Predator encounters while hunting?

[TimberMuleys]

Just curious, how many people have been stalked or threatened by predators while hunting? I had a close call while hiking in the dark this year and am just curious how often this happens for others.


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[Ridgeratt]

Will you share what the chain of events were?

[TimberMuleys]

Will you share what the chain of events were?

Hiking to a spot in the dark on a trail and stopped to shed a layer. After shedding the layer, I looked behind me on the trail and saw a cat following me up the trail. I tried scaring it off but it didn’t care at all and kept stalking. Ended up shooting at it once around 10-15yds and it went in the brush. I don’t know if I hit it and I didn’t go any closer to it to find out. Didn’t walk that direction back.


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[Westside88]

Haven’t felt threatened but have had a couple cougars near me I wasn’t aware of. Lots of noises in the dark, but I always figured if something is making noise it’s likely headed out. Did sneak up on a noise at first light and had dad shoot a bear that I was about to have a face to face with. He was uphill and to my left and could see it when I could not

[MADMAX]

I’ve only been stalked when calling them
It’s a blast
 

[jrebel]

2023 had a cat stalk me and my buddy while elk hunting.  Event lasted a long time….. to say it was hair raising would be an understatement.   

[kodiak06]

I've hunted Ak, Al, Id, Mi, Ms, Or, and Wa.  I've only been stalked once to my knowledge but, the twin Kodiaks were technically stalking the sound of my rabbit in distress calls while late season fox hunting on Kodiak Island, my home for 6yrs.  I had a few bear encounters but, that's what happens when ya both fishing lol.  My wolf encounters in Ak and Wa were both I see them, they see me and leave. The only cat stalking me was when I was cow calling and it came sneaking in here in Oregon. I don't even bother with a side arm if I have my rifle or bow here in the states, just xtra weight and gear for me.

[boneaddict]

Oh my goodness, I have a whole list of stories.   

[String Bender]

I have been running into a big cat track in one of my shed hunting spots for many years and although I felt he was watching me or by me sometimes, I had never seen him. A couple of years ago, it was very late in the day and I was making my way down the mountain. I stopped underneath a large pine tree to spot. I looked to my left about 20 yards away and seen some garbage from someone. I stood up and went over and picked it up. When I turned back around I was facing the big pine tree and a cougar jumped out of it. He stared at me for a second and calmly walked away.

[boneaddict]

I have been running into a big cat track in one of my shed hunting spots for many years and although I felt he was watching me or by me sometimes, I had never seen him. A couple of years ago, it was very late in the day and I was making my way down the mountain. I stopped underneath a large pine tree to spot. I looked to my left about 20 yards away and seen some garbage from someone. I stood up and went over and picked it up. When I turned back around I was facing the big pine tree and a cougar jumped out of it. He stared at me for a second and calmly walked away.

I killed a cat doing that. I was hunting him, trying to walk him down.  I was tracking him, under this big pine tree, tracks kept going. I looked down and realized the tracks were going back towards the tree. I turned, just as the cat came out of the tree landing “behind”me.  I hit him with the 30-30.  Not quite fitting the theme of the OPs post as I was after the cat but….

[boneaddict]

This thread has a few stories from myself and other members.
https://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,13206.msg148736.html#msg148736

[Okanagan]

Yes, quite a few experiences of being stalked by a predator, not counting called ones.  I had a black bear stalk me and a friend when we were unarmed, looking for fence rails to cut.  That one was dangerous, very sneaky, and followed us to our pick-up.  Bear expert Dr. Stephen Herrero would class that behaviour as a predatory bear, the most dangerous.

A grizzly sneaked around me in an inch of snow as I boned out a buck in the Canadian Rockies.  I heard him a few times and looked with binos but never saw that bear.  I stopped by the spot the next morning and he had gathered the remaining deer parts into a pile and covered them.

Was stalked by a lion in the snow when hunting mule deer.  It was 21 feet from me, crouched behind a bush above and behind my right shoulder when my hunting partner saw it and shot at it.  On the Peninsula I had a cougar follow me in the dark and kind of cry at me.  Have had cougars follow me a number of times, apparently a curious cat kind of thing, based on 2-5 minute old tracks in mud or snow.  Anyone who has hiked in WA woods much has probably had a cat follow them, though it is rare for the person being followed to ever know it. 

From a hill above I watched a coyote stalk four golfers till he was crouched 30 feet from them in a weedy ditch and they on a green.  In snow I tracked a lynx that sneaked up on a party of snow mobilers roasting hot dogs on a logging landing.  He circled around them and they never knew he was there.

[String Bender]

About 15 years ago, my Dad and I were working out a open basin. He called me on the radio and told me he was going up to the top and and build a fire and eat lunch. I let him know I was 45 minutes to an hour behind him as I was way below him but that I would head his way. As I started climbing up, the snow was getting about a foot deep and when I got to the top, I cut my Dads tracks in the snow and began following them. Well about 50 yards later, there are 2 sets of cat tracks in his. I called him on the radio and told him to watch his backtrail and why. I followed them and at about 30 yards out, they had laid down in some small trees and watched my Dad for a while and he didn't even know they were there.

[Okanagan]

About 15 years ago, my Dad and I were working out a open basin. He called me on the radio and told me he was going up to the top and and build a fire and eat lunch. I let him know I was 45 minutes to an hour behind him as I was way below him but that I would head his way. As I started climbing up, the snow was getting about a foot deep and when I got to the top, I cut my Dads tracks in the snow and began following them. Well about 50 yards later, there are 2 sets of cat tracks in his. I called him on the radio and told him to watch his backtrail and why. I followed them and at about 30 yards out, they had laid down in some small trees and watched my Dad for a while and he didn't even know they were there.

Excellent story, String Bender, and classic cat behaviour!

[baldopepper]

Spent thousands of hours in the woods in my lifetime. Encountered bears, lions, and many coyotes
 Only sketchy encounter was with a lion that wanted to debate ownership of a deer I had shot and field dressed-little hollering and arm waving and he gave up.  Never felt any need to carry a sidearm in the woods, other than a 22 pistol to plunk grouse with. Only really aggressive animals I encounter are the occasional badger that is pretty sure he has the right of way on the road or trail.  Might feel differently if I was hunting in grizzley or brown bear country. Much safer feeling in the woods than on the freeway.