How close

[DrakeKill]

will you let an elk get to you when you're on the ground? I've let deer come up and put their noses on me, even push a little and it doesn't even phase me - I just stay perfectly still and wait for a shooting opportunity to come. I had an experience last night though and for whatever reason I got a little rattled; I had a cow working in on me; she hung up (head on) at about 10 yards but only very briefly; we locked eyes and I stayed perfectly still she continued straight at me and at about 10 feet away the thought entered my mind that if she spooked suddenly I could very easily take a hoof somewhere I didn't want one and in a bad way; at about the 5 feet away point I lost that game of chicken; raised my chin slowly and she bolted.

In hindsight I'm pretty sure I just physc'd myself out; but outside of the feeding stations that was the closest I've had an elk on me before. My current rationale is that I got rattled because the elk are so much larger than the deer and I was literally butt on ground in the ferns; reality though is she probably would have been very careful not to step on me and probably just given me a quick sniff and moved on (and into perfect double lung position  ).

What close encounters have you guys had and how did they end? Has anyone had a bad close encounter?

[JBar]

Had a calf at 3 ft this year and a few years back had a yearling almost run right over me, took an abrupt turn about 2-3ft away. Fun stuff never really worried about my safety but probably should have

[boneaddict]

I stood behind a 6 inch fir while a spike rubbed on it.  I got pretty skinny

[Eli346]

I had a 3 point blacktail take a leak not 6' from me watching me the whole time I was sitting on a stump at his level. While he did that a spike buck came around behind me and I felt a tug on my day pack. He actually tried to taste it as I was watching his shadow in front of me as he did it. Really cool. I was frozen in that position for almost 40 minutes with deer all around me except downwind. My right leg finally cramped up and I barely moved it so they all scattered in a hurry. There were 13 in all with the 2 bucks being the closest. I also had a fawn nuzzle my hand as I stood on a trail before she moved off. I don't think she'd seen a human yet so she wasn't spooked at all.

[lokidog]

My first time elk hunting, back in '86 had a calf come up and sniff my knee while I was sitting on a stump waiting for one of the heard to give me a shot.  It was pretty cool!

[kentrek]

From my tracks to his I had a bull @ 3 steps this September. ..he swung his head towards me an began to take one more step....that was all I could take


Two days later had a different bull get to 4 yards and bugle rite in my face 

Close encounters are the only way to go

[LeviD1]

I have only had 3 does feed all around me and my dad when I was younger sitting on the ground. They were at about 3 feet. That was really cool but I could only imagine having an elk as close as your guys stories. That would be awesome!

[JJB11B]

From my tracks to his I had a bull @ 3 steps this September. ..he swung his head towards me an began to take one more step....that was all I could take


Two days later had a different bull get to 4 yards and bugle rite in my face 

Close encounters are the only way to go

Bet that put some goose bumps on you and made your ears ring!

[RadSav]

After shooting an elk I had him brush me and rip the bow out of my hand.  Not sure if the horns or the nose got caught up in the bow as I was bailing and not looking That was a good and exciting day! 

I've had a number of animals peak in the window of blinds I've been hunting out of.  More than one bear climbing the same tree I was in.  Moose charged close enough I felt the breath on the back of my neck.  And I walked up on a nanny Catalina goat giving birth.  Stood three feet away as a midwife helped pull the kid out...fascinating to see one goat help another give birth.

Only real scary thing was a pig trying to climb into the back of my Explorer as I held the pistol to his head.  His jaws were popping and he was not too happy I was trying to get his fat bacon loaded girl friend loaded up.  If the land owner hadn't told me a second pig was going to cost me 1K I would have certainly pulled the trigger.  Always makes me laugh when I realize my fear of losing $1,000 was greater than my fear of being mauled by a 500# boar. 

[Gobble]

Had a fawn walk up to me, sniff my pants and walk all around me while bow hunting, no sign of his momma. I finally went Boo to scare him off.

