Lion Encounters While Bow Hunting

[Northwind]

I had a close encounter with a lion while elk hunting a waterhole in New Mexico this past September.  The cat came in to drink at a small waterhole at dusk. It was about 15 yds from me and had no idea I was there. I attempted to scare it away with a plumb sized rock that I landed about a foot from the drinking cat, splashing its face with water.  The cat merely raised its head then went back to drinking.  I was perplexed as to why it didn't bolt as the rock I tossed created a significant disturbance near its head. Next, I raised up on my knees with Bow in hand. The cat just stood there looking at me. I'm thinking its time to look big so I stood up. Again the cat just stood there looking at me. Finally I raised my recurve above my head to look even larger for about 30 seconds (that seemed like an hour). Then the cat simply turned and walked away at a slow pace. I have to say I checked my backtrail many times while hiking out in the dark that evening.  The very next evening I saw another lion chasing a doe mule deer about 200 yds away at dusk. The cat gave up after a 100yd sprint. The deer then stood there a blew at the cat.  I think the cats were feeding on the mule deer that were drinking at the waterhole.  When doe mule deer with fawns would come into drink, the fawn would hang back about 80 yds and let its mother go in and drink for about a minute. Then the fawn would saunter in and grab a quick drink and bolt. I observed several doe/fawn groups behave in this manner.