Afraid of the dark??
- Thread starter Nuts
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Nuts
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As I looked back on my experiences in the dark I do now recall (2) times I was worried/afraid.
1) I was archery hunting in the suburbs. And isolated 100acre patch of woods. I was at the base of the tree setting up my climber when a helicopter began searching the same woods. Obviously they were not looking for me? But why. A quick call to dispatch determined there was a wanted man on the loose. Probably the fastest I set up a climber and climbed. In my mind that was the safest.
2) We backpacked into the Adirondacks deer hunting. Probably 5-6miles in. Set up camp and day tripped it from there. I hunted till dark about 2 miles from our camping spot. On the way back my flashlight died. Not slowly faded. Like on/off. Zero moon. Not worried I grinned at my preparedness and in the dark removed a brand new flashlight from the packing. Then brand new batteries. Struggled a little but got the batteries in and the light came on. Now off to the races I headed for camp. 5 minutes later that flashlight starting dimming. And fast. I had a decision. Take the batteries out of my radio and put in flashlight or get comfortable and sit down in the dark with a good radio. So I sat down got comfortable and started calling for help on the radio. A short time later I could not see my hand in front of my face. What seamed like a long time later nobody has answered my radio calls. Does my radio reach that far? Second guessing agreed upon channel? Panicking a bit. The other guys were at camp eating and drinking knowing it would take me a while to get back. Eventually they realized I was late and someone recalled the radio, turned it back on and reached out. Needless to say I heard the rescue party coming way before I saw there lights. They were rather enjoying my predicament and also were in no condition to get behind a wheel. But they found me and I got back so that was a good outcome.
1) I was archery hunting in the suburbs. And isolated 100acre patch of woods. I was at the base of the tree setting up my climber when a helicopter began searching the same woods. Obviously they were not looking for me? But why. A quick call to dispatch determined there was a wanted man on the loose. Probably the fastest I set up a climber and climbed. In my mind that was the safest.
2) We backpacked into the Adirondacks deer hunting. Probably 5-6miles in. Set up camp and day tripped it from there. I hunted till dark about 2 miles from our camping spot. On the way back my flashlight died. Not slowly faded. Like on/off. Zero moon. Not worried I grinned at my preparedness and in the dark removed a brand new flashlight from the packing. Then brand new batteries. Struggled a little but got the batteries in and the light came on. Now off to the races I headed for camp. 5 minutes later that flashlight starting dimming. And fast. I had a decision. Take the batteries out of my radio and put in flashlight or get comfortable and sit down in the dark with a good radio. So I sat down got comfortable and started calling for help on the radio. A short time later I could not see my hand in front of my face. What seamed like a long time later nobody has answered my radio calls. Does my radio reach that far? Second guessing agreed upon channel? Panicking a bit. The other guys were at camp eating and drinking knowing it would take me a while to get back. Eventually they realized I was late and someone recalled the radio, turned it back on and reached out. Needless to say I heard the rescue party coming way before I saw there lights. They were rather enjoying my predicament and also were in no condition to get behind a wheel. But they found me and I got back so that was a good outcome.
Nick87
Well-known member
Been out in a marsh in waders in waist to chest deep water in the pitch black and a beaver slaps his tail about 20 feet away. Also creates the strobe light effect for a sec. Anybody that will go onto the water in the dark setting up Decoys where alligators are a thing have balls of phuggin steel imo.
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MT Super Puncher
Active member
Only when lazy/idiot hunters leave elk carcasses and gut piles on a main trail in dense grizzly country. That'll wake you up a bit in the morning if the coffee hasn't kicked in.
44hunter45
Well-known member
I love being under the stars high in the backcountry. Real stars.
Years ago I nearly put out my eye walking into a stob on a redwood tree in the dark. I was really lucky. It went through my lower eyelid but slid under my eyeball.
I worked nights and was commuting home. I had a NM chili attack and pulled my car over in the woods. I went from the interior light of the car to the dark of the woods. Looking for a place to drop trou. I walked right into that damned tree. Then shit my pants while I was checking to see if I still had an eyeball.
Went to the doc the next day and he put stitches in my eyelid.
After that event, getting eaten by a griz in the dark doesn't scare me much.
Years ago I nearly put out my eye walking into a stob on a redwood tree in the dark. I was really lucky. It went through my lower eyelid but slid under my eyeball.
I worked nights and was commuting home. I had a NM chili attack and pulled my car over in the woods. I went from the interior light of the car to the dark of the woods. Looking for a place to drop trou. I walked right into that damned tree. Then shit my pants while I was checking to see if I still had an eyeball.
Went to the doc the next day and he put stitches in my eyelid.
After that event, getting eaten by a griz in the dark doesn't scare me much.
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Bonasababy
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I worked at night for the family business as a teen, so there were a lot of nights I'd get him wired at midnight or 1 am. I took to taking a walk towards a forested hill not far away to listen. Frogs galore, coons, owls, really enjoyed it. Still to this day I love walking out to hunt in the dark. Many people don't know how little light you need to see if you just let your eyes adjust and don't look right at things.
We have some wolves by us but not really worried about them or the black bears. But griz and lions might make me think differently. Back when I did some predator calling it was a goal and a real treat to hear wolves start up. Always made the night but also kept me from shooting at anything I could see coming in.
I still remember reading the line--I think it was from Jack O Connor--that said " you are never more alive than the first night on safari".
We have some wolves by us but not really worried about them or the black bears. But griz and lions might make me think differently. Back when I did some predator calling it was a goal and a real treat to hear wolves start up. Always made the night but also kept me from shooting at anything I could see coming in.
I still remember reading the line--I think it was from Jack O Connor--that said " you are never more alive than the first night on safari".
fishing4sanity
Well-known member
If you're out for a morning run, a hobo ambitious enough or in shape enough to catch you is a scary thought. Now me, I'd be easy prey for the hobo, but so slow that a mountain lion would be bored and look for healthier prey.
Irrelevant
Well-known member
Our best developed sense is our sight, once you remove it, we are left mostly oblivious to the world around us. It makes evolutionary sense to be afraid of the dark. I have taken lots of people into caves, who simply cannot turn their headlamp off, and sit completely still and silent in the dark. It terrifies them.
