Big cats in East TN

[austin]

Well......gonna post this and probably get laughed at, but here goes. I went metal detecting a few weeks ago and swore I saw a mountain lion enter the woods from a brushy area about 150 yards directly ahead of me while walking out at dusk. For those not familiar with the area it is believed they have been gone from here for over a century. I see deer in this area almost every day if I hunt in the evenings or early mornings but felt pretty sure that was not what I saw. This is not the first time I think I have seen one this year, but just a quick glimpse each time. Concerned me enough to walk out with Glock in hand. I hunt coyotes with a retired TWRA officer ( Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency ) and he said he bet was a deer and had heard the BS over the sightings for years but had never seen one or even tracks. I kind of kept it quit and was almost doubting my own sanity when a buddy said a hunter had seen one on his farm and was able to watch it for several minutes. The hunter is also a friend and about as credible as you could find anywhere. Well ......I just got a call that one had been caught one on a game cam about a mile from my sighting and TWRA had confirmed that it was indeed a mountain lion but wants to confirm the authenticity of the picture as far as location. It was recently confirmed that black bears are back in the area for the first time in nearly 50 years. Does my heart good to think some of our natural predators are making a return. I do a lot of walking in and out of the rural areas that I hunt and am going to use a little more caution, but am thrilled over their return and the confirmation on my sighting.

I thought these big kittys were endangered, but I guess not. Better carry more than catnip next time out...

 

[Number9]

Partner you need to give it a rest or leave me out of your delusional arguing with yourself,I have quit a long time ago,and just laugh at you now.I dont even know what point your are attempting to make?I never said you didnt see a black cat....I think I nailed it it with "delusional".I am through.
Bum Luck please inform me what bobcat calling is?This is a new one on me as well?Then again what would I know?

I didn't call your name?

 

[kuger]

I didn't call your name?

....dont play stupid,or are you?Or is it like,If I want your opinion I will tell you?Argue on crazy one!

 

[Number9]

....dont play stupid,or are you?Or is it like,If I want your opinion I will tell you?Argue on crazy one!

I would like to ask you a serious question, or two...

At what point does a person become "creditable"?
At what degree of knowledge must you have to be believed that the animal that you have seen is in fact true?
All through this thread you've told me that you have the knowledge to say what could be.. and what's not. You've even asked what my profession is, as if to say "you don't know what you're talking about".

So, I would like to know... do I need to hunt big cats 365 days a year... have a degree in Biology... or what... to be creditable about seeing large cats?

 

[Bum Luck]

Bum Luck please inform me what bobcat calling is?This is a new one on me as well?Then again what would I know?

In a hurry, should have been more grammatically correct. The bobcat was calling, not me. Sounded territorial. Google it up.

That's different then: I've called predators with a call though, but not had a bobcat respond; they're rare in these parts. Lots of other critters, though.

 

[kuger]

I have called hundreds of Bobcats,thats not what I meant.I have also owned /raised Bobcats.Wasnt aware of any ever making"calls",for days and scaring cattle?
Do you have Gray Fox?Now they make a sound that will scare a Pitbull!!All Fox's are actually fairly vocal

 

[Number9]

Two males can make some weird noises fighting over territory... and may make sounds like this...

 

[kuger]

....right.......for a minute or two........for "day's",.......?

 

[kuger]

Bobcats have a melanistic occurrence.

I saw one maybe 40 years ago in Wisconsin, unmistakeable. 90 yards in the open, at a pond.

This is after several nights of calling at night, scaring the devil out of the cattle.

Bum.......did you mean you were callingSorry if that is what you meant,I feel stupid for that not occuring to me sooner?If it is,yes Bobcats are very receptive to distress calling,ours out here are very gullible......and lots of them!!!!!!!!I had one a while back come in and I couldnt get him to leave!!!I have never ever had one act like he did,he bowed up and emitted this low gutteral growl,and all!!!!I actually snapped a photo of him/her


Well re reading again,I didnt mis understand.....days huh?Scared the cattle? huh

 

[diggy]

here kitty kitty , wrooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

 

[camel934]

Have you ever heard a fox cry? I had something that sounded like a small child crying behind my home when I lived in northern VA. Turned out to be fox

 

[Number9]

We had several fox around the house about three years ago. Saw mother walk through one morning with two kits.

