Author Topic: Not the best photography...but dang cool.... (Read 4579 times)

Hornseeker · « **on:** February 21, 2008, 10:52:34 AM »

Well, here's some pics I just got emailed. A guy was driving on a hiway near Big Sky here in MT and saw this big bull way out in belly deep snow. He decided to photo him and the bull got nervous and stood up...only then did the guy see this!

So he snapped some more, then the cat let go, looked at the guy and came a few steps towards him. THe bull just walked off...uninjured..??

The guy waved his arms and the cat walked off... Little cat...Big bull...
More

Skyvalhunter · « **Reply #1 on:** February 21, 2008, 10:57:56 AM »

Wow some awesome photos. Undoubtedly that bull wont be around this fall. Would make a nice rack for the wall.

huntnphool · « **Reply #2 on:** February 21, 2008, 11:01:21 AM »

Amazing a cat would go after a bull that size. I hope the bull survives but that cat would have been mine once he let go

Thanks for sharing

Hornseeker · « **Reply #3 on:** February 21, 2008, 11:01:28 AM »

I dont know sky?? Its possibly that cat or another may do him in, but I guess he walked off no prob, and frankly, thats a real small, probably 2 year old cat at about 90 pounds and that bull is WELL fortified....

If a bigger kitty stumbles upon him, or a pack of wolves, in that deep snow...yep, problems for sure...

E

Skyvalhunter · « **Reply #4 on:** February 21, 2008, 11:22:25 AM »

Well you can imagine that when a cougar gets a grip on an elks throat like that its not going to be good. Especially with their main arteries there. I know they usually get a grip on them and rotate the animals head around breaking their neck. Would be cool to go back there and see if the rack is around.

Hornseeker · « **Reply #5 on:** February 21, 2008, 11:38:08 AM »

It would be worth checking!

It actually doesn't take a very big cat to kill a big bull, but it DOES take an experienced cat. That cat is going about it all wrong...thats why I think he/she is pretty young.

We've treed 100 pound females that we started off 6 point bull elk kills we found...and I've seen many other "small" lion tracks leading from nice bulls and cow elk... But...9 times out of ten I'll guarantee they were old females that knew the drill!

Lions generally will hop on the neck like that, but they bite between a couple cervical vertebrae and thats how the "broken neck" happens. No cat, not even a 170 pound tom will "break" a bull elks neck by twisting it around. Think about the strength those bulls have in there necks...

Also, I bet he never hit any arteries...there just isn't any "red" in the photos...

Not trying to start a pissing match, just my .02.

Ernie

Skyvalhunter · « **Reply #6 on:** February 21, 2008, 12:01:18 PM »

I am sure your right there Earnie. I watched is wildlife show where this nice sized cat jumped on this raghorns back grab the elk and pop. Then they had one younger cat was trying to get this goat on this rock ledge. That damn goat horned the krap out of that cat before it left. Amazine to watch them in action

dbllunger · « **Reply #7 on:** February 21, 2008, 12:30:26 PM »

That bull would be dead if the guy had not showed up. My guess the bull was in the shock giving up stage, and it was just a matter of time. Based on the pics and story of he elks actions that cat only needed a little more time.

MuleySniper · « **Reply #8 on:** February 21, 2008, 04:56:46 PM »

Pretty incredible pics. Thats something few people get to see in a lifetime.
MS

popeshawnpaul · « **Reply #9 on:** February 21, 2008, 09:22:54 PM »

Amazing pics. Good find Ernie.

Shawn

Head-shot · « **Reply #10 on:** February 21, 2008, 09:46:34 PM »

Cool pics, thanks.

griz272000 · « **Reply #11 on:** February 22, 2008, 07:17:03 AM »

that is awesome

boneaddict · « **Reply #12 on:** February 22, 2008, 08:16:51 AM »

WOW! amazing pics! The cat probably went back and finsished the job. I think the elk was dead meat in the shock stage and the cat would have eventually succombed him. You are spot on with your observations. Cool pics

Hornseeker · « **Reply #13 on:** February 22, 2008, 04:31:33 PM »

Yep, cool pics.

I have to disagree though.. I really dont think that cat CAN kill that bull. Look at the size. the more I look at it, I think that is probably a 75 pound cat.. He'll get bored and give up... now, if a wolf walks in on the situation, the bulls toast.

So, respectfully.....that bull is still walking.

Houndhunter · « **Reply #14 on:** February 22, 2008, 06:45:53 PM »

in that deep of snow that kitty can bite that bulls neck and hold till hes dead and not get touched one bit, theres know doubt in my mind that lion coulda killed that bull. not sayin he would've if the guy didnt show up but that lil kitty is perfectly capable of doing so

Bigshooter · « **Reply #15 on:** February 23, 2008, 03:54:02 PM »

Those are some awesome pics.

PacificNWhunter · « **Reply #16 on:** February 24, 2008, 12:17:19 PM »

Wow...those are some pretty cool pictures. Pretty big cat though, looks like it has been eating good this winter

Cougeyes · « **Reply #17 on:** February 24, 2008, 05:46:16 PM »

Awsome pictures. I believe that cat is capable of killing that elk, it only needs to sever the jugular and it could do that. But I agree as well that if it is a young cat it may not have the experience to tackle such a large animal at the age its at and size.

Here is a picture of a bull elk that I found that a cougar had killed a couple years ago.

ICEMAN · « **Reply #18 on:** February 25, 2008, 06:14:35 AM »

Did you leave this rack in the woods? I am not sure I could have...

Skyvalhunter · « **Reply #19 on:** February 25, 2008, 08:37:45 AM »

Here is the story I got with the cougar and elk pictures:

These photos were taken near Taylors Fork past Big Sky. Must have been a very hungry cat.

I took these photos on Monday the 18th of Feb. at 12:30 PM at mm 34.5 on Hiway 191 just north of the Covered Wagon Ranch. The six point bull elk was belly deep in snow and struggling. I stopped to observe, and when the elk stood up, I noticed something hanging from his neck. A cougar was attempting a choke hold to suffocate the elk by collapsing his trachea. These photos are just a few of the pictures I took during this five minute struggle.
Finally the cat gave up on his choke hold and decided to take a look at me.
He took a couple steps toward me, and I put my hands into the air and yelled loudly. He hesitated, looked back at the elk that was now meandering south along the hiway, and then looked back towards me. I raised my hands and yelled again, he finally retreated up the hill, and the encounter was over.
The bull headed south apparently uninjured and feeling very lucky.

--
Molly P. Bowman

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Author Topic: Not the best photography...but dang cool.... (Read 4579 times)

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