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Swamp Critter · #1 04-19-2010, 01:22 PM

Technically, this isn't about hunting, or for that matter, fishing either. Maybe it's a little odd, but anyway, here goes. Something I've come to enjoy lately is getting out to a canal near where I live and drive down the road next to it at night and just look for alligators and owls. Not to hunt, just to watch. I do bring my pistol along with me because the road has the canal on one side and crawfish ponds on the other and it dead ends in a huge cypress swamp, so the place is full of cottonmouth snakes. LOTS of them. One time I got out of my truck, walked to the front and looked at the road right under my door and there was a big fat one crawling out right where I was standing not 10 seconds before. So, I keep my pistol for snakes. Anyway, I think both gators and owls are just cool creatures to watch. You always know it's a gator when you see those red/orange eyes shining in the light on the water. And the owls don't seem to be afraid of people. Early this morning I went out there well before daylight. Only saw two small gators, but I know there's a big ol' mac daddy out there too. He just doesn't show himself often. There were lots of owls. I brought my owl call and got them going. Within a few minutes of calling, I had 3 or 4 of them hootin' and squawkin' like crazy. Not way off in the swamp, I mean practically right overhead. I'd say they were within 20 yards away from me. I like it when they really get worked up and they sound like monkeys. They're entertaining to listen to. When I was a kid I thought about how fun it would be to take some "city folks" out in the swamp at night. You know, to spook them a little and have some fun with them! LOL! Now, I would want them not to be spooked, but just to enjoy it. Anyway, I wonder if any you enjoy doing things like that? I sure do. Now that deer season's over, it just gives me an excuse to get out among the "swamp critters" once in a while. Later!

Jordan · #2 04-19-2010, 01:26 PM

Nice write swamp critter..... only thing i use an owl call for is locating turkeys.. they do raise all kinds of hell in the woods though..

jpeff31787 · #3 04-19-2010, 01:26 PM

heck yeah man! I don't do it often but whenever i get the chance to I do. A few months ago I had an owl land on the side of the boat. Not 3 feet from me. He stayed there the whole time we fished by him too. i think he wanted our baits. Definitely a cool creature, chicot is full of them. Didn't know they had owl calls, i might have to get me one. They cant be that much can they?

BellPepperHead · #4 04-19-2010, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpeff31787

heck yeah man! I don't do it often but whenever i get the chance to I do. A few months ago I had an owl land on the side of the boat. Not 3 feet from me. He stayed there the whole time we fished by him too. i think he wanted our baits. Definitely a cool creature, chicot is full of them. Didn't know they had owl calls, i might have to get me one. They cant be that much can they?

Owl calls are cheap...

https://shop.primos.com/pc-494-38-hoot-flute.aspx

eman · #5 04-19-2010, 02:00 PM

Sounds like a cool way to spend an evening.
FYI, Just be careful, You are shining a light at animals w/ a weapon in your possession. The wrong agent sees you and he can cite you for night hunting from a vehicle at the most or harrassment of wildlife at the least. Sucks ,but it has happened

Swamp Critter · #6 04-19-2010, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eman

Sounds like a cool way to spend an evening.
FYI, Just be careful, You are shining a light at animals w/ a weapon in your possession. The wrong agent sees you and he can cite you for night hunting from a vehicle at the most or harrassment of wildlife at the least. Sucks ,but it has happened

Thanks for the warning. I have thought of that, so that's why I load up with ratshot. Maybe it will help show that I'm not really "hunting" and it's just for snakes. Also I keep the video camera with me because really I'm just trying to get some video or at least sounds. I know I'm not doing anything wrong, but you're right, all it takes is the wrong agent on a power trip to ruin things. Anyway, thanks again for the warning. But until I'm told to stop, I'll keep on enjoying it.

Swamp Critter · #7 04-27-2010, 11:21 AM

Here's some video I got out there last week. There were two owls carrying on a lively conversation, but at first I could only see this one. I saw him swoop down and grab something to eat right at dark, about 20 minutes or so later. I just wish I could have gotten that on camera too. I've never seen that happen before. Anyway, I hope y'all enjoy it. Let me know what y'all think. Have a good one. Later!

YouTube- Louisiana Barred Owls Swamp Music

Swamp Critter · #8 04-19-2010, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpeff31787

heck yeah man! I don't do it often but whenever i get the chance to I do. A few months ago I had an owl land on the side of the boat. Not 3 feet from me. He stayed there the whole time we fished by him too. i think he wanted our baits. Definitely a cool creature, chicot is full of them. Didn't know they had owl calls, i might have to get me one. They cant be that much can they?

I'm not a duck hunter but I believe the price is probably about like a duck call or a grunt call for deer. I have two, both from Primos. I have the Hoot Flute and the Power Owl. The Power Owl is just like a reed type duck call, modified to create owl sounds, and was around $12.00 The Hoot Flute is something like a coach's whistle only bigger with some tuning holes and of course no ball inside! That was I think about $8.00. With reed type calls you can produce those crazy "monkey calls" and squawks and laughing sounds owls make. Turkey hunters use them to locate gobblers because owls apparently get them fired up and they sound off when they hear them.

Asterisk-Rich · #9 10-28-2010, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jpeff31787

heck yeah man! I don't do it often but whenever i get the chance to I do. A few months ago I had an owl land on the side of the boat. Not 3 feet from me. He stayed there the whole time we fished by him too. i think he wanted our baits. Definitely a cool creature, chicot is full of them. Didn't know they had owl calls, i might have to get me one. They cant be that much can they?

just bring SPECKSNDASURF with you...he can do a hoot with his mouth pretty good!

Swamp Critter · #10 10-28-2010, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asterisk-Rich

just bring SPECKSNDASURF with you...he can do a hoot with his mouth pretty good!

I'd like to learn how to do that. Some guys can and they're spot-on with just their voice.

bay_slayer · #11 04-19-2010, 01:32 PM

My grand parents that live in bayou chicot had a pet owl when I was kid. It was injured when they found it so they built a massive cage outside for it and kept it for years until it died. Talk about a cool bird have around.........i definitely wasnt afraid of us either.

SULPHITE · #12 04-19-2010, 01:34 PM

my dad could do an owl hoot with his mouth...We would be out on the deck at our old duck hunting camp on lacasine bayou and he would call owls right up to the deck...funny and crazy!

RaginCagin · #13 04-19-2010, 01:39 PM

I hate owls. They really freak me out especially a screetch owl. Those evil buggers watch you walk by and twist there head around almost 360 degrees while watching you. They give me the heebe jeebies.

Dink · #14 04-19-2010, 02:08 PM

I have a little white owl living in my back yard somewhere............super cool little guy.....Wife and I hang out there alot and always bring the flashlight.......never fails, he comes and sits right above us and watches us.........I shine him and he just looks back......he seems very curious......big big eyes for such a little bird...........Wish I knew what kind he is...........

Swamp Critter · #15 04-19-2010, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dink

I have a little white owl living in my back yard somewhere............super cool little guy.....Wife and I hang out there alot and always bring the flashlight.......never fails, he comes and sits right above us and watches us.........I shine him and he just looks back......he seems very curious......big big eyes for such a little bird...........Wish I knew what kind he is...........

Sounds like you got a screech owl. I see one once in a while in my back yard. I believe his nest is in one of the trees back there. He's about the size of a pigeon or a bit smaller. When he sings it sounds like a miniature horse whinnying followed by a long "trill" sound.