Shedrock has a Story to tell.

[njloco]

Was hoping I could read this with my morning coffee.

[Jeff D. Holchin]

I know he kills varmits for a living, so I'm guessing either a coyote or wolf......

[bohuntr]

Looking forward to this playing out!

[Whip]

Come on Tracy, how late ya sleeping??  You must really be tuckered.

[2madjacks]

Come on... I'm in the stand and need something to read, cause nothing is moving this morning!!!!

[snag]

Oh boy, what did you shoot? Was it a steep downward shot with complete pass thru?  Come on.....set that cup of coffee down just for a minute.  

[Shedrock]

OK everyone, here's the story.

It started Sunday while I was hunting some bunnies. I ran into some fresh lion tracks. I had never seen so many tracks in a small area. I figured this cat had a kill around close, and was living near it. I never did find a kill, or even seen any birds.

Sunday evening I called my friend with hounds to see if he could get off work Monday so we could go find this cat. He was ready, willing, and able.

Monday morning we were at the spot where I found all the fresh tracks. It had snowed very lightly the night before, so finding a hot track should be easy. We found none in the area where I had seen them all the previous day, so we drove the two track down the ridge to the west looking for racks. We knew the cat didn't go east, as we saw no tracks cross the county road. We spotted a few magpies about 1 1/2 miles from where I had original saw the tracks. We both glassed for a possible kill or more birds when I spotted some lion tracks down in the bottom of the drainage. We hiked down there, and sure enough, cat tracks were everywhere, plus a whole bunch of coyote tracks.

We hiked back to the truck and let a couple dogs go. Tracking was tough with all the spotty snow, more light snow coming down, and then some light rain. The dogs were running around in circles everywhere trying to piece the puzzle together. That cat had been up, down, and all around in this drainage.

Then we found this...

Fresh kill! The cat killed the doe on the side of the ridge, and drug it about 100 yards down into a wash.

[Shedrock]

The GPS said the dogs were staying in one spot now about 800 yards from where we were. Luke thought they had the cat treed. We headed that direction, then saw the dogs headed back.

We kept after the tracks, even though it was turning into a big mess with the melting snow, and light rain in the mix.

After a couple more hours of trying to get this figured out, we were ready to leave and look for the cat on a better day.

Then.....

[Shedrock]

My other friend, who came out to help find the tracks, was headed back to his vehicle, saw this...

[Shedrock]

What a beautiful sight!

[Shedrock]

I didn't want to try a shot from this side of the tree because of where the cat's elbow is. I went around the other side hoping for a clear shot. This cat just had to find the biggest tree in Wyoming I do believe.

I only had 4 arrows along, and hoped I wouldn't miss the shot. About 22 yards and angling up.

[oneshot-onekill]

Thats a beautiful picture. Can't wait for the rest of the story.

[snag]

Those are great pictures!    

[Shedrock]

I did find find a clear opening on the other side of the tree for a shot at the cat's wide open vitals. I drew back, picked a spot, prayed, and let the string go.

At the shot, as the cat bailed out of the tree, I saw blood spray in the air, but the shot looked too far back. I was wrong. When the cat hit the ground, it only made it about 20 yards, and fell. It ended up be a double lunger.  

[Shedrock]

I'm walking up on the lion to see if it's breathing or not. Very careful! The lion is down!

[Shedrock]

I used an old original Pronghorn Ferret 50# @ 28", cedar shaft, and STOS 145 gr. broadhead. The arrow zipped right through the cat and ended up about 50 yards from the tree as seen in previous pic.

[Shedrock]

This lion is just a 85# female, but I'm happy, and her deer killing days are over!!

[doug77]

Sweet cat. That is my dream hunt.

I'd be more than happy with that one.

doug77

[Pon]

Beatiful picture indeed!

[Shedrock]

Thanks for looking!