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View Full Version : Stalkers on Noontoola !


Jeff Jones
02-10-99, 10:31 PM
When I first visited Noontoola on the Blue Ridge WMA, I came uponthe headwaters and hopped out of the car to take a peek at the stream. I saw a tiny little brook that hardly looked like it could hold a 9" trout, much less a 16"er. As I was standing there, the sounds of the tiny water flowig over a small shoal, I thought I heard a stick break, or maybe a squirrel hopping onto a tree. Turning my attention back to the creek, my thoughts drifted back to the problem at hand. Was I evn on the right creek ? Was I anywhere near any other creeks, were there ... "EXCUSE ME SIR ". . .

I almost wet my pants. Two Army Rangers from the training camp located a few miles away had all but scared me to death ! They were dressed in camo, with sticks attached to their arms and legs and their faces all painted black and green ! They were erely informing me that they were doing some exercises in the nearby woods, and not to be alarmed.

too late. I eventually drove down the mountianside to find the creek in all it's glory at 3 forks and beyond. That day Noontoola gave up two browns over 11" and several rainbows in the 10" class. I have never one as well there as the first time, but that's alright. The scare and the great fishing that day will never let me forget the great Noontoola Creek watershed ! http://www.georgia-outdoors.com/ubbngto/smile.gif

J Olliff
02-12-99, 11:05 AM
I has a friend fishing Nimblewill creek and the same thing happened to him. I have yet to have an encounter such as this. Nice story, though.
I know when we've hunted on the ridge, you could hear 'em shooting .50 cal machine guns at their (I suppose) range early in the morning. I guess they like the smell of gunpowder in the morning......

SHAWN
02-12-99, 05:53 PM
They use blanks on those training ops. Can still scare the crap out of ya

Jeff Jones
02-12-99, 06:13 PM
The choppers can sure make you head for cover. Forgot to mention once when I was camping there,a chopper turned a HUGE spotlight on my campfire. Felt like I was in the movie " Close Encounters" !

superchub
02-13-99, 06:07 PM
We ran into an Ranger ambush on Hawk Mountain some years back. We had just come out of the woods and started into the clearing...noticed the bushes moving beside us.full camo with branches and twigs all over...one of the rangers put his finger to his lips and signed for us to be quiet and keep moving..as soon as we crossed the clearing all he*l broke loose!! Quite a show! And you are right about "Close Encounters" All night long the hueys hunted the "bad guys" with spot lights!! Pretty COOOL! BUT real annoying once the niftyness wore off!!
SC