Our private land modern gun doe hunt opened yesterday, so I grabbed the camo seat, the 12 gauge, and a couple buck shot and headed to an oak flat I normally hunt each year during this season. No stand or blind, just back up close to a tree with a bit of ground cover to break up the silhouette, kick out the leaves and duff to bare ground, and take a seat.
While sitting yesterday morning, a Pilated woodpecker landed in the large oak I was sitting next to and started his work. This woodpecker was probably sixty foot up the tree and I could literally feel the vibration in the ground coming from his pecking. Thought that is one heakuva pecker to be able to feel those vibrations. One big bird.
BTW, about 9 a.m. a single doe came feeding through the oak flat and a load of buckshot to the front shoulder did the trick.

Congrats on the doe. Pileated woodpeckers are neat birds. I love their calls, sounds like something right out of a Tarzan movie. I had a pair build a sap well in one of my beech trees one spring and guard it all summer.

Congrats

I was hoping that was what this thread was about...

We have a couple around the house. When they land close you can hear them inside. Was always one of my favorite things about deer hunting when I was a kid. Love to listen to them.

We have a couple pairs living in our woods every year. One of my favorite birds.

was so skert to open this post but just couldn't stop myself

got a few of the big peckers flying around here too, hope some day i get some good close pictures.

The things we learn in the woods. Was not even touching the tree, just sitting close to it. Felt those vibrations through my boot. For the vibrations to run down the tree into the roots like that the woodpecker must have been pecking with some force.
As far as the hunt, I do enjoy hunts like that. Reminds me of my childhood hunts before Realtree, climbing stands, and the sort. Just find a spot and sit for awhile. I did cheat and brought a camo foldout seat instead of sitting directly on the ground or a tree stump. Memories....

Thought this thread was going to be a tribute to Johnny Holmes.....

I had a Northern Flicker attack the metal cover on the furnace stovepipe one day.
It sounded like machine gun fire.
I almost went into combat mode. I couldn't figure out why the enemy had such animosity toward the stovepipe cap. I made the stand down order and went outside to investigate.
Man those suckers are loud.

Watched pileateds toss big chunks of wood out of white pines and spruces in northern WI many times. Very cool.

Sounds Like an Awesome time in the Woods