This was a first. Was working a flock of birds for a while. Set up a few different times over an hour or so. Finally got the ingredients just right and managed to pull a Tom and a squad of Jakes away. First time shooter and his dad were ready close by. When the bids got to about 25 yds I had the son take the shot. Folded the gobbler with his 20 gauge in his tracks. Everyone always knows to not move after the shot until i do. The Jakes kept coming to check on their leader who tripped or something. Dad decided to add to the experience and put a couple of young birds down. After the last shot, we stared in amazement as a cougar walked out of the bushes 5’ from the downed birds, looked at me, picked one up and turned around and left. Not like in a hurry like the coyotes usually are. More like we ruined his stalk and he was a little put off about it. Nobody is exactly sure what I said when I got up, but it was probably close to “a cougar took my bird, oh hell no!” I took off running after him and was on his tail for about 50 yds or so catching glimpses yelling give me back my bird. He realized he was no match for a 52 year old man with a death wish, so he stopped, looked at me and dropped MY turkey. He may have hissed a bit. Can’t remember.
