Animal Encounters

[Buckaroo]

pigs.... in south Texas we have pigs. they give no F&^%'s about your camp. your food. your rig or your sleep and they will kill your dog or other pet.. generally speaking they run off when spooked, but they can turn and gore you and your animal to death just as easy.

England, South Yorkshire.
We camped our vans up on a farm which was a popular stop over for hikers and back packers.
This farm had escaped pigs which completely destroyed a poor campers tent because they had left their packed food on the floor of the tent.
never try to take food from a pig, it will snap at your hands.
..at that point, I let them eat everything.

 

[Horse Soldier]

About 4 yrs ago my wife and I went to south Africa and Botswana and rented a landcruiser 4 door ute with and rtt. We stopped for the night in Botswana and got side swiped by and elephant about 5am. It not with wakeup call of the wild you want to experience twice. Had a great trip, Andrew Whites videos on 4xoverland were very helpful in helping us plan or holiday. I would do it all over again except for the elephant.

 

[Outbound]

Black bear:

While fishing a remote river in northeastern BC, I was bushwhacking into gravel bar. When I popped out of the bush, I found that I was sharing the gravel bar with a young black bear maybe 30 yards away. I told him he could have it and started backing away. He began bouncing on his front paws, popping his jaw and taking steps forward and back like he was prepping to charge. I fired a 12ga slug into the ground between us, he spun around and took off while I kept backing out and found another spot to fish.

Grizzly:

Out hiking in northeastern BC, and came over a ridge. Found myself a few yards from a large grizzly. We were both pretty surprised. I yelled, he woofed, I slipped the safety off my shotgun and yelled again, he snorted, I backed out, he wandered off the other way.

Racoons:

Camping with friends in Washington State. They hadn't secured their coolers or food properly. Came back from an excursion and found racoons swarming the campsite having a good old time eating the food. Some choice words and hurled sticks drove them off. No real damage other than lost food and a good lesson for my friends in policing their food in camp.

Moose:

Not really overland related but really cool. I was elk and deer hunting with a couple friends and we were set up at the bottom of a clear cut line watching the crossings that the deer and elk liked to use. We heard a commotion about half way up the cut and then saw two of the biggest bull moose I've ever seen come into view. Both would have scored their way into Boone and Crockett records. The moose came toward us and then began shoving each other. Soon it was a full on rutting match, antlers locked, snorting, pawing the ground and massive pushes back and forth. It got within 10 yards of where we were hidden, watching in sheer awe of the power of these animals. We were so close I didn't dare move to get my camera out. After 15 minutes the wind changed, they caught our scent and ran off.

To this day, that has been my coolest wildlife experience. Even if we'd had moose tags, I still wouldn't have taken a shot. It was just too cool to see that.

 

[Billiebob]

Stopped to open a gate, left the door open, came back to see a Cougar inside and slammed the door.
It took 5 minutes for the Cougar to destroy the interior and break a window.

 

[MidOH]

Isn't that a Farmers Insurance commercial?

 

[Noble Savage]

I am fortunate to live in an area teaming wildlife like my part of Central Florida. This isn't an overlanding encounter but was still a fun one. A few days ago me and my soon to be father in-law were fishing along the inter coastal looking for new sports for trout and reds. We found a decent spot where the bites were good but nothing legal. After a few through back we notice a dolphin swimming on the side of the boat that we were throwing the non keepers on. As we started to island hop through out the lagoon, one dolphin became two and two become 4. This trend kept on going for a few hours until we have about 6 dolphins following our boat either trying to eat the trouts we were about to set hooks on or waiting for the non legals. They saw us as their free meal ticket and we tried our hardest to release the trout so the dolphins couldn't get them. After about 5 hours we decided to switch up our approach and wade through some flats to get some fish so the day wouldn't be a dud. As soon as we set up the power pole and got out with the fly rods they left. They knew the area we picked was harder for them to get our pry. We ended with 3 each that day and a good fish try that night.

