Expect the unexpected...

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Max115

Max115

Member
Jul 15, 2018
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BC, Canada
I was doing some rats shooting this evening and I managed to tag one. Probably 15 minutes later I scanned the area for more rats and the dead rat had disappeared. My initial thought was the barn cat or owl had taken it so I didn't pay much attention to it. Another 15 or 20 minutes passed, I scanned the area again but this time I was using my handheld night vision unit instead as it was much easy to just scan around for targets.

Well, a coyote appeared in my scope view and I almost sh!t myself as I didn't expect to see one. I tried to switch to my gun but my movement had scared it away. The coyote was only 30 yards away. Yup, expect the unexpected next time out. What a missed opportunity.
 
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Max115 said:
I was doing some rats shooting this evening and I managed to tag one. Probably 15 minutes later I scanned the area for more rats and the dead rat had disappeared. My initial thought was the barn cat or owl had taken it so I didn't pay much attention to it. Another 15 or 20 minutes passed, I scanned the area again but this time I was using my handheld night vision unit instead as it was much easy to just scan around for targets.

Well, a coyote appeared in my scope view and I almost sh!t myself as I didn't expect to see one. I tried to switch to my gun but my movement had scared it away. The coyote was only 30 yards away. Yup, expect the unexpected next time out. What a missed opportunity.
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Max , when I first tried night rat shooting , I was using a flashlight w/ red tape over the lens & a red hand held spotlight. I sat in my SUV for the first few outings
as the critters were accustomed to farm trucks & vehicles and I was still "feeling " the area out. I did bag a few rats although manipulating the spotlight , gun &
shooting bag was a handful ,to say the least! As I was making a sweep I found a red fox had appeared with a rat in it's mouth just a few yards away. It paused for a few seconds then just sauntered off. Another time , shortly after I acquired my ATN day /night scope , I set up at the corner of the fence on a folding stool , I scanned the area & found a skunk was a few yards away & headed in my direction! Not wanting to shoot it & worry about it releasing there where it would have been "bad" for the workers , I fled the area !o_O
 
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Had this fella turn up whilst out ratting one night......

Screenshot_20250125_141928_Gallery.jpg
 
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Unexpected interactions with wildlife can be "interesting".

I once had a close encounter ( a couple of feet) with a big bear - we were eating raspberries from the same bush. By mutual agreement, we parted company in great haste! Don't know who was moving the fastest but I know that I didn't touch the ground for the first 25 feet and only occasionally after that! 😬

Lots of close to very close encounters with skunks, never a problem. Just don’t startle them, a quiet "hello" will get their attention without spooking them. Most of all, be calm, if you are nervous, they will be as well. Talk to them in a quiet voice, humming will relax most critters. I crouch down to appear smaller, less threatening and wait for them to decide what to do. Obviously, don't approach a skunk that's agitated, growling, or stomping it's feet - best to back off slowly. Mostly they are curious, and will approach if they are comfortable with your presence, if not they will usually just leave the area in a dignified hurry. Once they get to know you, Skunks will accept treats and they like a scratch behind the ears or (gentle) strokes on the back like a cat does.

Lots of amphibians, birds, critters, and reptiles on the property and we get along fine as long as we respect each other's space.

Cheers!
 
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Contndr35BB said:
Max , when I first tried night rat shooting , I was using a flashlight w/ red tape over the lens & a red hand held spotlight. I sat in my SUV for the first few outings
as the critters were accustomed to farm trucks & vehicles and I was still "feeling " the area out. I did bag a few rats although manipulating the spotlight , gun &
shooting bag was a handful ,to say the least! As I was making a sweep I found a red fox had appeared with a rat in it's mouth just a few yards away. It paused for a few seconds then just sauntered off. Another time , shortly after I acquired my ATN day /night scope , I set up at the corner of the fence on a folding stool , I scanned the area & found a skunk was a few yards away & headed in my direction! Not wanting to shoot it & worry about it releasing there where it would have been "bad" for the workers , I fled the area !o_OI
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I am leaning every time I was out shooting pests. Coyotes are very smart and elusive, so I have to adopt and outsmart them somehow.

Sounds like you are preparing and using better equipment for your night time shooting. Have fun and good luck.
 
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Vana2 said:
Unexpected interactions with wildlife can be "interesting".

I once had a close encounter ( a couple of feet) with a big bear - we were eating raspberries from the same bush. By mutual agreement, we parted company in great haste! Don't know who was moving the fastest but I know that I didn't touch the ground for the first 25 feet and only occasionally after that! 😬

Lots of close to very close encounters with skunks, never a problem. Just don’t startle them, a quiet "hello" will get their attention without spooking them. Most of all, be calm, if you are nervous, they will be as well. Talk to them in a quiet voice, humming will relax most critters. I crouch down to appear smaller, less threatening and wait for them to decide what to do. Obviously, don't approach a skunk that's agitated, growling, or stomping it's feet - best to back off slowly. Mostly they are curious, and will approach if they are comfortable with your presence, if not they will usually just leave the area in a dignified hurry. Once they get to know you, Skunks will accept treats and they like a scratch behind the ears or (gentle) strokes on the back like a cat does.

Lots of amphibians, birds, critters, and reptiles on the property and we get along fine as long as we respect each other's space.

Cheers!
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Wow, your heart must have stopped suddenly after seeing the bear, lol. Glad nothing bad happened.

I wouldn't want to come across with skunks by any mean. I have smelled their gas before and it wasn't pleasant.
 
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Vetmx said:
Yes, it can be very interesting what goes on at night. Sometimes quite a shot of adrenaline when the last thing you shot was a mouse. Then you turn on your scope ten minutes later and this is sitting there. Now you have a completely new situation to think about.

View attachment 532340
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My adrenaline always maxed out when I see coyotes in my scope view. I can't imagine seeing a bear in the pitch dark night, lol. What an encounter!
 
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Ezana4CE said:
@Max115 Went through something similar last night. I get it, although I wasn't scared. I heard something faint that prompted me to look through my thermal scope and suddenly there was a yote straight ahead downwind.
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They are very active during this time. I guess finding food in the winter time is pretty harsh for them. Hopefully I will get better chance at my location where there are plenty of "food" around.
 
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@Max115 I wasn't coyote hunting. I was headed back to my truck after looking for hogs. I didn't see it for long. We ran into one another and caught each other by surprise. I spent most of the brief time trying to figure out what it was. It was small. I'd caught two on camera in the same spot a couple weeks ago. They look like yearlings. Do the ones you're seeing look mature?
 
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Ezana4CE said:
@Max115 I wasn't coyote hunting. I was headed back to my truck after looking for hogs. I didn't see it for long. We ran into one another and caught each other by surprise. I spent most of the brief time trying to figure out what it was. It was small. I'd caught two on camera in the same spot a couple weeks ago. They look like yearlings. Do the ones you're seeing look mature?
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Ic. Hopefully you can get an opportunity to see and tag one. Out of the four coyotes that I have seen in my trail cam footages, one of them is a young pup.
 
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