Newbie and Big A$$ Owls

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Predominator

New member
Hey gents,
I am a newbie at this predator thing. I built my own e-caller that plays MP3's, cd's, tapes, and can accept CF cards. My question is, and this might fall under night hunting, but how do you call at night and use a spotlight? Do you just keep the light on your decoys all the time and let the e-caller run? Because, I went out last night for the first time at night. I set up my little stuffed .99 cent rabbit from the dollar store and within 10 seconds of turning the thing on, I saw in my night vision a freakin owl swoop down and grab my rabbit off of a stainless steel TIG wire that I use for a decoy stake and fly off with it. I found it this morning, I guess he decided thread tasted like SHINOLA! Anyways, I have a huge owl population and I fought them all night. Swooping at my caller speaker, hitting my caller speaker,etc. All I saw were 5 deer. Just wanted some input about what and how I should hunt, I guess mainly at nght? By the way, this owl got pretty close to my head about 5 times. I was in the edge of a field. Maybe I'll take a tennis racket next time and knock his head off!
 
I usually use my scope light to scan the area every 30 sec to a minute,only using the halo not direct light until ready for the shot.It doesnt take much to light up those beedy red eyes.

btw,birds of prey are given when predator hunting,just hope one doesnt carry you off... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
It is something to keep in mind... In 1962 I was just starting to call coyotes and still trying to buy my second or third call. I had stopped in the local gun store to checkout his calls and as he was selling me a Burnham Bros. long range deluxe, there was an older gentleman walked in with a bandage on the side of his face.
I had meet this man once before and knew he was a caller, so was curious what had happened. He had been calling at night, with a mouth call, and from out of the darkness an owl came in sinking it's talons into his right cheek and jaw area. The talons had penetrated the cheek and had damaged the gums in the upper part of his mouth. All things considered he was fortunate he had not lost an eye. The one thing he said that I found the most chilling was the fact that he had heard nothing until the owl sank the claws into his face.
I was only 14yrs. at that time and it was a lesson that stayed with me.

Hunt Safe,
MaBell
 
Thats scary. These owls I got around here are big. They fight turkeys and crows all the time. I can go out at any one time and here 10-12 owls all hooting at each other and fighting and stuff. I had kept the caller close to me cause I read in a post that at night you need it close to you so the dogs will look in your direction and you can see their eyes shine. I think I'll scoot that bad boy speaker I got a little further out in front of me. Might even sit under a tree with some overhanging branchs to keep them from landing on my head. I heard one guy got is eye put out from one of these condors like I have around here. What is really scary is that you can't hear them dudes at all. Maybe we should have had some of these tactical owls in the Marine Corps when I was in service!!
 
Never forget the night one tried to land on my head thinking I was part of the fence post. Never got that cap back /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif I'm still spooked to this day night calling.
 
I have been hit by owls twice at night calling. The first one cut my eyebrow open. The scar is hidden in it. The second hit me from behind at the shoulder neck region. Never heard either one of them. Owls fly silently.

I found it very hard to sit still for awhiel after both encounters.

Use a decoy at night to keep the owls off you if you hand call.

Skinner 2
 
Thanks for all the advice guys. I kinda thought it was funny at first, but now I see that it can be dangerous to be hit by a 8# owl and his razor sharp talons.....
 
Here in MN I call owls in all the time while night hunting. And it scares the crap out of me every time like it's the first time. I've been swooped at hovered over and stared at. I don't even like it when they land in the tree next to me while I'm calling cause I know they have sharp tallons. One landed on my friends gun barrel one time when he was scoping a fox That had come to the call. It scared the crap out of him of course, and meen while the fox did'nt want the owl getting his meal so when he saw the owl go in, he went in and rushed my friend him self. of course he missed the fox but I don't blame him.
 
predominator.....If your calling Okla.at night i hope you and game warden have good standings because calling at night in southern okla is not legal.
 
Oh, the most important part, Coyote hunting is only allowed at night in Oklahoma with a shotgun. Almost forgot that part. Permit is needed as well.
 
yot-buster, I have went through the same thing in 2 different counties around here, the game warden said I could not hunt at night. Both times I called their superviser and got it straitened out. There are alot of people including game wardens that don't realize it is legal to coyote hunt at night.okhunter
 
yot-buster, you have to go through the game warden in the county you wish to hunt in. They will want to know where you will be hunting and who with. The rest of the info is on the permit itself. If you have any problems let me know and maybe I can help you out. okhunter
 


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