While I had a wonderful time elk hunting this year and saw close to a hundred animals, I never got off a shot at an elk. Thats the way it goes sometimes I guess. I did however have an exciting moment or two. Chief among these was an intimate encounter with a very large cat. I had got to the top of the mountain where I hunt to discover four satellite bulls bedded down in the meadow. My hunting partner and I tried to call but these bulls showed little interest, frusterating! Right after they walked off in disdain for our cow calling abilities we got an answer from a herd bull a couple hundred yards back in the trees. When after a bit it became apparent that this bull wasnt leaving his cows I decided I would go in after him. I had the wind in my favor and closed the distance to about 60 yards and set up to cow call again. This set the herd bull into another frenzy of bugling and raking trees but he wasnt coming closer. I threw out another of couple of my best cow calls only to have the bull and his herd take off in a complete panic. I couldnt figure out why. I had the wind, was completely screened by some deadfall, what the hell? I bent over to grab some water out of my pack then stood up just in time to interupt the cougar who was coming into my calls. I then realized why the elk had taken off. The cat had been between myself and the herd hunting them as well. It had apparently decided that cow off by itself would be easier to stalk than the herd. I believe when it turned to come my direction it was seen by the elk and they took off. When it realized I had seen it as well it stopped at 10 yards, sat down and stared at me for what seemed to be an hour (more like 30 seconds real time). I could count its whiskers it was so close! It then gave me a look of pure disgust and turned and walked off in the direction the herd of elk went. I was quite proud of myself for having the presence of mind to nock an arrow and face him. I think thats what caused him to stop. I was somewhat irritated with myself at the time because I wasnt as prepared as I could have been. I remember thinking "I only have one shot if he doesnt stop, not even a knife cuz its in the backpack, and damn, so is my camera!"
Thanks - for sharing - great story!
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Glenn
"did you have to change your drawers back at camp" ? :eek: :biglaugh:
That would sure be a rush !!!
You'll be better prepared next time I should think. I give you give credit for hunting in locations with Mountain Lions. Has to be the nastiest beastie in North America. Nothing even close to that in my area. Scariest thing might be coming across a family of racoons while getting in position before sun up.
Wow great encounter! Cool but scary!
I bet that cats face is engraved in your memory now!
A neat encounter with good results. I think you will remember the mountain lions look for a long time.
I had a similar encounter in 1994, but with different results. I will never forget the the quizzical look on the mountain lions face and how its eyes and demeanor changed when he decided I'd be a nice dinner.
Good for you! Thank you for sharing! big cats are slowly moving in the territory folowing the Mule dear and whitetails. But never seen one yet! Seen a lot of bear(black and grizz) over the years up here and some of them real close...
Cool story!!
pretty sure that'd be a dead kitty if i were you! That experience you had is easily a highlight in anyones career!
total awesome story.
Just glad he walked away,to close for comfort.
It was cool, I had always wanted to see one. Ran across scat and tracks fairly often. It was a little closer than I liked though. And yes I will remember that look!
Glad that one turned out well for you.
Wow, 10 yards! Very exciting story Will! I'd have a skid mark permanent reminder.
Glad you are OK. Could have been much worse. I was charged by a 515lb black bear & I'd take on the bear any day over a cat like that.
Not sure I could have kept that arrow from flying his direction...10 yds is EXTREMELY close on the ground. You definitely have a pair...thats an awesome encounter.
I carry a 45 for just such reasons that cat would have looked like swiss cheese.And their would be skid marks in my underpants.Glad your ok.
I now wonder how many cats I have been close to and not seen. He never made a sound, I just got lucky and looked in the right direction.
Thats cool!The only time I see a cat is my wifes around the house! Thanks for sharing. :thumbsup:
I've only seen tracks while hunting and that's enough to make the hair stand up. Cool story!
Great story!! I would love to hear Walts as well. He has to be one of the most experienced men in world hunting them with a stick and string!! Shawn
Shawn, thanks for the kind words but I am a rookie regarding the kitties compared to many of the houndsmen I have run the hills with. For a comparison: Rough Country (Robin) here on TG has his doctorate in them while I am still in grade school.
Bere is a link to the incident referred to above my second close encounter with a mountain lion.
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=055765
Walt,
That was also a good story.
Thanks
Have no desire to have changed places with you.
William...I had a nearly identical situation while calling elk up near Leadville CO. a few years ago..the cat came in silent as could be...about ten yards away..when I turned my head to see him...he was hunkered down just like a house cat with his butt in the air and his front paws kneading the ground..I was scared to death...I managed to stand up, raised my bow up over my head and yelled as loud as possible...like your encounter he just turned and walked away...my knees were knockin and a made a beeline for my truck...IT was getting dark and I misjudged where I parked by almost a half mile...Honestly I couldn't believe what happened...maybe a side arm isn't a bad idea !!!
That was close. Glad it turned out for the good.
Neat story.Wednesday I found a lot of big tom tracks in a small area.I was convinced it had a kill nearby.It took over a half hour of searching but I finally found it in a dense cedar thicket.I had to crawl on hands and knees to get into it and it was a little spooky as the wind was blowing about 40 MPH and you couldn't hear and visibility was just a few feet.
Anyway,I found a covered up,small 3x3 whitetail that had been barely eaten on yet.This was very fresh,probably killed that morning.I came back the following day and it was moved a few yds and almost 2/3rds eaten.I never did see the cat and I did have protection in hand.Still spooky though.
out standing story.
Joe
Precisely why I carry a sidearm while elk hunting. The extra 3# is well worth ut. I'd have lit that cat up. A crouching sneaking predatory cat is no joke, and you only get one chance to make the right decision.
Both stories are crazy spooky. We are starting to see a few in NE, and the landowner on one property I hunt says she has seen them. It would not surprise me as this would be a good place to bury a body (in other words, it's pretty wild stuff for NE). Anyway, I am always (sort of) hoping to see a lion there so am always on a little bit more on red alert.
Well, this evening hunt gets over and I'm hiking out of the wooded bluffs and I think I hear something behind me. I stop, and the noise stops. I start up again and I'll be darned if I don't hear the noise again. So now I'm digging my flashlight out of my pocket even though I'm just 20 yards or so from the open pasture area at the top where visibility will be pretty good. I scan around with the light in the oak and cedar hills and see nothing. So I start walking again, and I hear the noise again in the leaves behind me and whirl around fast with the flashlight and there are two bright eyes right there about 5 to 10 yards behind me! Bright Eyes reflective tacks, that is. Marking the turn on my trail. Sheesh...
The noise? A length of my treestand rope was dragging out of my fanny pack in the leaves. :)
It's always a little funny what one imagines at times like yours Wary buck, but I think it's our survivor traits kicking in.
QuoteOriginally posted by Walt Francis:
A neat encounter with good results. I think you will remember the mountain lions look for a long time.
I had a similar encounter in 1994, but with different results. I will never forget the the quizzical look on the mountain lions face and how its eyes and demeanor changed when he decided I'd be a nice dinner.
Walt I would like to hear more about your experience with that lion!!! Did he charge??
Spooky how they sneak up on you. Lots of stories like that here this year.
Thanks for the post.
Question: what to you keep for defense in these situations if any?
(I stick a small axe down my quiver and sometimes cary pepper spray)