuck a pig last week, all the other pigs in that group ran off. I got down to track it, and was out of the stand maybe 10 minutes in the thicket behind my feeder looking for the pig. I hear some grunting, look up, and there are five 75-100 pound pigs from a different group under my feeder. I was less than 15 yards from them. My bow was back by the stand, poor decision, I know. All I had was my buck knife. Kinda worried me...

all this mountain lion talk really makes me want to wear some kind of neck brace now when i am hunting alone... and i would never leave a spot without my weapon when hunting alone.

Several years ago I started out one morning and it was very foggy. I was making my way following a cow trail and an exotic, either an Axis or Sika let out the worst whistle you ever heard. I'm sure my cap lifted completely off my head.

When I was in college, I woke up one morning with a rather hefty chick in a shooting house... Very scary. No more Yeager for me.

DOHH !!!!!!

I always wonder if the Chupacabra is gonna get me

I have a friend that was walking to his stand without a flashlight one morning. He could hear something following him. And heard it growling. Said it smelled aweful. As he stepped up onto the ladder it brushed against his leg and ran off. At that point he saw that what had been tracking him was an old sick looking mountain lion!!! He is lucky.

Mostly because of mountain lion sightings on my place and in NW Oklahoma early season because of rattlesnakes.

I look at like this, if whatever is in the woods can take a bullet from either my 30-06, 30 rounds from my AR, or multiple rounds from my .45 on my hip, then by god, I am dead anyways, so be it.
I cant really say that I get scared honestly, because I have that piece of mind in my hands (deer rifle), and my comfort on my hip (.45 pistol), and thats not to mention how secure I really feel when i have my AR with me.
Now bow hunting is a bot different, but now that I am using a crossbow, I feel a bit better. Once I have my CHL, I will fear nothing in the dark while bow hunting.

Don't really worry too much as 90% of the time I use a flashlight. Walking back to the house from the stand this evening found this guy just off the porch. Coral snake about 20" long. I think the 4th I've killed this year. maybe 3rd. Killed some last year as well. Also lots of copperheads and rattlers in this area.. About the only things I keep an eye out for. Don't wear snake boots but always watch where I'm stepping.

Dang what part of TX are those coral snakes?

I'm just past the Navasota river from College Station in Grimes county........

I never have before. I might now. Friday around noon I went to fill my feeders. I was driving my four wheeler the route I always walk to my blind. I came up on a big bunch of dead grass and just as I was about to run over a very large white HOG came flying out of the dead grass. If I had been on foot I would have walked right up on that thing,

I never have before. I might now. Friday around noon I went to fill my feeders. I was driving my four wheeler the route I always walk to my blind. I came up on a big bunch of dead grass and just as I was about to run over a very large white HOG came flying out of the dead grass. If I had been on foot I would have walked right up on that thing,

best post ever!!!!

There have been times where strange noises spook me a little. But mostly afraid of a rattler. I bought snake chaps this year for dove - but as usual - only wore them opening day.

Now, I do have a funny story - not scary.
Me and the boy took out to a public permit spot on Granger Lake for teal. Never been there and didn't scout or anything, just looked at the map and figured it would be easy.

So, we head out, in the darkness of the morning and according to the map - we leave the truck, walk straight ahead until we reach the water.

So, here we go - already got the waders on and the brush is taller than we are. The boy is packing the pup on his check cord, a dozen decoys, his backpack full of ammo and whatever else he puts in there and his gun. I am toting my gun, blind bag with WAY too much ammo b/c its heavy as all get out, a soft-sided cooler with drinks and snacks, and another bag with dog supplies in it.

We walked for what seemed like forever and never saw water. Decided to give up - very tired and frustrated. Let's head back to the truck. Thought, all we have to do is turn around and walk straight back...except we didn't walk so straight - it was more to the left. Anyway, we finally did find the finger of the lake we were looking for - DRY as a bone.
So, now I say we got to walk back to the right since we went left. Did that for a while - then I am so worn out and upset at everything, I don't want to walk through the dang brush anymore, so look up and see power pole - that means a road. I would rather walk the road back and not have to keep tangling with the brush. Throw all our stuff over the fence, separate the barb wire as best we can and put dog through, then we get over fence. Now we are on the road, but nothing looks familiar. I still think we need to walk to the right, the boy thinks left. We walk a little ways, and now my age is really setting in. I say, I'm calling Momma and tell her where we are and she can drive us to the truck - I ain't walking another step!!

The boy checks his phone - finally have a signal. Pulls up the old Google Maps GPS - we ain't even on the right road.

Somehow we walked past the truck? But at least we are on a road and we know where we are and we know where the truck is. Judging by the map, the truck is about a mile away and again - I'm not walking anymore. So, the boy leaves me with all the stuff and the dog and takes off on a jog. I hear his feet hitting the gravel and he disappears. Then I hear his feet hitting the gravel again, so I get my flashlight out because I think he is coming back. Then I don't hear footsteps anymore. Now, I hear the rumbling of my F250 so I stand up and shine the light over. The connecting road was probably 100 yards away....but I stood pat. I didn't walk another inch.

We decided at this point it was too late to try to set up somewhere else. So, we stopped at the Walmart and bought some dove loads and went to my dove lease - where we saw 1 dove fly over. That's a ONE in case you missed it.

Sorry, this was such a long story, and I still left out some of it - but there would much to detailed to tell you everything. This story does have a happy ending, though.

When we got back home, I said that's it. I am not hunting anymore public land where I have to walk in and carry everything I own. So, this is how I got the boat that is posted under the Migratory Bird section.

I'm so glad to know I'm not the only one. It puts a new meaning into "We are not alone".

I don't like walking in the dark because I can't see where I'm stepping or what I'm stepping on. When going to the blind, I try to be as quiet as I can and make little noise. That can work against me if I surprised a sleeping creature. I occasionally use my flashlight to find my blind (it has a reflector on in), but generally walk quietly in the dark.

Once in the blind, I'm good. I love listening to the day wake up & watching the early morning creatures.

One dark morning I was walking to my deer stand minding my own business when all of a sudden I hear this chomping. I stopped in my tracks and made a 360 degree turn shining my flashlight but I couldnt figure out what it was. I walked a little further saw something moving in the brush, it ended up being an armadillo!

The horses and I always seem to have a surprise little come-to-Jesus meeting somewhere along the trail to the stand. I'm not sure who scares who the most but I know I sure am tingling afterwards.