Post by RiverRider on Jul 7, 2014 9:51:39 GMT -5
A couple of years ago, I gave my 11 year-old great-nephew an old Winchester 47 which had been given to me by my departed uncle who was more like a brother to me when I was seven years old. The next year I gave him a case for the rifle and a brick of .22 LR. Then I gave him a certificate I had printed up, good for a full day at the range and all the rimfire ammo he could shoot and complete with targets. Fortunately (or unfortunately?) my nephew moved his family to a more rural area where he can shoot anytime he wants on his own property, so the certificate's value suddenly evaporated. So, I took him out to the lease for a weekend camping trip. My nephew accompanied us.
It was pretty hot, so physical activity was limited but my great-nephew got to see the property and carry his Savage rifle in .223 around, just in case. We checked and filled feeders, looked at the various blinds on the property and that sort of thing. Of course, my great-nephew was hunting the whole time but his dad and I were pretty sure we'd see nothing to shoot at and our expectations were met. We spent a good deal of the time staying in the shade taking it easy and my great-nephew enjoyed the experience.
So, Saturday morning was spent hanging around camp and taking it easy. I had downloaded my game cam pics to my laptop the day before and decided to sit in the shade of one of the other leasemates' camper and look through those pictures. My nephew and great-nephew were sitting on the tailgate of his pickup gabbing (they are both endowed with the gift!) as I clicked through hundreds of images.
I began to hear an unusual noise, a kind of thumping sound that I couldn't identify or discern where it was coming from. I was looking at the porch decking on the ground in front of the camper but still unsure about the sound. Then I saw movement out the corner of my eye; something was moving about 100 feet away and at first I thought "coyote!" Of course, I've got no rifle and I'm sitting with a computer in my lap, so I am a bit reluctant to toss the computer on the ground, but I did set it down as I watched the animal move from behind a mesquite tree, and it was no coyote---it was the biggest bobcat I've ever seen! I stood up as I drew my .45 from my hip holster. The bobcat was looking right at me and seemed to be in no big hurry, but was trying (successfully) to move just enough to keep vegetation between itself and me. At one point I saw a decent shot through another mesquite bush and I took it, hurriedly, and missed. The bobcat then began to move faster and I had time to fire two more, but they were misses. He got away clean.
If I'd reacted faster I am pretty sure I'd have whacked him, but I was so dumbstruck to have a bobcat walk right through camp that it took a few moments for it to register. I've heard stories of trophy bucks walking right through camp while all the hunters are eating or whatever and all the rifles are put away and I've had encounters with coyotes where I've nearly stepped right on them, but I have NEVER heard of a bobcat walking right through camp while folks are sitting around gabbing. He had to have known we were there but he did it anyway.
It was all quite an experience for my great-nephew and I know he'll never forget it as long as he lives!
It was pretty hot, so physical activity was limited but my great-nephew got to see the property and carry his Savage rifle in .223 around, just in case. We checked and filled feeders, looked at the various blinds on the property and that sort of thing. Of course, my great-nephew was hunting the whole time but his dad and I were pretty sure we'd see nothing to shoot at and our expectations were met. We spent a good deal of the time staying in the shade taking it easy and my great-nephew enjoyed the experience.
So, Saturday morning was spent hanging around camp and taking it easy. I had downloaded my game cam pics to my laptop the day before and decided to sit in the shade of one of the other leasemates' camper and look through those pictures. My nephew and great-nephew were sitting on the tailgate of his pickup gabbing (they are both endowed with the gift!) as I clicked through hundreds of images.
I began to hear an unusual noise, a kind of thumping sound that I couldn't identify or discern where it was coming from. I was looking at the porch decking on the ground in front of the camper but still unsure about the sound. Then I saw movement out the corner of my eye; something was moving about 100 feet away and at first I thought "coyote!" Of course, I've got no rifle and I'm sitting with a computer in my lap, so I am a bit reluctant to toss the computer on the ground, but I did set it down as I watched the animal move from behind a mesquite tree, and it was no coyote---it was the biggest bobcat I've ever seen! I stood up as I drew my .45 from my hip holster. The bobcat was looking right at me and seemed to be in no big hurry, but was trying (successfully) to move just enough to keep vegetation between itself and me. At one point I saw a decent shot through another mesquite bush and I took it, hurriedly, and missed. The bobcat then began to move faster and I had time to fire two more, but they were misses. He got away clean.
If I'd reacted faster I am pretty sure I'd have whacked him, but I was so dumbstruck to have a bobcat walk right through camp that it took a few moments for it to register. I've heard stories of trophy bucks walking right through camp while all the hunters are eating or whatever and all the rifles are put away and I've had encounters with coyotes where I've nearly stepped right on them, but I have NEVER heard of a bobcat walking right through camp while folks are sitting around gabbing. He had to have known we were there but he did it anyway.
It was all quite an experience for my great-nephew and I know he'll never forget it as long as he lives!