First hammock, first hang and the strange noise

[Spark]

If it sounded similar to the video I believe it was a whitetail deer. Bucks and Does both make sounds. Your scent may have surprised him and he just let you know he was there. I don't think there was anything to be concerned about. BYMMV

[Beast 71]

If it sounded similar to the video I believe it was a whitetail deer. Bucks and Does both make sounds. Your scent may have surprised him and he just let you know he was there. I don't think there was anything to be concerned about. BYMMV

Spark is right. They blow (the sound from the vid) to warn other deer that somethings up. The first time that I heard it I was walking to a bow stand, in the dark, as a kid. You couldn't have convinced me that it wasn't snorting to charge and in the first few moments that something is running in the dark, it always sounds like it's running straight towards you! Just because a fear is unfounded, it doesn't make it any less scary.

[Tarheelsue]

Yes, fairly certain it was a white tail. I've seen as many as 21 at one time in the field near the house.

[BuckeyeFan]

In high school my friend and I were camping with a scout troop in Big Bear Lake CA. They all had tents but there wasn't enough room for us. So we made a shelter on the ground and got comfortable. Some time later I awoke to something walking across my back. By the weight I'd guess a raccoon or skunk. Either way I didn't move, it could have been a Chupacabra.

[cruise]

Alarming noises at night are my justification for carrying a surefire P2x. It's real nice to light up the woods after hearing something like that. Few things are more valuable than a light in the darkness.

[dakotaross]

For my yard story, I was fine sleeping through train and siren noise and the occasional barking dog... the freaky crazed monkey sound was something I couldn't get through. Found afterward it must have been the Barred Owl I've seen around.

[ipokebadgers]

I was motorcycle camping a couple years ago near Mammoth Lake, CA. I had found a road that wound around a mountain and found a good spot on a hill above the road. It was August and I was about 6000 ft. elevation. There were the regular forest noises when I feel asleep. I woke up at 0400 to complete and total silence. I hung there for 20 minutes waiting for something to make noise. No breeze through the trees, no birds, no insect noises. I had never experienced silence like that in the woods and was too rattled to sleep. I packed up and left. I ended up watching the sunrise over Mono Lake from 9000 ft. Silence is not always golden.

[Canoefor2]

First time I took the wife hammock camping, and we shared a common tree, at 2:00am a barred owl landed on the tree above and started Hooting "loud." She sat straight up and after realizing what it was thought it was neat until an hour later it was still hooting and you could not sleep.

[CanGnu]

(even though it is my yard) That's a good one.

Buck snorts startled me too the first time I heard them. Wasn't worried though, it was daylight and I had a 12 gauge loaded with slugs. I can just imagine the fright it would give somebody being that close, in the dark, and hanging in a hammock. I don't blame you a bit for going in.

[brianb]

Going to show that video to my kids. They didn't believe me last time we were out and heard something very similar. They just couldn't wrap their heads around it being a dear.