I had a run-in with a couger several years ago. I was walking down the hill from my tower blind after dark to wait for my dad and our hunting buddies to pick me up at the gate about 350 yds down the hill. It was about 1/4 moon and clear as a bell that night so no flashlight was needed, but I had my mag lite in one hand(just in case) and my .308 slung on my shoulder, with rounds in the mag. about 100 yds from the blind I hear "ROWLLLLLLLL" off to my left, but REALLY close... ok, so maybe it was 75 yds or so... but by really close, i mean close enough to know it was growling at me..... instantly I knelt,on went themaglite and unslung and shouldered my rifle.... scanning the trees with the light I saw the eyes... glowing right at me.... He was crouched, real low, like he was about to pounce.... While I was struggling with the legality/morality of shooting at night and just how much danger did this critter pose... he evidently grew tired of the light in his eyes and turned down the hill and trotted off... I could count the ribs down his side... He was hungry, which meant he was twice as likely to attack.I hauled my @$$ back to the blind and waited till I saw headlights at teh gate before I climbed back down again....