Yes.
My neighbor and I have an opening day of turkey season ritual that has gone for a dozen years or more.
If i hadn't been involved myself, I would have scarcely believed it.
It had rained most of the night before the turkey season opener, and the river was out, and water was everywhere. My neighbor and I parked the truck and headed towards the strip of woods that separates our properties. It was pre-predawn. We like to get situated and enjoy a early morning beverage. Usually coffee and donut sticks.
We were slogging our way along, splashing with every step of the quarter mile hike. I thought that I heard a muffled growl coming from the distant treeline. The dark skies shed no light on our march. We were huffing and puffing along carrying decoys, chairs, packs, and guns. My friend has always loaded his mossberg at the truck because he doesn't like to make noise once we get situated. I, on the other hand, decided not to load my single barrel yet. Suddenly there was the unmistakable sound of at least two canines growling and running in the water towards us. There was no doubt what it was, and they were closing in fast.
I slung the decoy bag off my shoulder and down in front of my shins. I was clawing at my 3" 12ga as I muttered, "****, jim....my gun is empty". He replied, "mine is gonna be in a second!". With that he fired two 3" turkey loads into the darkness in the direction of the approaching dogs. No yelps, no growls, just the sound of dogs disappearing in the distance.
To this day we have no idea whose dogs those were or why they decided to hang out backin the riverbottom at least a mile from a house in any direction. Not to mention why they charged us.
I learned one thing that day. When i step out of a vehicle or atv at my hunting property, I load my gun right then.