 

[Flipper]

Wild hogs are becoming a problem. We have had 3 encounters hiking on Merritt Island and 1 on the east side of Lake George since Dec. In several other places in ONF we were warned by hunters we came across of hogs in the area. We carry bear spray and a firearm. These things aren’t cute little piggies, they have all the trails torn up. Nasty and very dangerous.

 

[Flipper]

I am fortunate to live in an area teaming wildlife like my part of Central Florida. This isn't an overlanding encounter but was still a fun one. A few days ago me and my soon to be father in-law were fishing along the inter coastal looking for new sports for trout and reds. We found a decent spot where the bites were good but nothing legal. After a few through back we notice a dolphin swimming on the side of the boat that we were throwing the non keepers on. As we started to island hop through out the lagoon, one dolphin became two and two become 4. This trend kept on going for a few hours until we have about 6 dolphins following our boat either trying to eat the trouts we were about to set hooks on or waiting for the non legals. They saw us as their free meal ticket and we tried our hardest to release the trout so the dolphins couldn't get them. After about 5 hours we decided to switch up our approach and wade through some flats to get some fish so the day wouldn't be a dud. As soon as we set up the power pole and got out with the fly rods they left. They knew the area we picked was harder for them to get our pry. We ended with 3 each that day and a good fish try that night.

Beside our skiff in the Lagoon.

 

[Noble Savage]

Beside our skiff in the Lagoon. View attachment 140992

Did they try and steal your catch too?

 

[Noble Savage]

Wild hogs are becoming a problem. We have had 3 encounters hiking on Merritt Island and 1 on the east side of Lake George since Dec. In several other places in ONF we were warned by hunters we came across of hogs in the area. We carry bear spray and a firearm. These things aren’t cute little piggies, they have all the trails torn up. Nasty and very dangerous.View attachment 140991

They are very much a problem. We have some land out in West Volusia and they tear it to pieces. Plus they are causing game to leave our immediate area (mostly turkeys). I carry a 10mm whenever I am out on the property cause you never know. Look at the trapper that got gored in Bervard County last year by one.

 

[Flipper]

Did they try and steal your catch too?

LOL! When they are around I just put rod down. We had a pod of them follow us in the Glades like your experience. One in front and 2 on each side. They were so close you could touch them and looking right into their eyes what a treat! They escorted us the Little Joe River for about 5 miles, when we turned onto Shark River they all turned around .

 

[Noble Savage]

LOL! When they are around I just put rod down. We had a pod of them follow us in the Glades like your experience. One in front and 2 on each side. They were so close you could touch them and looking right into their eyes what a treat! They escorted us the Little Joe River for about 5 miles, when we turned onto Shark River they all turned around .

Got to give them credit, they know how to get an easy meal. Because of the frequency of them following the boat I have switched to a fly rod and mostly go exclusively on the slat flats. Those little fish thieves can't catch my trout and reds now! lol

 

[Flipper]

They are very much a problem. We have some land out in West Volusia and they tear it to pieces. Plus they are causing game to leave our immediate area (mostly turkeys). I carry a 10mm whenever I am out on the property cause you never know. Look at the trapper that got gored in Bervard County last year by one.

We were up on the East side of Lake George at Nine Mile Point . That’s where the Hunter warned us. She said her Friend shot one with a 270, thought he missed, next shot behind the ear dropped it. When they checked it out the first round did hit in the neck the round came out his front leg and it didn’t even blink. Do you know the effects of bear spray on one? I can’t find any hard info. You would think with a snout that big if can stop a bear in its tracks it would work on a hog. Watching some of these YouTube videos of them charging point blank in the thick brush. That’s gonna be one hell of a shot to drop one with a handgun. She has the spray I have the firearm so it would be a team effort. I used to work at Gander in the firearms dept in Lake Mary and heard some pretty wild stories about the hogs also. If I ever go hunting for them I think it gonna be a 556 with and eotec. Lol

 

[Flipper]

Got to give them credit, they know how to get an easy meal. Because of the frequency of them following the boat I have switched to a fly rod and mostly go exclusively on the slat flats. Those little fish thieves can't catch my trout and reds now! lol

I used to have a Jack Russell, she would go ballistic when they would come around. She would be on the front deck napping , her head would pop up then would get up and start pacing back and forth. Then they would show up and it was like they were talking and playing with each other. It was like they were telepathic. Funny as sh,t. I think she could hear their blow holes before we knew they were there.

