Long story, I'll try to shorten it up best I can.
First off, before anyone asks, EVERYTHING here is 100% true, and 100% legal in Pennsylvania!
My friend Rob and I checked my trail cam yesterday, and there were tons of pics of big coyotes on it. So, we decided to go hunting them last night right there. I have a nice, pretty big homemade blind there that would work perfect.
Oh and as for our set-up, We were both sprayed down and fairly scent free, he had a Rem. 30-06 with a scope and 5 rounds for it. I had the big spotlight, and my .380 semi-auto pistol with 8 rounds in it. Obviously he was the shooter. We both had smaller lights for walking in.
So we get out there a little before 11pm last night, set up our mobile rabbit decoy, and got in the blind. We started with a locator howler/yip call. Heard Nothing, which is kinda weird for that area, but figured maybe they were close already as they are all over in there. Waited awhile, then started squawking on the rabbit in distress diaphram call. Note the moving decoy is about 12 yards in front of us, and its a pretty thick area, the farthest you can see anywhere is maybe 30 yards directly in front of us. Didn't hear any vocalizations, but heard some sticks/leaves rustling once, hit the light, saw nothing.
Waited awhile, then got back after the Rabbit call. Still nothing. Waited for about 4 minutes. At this point, we have been in the blind for a total of about 15-20 minutes. Rob decided to hit the locater once, and do a "bark, bark, howl". Well, he got to the Bark.
As soon as he barked loud and sharp, this "thing" jumped as if it were startled. It was about 5 to 6 feet away from us, downwind, over our left shoulder and it came in the thickest way possible through golden rods and brush. It was a very heavy animal, I would say around 100 pounds give or take a little. We could feel the ground tremble below our feet when this thing jumped. Then, it was gone in like NOW. It covered 20 yards in 2 bounds and was gone. We yelled and hit the lights and pulled up our weapons. We saw it for just a flash. It was light colored, looked almost white to me. It was low to the ground, long, and extremely fast and agile. It was not taller than the golden rods. It was definitly not a bear. I have seen thousands and harvested bear before, Rob has as well. This was NOT a bear.
This animal was after us, and I'm just glad we startled it. We were in the blind, but it would have easily gotten in. We never, never heard this animal coming. It certainly had to have smelled us. It was right downwind, with us on the ground, and a mere 5 to 6 feet away. We were also talking right before this happened, not loud, but a good back and forth wisper which was definitly loud enough for this animal to hear. It knew we were humans, and it didn't care.
After it ran off, we briefly looked for tracks, checked in trees, etc. We then got into the most place we could, and packed up our stuff. Our Fiancee's were hanging out at my house, so I called and breifly described the situation and told them if we were not back in 30 minutes, to call the police. My Fiancee knows where the blind is.
We managed to cover each other and walk back out, wich is VERY THICK the entire way. We stayed close, made lots of noise, and kept our weapons ready. But ofcourse the spotlight was dying fast. I cant stress how thick the area is. Its all low brush, golden rods, and nasty thick swamp land. We finally made it out just as the light was really, really dead. We did flush a woodcock right under our feet on the walk out and screamed like little girls and drew our weapons on it.
So, Here's the facts:
It was heavy (100ish pounds)
It was low to ground
It was very light colored
It was long and lanky
It was very stealthy
It was hunting us, and it knew it
It was very fast
It was very agile.
It was NOT a bear, bobcat, coyote, deer, or fox.
We were not believers before this, especially me. But, is it really possible that there could be mountain lions in Pennsylvania? I really didn't think there could be. But I really don't know now.... I know what I saw and felt.
Has anyone honeslty seen one here before? Any experiences, pics, etc? This is in Bradford, PA. 16701, which is in NW PA on the NY border. Lots and lots of real deep forests and swamps here.
My trail cam is still out there. I'm really hoping for some kind of a pic. It will take a picture or clear sightning for me to believe 100 percent.
Sorry This is so long.
(No it wasn't the cat pulling the 8 point around, he's too busy covering the country.)
