lion on deer stand

[Nulle]

The picture is garbage due to me not taking my good camera but this cat came within less then 20 yards of me while bow hunting last week.

[Larryjk]

What were the cats actions? A few years ago a friend called after elk season and said he finally shot the .338 but it wasn't on an elk. He was on an elk stand (ground) and felt someone was there with him. He saw a lion stalking him from the right side, about 50 yards away. The cat kept creeping closer, so he stood up and shouted at the cat. It kept creeping closer and about 30 yards it crouched and kind of pranced in place. He thought it was about to charge and shot it. He had the G&F accompany the Oregon State Police to the site and walked them through what had happened. The cat had an empty stomach and was rather lean. The biologist said of he hadn't fired, he would have been cat poop the next day.
The cats haven't watched the Disney series and do bear watching if they are in your area. Man is not always the best predator in the woods.

[fabsroman]

I think I would have pooped myself if I saw that cat and only had a bow on me. At 20 yards, you can bet an arrow would have been flying. Heck, at 50 yards I would have been letting them go in the hope of scaring it away.

[Nulle]

I have a ton of education regarding these big cats and I didn't think this one posed any problem. I had been hunting from the area the cat came from and it was following in my path to the stand I had been in for 20 min. prior to the cats arrival.
When it first saw me its ears went back and it did crouch down some. After seconds it posed the errect posture with ears forward. It later sat down and watched me for a short time before turning around and walking off. I followed hoping for a better picture but I was unable to locate it.
In South Dakota we have a healthy young bunch of cats and they are of little danger to humans. Down the road when this population gets old we may see more problems with domestic animals being taken by cats as they are easy pray.

[Nulle]

Note sure if I posted this in the past or not?

[fabsroman]

Haven't seen that pic before. I don't like being near any animal that weighs more than me, especially if they have canine teeth and/or claws, but even horses bug me up close.