Had a calf elk brush me and nearly knock me over while  bowhunting in Taneum, I could have stuck an arrow in it by hand, pretty cool

[bur04024]

Im curious how you all have managed to get so close to these animals, even to the point of tasting?!.....errr being taste'ed? In your close encounters of the hooved kind are you guys decked out in scent control? (i.e. cloths washed in scent removing stuff, scent killing spray, wipes, cover scents...etc.) I have had a fawn eat an apple out of my hand in my In-laws front yard, they have a big apple tree, lots of deer and nobody hunts them so they aren't as afraid of humans like other deer. The older deer get more shy, but they youngin's don't know any better yet. And that time I was not "clean" in the sense that I had normal cloths on, not special shower w/ scent soap or scent spray etc. But I have never been able to get very close to animals in the "wild" like all your encounters. I had elk at about 60yrds last weekend in Taneum, until they got a whiff of me and then they were gone Anyway if there are any good tips or pointers to make me better at closing the distance that would be great. I need to poke something with an arrow!

[RadSav]

I personally believe gloves and face paint are more important than scent soap and cover scent.  I do use silver thread Long Johns most of the time and use Dead Downwind products.  But, most of my close encounters came before any of that stuff was available.  Most of those products are to confuse an animal if there is a brief change of wind direction making the whiff they do get minimal.  That might give you an extra second or two to get off a shot, but will not change the fact that watching the wind is the number one thing in getting within bow range.  We never use laundry soap with brighteners.  I think that is important.

None of my close encounters were large mature species in a calm feeding environment.  So even though it does happen, getting that close to older wiser animals includes a lot of luck.  Probably the most influential thing in my case is just spending a lot of time in the woods.  There were five years I probably spent 300 days a year in the woods.  You are bound to find a few dumb ones if you spend enough time in the woods.

Practice, practice, practice is more important than gimmicks too, IMO.  When I first started bowhunting I had one heck of a time getting inside 30 yards of animals.  A family friend suggested I practice sneaking up on the family dog.  Tie your own dog to a tree or stake a chain in a small opening in the brush.  I'm not sure there is anything on earth better at spotting you than a dog looking for it's owner.  I'd bet it was months before I was able to get 30 yards from my dog without him seeing me.  But over time and with lots of practice I was able to get the drop on him and scare the BG's out of him maybe 1 out of 15-20 times.  You do that and big game will seem like a piece of cake.

[LeviD1]

 

Although I dont practice sneeking. When I deer hunt I usually just get to my spot and sit and wait. Elk hunting obviously we hike and try and get in on animals. Even though I dont use any face coverings you should. I know animals have seen my bright face in the sunlight and ruined opportunities for me. Just have a buddy go full camo and sit with a patch of trees behind him then go no gloves and face camo and see how much easier it is to see him. Next yeah I am buying face camo.

[RadSav]

I flew over a duck hunting area during season years ago.  Those hunters with face masks and camo paint seemed to just disappear in the grass while the white faces almost seemed to come up off the ground and scream, "Here I am!"  Really changed my attitude toward face camo. 

Larry D. Jones face camo is the stuff!!  Easy to apply, lasts a long time without drying up, easy to remove, but stays in place well.  I'm a big fan of Dead Downwind but their face camo is probably the worst I've used!  Let your face get scruffy and the camo holds much better too

[kentrek]

You are bound to find a few dumb ones if you spend enough time in the woods

I found a sick/blind/high/Orr dumb whitetail in idaho once...started off seeking up on it to see how close I could get...made a few mistakes and noticed it never noticed me...I ended up walk up to it an touching it..gave it a few scratches behind the ear an went on my way...it never once looked at me an was shivering pretty bad
Felt bad for it really

So many lost photo opportunities

[lokidog]

I flew over a duck hunting area during season years ago.  Those hunters with face masks and camo paint seemed to just disappear in the grass while the white faces almost seemed to come up off the ground and scream, "Here I am!"  Really changed my attitude toward face camo. 

Larry D. Jones face camo is the stuff!!  Easy to apply, lasts a long time without drying up, easy to remove, but stays in place well.  I'm a big fan of Dead Downwind but their face camo is probably the worst I've used!  Let your face get scruffy and the camo holds much better too

I like using a netting face mask rather than paint because it helps keep the bugs out of my ears.  I never, ever, ever, can figure out how these guys with no masks/paint or gloves get near ducks or other animals.

