Another post got me to post this: Like some of you I have hunted a lot. Not tooting my horn but it would probably amaze me to know the number of days. Between turkey and deer hunting I have spent a lot of time walking in the dark in the morning and evening (always trap in daylight). I carry a flash light but rarely use it. Your eyes will adjust to the dark and I know where I am going. The flashlight has saved me from walking right into a skunk a few times. Twice in all my years I have had a sense that something else is out there with me, watching. Not really scared just a sense that I need to watch out as something is out there. As humans we lived in the wild for thousands of years and developed senses for survival. Hunt enough and you will see animals sense that you are there although they can not possibly know you are around. Have always wondered what it was. Coyote or bobcat and your body just senses a predator watching/tracking you? Something else? Anyone else care to share a story? The amazing things you experience when in the great outdoors.

Had that feeling more than a few times. Most human races and our instincts and thousand(s) of years removed from living in the wilds and having to worry about predators, but the instinct is still there. As a kid I was scared to walk out in the dark, but I find peace in it nowadays. Most of my trap checks are in the dark, as I work a regular job, full-time. I enjoy checking traps in the dark, although weekend checks when I get to do it in the daytime are pretty nice too.

I have had that happen before; the first time and most distinct feeling was when I was hunting and there was a trail branching off of the one I was on. As I got closer to the branching off trail I KNEW there was a critter on the trail. It was weird. I looked and sure enough there was a rabbit there. I didn't shoot it cuz I was just like, "ok that's weird". And that was a few years ago when there weren't hardly any rabbits on our property. It's kind of hard to describe but it was a really strange feeling. The weird part wasn't the rabbit being there, it was the feeling that made it so strange.
I've had it happen since then too

I was looking for snare locations on the edge of a corn field when I noticed the 2 missed rows of corn in the middle of the field that did not have any fluffy snow on a few standing stalks in that row. It bothered me why so I backed up and walked the 20 yards over to it to check it out.

A Canada goose busted out of the stalks and surprised me not the jackrabbit I was thinking would be in there. I still wonder why such a little thing got my attention like that.

Everybody has it but have been taught it’s wrong to use it.

I love walking through the woods at night. Something happens to sound in the dark as well. Can’t explain it but it happens.

Your body is in tune with nature

I believe it can tell you a lot of things

Some ignore it or don't understand it

I think as outdoorsmen we are more in tune with it than city folks

Definitely an outdoors person can spot game that indoor folks struggle or never see it’s a real difference.

I used to always check my traps in the dark. What a peaceful way to spend the morning. I get them same feeling at time also. Really wakes you up when a coyote cuts loose a stone throw away with no warning.

Why I don’t stare at game animals. You can feel when something is focused on you and they most certainly can too.

Same as well.
Have had many other times when you know something is out there but not a threat. One time in particular it was just a constant feeling that I needed to keep a watch out (although it was dark) and didn't go away until I was almost home.

Setting foothold traps in the dark freaks me out. There’s something about being hunched over and focusing on the ground and not paying attention to what’s around you, and then you get this feeling like something is about to jump out at you.

We are descendants of those who ran when they sensed something was not right
Not the ones who stood around trying to figure out what it was

lol

Its called instinct , just like looking down the barrel of a gun even you know its not loaded you get that feeling anyway. its the the mind telling you to be ready and be alert.

They know when they are being watched, even secondhand watching. lol

I was setting traps at the end of the line one eavning on a deer lease.not quite dark but almost.i usually always have a pistol with me but left it in the truck.truck was only about 40 yards away but if a bear or lion was on me fast it might as well been 40 miles.got a feeling like you describe and then realized my pistol was in the truck.finished the set pretty fast and didnt run to the truck but didnt waste much time getting there lol.about a week later I was talking with one of the lease members and he proceeds to show me pictures of lion that has been hanging around his feeder which was a stones throw away from that last set I was making! A little while back there was a man in northern arkansas attacked by a black bear while on his tractor.he died at the hospital

Good size one

Here we go

Don't know what happened on that first pic

Old coon is thinking, " This isn't going to be good."