Fun Friday: 5 Close-Call Animal Encounters

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posted on May 19, 2017
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Watching a close-call video is similar to watching a first deer hunt video, sitting at the edge of your seat in anticipation of what's to come. When an animal, be it prey or just a colossal disturbance, comes within a hair's breadth of you, the rush is tangible. Thanks to YouTube, many hunters and outdoorsmen have shared their close calls.

These are the top 5 close-call animal encounters:

Curious Deer Sniffs Hunters Pants
This first video from YouTuber Stuck N The Rut shows a hunter and his videographer hunting on public land. A young mule-deer buck follows a doe that walks right up on the pair and sniffs the hunters pants before realizing something is amiss and running off. How the two kept so still with a big buck in such close proximity is quite impressive. This is the least deadly of the five encounters.

2014 Elk Hunt - 1 yard shot!
You may be wondering, after watching the below video, why it's on the list. Besides the obvious, close-call nature of the 1-yard shot, this video is purely entertaining for a plethora of reasons. The plucky guitar music is clearly a poor mix for the intensity of such an intimate hunt, which becomes even more amusing when you realize that the hunters are talking but the sound is muted. Feel free to ad-lib what they're saying like I did. Attempt to ignore the Blair Witch Project-esque filming, and enjoy the facial expressions!

15-Yard Files: Female Bowhunter Stares Down Giant Bull Elk at 4 Yards
Staring down a giant bull elk at just 4 yards is no small feat. In this video from Realtree Outdoors we see Cally Morris and the "15-Yard Files" team hunting the 2014 fall season opener. What makes this particular clip amazing is not only the nail-biting rush the viewer feels watching the entire ordeal, but the self-control Morris displays in a moment that could have become life threatening had the bull come at her.

Archery Elk Hunters Have Close Encounter with Bull Moose
Moose are not known for their docile temperaments. YouTube user Travis W and his dad got lucky that they blended in with the scenery when a giant bull moose came sniffing around. The pair were hunting the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, attempting to bow-hunt elk, when they unintentionally called in a bull moose instead who walked right past them at 2 feet. Watching this, the urge to jump and run or at least move back is overwhelming. Kudos to their good sense!

Fall 2014 Bear Hunt
Of all the close calls, this video from Luke Randall is by far the most dangerous. Bear hunting on Kodiak Island is no small feat, especially when your prey attempts to turn the tables on you and charges.

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