Weathergirl snuck up on a doe out here once in the middle of the road.  The deer was so focused on something it payed her no attention.  It wasn't until she was less than three feet away from the doe that she had second thoughts about getting that close, then backed away.   

[RadSav]

I found a sick/blind/high/Orr dumb whitetail in idaho once...started off seeking up on it to see how close I could get...made a few mistakes and noticed it never noticed me...I ended up walk up to it an touching it..gave it a few scratches behind the ear an went on my way...it never once looked at me an was shivering pretty bad
Felt bad for it really

So many lost photo opportunities

Reminds me of the "Not so Angry Spike" clip from Angry Spike Productions. 

Unfortunately those sick and/or old animals will likely have a slow horrifying death at the hands of some predator.  Mother nature can be a cruel beach some times!  In the past 35 years I have sacrificed about a half dozen tags on animals where I felt it more humane to use my tag on a less than goal animal than to let nature take it's course.  Probably another half dozen I would have liked to, but no season was open or I did not have the appropriate tag in my pocket.

Just this past weekend I had a cow elk that was horribly effected by hoof rot.  She was on her feet, but holy smokes was she hurting badly    If it hadn't been for it being past legal shooting light I could have easily just walked up to her and put her down.  I saw the coyotes that were following before I saw her.  They were just waiting and bird dogging her.  What a terrible way to go!  We tried to find her the next day, but were unable to.  I'm thinking with the snow that night the dogs probably took her down after she entered the thick brush.

[pianoman9701]

I've been sniffed by calves and deer. Bull running straight into me and stopping at about 3 yards. The only animals I haven't let get too close are moose.

[kentrek]

The not so angry spike looked to be drugged, but yeap pretty similar...my whitetail experience was just as the wolves werected getting bad as welll....can't imagine going like that

Back to the topic another very spooky experience was walking up to a cougar I shot....it was sliding down a pretty steep hill, went to grab it...still alive..that was a pretty scary moment on a critter I'd rather not be next to while it's alive

[RadSav]

Back to the topic another very spooky experience was walking up to a cougar I shot....it was sliding down a pretty steep hill, went to grab it...still alive..that was a pretty scary moment on a critter I'd rather not be next to while it's alive

    

Cats make me nervous!  I get ripped to shreds by a house cat at 10 pounds.  Can't imagine getting pounced on by a cat 10 to 15 times that size!

[kentrek]

http://youtu.be/o-oVhu2fu20

 

[RadSav]

http://youtu.be/o-oVhu2fu20

Nasty ball of fur there. Would have been real funny if the Pinocchio PJ's were Hello Kitty PJ's

[_TONY_]

I reached out and poked a doe that wouldn't get out of my way while hunting mule deer about a week ago... She didn't give two rats a..'s that I was there and just kept munching on buck brush...

[xXLojackXx]

The cow I stuck this year was at 8 feet. I called her away from the herd with some sort of a distressed urgent calf call and she came RUNNING. I heard her well before I saw her, so I drew back and waited. She came into sight running as fast as an elk could down through tall timber. She didn't stop running directly, and I mean directly, at me until I stuck her at 8 feet. I figured that was close enough.

[biggfish]

I had a doe walk into me in the fog and spooked. I got kicked in the jaw and still have half a broken tooth in my mouth.

[Elkrunner]

4 years ago I was following a herd of elk.  The went through some thick brush to a meadow and were hanging out.  I had to crawl through the brush and didn't realize that the 6x6 bull was in it until I damn near crawled into his feet.  He was about 3 feet from me when he started bashing the brush almost right above my head.  I froze in that position for about 5 minutes until he turn and walked away.

