A thread on the Hunters Campfire forum regarding the first things that you hunted made me recall this experience.
I was hiking up a grassy ridge while carrying a .22 rifle. I came upon two cottontails and shot one, which I thought had dropped dead. The second rabbit scurried up over the ridge and onto the other side. I followed it and as I did that, I walked past the first bunny. I looked over the ridge and, while I did that, the "dead" rabbit let out a blood curdling scream from behind me. It was startling to say the least.
Wind in my hair, Sun on my face, I gazed at the wide open spaces, And I was at home.
I would put an injured cottontail scream right up there with a bunch of coyotes “chorusing” after sunset with sounds that raise the hair on the back of your neck. 😳
NRA Life,Endowment,Patron or Benefactor since '72.
Some buddies and I were camping out one early fall night and about midnight we were all woken up with a bloody scream. It turns out a bobcat had caught a rabbit not far from our camp and it was screeching I assume because of the pain and fright. My dog was with me and she took off in the direction of the scream and a few seconds later we all heard this growl we are pretty sure was from the bob cat. The dog came running back and laid down beside me like it wanted protection. After the bobcat's growl that was the las we heard of the rabbit. It was pretty spooky.
kwg
For liberals and anarchists, power and control is opium, selling envy is the fastest and easiest way to get it. TRR American conservative. Iowa chapter. Stolen elections have consequences.
Yes, many years ago. I was just a kid, out in the woods by myself…..scared the hell outta me! memtb
You should not use a rifle that will kill an animal when everything goes right; you should use one that will do the job when everything goes wrong." -Bob Hagel
Probably the most hair raising noise I've heard in the outdoors is two bobcats fighting. In the moonlight deep in the national forest alone walking out with a bow killed deer in the backpack and when that ruckus kicks off about 150 yards ahead of you it will cause you stop for a minute or two to figure it out before continuing on that direction.
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
11 or 12 years old, out woods loafing with my trusty Crossman, sitting just below the top of a slightly wooded ridge, mainly junipers and such with a few trees here and there, overgrown pasture, I believe. I heard a gawdawful screaming above me ... several one or two second bursts. I scrambled up to the top of the ridge, scaring off a big red-tail hawk that had obviously just nailed a rabbit. The rabbit took off too. I winged a hail Mary shot at the rabbit, clean miss, but I could see three red stripes down the length of his hindquarter where the hawk had grabbed him. Pretty cool sight for a kid to see.
Not sure in real life. but about 35 years ago I had a cassette tape for my tape caller with a Handwritten label "cottontail being skined alive. Bought it at a small local gun shop. It called a few coyotes, but would make my dog go berserk.
The collection of taxes which are not absolutely required, which do not beyond reasonable doubt contribute to public welfare, is only a species of legalized larceny. Under this Republic the rewards of industry belong to those who earn them. Coolidge
Funny that you bring this up because I haven’t thought about this topic for 40+ years. When I was a little boy my grandpa and I were real close and we’d spend all summer traveling across the country. Grandma and grandpa had decided to buy property in Apache Junction Arizona so we started spending a lot of time there, especially spring and summer. I was always into guns, hunting, fishing and everything outdoor related with my earliest memories of shooting BB guns and archery. I had a bolt action 22 that mom and dad bought me for Christmas when I was 9 and that’s what I toted in the desert around Apache Junction for rabbits. I had read about cottontails screaming and I absolutely dreaded that. I literally stayed awake at nights fearing a bad shot and having to hear them scream. I spent more time practicing with my 22 kicking a ball and hitting it on the move like a fleeing rabbit. Finally the day came that I was comfortable enough with my shooting that I committed myself to giving the rabbits a shot(pun intended). I started out on the desert trail about 7am, the desert in the springtime is magical with everything being a wonderful assault on all your senses. I had only been on the trail for a couple minutes when the first cottontail flushed behind me and to the left. I instinctively swung and fired hitting the cottontail in the head and instantly killing it. I was PROUD of my first shot and decided to collect the rabbit on my way back to grandpa and his truck unless a coyote or something came along in which case I’d use the rabbit as bait for a bigger trophy. Over the next several hours I proceeded to kill 4 more cottontails all with head shots and not a peep out of them. I killed several big jackrabbits and other assorted desert vermin including a decent sized rattler but for some reason it was the scream of a cottontail that worried me. 😂
On my way back to grandpa and the truck I slowly approached the site of my first cottontail kill hoping to see a coyote or bobcat eating it. I crawled over the little rise to peek into the small wash where the dead rabbit was and I couldn’t believe my 12 year old eyes….there were 3 cottontails eating their buddy. I threw my rifle up and set the iron site on one of the little cannibals and it looked up at me with a bloody face…the 3 rabbits looked demonic with the blood of their fallen comrade staining their cute cuddly furry little faces. I killed 1 of the demon cannibals and kept returning to the site hoping for something bigger but that was it. I never worried about them screaming ever again after that surprisingly gruesome encounter…😂
�Politicians are the lowest form of life on earth. Liberal Democrats are the lowest form of politician.� �General George S. Patton, Jr.
I've played it a lot but only heard it once. I was sitting in a deer stand and one started. It went on forever. I couldn't see exactly where it was coming from or what was happening, but if it died, it wasn't a quick death.
I've also heard a Pine Squirrel scream as it was being chased by a Pine Marten. That chase lasted about 2 or 3 minutes. I was hoping the Pine Marten would get his chattering ass but he got away.
I've heard it here and there, including the first cottontail I shot with a .22.
Last time was maybe 5 years ago near Worland WY, and the desert was just full of little cottontails. Camped that night at a BLM site and heard a couple of them get killed by something overnight.
