And yes I could barley hear over my heartbeat

Woah man! Scary. They can move FAST.


Tell us your story!

Nothing too crazy Andy. Had to go to the dump after dark. I had spotted some fresh grizz tracks in the snow the night before so I knew they had been around.

Once I was out of my truck, I did a quick sweet with my flashlight and picked up two sets of eyes on the other side of the trash pit maybe 40-50 feet away. Wasn't certain what they were until one stood up to check me out. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

I just kept the light on them and threw my trash out. As long as the eyes weren't moving I was willing to be quick with my task at hand.

Amazing feeling when you see something that powerful in person! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

That is not normal behavior for a cougar. You are a big guy and unless you were bending over the cat would not think of you as prey. It should have run away, not stayed 20 minutes. It's possible that your only having one leg causes you to move in a way that the cat found odd, but that would actually be in your favor.(Think crazy street person moving erratically, not that I think you do that, but to the cat subtle variations in movement can cause confusion)

Now, here's the bad part. You have children if I remember right. Our cats will fixate on any child under 10 or so if they come on the property. Children exhibit all the signs of prey(small stature, nervous energetic movements, bending over, etc.) Personally, I like cats and all, but I would've shot it. Make sure you contact Fish and Game and have them track it to at least get it out of the neighborhood. Also, is anyone missing any pets in the neighborhood?

You're the man, Stan! I have no doubt that your .357 would have served you well had the Cougar been eying your as a meal.

yikes...glad youre safe... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" />

My kitten follows me from room to room sometimes. I think your story tops that.
Although it must have been a bit on the horrifying part at the time, it makes an awesome story!

I found some bear scat in my back yard a couple of days ago. It was probably eating my dogs poop.

And speaking of big cats. Twice now I swear that I've seen a Florida Panther in the forest on the way to work. I couldn't believe it at first cause they're suppose to roam in Southern Florida. However, I mentioned it to some coworkers and they told me the story of at least one panther that's been photographed in the Osceola national Forest.

A guy that I go to the gym with works for fish and wildlife and he is the mand that tracks and has 22 of them with collars on, funnt he actually stopped by about a month ago tracking one right behind my house! Hope I see him at the gyn tonight.

If I was in that situation, with kids, I probably would have shot. If not at the animal, at least close to give him the idea that this is no place for him to be hanging around.

That is nothing to mess with! Glad everything is ok! I have had my fun with lions in the wild and you know in an instant where your place is on the food chain.

I was salmon fishing in Kodiak Alaska about five years ago. I was sitting on a big rock next to the stream in a very remote location. I look down and, not three feet away, are fresh Kodiak Grizzly tracks! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" /> Made me very nervous as I didn't have my gun, just a pair of pliers and a small pocket knife. Made a bee-line back to the camp with me looking suspiciously at every large bush for a hungry bear.

Our guide, a retired Navy Seal, kept a 357 magnum in the trailer as the bears up there associate anything man-made with food. His trailer had several big claw marks on the side at about the eight foot level.