Went for a hike yesterday morning. Since I would be passing through some property that I can't hunt on, I didn't take a gun.
While walking down a straight stretch of old roadway a couple of rabbits came busting out of the brush. They ran by within feet of me. I heard crashing in the brush. I nice big coyote with a very prime looking fur came out of the brush about 10 feet from me, running full speed, and put on the brakes. It looked at me for a second then took off through the brush. It's partner came out of the brush about 30 yards away and did the same thing.
I put so much effort into getting up before dawn, washing my clothes, calling, freezing, going without sleep, etc. to hunt these damn things and two of them almost run me over when I'm not even out hunting them.
It's experiences like that that keep me going after them.

Max503,

That is the way it seems to work.

In the Yukon, everything is open at pretty much the same time. Some of the nicest trophies that I have seen were when we were hunting something else. To many times we have turned down a big grizzly when on a stock on a band of rams. The second largest bull moose(70") I have seen was on a back pack sheep hunt.
I remember once in Saskatewan, I was all taged out so I was on push detail. The first 1/4 mile I walked on a drive(unarmed-no tags left) A 'without a doubt' B&C whitetail runs out of cover 50 yards away and stops to look at me.
I still have trouble sleeping at night over that one.
You are right, it is experiences like that keep a guy on his toes.

Daryl

I know this is not a "varmint story" but it does relate to the post subject.

I was bow hunting for deer and after not seeing or hearing anything that resembled a deer for two days I decided to move to another location, but where I was not sure. After debating in my mind where to search I decided on a known bedding erea. There was no use in taking my BOW since there is no way I would ever be able to STALK deer in the mountains of W.V with fresh, dry leaves on the ground. I ventured up to the top of a steep mountain and started down the other side, after traversing about 100 yards downhill walking like I had not a care in the world, after all I was scouting not hunting, I was about 30 yards from a known deer trail (yes I do know the area well, it is just behind my house) so I decided to stop and have a look around. As quick as I stopped I heard the crunching of leaves off to my right and down hill just a bit. It was a VERY nice 8 point buck coming up the deer trail toward me. I held silent to watch as he passed by never thinking that he would get much closer to me standing in the open before throwning his head up and running off with the white flag waving. Well, he got to the point in the trail just below me and decided to cut about 10 yards off the trail TOWARD ME and rub on a sappling that was 20 yards from my standing position. After holding perfectly still for what seemed like 20 minutes (it was closer to 3 or 4) while watching this nice 8 point present every opportunity I decided that I would never venture off unarmed during any season I had plans for, especialy for deer in rut.

I was once walking back from a morning hunt with my hang-on tree stand and climbing stick on my back. I thought I was making a lot of noise. Off the trail about 20 yards 2 does were bedded. They were going to let me pass by. I set down my load, nocked an arrow, and got one of the does before she got up. I always tell myself "stranger things have happened."