I was woke up one morning last week, it was about 3:30AM , a pack of coyotes were having their get together in the back yard. It's common to hear them a few times at night, they were near by to have woke me up with the windows shut.

For a period of about three weeks this past year, I never heard them after seeing the large cat.

 

[truckinbutch]

Have you ever heard a fox cry? I had something that sounded like a small child crying behind my home when I lived in northern VA. Turned out to be fox

First summer of my camping alone excursions . 9 yrs old . I'd hike out with my beagle dog , rough pack , and shotgun . Make camp on a wooded ridge 3/4 mile from the house in 'the wilds' before dark . Tie dog to tree , lean shotgun against tree , close to hand . Stretch shelter half (raggeldyazzed scrap of tarp) and get a fire going to cook supper . Finish eating a fantastic meal that was either half raw or burnt crunchy and roll into my blankets to sleep until dawn to crow hunt .
At 9 yrs I had seen enough horror movies to recognize the sound that brought me out of a deep sleep that full moon night .Shotgun and dog remained in custody of the oak tree . Blankets and tarp blew off me somewhere on my frantic run to the house to get Daddy . Must have jumped all the fences between there and the house . Wasn't no bobwire cuts on me , come daylight . Beat on the side of the house screaming for Daddy to come and help . THERE WAS SOMEBODY KILLIN A WOMAN UP ON THE RIDGE !
Daddy was in the yard beside me in seconds ; standing there in the moonlight in his longjohns with a rifle in his hands .
After a moment of listening he looked down at me , half amused and half disapprovingly , "That's a red fox , son. Where's your dog and shotgun , son?"
>Lesson learned . That shamed me enough that I never forgot , ever again , to grab what was important if I had to bug out

 

[kuger]

....you would be shocked at how many people claim to hear lions,when asked to tape the sound next time EVERY single time has been a fox

 

[Number9]

I think it's funny..
On the TV show, "Finding Bigfoot", they always make a Bigfoot howling noise to call one?
I got to wonder... who was the first to say that's what they sound like!

 

[Tnmountains]

Heyyyy. I watched a Bobcat this morning for about 15 seconds. He was bounding up a rocky creek bed. It looked young. Dawn or dusk on those guys. Took one with a bow once swore to never take another. Sometimes we see things at dawn and dusk as the shadows crawl across the mtns. I once thought I saw a large dark cat in Tn. Not sure. The sun can be shining and it be dark in those deep hollows. Shadows play tricks.

 

[Number9]

Tnmountains..

Your location is listed.."South East Tennessee on Ga, Ala line". That would put you about Jasper?

 

[kuger]

Bobcats are thicker than the lions out here.No joke in Nov.-Dec. in the coastal mtns its not uncommon to see 5-10 bobcats a day

 

[Tnmountains]

Tnmountains..

Your location is listed.."South East Tennessee on Ga, Ala line". That would put you about Jasper?

Number9

Chattanooga but i spend way to much time in Marion,Sequatchie and even in your county Bradley. I am on a quest for an artifact by the name of "Mouse Creek" from your fine city. I can not buy one though, I will have to find it.
HH
TnMtns

 

[truckinbutch]

The unnerving thing I have experienced with bobcats is their willingness to follow you in the dark when you are walking . Dry times is when I noticed this because then you can hear them in the leaves . When you stop , they stop. Swing an unfiltered light in the direction of the sound and you just get a glimpse of eyes before they duck .
Turn the light and start walking and you hear them moving again .
I think that in circumstances like that the cat just has your 6 to grab what you might scare up .