Hound stalked by Kitty!

[dubl_t]

Crazy!!! I didn't get any good pics due to adrenaline, but what I say is ABSOLUTELY the truth.
1st off, I'm brand new to hounds and what they hunt. I've only seen 2 other bobcats my whole life, and DAMB sure didn't expect to see one yesterday.
So anyways, having lots of "leisure time" lately, I try to run the dogs at least once a week. Yesterday was time to head over to the "D" and check things out. I decided the S. road out of Maupin, since I usually don't go there due to summertime crowds.



Hiked past the gate and the area was absolutely stunning. Chilly, but NOBODY was around and dead still regarding the wind. Belle, the hound, had her shock collar on as I wanted to break her off deer if we came across any. The dogs must have caught a wiff of something as they were dying to head to the top, but no deer in sight.



After going back down, they did their usual "run 'n' gun" type sniffing, except on occasion when they'd really give an area the once over. Here's Ruger double checking a culvert.



Belle, always in the lead, was unimpressed and pressed on down the road. Occasionally she'd stop to make sure we weren't too far behind.



Here's where it all kicks in and I lost track of, mostly, my senses. I'm on the road, Ruger's up ahead of my by 20yds, and Belle's working the riverbottom. I'm slightly ahead of her when she drops into a ditch so I wait. She pops up and comes 10yds toward me when THIS BOBCAT POPS UP AND STALKS HER!!! CRAP!!! Without thinking I frantically reach for rocks, as I'm not packing, the cat sees me, and does an about face. Now I'm kinda regaining my senses and run toward the direction the cat went. By this time Ruger is down with Belle and SHE'S GOT THE SCENT!! So she's baying, Ruger's confused, and we're all hauling a$$ down the river. About 40yds ahead I see the cat come up and bound over the road to head upland. Belle and Ruger get up to that point and and lose the scent as the cat leaped, must have been 10yds, across the opposite ditch in her escape. That's when Belle let out the MOST BEAUTIFUL siren I've EVER heard. Absolutely spine-tingling!!!
Well, I run up and congratulate both of them in the most enthusiastic manner I can, and get them running down road as I didn't want them chasing on after the cat.





These are the "best" pics I got of that feline, you can kinda make her out sneaking up through the brush and agian on the rock outcrop.

PERFECT DAY FOR A COUPLE OF POUND PUPPIES AND A 40+y.o. NOT KNOWING S&%T FROM SHINOLA.
Tom.
__________________
A CALM SEA NEVER MADE A GOOD SAILOR

[hounder]

Sounds like an exciting day i haven't seen a whole lot and thats deffinetly in the book of what i have seen. very interesting

[high desert hounds]

That is a great story. Why didn't you want the dogs to continue on after that cat. You were given a golden egg with that cat being in a ditch holding for your pups. Good luck with the rest of your season.

[FullCryHounds]

So why didn't you let your pup chase that cat? Thats an oportunity that you probably won't get any time soon.

[dubl_t]

Today I'm kicking myself. Like I said, I'm new and was totally unprepared. No light, and it was getting dark with total cloudcover; wasn't sure if the dogs would come back, and that's really my son's Pit (If I lost him, the WHOLE family would dis-own me); didn't have a gun, not too sure how Ruger would do in a fight (he's a wuss).

But, in the end, it's what you DON'T do that you regret (I think that was Thomas Jefferson).

Btw, this ain't my first, or last, mistake! Look for more to come

[pat_kemp]

nice story. Jw i cant really see the cat in the pics where is he at in them?
Pat

[Swamp Valley Kennels]

sounds interesting!!

[dubl_t]

[RUFUS]

Hey DT so the cat put the stalk to your hound Belle ? thats Crazy

[walkersrule]

i have heard of lions trying to eat or kill hounds. not a bob. thats cool though. i used to hunt with a guy here in oregon that was roading his dogs up the creek one night and seen a lion cross the road in front of the dogs. he shocks them for runnin them because its not legal here. anyways, the dogs were going passed the track and there was actually two of them about 50-60lb and one of them jumped off of the cut bank and landed right in the middle of the lead dog and needless to say that there was a ground fight after that, but have never heard or seen a bob stalk a dog. thats cool.

[Racin_GT]

I've seen coons get dogs in the water then jump on theirheads and try to drown them. Wild animals are something else.

[redhoundsman]

Good story....It's not often you will probably stumble on a cat like that.

[dubl_t]

I'm guessing the bob was around 25-30lbs as it wasn't much smaller than Belle, and she's petite. But the cat did look pretty old, from what I could tell; not real pretty.
I was telling this to my fly-fishing buddy (the Deschutes is a REAL popular fly-fishing area) and he had seen a lion in the same area a few years ago. I don't remember what time of year he said, but he did say the lion just went about it's own business like they weren't even there. Afterwards at one of the local bars (that has a mounted lion in it), one of the patrons asked if he shot at it. He said if he could've turned his rod into a gun, the cat would've been next to that one on the wall.