I've never actually seen one while hunting in CA. I thought I may have caught a glimpse of one here or there a couple times but could never be sure. Well today while pig hunting, I was damn sure what I was looking at. Three minute stare down with this cat and I thought my heart was going to jump out of my chest.

wish it was more in focus but I had to crop and also brighten. Light was still low, and I was fumbling with the settings just to get a shot before it left.



Not sure if it was the weather change or what, but everything seemed calm. I was able to get pretty damn close to a few deer as well. Ran into some gobblers too, but I was without my camera.

Not as exciting but a couple deer as well.

Where in California? I have never been lucky enough to see one in the wild, just fresh tracks is as close as I have ever come.

Tejon Ranch

I'm jealous! This morning I was hiking in Santa Clarita and had a "close encounter", but not as close as yours. Found this fresh killed doe on the trail about 7:30 AM. When I met a Santa Monica Mountain Recreation Area ranger shortly afterwards, he said they'd seen signs of a female and cub within a mile or two of the kill site during the last week.

Not a very pretty picture, but I thought it was unusual to find a kill, especially since these cats usually hide them quickly so they can return for "leftovers."

Was on Tejon Ranch a couple mo. ago. The guide was concerned about the increased un managed lion population and what it was doing to the deer population.

Great pictures, very sharp. What camera/lens were you using?

Very nice pictures. I'm guessing that cat is pregnant. The only time I've seen a cat that fat was in the zoo. Thanks for posting.