The Hunt

I had some nice images on the trail cam this weekend, so I thought I would hunt my North Stand. Most people talk about mishaps while hunting like missing a really nice buck or getting treed by bears, which after the bears on my trail cam one might think that's not such a far-fetched mishap. But, as many of you know I am not most people.

Sitting in my stand tonight, I could hear something coming through the trees and brush slowly and deliberately. From the sound, whatever was headed my way was unaware that I was even there. I pulled an arrow from my quiver and nocked it in preparation. I waited as I heard it get closer and kept looking for it to come up the food plot and around the oak tree that I keep meaning to trim up.

After the longest 30 seconds of my life, whatever I was hearing sounded like it was right in front of me, but I still saw nothing. Suddenly the sound stopped...right at the base of my stand. I peered over the shooting rail carefully and quietly trying not to spook what had approached. I figured I had missed seeing it because I got distracted thinking about how I should have already trimmed that oak tree and if I don't trim it soon it's just going to get in the way again. See how easily that oak tree can distract you. Anyway, as I looked over the shooting rail there at the base of my tree stand was the largest water moccasin that I have ever seen! Now this snake was not just calmly moving to its next spot to relax, this snake had food on its mind.

As it lay at my only exit point, it held its head high in the air and glared directly at me. This obviously was no ordinary snake. From the size of the snake I believe it ate the deer I was hearing (behind that oak branch in the way) as the deer was on its route to me. I cannot stand most any kind of snake and now to top it off this particular enormous snake was apparently hunting me.

For those of you that do not know, you can hunt deer thirty minutes before sunrise until thirty minutes after sunset. This means that I don't exit my tree stand until dark. The snake knew that I am sure!

The snake in the brush, as marked in the original photo.

At the base of my tree stand, head pointed up with sunken eyes full of hunger, I began to wonder if it was coming up my stand or going to wait for me to come down. I am not much for waiting. So, four shots later from my Glock I had ruined any possible hunting for myself and probably those around me. I did not hit the snake a single time. It's hard to remember angle calculations while looking down 20 feet when you are being stalked.

I did not carry a fully loaded magazine in my gun because who would need more than two shots to kill a snake or a charging hog and what are the chances that I would really need to shoot something like that. Besides, it’s bow season.

Since I went out with a partially loaded magazine I was down to my last bullet. I had sent pics of the stalker snake to Beth Ann and told her I apparently could not hit the broadside of a barn with my gun, and I was not sure this snake was going to let me out of the woods alive. She told me to shoot it with an arrow. I, of course, responded that I didn't want to ruin an arrow. Her common-sense reply, "Really!?! You would chance coming out of a tree stand in the dark to a moccasin you KNOW is waiting on you rather than chance ruining an arrow?" She made sense so I told her I would shoot it with my bow.

This deadly stalker was directly at the base of my stand I could not shoot it from the platform while standing due to the angle. So, I slid down and sat on the standing platform with my feet on the second rung of the ladder and raised the camo netting over my head. I reached around and picked up my bow and drew back. Now, this is not an optimal shooting stance, I assure you, but it's all I could do at the moment.

My stalker still watched me figuring if I couldn't hit it with my gun why in the world should this arrow be feared. I relaxed as much as possible and pulled the release. The arrow struck the side of the stalker about a foot from its head. He quickly turned and slithered a few feet away. This gave me enough room to come down the stand and finish it off with my gun.

As I put my feet on the ground I quickly drew my gun and fired. My last round once again did not find its mark. The menace slithered a few more feet away and again turned and glared at me.

I then received a text from one of my fellow hunters, JD, wanting to know if I had killed the snake yet, and that he was on his way to my stand. Of course, I had to tell him that this armor-plated snake was still alive and on the hunt.

I walked back to my UTV to retrieve my other full magazine. About the time I reached the UTV, there was JD. We both went back to finish off this predator and when we arrived it had only traveled about 10 more feet from where it last was.

I decided to let JD shoot it this time because there was a great likelihood that I would miss again. The first shot from his .45 struck its target and the snake moved about two feet quickly and then coiled up now facing both of us and showing its namesake "cottonmouth". JD let off a second shot which again struck its target. See, two shots should take care of any snake. Remember, this was no ordinary snake.

After being struck with an arrow and shot twice this thing was still alive. Without further ado, JD took his machete and chopped off the front six inches of this enormous man-eater. Even with six inches missing, this Florida native pit viper was about 4 1/2 feet long.

I was much relieved at the demise of my stalker and reflected on the lessons I learned. First, never go out again without two full magazines for my gun as it is obvious I will need all 21 rounds to kill a snake. Second, don't forget to take my bow as well since I apparently will use all 21 rounds and never hit the snake. Finally, when all else fails, call JD and just have him come kill it.

I have the pictures to prove that this snake stalked me and to show its size, because no one would likely believe my experience. By the way, I have decided not to hunt my North stand for a while because I am sure that snake had family that are probably looking for revenge!