[JJB11B]

I have a picture on my cell of a fawn that walked up to me last year while I was getting ready to lock my truck and crawl into my tree stand. I'll dig it up later

[pd]

I had a close encounter with 2 stupid spikes less than a month ago, the last day of rifle elk season.  I was up on a washed out roadbed, perhaps 10 yards above the creek.  I spotted a spike walking downriver in the shallow water.  3-point or better area, so I had no shot.  I looked hard at him anyway through my scope, just to be sure (old eyes).  While I was watching him (he never saw me, even though I was not in brush, and only 10 yards up and 10 yards away), his buddy Even Dumberer walked right up to me, on the road bed.  This 2nd spike was less than 1 yard away when I finally turned my head to shoo him away.  He still never bolted, but slowly walked past.  Had I had a machete I could have stabbed him, he was that close.

No special clothing (hunter orange, very bright), no scent control.  Just be still, don't make any noise and don't move.

[Bullkllr]

Several years ago when I had an Olympic archery permit I had a pretty cool experience.

I had seen a herd of at least 50 animals from a distance. Followed their sign down into a deep dark timbered draw. It was afternoon, so I backed out and let them rest. Went back toward evening to see if I could get on them. Took a newly-built road that went down the draw. Near the end of the road I saw elk coming toward me in the timber. I knew pretty quickly it was the herd from earlier.

They came pretty fast, but were calm/feeding. There was a line of stumps pushed to the side of the road, so I hunkered down next to one near the opening I figured they'd walk out of. Wind was mild and perfect. They got closer and I started seeing elk. Soon they were coming out of the opening 10-15 yards away- as well as right next to the stump I was crouched against, one after another at a range of 1-2 feet.
 
Most were feeding in the new grass along the road, milling all around me. Many were close enough to touch. A few looked right at me and even stopped and looked concerned, but went right back to milling/feeding. I could see individual grass blades getting ripped out of the ground. It crossed my mind (I was basically surrounded at close range) that if they spooked I could actually be trampled.

At least half the herd passed right next to me. They milled around as I remained frozen next to the stump for many minutes, waiting for a bull to appear. None did. I could hear more elk on the edge of the timber behind my stump, so when I had an opening I stood and drew- figuring a bull would be standing there- nope. The herd spooked and trotted off down the road...the ground shook pretty good IIRC.

[bur04024]

All of your stories make me jealous! It gives me hope that I will one day figure out where the animals like to hide, and be able to blend right into their surroundings. I admit I started looking at rifles today because I was lamenting the fact that I have not been able to get close enough to shoot with my bow. But these encounters give me hope.

[JJB11B]

That's me taking a pic of the deer behind me while gathering binos and range finder

[gaddy]

I once walked into a tree covered draw on a bald slope and found myself standing in the middle of a herd of elk. That was fun when they realized i was there. Another time i was walking a trail and spotted a couple young deer feeding my way, both forky's in a three point area, I sat next to a small tree on the side and they fed right up to me. the first buck sniffed his way right to me, literally sniffed my sleeve and snorted buggers on my arm before bolting. Had a very large 5 pt bull step onto a trail in front of me at maybe 10' ( i had seen his rack over the bush so i knelt down on the trail ) He stepped onto the trail, looked at me dead in the eyes, reared his head back, scratched  his ass with his antlers and walked away. (spike only sucks). Sneaking into an area i like to frequent I come across an elks ass staring me in the face, he had his head down, but it was apparent from what i saw over his head that it was not a spike. What to do? seemed like hours passed but i crept up, wind in my face and smelling elk butt. About the time i was close enough to smack him on the ass, I stepped on the only twig in the area. Talk about an exciting second in time !! This is the stuff that keeps me going year after year. I've killed a few, but these experiences are the ones that I most appreciate and remember.

[RadSav]

That's me taking a pic of the deer behind me while gathering binos and range finder

I'm becoming more and more a fan of blinds as I get older.  Some fun close encounters!  This guy didn't react until the camera went off.  I took the picture at about 3 feet through the window screen.

[Gentrys]

Had a cow and calf bed down 10' behind me on a hillside back in 2002 above Bumping Lake.  Sat there for about 30 minutes and they never knew I was there.  Finally decided to get up and when I did I about gave the cow a heart attack.

[Vinomaker]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SrJMcEn4_8

This happened to my friend while fishing the Snake River this year....