While in my ladder stand with my muzzle loader this week end a owl hit me twice.....I was in the stand about 45 minutes before you could see anything. I like to get out early and enjoy the quite time. Off in the far distance I could here owls hooting and doing their thing. Nothing really any different than the hundreds of other times I've been on stand. Right at first light I here a owl hoot about fifty yards to my right. I turn my head to look at him and see him fly and land in a tree about ten yards be hind me. I thought well that's pretty cool. A few minutes later he hoots real loud right behind me. I look around the tree and see him fly off through the trees for about a hundred yards out of sight. Well I get settled back in and about thirty seconds later SMACK right in the back of the head like someone hitting you with a open palm! The force knocked my head forward chin hitting my chest. I look up to see the owl land in a tree about tree 20 yards away. We have a star down and I reach up to feel my head and my toboggan in gone. Its laying half way to the owl on the ground. About that time the owl flies over to my right and land high in a tree ten yards away. The owl is moving his head back and forth like owls do sizing me up. I raise both arms trying to make him fly off. Well he lunges and makes about three power moves with his wings right toward my face. I swing my right arm to block him and down my head just as he knocks the crap out of the top of my head and fore head. Then flies over and lands about 10 yards away in another tree. Let me tell you a owl hits its prey with a lot of force! I raised my cap and ball to get even but didn't want to scare the deer away that could be in the area. He had enough flew away. Well after sitting in the tree for about ten minutes and absorbing what had just happened I feel something on my face. I rub my head and blood all over my face. Hooty had cut my eye brow about one inch long next to the eye socket and ended up with four puncture wounds in my head.... Question: Has anyone ever had that happen before? I've had them buzz me varmit calling before but never a hit, much less two! That's my story. Hope you enjoy it!

I had one try to get my cap off one time while calling, but nothing like what you had.

Lucky the damage wasn't worse. Glad you're O.K. I would have streaked my drawers!-)

My dad had a hawk come at him once but he just covered his face with his arms and that was the end of that the hawk flew up when he did that. Glad you are ok.

Never had that happen, but there wouldve been a dead owl for sure

My niece's husband had that happen, but he was sitting down against a tree blowing a "dying-rabbit" call. Cut his scalp and he needed some stitches.

Similar situation happened to me about 8-9 years ago. Door on the stand latched on outside, had to got through the window and unlatch the door from the outside.
Three barn owls, apparently ones i had booted from the stand earlier in the year,were circling and smacking my arm every time I stuck it out to unlock the door.
Tore my insulated coveralls and 3 fairly deep gashes on my forearm. No way I sticking my head outside till they were gone.

I like owls but that one I'd have killed. I have seen this behavior between owls and hawks fighting over hunting perches that they claim.

I guess that owl claimed your stand as his hunting perch but forgot to get you the memo. Glad you are ok.

Had a hawk try to land on me while I was sitting in a ladder stand. Right as he stretched his wings to break, and extended his legs, I hollered at him and threw my arms out. He plummeted out of control to the ground, then flew up and lit on a branch just above my head and started screaming obscenities at me while bobbing up and down. I was laughing so hard I couldn't see straight. After he had me lined out he flew off.

You don't happen to have a rat face, maybe big floppy ears, or any other prey characteristics, do you?

Great story!

Double Naught , Not that I know of. Been called a Chicken $--t a few times but that's about it as far as owl prey.

Same thing happened to a buddy of mine on a lease we were on north of Olney about 10 years ago. He had a 12-foot tripod he was hunting out of and this owl kept coming at him right at first light and ripped a huge gash in the arm of his coveralls. He had to get his knife out to try and ward him off after the first couple of times and the owl finally gave up. At the same lease, I had a tower box blind and an owl tried and get in through the windows a couple of times when I was in it. Scared the hell out of me the first time because it was dark and I was half dozed off and totally relaxed about an hour before sunup.

When we left that lease, we went to get our stuff and the inside of my box blind was filled with feathers and rodent remains from owls and their kill.

Those things can be mean as hell. Glad you got away unscathed.

Well I am certainly glad you were not seriously injured. Good thing he did not knock you down from the stand. hope ya got a good deer out of the deal

Dang! glad it wasn't worse.

That is an amazing story. Glad you're ok.

I wish I could have seen this all happening.

That the first time I have heard of an owl attack. This season, while opening the door to a box blind, an owl flew out. I was startled, but that is nothing like your experience.

I've never been tagged by an owl, glad it wasn't worse. Was just hunting with my BIL and he ended up shooting an owl. We had door issues with this blind prior, door came open and of course owls moved in. Fixed the door, cleaned out the blind, and he sat there the next morning. Early morning 3 owls kept trying to come in the window. He scared them off the first time but one owl would not give up. Said he kept coming over and over out of nowhere landing on the window coming in. BIL kept smacking him with his hat and I'm sure cussed a little after getting the crap scared out of him over and over. He said after 4 or 5 times he had enough, pulled his 380 and shot him/her between the eyes. We both like owls, but he said "Man, that SOB just wouldn't quit".

Not sure what species you were attacked by but Great Horned owls are in their mating season right now and can be pretty aggressive much like a buck. The males typically hoot like crazy trying to attract females to their perch. If your stand was his perch or too close to his perch that's why he went bonkers. The other time of year to watch out for them is when they have young in the spring. Both the males and females have been known to attack people if they perceive you as a threat to their young.

Thanks for all the comments! Looking back on the attack since I didn't get seriously hurt it was a cool experience. Nerve racking for sure at the time. I love being out in the woods! People at work that do not hunt or experience the outdoors say that they would never go out after hearing the story. What a shame! This kinda thing is exactly why I/we go into the woods to hunt and fish! To absorb the surrounding, soak in the sunrise and night falls! I'm 55 and have been hunting with my Dad and Brother, Grandad since I was 6 years old. Been through some pretty wild things over that time but would not trade one second for the security and confines of a house..... You have to live every day like its your last. It could be!

Had this happen before. Nearly fell off the ladder and had to have a change of britches.

youre lucky those claws didnt get ahold of you! very lucky!

NewGulf, yes I am. The cut on the eyebrow could have been very bad had it been a half inch lower. Guess my hard head saved me this time other than a few puncture wounds.

Glad that you didn't get seriously hurt... Could have lost an eye... Years ago called in an owl by imitating its sound during an archery hunt... Landed in tree next ta one i was in.... We chatted a bit, then it flew off... Wasn't wearing the new type camo, 60's-70's military... It could have thought your toboggon was tree rat... Hunter became the hunted... Hope ya have recovered, & get back out thar...
Edit: Just read part were ya said co-workers not wanting ta go inta woods after hearing your story... tis why got nickname caveman during my night hunts & at Sabine, they kept telling me the hog gonna get cha ... Reason posted get back out thar... Guess its best your co-workers don't hunt, on my hog hunts hit the thick areas... That thar safty orange could save lives... Feel safer stairing down a wild charging boar, had ta side step one, than being in woods with hunter scared of hogs... As pappy once said: tis easier ta side step charging wild hog than a bullet ... Think about it...

Glad you are okay though.