 

[Noble Savage]

We were up on the East side of Lake George at Nine Mile Point . That’s where the Hunter warned us. She said her Friend shot one with a 270, thought he missed, next shot behind the ear dropped it. When they checked it out the first round did hit in the neck the round came out his front leg and it didn’t even blink. Do you know the effects of bear spray on one? I can’t find any hard info. You would think with a snout that big if can stop a bear in its tracks it would work on a hog. Watching some of these YouTube videos of them charging point blank in the thick brush. That’s gonna be one hell of a shot to drop one with a handgun. She has the spray I have the firearm so it would be a team effort. I used to work at Gander in the firearms dept in Lake Mary and heard some pretty wild stories about the hogs also. If I ever go hunting for them I think it gonna be a 556 with and eotec. Lol

I used to love shopping at Gander when it was there. I haven't heard of what bear spray can do to one but I don't want to be the one to test it. I've dropped one before using the 10 when I was turkey hunting a few years back at the Monroe WMA. They are well armored and have plenty of fat to take punishment. Thats good you two carry to be safe out there. When I hunt for them I use a 308 or 7mm just to be safe. I don't want them getting up. I have to have some hog meat every now and then.

 

[Flipper]

I used to love shopping at Gander when it was there. I haven't heard of what bear spray can do to one but I don't want to be the one to test it. I've dropped one before using the 10 when I was turkey hunting a few years back at the Monroe WMA. They are well armored and have plenty of fat to take punishment. Thats good you two carry to be safe out there. When I hunt for them I use a 308 or 7mm just to be safe. I don't want them getting up. I have to have some hog meat every now and then.

I see your in Deland, we were up your way last week on the StJohns and Wekiva then the Swamp House for lunch. Just got a Garmin 64 UHD Plotter/Chirp sounder. WOW! I knew it was gonna be good but damn. The resolution and bottom detail is unreal.

 

[kwill]

Big Bend a couple of months ago.

 

[TxJeeper75]

RATTLESNAKE

One day, back in '97, I decided I wanted to climb a "mountain". I found a promising site about 50 miles NW of Uvalde, Tx. I packed up some gear, and headed out early the next morning for a nice day trip. I did two things wrong that day. First, I went solo, and second, I didn't tell anybody where I was going.

To get to the mountain, I had to venture off the blacktop, and drive up a dry river bed. The one bad thing I have to say about Texas is the lack of public lands. In this instance, as I drew nearer to my destination, I realized it was behind a fence line, on private property.

Not letting a good day go to waste, I decided to wheel in the white cobblestone of the river bed. I soon found myself stuck. My back tire had dug into the ground, and without lockers, my front wheel was spinning in the air. I had to jack up the rear, put rocks under the tire, reposition the jack, and repeat the process until all 4 wheels were on the ground again.

Soon after, I saw a couple hollowed out notches in the cliff side. As I approached to inspect further, I noticed an opening behind a tree to the left. Behind that tree, I found an entrance to a cave, which had been filled in with rock and sediment from the river. I spent the rest of the day digging out a tunnel to try an reach the end, which I could not see. During the dig, I found a few artifacts from ancient natives. The rest of the day, I couldn't help but imagine someone sitting in this spot thousands of years ago, living and crafting tools.

As the evening drew near, I decided to pack it up and call it a day. I had no issues all day, but as I was gathering up some tools, a 5 or 6 ft. diamond back rattlesnake decided to come in and curl up just inside the entrance. I have owned pythons in the past, so I don't have a fear of snakes, but I wasn't about to walk past this one. I thought about throwing rocks at it, but wasn't sure how that would turn out. So, I sat at the rear of the cave, and waited a couple hours until the snake decided to move on.