I used to like owls

[LDennis24]

I had a Great Grey Owl follow me all day through the old growth on the North end of the Big Lava Bed one year. it would land right up in front of me and do that hilarious owl head bob and turn upside down and watch me very closely. It never swooped on me though. Not that it matters but that looks like a Great Grey Owl. They are pretty big. The color of the feathers streaking downward in your pic tells me it's a grey. Barred owls are VERY barred looking on their feathers and the color would be horizontal stripes. Did you get a pic of it's throat patch. They are good at hiding them. If it had white on it's throat with a black patch in the middle it's a grey. The one that followed me was easily bigger than any great horned owl I have seen. I have many great horned owls living in my trees at home. Not alot of trees in the Palouse area for them. I also have a big barn owl in the barn. It's behaved so far. That's the only reason it's still there.

[jbeaumont21]

I'd say the black eyes confirm its a barred owl. Grey's have light golden eyes. 

[LDennis24]

I totally overlooked the eyes..  and after looking at some other photos, the barred owl totally has vertical stripes on its stomach and breast area!  I always remembered them having really blocky looking feathers but that's just their wings and backside!

[timberfaller]

Yep, Barred Owl,  the one's that like to eat Spotted Owls!!   The are aggressive over their territory!!  So much so, so called "scientist/biologist" what them killed(made extinct) to protect the Spotted owl!

[PKC]

HaHa!  @PastorJoel

[Goshawk]

You were very close to it's nest. Some species of owls nest very early in other bird nests and are of of them by the time the original owner comes back.  That smack was to drive you off, not take you down.  If they want to do damage, the strike the neck or face and hold on while beating you with it's wings.
On the plus side, later in early 2022 when they are feeding chicks, it takes about a dozen mice and voles a day to keep them fed.  Great mousers!

[Jake Dogfish]

Wife was attacked by a barred owl jogging through town in early morning a couple years ago.  Tried to land on her head twice and scratched her.

[GWP]

If it is any consolation to you, one met its demise by hitting the front of my motorcycle at night ‘at speed’. Made quite a mess. 

[fishnfur]

Great story.  I've had blackbirds and crows both hit me in the head.  I can't imagine an owl.  I'm pretty sure I would have shot it.
Next time you've got a squirrel making a commotion in the woods in your spot, don't bail.  Deer hear those little nasties very often when they're up and moving in the woods.  Moving out of the squirrel's sight is probably a good idea though.

[NiteHawk]

I hunt in an area with a lot of owls (barred and great horned) and have been followed many times, but never dive-bombed. Owls have specialized feathers on the leading edge of their wing that make them so silent in flight. They also have ears that sit at different heights on their head to allow them to better triangulate sounds in the dark. On top of that, they have that round flat face that also helps them locate sounds like a satellite dish. Pretty incredible predators! I suppose you know now what it would feel like to be a mouse living amongst owls!

[LDennis24]

Have you seen how big the ear hole is on an owl! It's insane!

[ganghis]

Sorry about the hunting spot, but that story is freaking hilarious!  Thanks for sharing

[Chukar]

Yikes.
Federally protected critters “in possession”  need not be posed on a hunting website.
Unless a permit is had…

[KFhunter]

Yikes.
Federally protected critters “in possession”  need not be posed on a hunting website.
Unless a permit is had…

Those are google images