I've had some interesting encounters in the woods, but none as interesting as the cougar I met this past season. I was hunting alone in an an area I am very familiar with at daybreak. AsItopped a hill,50 yards in front of mewas a big Tom cat in full sneak moving right to left. I froze, rifle over my shoulder. At first allI could do isstand there and stare at that cat. I even slowly raised my binocs and got a good look at him, but that kinda freaked me out because he seemed so close. ThenI glanced to my left to see what he was so interested in and there was a fawn looking at me from about 40 yards away. The fawn got spooked and thenthe doe, which I couldn't see, suddenly snorted and busted.I looked back at the cat just as heturned toward me. With the deer crashing away that cat stood up as if to decide whether to chase the deer or check out the two-legged intruder. He looked pissed. But before I could unsling my rifle he turned and was gone in three or four bounds.
I tried to keep hunting and even spotted a nice buck not too far away, butknowing the cat was out there close by gave me the willies.At one point I steppedon a branch buried in the snow and when the other end flew up throwing flakes I about came out of my skin. I decided it was time to pack it in and call it a day.