The Old Farm
I grew up on an old farm in the finger lakes region. After my grandpa passed we inherited all of his land. About 187 acres, mostly wooded, right next to my dad's land. I was about 13 at this point and had already spent my childhood in those woods, and there was always a specific part of the woods that was right off my grandpa's land that always made me feel really unsettled and creeped out when I looked into it.
Our land had been logged regularly every 20-30 years. The neighboring land had not, ever. It was very thick untouched forest. I was not allowed to go in there, and I didn't want to anyway. Hunters loved that land, and one of them set up his treestand about 100yds off our land. I remember him talking to my dad one night about some of the weird shit he had seen in those woods. This terrified 13yo me and I NEVER went in there... until I was about 20.
I was bigger and bolder and one day decided to venture in there just to see what was going on. Not far off our land I saw a really old stone foundation and what was left of a collapsed cistern. I approached, and then stood there silently for a few minutes, facing my fears I guess? Suddenly my vision went dark and I almost collapsed. A stayed composed and waited until my vision returned and saw what I swear were three black figures standing in front of me, and then they disappeared a few seconds later. Then, I suddenly lock eyes with an enormous buck watching me from a distance. After a few seconds of eye contact it grunted loudly and then dashed off deeper into the forest.
My rational side thinks it was just blood pressure suddenly dropping or increasing due to fear and adrenaline, but it was definitely something super weird that i've only experienced a few times throughout my whole life; usually in moments where i'm scared shitless or exhausted.
Also, when I was about 23, I used to night walk in those woods almost every day. On clear nights I could see clearly enough under the moonlight that I didn't even bother bringing a flash light. I enjoyed doing that and I got used to encountering black bears and sleeping deer etc. The forest completely changes when the sun goes down. It's certainly not "human hours."
And again, I would avoid that part of the woods because I NEVER felt safe there. Not during the day, and definitely not at night.
One night, under a nearly full moon, I go for a walk again, and without a flashlight. I approach that part of the woods and walk along side it, out in a clearing to be sure I'm not getting lost.
Then, out of nowhere I hear three LOUD knocks against a tree. It sounded like somebody had a baseball bat and they were whacking it against a solid tree as hard as they could. BOOM BOOM BOOM, and I could hear the echos moving through the trees. I stop and listen, and about 10 seconds later I hear it again, but this time it was slower and louder. I shouted "is someone fucking with me?" and then the sound stopped. I was freaked out because it was literally 1-2am on a week day and it wasn't hunting season. All logic left my brain and I just ran back to my house.
I still, to this day, 10+ years later, can't figure out what that was. I've moved away now and that land is owned by a younger family. I told the parents about that part of the woods, and my dad warned them too because he hates that place too and he was living on that land since the 50s. I haven't talked to them in years, but their kids have gotta be old enough to be curious about those woods by now.
I hope they get just as freaked out as I did. For some reason, I have a serious craving to own unlogged untouched pristine ancient forest. There's something mysterious about it. It's so hard to find in NY though these days, or anywhere else in the US. Everything has been logged and destroyed.
#Area/Woods #Area/Farm #Location/US/NewYork #Sounds/Knocking #Animal/Deer