Well had one of those rough days at work today and figured an afternoon woodchuck hunt might be just the stress reliever that I needed. So I drove out to the farm in Readington and it soon became clear that we were getting a T-storm. It sucked because not only werent they forcasting them but at home the skys were bright and sunny.
So I was at least smart enough to wait in the car, but I decided to drive up into the corner of the field so at least maybe I could see some "whistling pigs" from the car. It wasnt a severe thunderstorm and had light rain and some lighning. I just hung out in the car with the window down listening to the radio, looking up new hunting prop. on a map, and trying to wait the storm out.
After the majority of the storm had passed it continued raining. All of a sudden 45 yds. away (had the rangefinder out lol) a 2 foot wide blinding bolt of lighning hit in the field near a pile of fertilizer. The lighting hit which sounded similar to a slug gun going off next to my ear and had enough concusion to just about knock me over from my cars seat. Once it hit it threw dirt into the air and left the field smoldering.
Needless to say what happened today was a valuable life lesson and I will avoid being outdoors during a T-storm at all costs. The storm passed and left behind a rainbow and a half dozen 8-10" circle of burnt hay.The weird part is how the lightning struck in the field in a lower area and didnt hit the tree I was parked under instead. It also didnt leave a crater or hole like I expected. Wonder if the pile of fertilizer acted as a conductor? magnessium? I even got to walk around afterwards but their werent any chucks around.
So I was at least smart enough to wait in the car, but I decided to drive up into the corner of the field so at least maybe I could see some "whistling pigs" from the car. It wasnt a severe thunderstorm and had light rain and some lighning. I just hung out in the car with the window down listening to the radio, looking up new hunting prop. on a map, and trying to wait the storm out.
After the majority of the storm had passed it continued raining. All of a sudden 45 yds. away (had the rangefinder out lol) a 2 foot wide blinding bolt of lighning hit in the field near a pile of fertilizer. The lighting hit which sounded similar to a slug gun going off next to my ear and had enough concusion to just about knock me over from my cars seat. Once it hit it threw dirt into the air and left the field smoldering.
Needless to say what happened today was a valuable life lesson and I will avoid being outdoors during a T-storm at all costs. The storm passed and left behind a rainbow and a half dozen 8-10" circle of burnt hay.The weird part is how the lightning struck in the field in a lower area and didnt hit the tree I was parked under instead. It also didnt leave a crater or hole like I expected. Wonder if the pile of fertilizer acted as a conductor? magnessium? I even got to walk around afterwards but their werent any chucks around.
