tegater 789 Posted May 25, 2012 Report Share Posted May 25, 2012 I'm sure lots of shooters / fishermen have had interesting experiences of animals coming close to them, as a result of keeping silent and still. This is one I had last night. I got a phone call yesterday, to say somebody had seen a fox that morning making its way from the low ground moorland fields up towards a ridgeline of rocky boulder strewn hillside, with the heather moorland on top. The fields are now unenclosed as most of the dry stone walls have now deteriated, and are there simply as a bit of shelter from the strong pennine winds in the winter, and as markers as to what the landscape would have looked like in times gone by. The pasture in the fields is a mixture of grass, eaten short by the sheep and scattered rushes, and is haven to brown hares, and the occassional mountain hare in bad weather. Early mornings at this time of year, I like going up onto the ridge, and just lying up there with my binos and rifle and it can be quite fruitful. Either because I will manage to whack a fox, or its great to scan the ground and see so many hares. Anyway, last night about 8pm, I walked out to the low ground, found myself a good firing position that gave me a good view of any approach of a fox, and settled down with my back to a wall, confident that provided I wasnt careless, I wouldnt be seen, or silhouetted. The wind had now picked up from the 2-3kph that morning to about 18kph. Within a short space of time I was starting to get movement. The occasional rabbit, but mainly hares. Either adults, hopping around feeding, adults running around chasing each other, or leverets generally just messing about. At one point I had counted 12 within 150 metes of me, and more further out. This now was the interesting bit for me, as I have had hares come close before, either accidentally sauntering past me, or coming up to me when calling fox. A pair of hares came down the hill getting closer and closer, oblivious to the fact that I was there, and they stopped about 4 metres from me. They started to feed on the grass and I am guessing it was the buck that kept sniffing the back side of the doe. With the exception of the occassional break in feeding, were they were very definatly looking straight at me, it was like I didnt exist. A few more hops and they were now 2 metres away! Next, 2 leverets came racing onto the scene and stopped next to the adults. Half grown and in very good shape, they too sniffed the air and turned to look at me. What happened next really took me by suprise. Bearing in mind that they were only a couple of metres away anyway, (thats right 4 hares within 2 metres!) one of the leverets hopped towards me and sniffed the knee of my trousers. I imediatley thought thats it, they will all be gone in seconds. Not so, the youngster just hopped back to the others and then the 2 leverets slowly hopped off. As for the adults they stayed were they were, happily feeding for a few more minutes, and then carried on their way. This was definatly my most interesting experience with hares. I find hares fascinating creatures, and never shoot them unless on a hare drive to thin out the numbers, or to thin a few out if they are attracting drive by dog men. I also understand that in areas of arable farming they can be quite a pest. Whenever I study hares though, I cant help but liking the animal and hope it never dissapears from our part of the pennines. If you have any similar experiences or better ones, please feel free to add. The fox never showed! 7 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
skycat 6,174 Posted May 25, 2012 Report Share Posted May 25, 2012 What a pity you didn't have a camera instead of a gun! Would have made some fantastic photo opportunities. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ratreeper 441 Posted May 25, 2012 Report Share Posted May 25, 2012 Never had a hare sniff me, but I have stood on them before because I am a great hunter and keep my eyes open but I love going to a wood near me and I swear that a local muntjack there recognises me. Or so it seems anyway because it was predicatably skittish on my first visits, but then it would hang around longer and longer to the point that it would stand still with me about 20 feet away. Now it barely seems cautious and carries on eating leaves and if I sit still it will walk right up to me, not really as impressive as the hare but it is strange for me because I am not accustomed to seeing muntjack and always considered them extremely shy. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tegater 789 Posted May 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 25, 2012 What a pity you didn't have a camera instead of a gun! Would have made some fantastic photo opportunities. I had the same thought myself. I will go back on evening, but I don't think I will be able replicate that experience. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
baw 4,360 Posted May 25, 2012 Report Share Posted May 25, 2012 brilliant read that and a very envious experience for you. Thanks for sharing. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
buster gonads 862 Posted May 25, 2012 Report Share Posted May 25, 2012 I can remember a few encounters with Hares that were unusual, first one is when i was fishing a long thin pond a hare came down the banking behind me, jumped in the pond and swam accross , i once saw a Hare swim accross a river while my running dog was up its arse, i have also put two Hares to ground while out poaching, ive also caught Hares which when i,ve skinned them they have had shot in them, and last but not least, i once caught a Hare with one of its front legs missing, it had a shiney stump, i let that one go , never had one sniff me though, but as i,v usualy got a dog with me thats hardly suppriseing. buster. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
2.8 guy 403 Posted May 25, 2012 Report Share Posted May 25, 2012 In pagen times there hare was classed as a mythical creature, with magical powers, i was once out walking looking for some quary to run and found myself staring at a cattle trough it was if something was there it had me fixated in a trance, then all of a sudden my eyes focused on what had caught my eye and no sooner had that happened a hare jump up and set off was a really weird experience It made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up The hare was a real strange in pattern and was invisable till it moved but yet it was as if i could sense it was there even thinking about it now has me feeling like i did that day 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
scothunter 12,609 Posted May 25, 2012 Report Share Posted May 25, 2012 Enjoyed reading that, wish I had been there. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wig887 88 Posted May 25, 2012 Report Share Posted May 25, 2012 i was working on a local estate few years back digging in some manure in a veg plot next to me was a stone wall.i noticed a blue tit land on the wall close to me it then flew over and try'd to land on my head !! i shat myself then it flew back to the wall looking at me.so i stood still and it flew back on to my head plucked a few hairs and flew off.it came back about five times after that.totaly not scared by me at all. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
buster gonads 862 Posted May 25, 2012 Report Share Posted May 25, 2012 i was working on a local estate few years back digging in some manure in a veg plot next to me was a stone wall.i noticed a blue tit land on the wall close to me it then flew over and try'd to land on my head !! i shat myself then it flew back to the wall looking at me.so i stood still and it flew back on to my head plucked a few hairs and flew off.it came back about five times after that.totaly not scared by me at all. I bet thats what happend to Wyne Roony . Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Paid 935 Posted May 25, 2012 Report Share Posted May 25, 2012 Was lamping one from the car once and it turned around in full flight and ran straight under the car, the dog smacked full pelt into the car and the hare had just vanished. Big open field with no cover, and the lamp was turned quickly to the back of the car then scanned about, but nothing, it had vanished in a split second. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wig887 88 Posted May 25, 2012 Report Share Posted May 25, 2012 (edited) WEIRD Edited May 25, 2012 by wig887 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
paulus 26 Posted May 25, 2012 Report Share Posted May 25, 2012 in early spring when ive ben out on the pasture ive had them run full speed at the dogs honest Quote Link to post Share on other sites
tegater 789 Posted May 25, 2012 Author Report Share Posted May 25, 2012 in early spring when ive ben out on the pasture ive had them run full speed at the dogs honest That must be because they all have fuzzy eyes down your way!! :D Quote Link to post Share on other sites
paulus 26 Posted May 25, 2012 Report Share Posted May 25, 2012 in early spring when ive ben out on the pasture ive had them run full speed at the dogs honest That must be because they all have fuzzy eyes down your way!! :D they have to stand up to see 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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