THE LEGEND CONTINUES..... LAST FALL, I HEARD MANY STORIES ABOUT A COUGAR IN VERMILION COUNTY, 30 MILES FROM MAHOMET. I NEVER SAW HIM PERSONALLY. BUT IN 1994, MY FATHER AND I WERE LOOKING FOR A DEER I SHOT AND SOMETHING RAN AWAY FROM THE UNRECOVERED DEER QUICKLY. JUST SO HAPPENED, THE ANIMAL WALKED THROUGH A CLEARING ABOUT 150 YARDS AWAY. IT WAS VERY LOW TO THE GROUND AND HAD VERY LONG, SLENDER TAIL. CAN'T SAY FOR SURE BUT I KNOW IT WASN'T A COYOTE AND I'VE HUNTED 100 DAYS A YEAR SINCE 1993 AND STILL HAVEN'T SEEN A BOBCAT.

TWO YEARS AGO, I ALSO HAD A DOE I SHOT DEMOLISHED BY AN ANIMALIN A SUSPICIOUS WAY. HER SKIN WAS PEELED BACK FROM NECK TO RUMP. THE MEAT WAS GONE TO BONE. THE DEER WAS THERE FOR LESS THAN 6 HOURS. COYOTES USUALLY EAT THE REAR FIRST.