WTH?

Was at LaGrande Reservoir, a hike in lake at 6,000 feet in NEO years ago ona hot summer afternoon. Two of us were float tubing, about halfway down the lake toward the inlet when a herd of about 30 elk came down to cool off. It was a splash fest!
 
I grew up in the San Juan islands. I have watched deer swim from one island to another. They don’t always make it, either I’ve found deer washed up on the beach. I once watched a doe and her fawn go across. The mama went to the waters edge, then waded in and took off. The fawn was in a panic running up and down the beach, bawling for its mama. Finally, in desperation, it waded in and swam after her. Their legs are just sticks, but they swim fine.
 
Several years ago fishing the Chetco River out of Brookings, Or. while putting the drift boat in, a doe appeared about 50 yards up stream.
She made a beeline dash directly at us and stopped about 3 feet from where we were standing. Gave us the "sniff", turned and casually walked up the bank and out of sight .
 
I remember watching a snake slither over my 'toon while I was fishing near the island across from Mecca on the D.

Seconds later I was telling myself: Don't worry... snakes can't swim.
 
A Muley Buck strolled through a decoy set one time. Surprisingly, he didn't get fouled in any decoy lines, but he did pause and look quizzically at the dekes as he passed by. As I recall, he had a WTH look on his face too . . .
 
We were on CP the day one of our fishing buddies turned around on his pontoon to grab the anchor rope and found a rattlesnake coiled up on it. Pandemonium ensued! Shaken, he went back to camp to gather himself and found another rattler coiled up in the fire pit.

Rattlesnake stories about Coffeepot are not exaggerated. I always worried about a snake crawling onto the chassis of my truck then coming home with me and disembarking in my barn!
 
iveofione said:
We were on CP the day one of our fishing buddies turned around on his pontoon to grab the anchor rope and found a rattlesnake coiled up on it. Pandemonium ensued! Shaken, he went back to camp to gather himself and found another rattler coiled up in the fire pit.

Rattlesnake stories about Coffeepot are not exaggerated. I always worried about a snake crawling onto the chassis of my truck then coming home with me and disembarking in my barn!
Click to expand...
Ive - if I remember correctly, after the second rattler, he quickly packed up and went home.
 
I've heard many stories of rattlers attempting to board floating craft on The D so it isn't that rare. The snakes probably see the boats as a nice place to stop and rest.

While fishing, I too have seen deer swim across lakes and rivers. Considering they have such thin legs and small hoofs, I'm amazed they can swim at all. .... of course they're usually not exactly moving very quickly through the water.
 
Roper said:
So the morning started out fairly simple, drive up to a local lake, throw the water master in and start fishing. The fun part was not 50 feet from the put in I nailed this pig.

View attachment 131275

Then it got weird. I looked back at the launch where my truck was, and I saw something in the water. At first, I really couldn’t make out what it was, but all of a sudden it dawned on me. It’s a deer. Sure enough there was a Whitetail doe swimming across the lake. Why? I have no idea, sadly I didn’t take any pictures only video. And as far as I can tell, I can’t put video on this site but take my word for it. It happened.
The morning continued with a couple more big fish to the net and a few that got away too soon. But all in all, it was a fun morning, even if it was 34° when I put in.
Click to expand...
Nice fish.

Doe could have been taking a break from bucks in full rut harrassing her... I've had deer come swimming down the middle of the river I've been fishing.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top