Any thoughts?
First off, before anyone asks, EVERYTHING here is 100% true, and 100% legal in Pennsylvania!
My friend Rob and I checked my trail cam yesterday, and there were tons of pics of big coyotes on it. So, we decided to go hunting them last night right there. I have a nice, pretty big homemade blind there that would work perfect.
Oh and as for our set-up, We were both sprayed down and fairly scent free, he had a Rem. 30-06 with a scope and 5 rounds for it. I had the big spotlight, and my .380 semi-auto pistol with 8 rounds in it. Obviously he was the shooter. We both had smaller lights for walking in.
So we get out there a little before 11pm last night, set up our mobile rabbit decoy, and got in the blind. We started with a locator howler/yip call. Heard Nothing, which is kinda weird for that area, but figured maybe they were close already as they are all over in there. Waited awhile, then started squawking on the rabbit in distress diaphram call. Note the moving decoy is about 12 yards in front of us, and its a pretty thick area, the farthest you can see anywhere is maybe 30 yards directly in front of us. Didn't hear any vocalizations, but heard some sticks/leaves rustling once, hit the light, saw nothing.
Waited awhile, then got back after the Rabbit call. Still nothing. Waited for about 4 minutes. At this point, we have been in the blind for a total of about 15-20 minutes. Rob decided to hit the locater once, and do a "bark, bark, howl". Well, he got to the Bark.
As soon as he barked loud and sharp, this "thing" jumped as if it were startled. It was about 5 to 6 feet away from us, downwind, over our left shoulder and it came in the thickest way possible through golden rods and brush. It was a very heavy animal, I would say around 100 pounds give or take a little. We could feel the ground tremble below our feet when this thing jumped. Then, it was gone in like NOW. It covered 20 yards in 2 bounds and was gone. We yelled and hit the lights and pulled up our weapons. We saw it for just a flash. It was light colored, looked almost white to me. It was low to the ground, long, and extremely fast and agile. It was not taller than the golden rods. It was definitly not a bear. I have seen thousands and harvested bear before, Rob has as well. This was NOT a bear.
This animal was after us, and I'm just glad we startled it. We were in the blind, but it would have easily gotten in. We never, never heard this animal coming. It certainly had to have smelled us. It was right downwind, with us on the ground, and a mere 5 to 6 feet away. We were also talking right before this happened, not loud, but a good back and forth wisper which was definitly loud enough for this animal to hear. It knew we were humans, and it didn't care.
After it ran off, we briefly looked for tracks, checked in trees, etc. We then got into the most place we could, and packed up our stuff. Our Fiancee's were hanging out at my house, so I called and breifly described the situation and told them if we were not back in 30 minutes, to call the police. My Fiancee knows where the blind is.
We managed to cover each other and walk back out, wich is VERY THICK the entire way. We stayed close, made lots of noise, and kept our weapons ready. But ofcourse the spotlight was dying fast. I cant stress how thick the area is. Its all low brush, golden rods, and nasty thick swamp land. We finally made it out just as the light was really, really dead. We did flush a woodcock right under our feet on the walk out and screamed like little girls and drew our weapons on it.
So, Here's the facts:
It was heavy (100ish pounds)
It was low to ground
It was very light colored
It was long and lanky
It was very stealthy
It was hunting us, and it knew it
It was very fast
It was very agile.
It was NOT a bear, bobcat, coyote, deer, or fox.
We were not believers before this, especially me. But, is it really possible that there could be mountain lions in Pennsylvania? I really didn't think there could be. But I really don't know now.... I know what I saw and felt.
Has anyone honeslty seen one here before? Any experiences, pics, etc? This is in Bradford, PA. 16701, which is in NW PA on the NY border. Lots and lots of real deep forests and swamps here.
My trail cam is still out there. I'm really hoping for some kind of a pic. It will take a picture or clear sightning for me to believe 100 percent.
Sorry This is so long.
(No it wasn't the cat pulling the 8 point around, he's too busy covering the country.)
Any thoughts?