Was putting a new frame under a grain trailer by Coleta Illinois a few years ago. took a break and shut the welder down to hear the sounds of a screaming cottontail right behind the machine shed I was working in
Ex and I were camping in Iowa's yellow river state forest when we heard a rabbit start screaming. Ex grabbed a flashlight and said she was gonna stop it. Just then a bobcat started screaming from the other direction and the ex was quickly back at the fire with a blanket around her.
Funny that you bring this up because I haven’t thought about this topic for 40+ years. When I was a little boy my grandpa and I were real close and we’d spend all summer traveling across the country. Grandma and grandpa had decided to buy property in Apache Junction Arizona so we started spending a lot of time there, especially spring and summer. I was always into guns, hunting, fishing and everything outdoor related with my earliest memories of shooting BB guns and archery. I had a bolt action 22 that mom and dad bought me for Christmas when I was 9 and that’s what I toted in the desert around Apache Junction for rabbits. I had read about cottontails screaming and I absolutely dreaded that. I literally stayed awake at nights fearing a bad shot and having to hear them scream. I spent more time practicing with my 22 kicking a ball and hitting it on the move like a fleeing rabbit. Finally the day came that I was comfortable enough with my shooting that I committed myself to giving the rabbits a shot(pun intended). I started out on the desert trail about 7am, the desert in the springtime is magical with everything being a wonderful assault on all your senses. I had only been on the trail for a couple minutes when the first cottontail flushed behind me and to the left. I instinctively swung and fired hitting the cottontail in the head and instantly killing it. I was PROUD of my first shot and decided to collect the rabbit on my way back to grandpa and his truck unless a coyote or something came along in which case I’d use the rabbit as bait for a bigger trophy. Over the next several hours I proceeded to kill 4 more cottontails all with head shots and not a peep out of them. I killed several big jackrabbits and other assorted desert vermin including a decent sized rattler but for some reason it was the scream of a cottontail that worried me. 😂
On my way back to grandpa and the truck I slowly approached the site of my first cottontail kill hoping to see a coyote or bobcat eating it. I crawled over the little rise to peek into the small wash where the dead rabbit was and I couldn’t believe my 12 year old eyes….there were 3 cottontails eating their buddy. I threw my rifle up and set the iron site on one of the little cannibals and it looked up at me with a bloody face…the 3 rabbits looked demonic with the blood of their fallen comrade staining their cute cuddly furry little faces. I killed 1 of the demon cannibals and kept returning to the site hoping for something bigger but that was it. I never worried about them screaming ever again after that surprisingly gruesome encounter…😂
We see that with sage rats (Belding’s ground squirrel). They’ll drag a dead buddy off into a burrow to eat later.
As a young kid I used to ride the tractor with dad or grandpa while they were mowing alfalfa for hay. When a younger rabbit would run out I'd jump off and try to chase it down. Caught a few, the first time one of them screamed it was a real eye opener.
Second deer I killed was on the other side of a fallen log, just his back showing, when I shot him he went straight down out of sight, spined him... he screamed worse than any rabbit for about 30 seconds before he died... eerie.
Second deer I killed was on the other side of a fallen log, just his back showing, when I shot him he went straight down out of sight, spined him... he screamed worse than any rabbit for about 30 seconds before he died... eerie.
Second deer I killed was on the other side of a fallen log, just his back showing, when I shot him he went straight down out of sight, spined him... he screamed worse than any rabbit for about 30 seconds before he died... eerie.
Kent
Had a big boar hog I shot in the spine from above while in a tree blind scream like that. Drew my 44 Mag Ruger Super BlackHawk and shot him as he walked underneath my bow blind. Eerie sound. 😬
"Allways speak the truth and you will never have to remember what you said before..." Sam Houston Texans, "We say Grace, We Say Mam, If You Don't Like it, We Don't Give a Damn!"
I've heard a rabbit scream twice in my life. One night in the summer I woke up and one was screaming in the woods next to the house. A fox probably got it. I knew the sound because I've heard a recording of it, and IIRC it was called a "Dying rabbit call". I guess it's used in predator calling. Second time was a real small young one that got behind a small wire mesh fence behind the garage with only one way out. I cornered it out of curiosity and snatched it up and was gonna put it in the woods. That thing began screaming and it wasn't even hurt. Guess they also scream out of terror.
I've heard it here and there, including the first cottontail I shot with a .22.
Last time was maybe 5 years ago near Worland WY, and the desert was just full of little cottontails. Camped that night at a BLM site and heard a couple of them get killed by something overnight.
Was putting a new frame under a grain trailer by Coleta Illinois a few years ago. took a break and shut the welder down to hear the sounds of a screaming cottontail right behind the machine shed I was working in
Ex and I were camping in Iowa's yellow river state forest when we heard a rabbit start screaming. Ex grabbed a flashlight and said she was gonna stop it. Just then a bobcat started screaming from the other direction and the ex was quickly back at the fire with a blanket around her.
Yellow River also has bears and wolves. Probably cougars as well. I want to camp there but the wife wants running water and flush toilets.
kwg
For liberals and anarchists, power and control is opium, selling envy is the fastest and easiest way to get it. TRR American conservative. Iowa chapter. Stolen elections have consequences.
When I was a young kid I rode on the ladder of the combine and when a rabbit flushed out of the standing wheat into the wheat stubble, I bailed off and caught many of them, and lots of them screamed bloody murder just from me catching them.
I shot the face off one with a .222 once, and it ran at me and tried to climb my leg screaming the whole time. Stuff of nightmares. I think I'll lung shoot 'em from now on!
my Dad was attacked by a Jackrabbit he cornered one time.
God bless Texas----------------------- Old 300 I will remain what i am until the day I die- A HUNTER......Sitting Bull Its not how you pick the booger.. but where you put it !! Roger V Hunter
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