Mountain Lion Encounter
When I got the text saying I should go after the big 6x6 bull that was passing through a friends property to drink from the river, I was beyond excited. A small chunk of state land which is landlocked by private, held great opportunity to chase elk without the public pressure. Having been given permission to drive through the private to access the state land is not something you come across everyday and I was definitely not turning down the opportunity. I had already filled my elk tag and was itching to get my bestie, Alyssa on a elk. Alyssa and I had spent little time in the field together leading up to this point. A spring bear hunt, an archery hunt, and a couple shed hunts was the extent of our time in the field together. Finding a good hunting partner can be difficult. Someone who is going to stay positive, able to put in the work, and to have your back if things were to go wrong, all while maintaining their composure, those are the people I want with me when in the mountains.
As we started our hike up the steep ridge, our headlamps gave light to the early morning darkness. The trail was filled with fresh elk tracks and scat which caused us to be even more alert. Seeing a set of glowing eyes off in the distance our feet instantly stopped and our binoculars naturally came out of our harnesses to our eyes. I took a quick look and kept moving, assuming it was just a deer. After a few more steps I hear Alyssa behind me say, “ Draya, the eyes are following us. I’m pretty sure it’s not a deer and its a mountain lion.” I could hear the worry in her voice, and that was enough to instantly make me take a second look.
Big green frontal facing eyes glowed back at us as I turned my headlamp onto the highest setting. A large tan body filled the space behind the glowing eyes, as it’s tail flicked back and forth. This wasn’t the first time I’ve seen a lion in the wild, but it was definitely the closest encounter I’ve experienced. Crouched down low along the hillside the lion was slightly above us as we started talking in loud and firm voices to get on outta here. The lion wasn’t bothered by our loud voices as it started to slowly crawl a little closer to us. Picking up sticks and rocks we threw them towards the lion to try and detour it. Nearly hitting the lion in the face with a small rock, he turned and started to walk off. Relief came over us but only momentarily as he turned back and started coming towards us again.
The game trail we were on was at a slow incline going across and up the hill. We decided to slowly move up the trail and as one of us progressed up the trail, the other would keep their eye on the lion. During this process the lion continued to push the barrier, getting in slightly closer each time. The morning was slightly dark still and we definitely wouldn’t be able to see the lion without the headlamps. The thick timber between us and the lion gave us a sense of protection but also limited how far the rocks could be thrown, and he was just too far for bear spray. I thought to myself, do I close the 20 yards needed to spray this lion? Walking towards a lion that was in the pounce position didn’t seem like the smartest move. This lion could be on me in seconds and that would be the end of Draya. So, we continued to shout at the lion, throwing rocks, and even taking sticks and hitting them against the trees. The more racket we made, the more curious it became.
Some time had passed at this point and it was clear this lion was not backing down. It had the advantage on us as it was uphill from us, it’s big bright eyes watching our every step. I wanted to get on the same level as the lion and so once again one of us would make way up the trail as the other kept their light on the lion. For a hundred yards Alyssa and I took turns, talking through it as we made headway. “I’ve got my eyes on him, your good.” Then one of us would stop, and say “okay, I got my eyes on him too, come on up to me.” As we reached the crest of the ridge, it flattened out and we could see the eyes still glowing through the trees. With our only defense being bear spray and Alyssa’s bow, I commented how I wished I had a handgun, and we discussed if the lion came any closer and wouldn’t back down it was time to think about self defense. This cat and mouse game with the lion went on for about a half hour leading up to this moment.
Within seconds of getting on the same level of the lion the eyes in our handlamps very quickly started to get closer. He was coming in fast and it was time to protect ourselves and let the lion know we were not his breakfast. Stopping at just 23 yards the lion laid down behind a rock, staring us down. If this lion wanted to eat us it would be on us within a couple seconds. One pounce and it could kill us. At this point it was clear that the “suggested method” of detouring the lion was not working. It was time to be the predator, and to send this lion a message that we will not be eaten and we were done playing this game. Alyssa knocked an arrow on her bow as I ranged the lion. Looking back now I wished I would have tried the bear spray but in this moment of survival we wanted the best chance of successfully deterring this hungary lion. As the arrow left Alyssa’s bow and made impact on the lion the game of life or death was over. The lion turned instantly on impact, clearly hit. I pulled up my binoculars just in time to watch him look back over his shoulder, giving us a look of per disgust and defeat. As the lion limped away we sighed a breath of relief.
We continued on up the trail towards the saddle in the ridgeline. The wind was blowing hard as we glassed the big meadow and far timber. Settling low into the saddle and out of the wind we set up in hopes the elk were going to travel through to their bedding grounds. Movement in the meadow caught our eye, it was a sow black bear and her two little cubs. As she walked she struggled, clearly wounded on her back leg. We let a little time pass and I couldn’t stop thinking about the lion. I asked Alyssa if she wanted to turn this elk hunt into a mountain lion hunt. There was no hesitation to turn back, look for and follow the blood trail of the wounded lion.
As we made our way back to the location of where we shot at the lion I thought to myself, this could have gone a lot differently. As I mentioned in the beginning of this story, Alyssa and I had limited time together in the field but after what just unfolded one would think we had hunted together for years. The communication and action to keep us safe didn’t waver for a second as we faced down the lion. Seeing Alyssa so aggressively take charge, without hesitation gave me a level of comfort knowing she had my back in a situation some people may freeze or freakout in. Her response is exactly what you need in a hunting partner. Stopping along the trail I turned back and told her “ you know, I never felt scared. The feeling of being face to face with that lion was definitely spooky, but I knew between the two of us we were not letting that thing come close.” Alyssa agreed.
We reached the spot where the lion was when we shot it. Specks of blood scattered the dry ground of pine needles and dead leaves. The arrow broke off, leaving the broadhead inside the lion. Playing back the scenario we agreed the arrow had hit its back leg, missing the vital organs, and leaving minimal penetration as it hit the bone. We spent the next couple hours with our heads down looking for blood or any sign of disturbed dirt. Having spent hundred of hours in the past following blood trails it was clear this lion was not fatally wounded, it was not going to bleed out and without any blood to follow it was safe to assume this lion was going to live. At this point he was most likely in a den someplace, licking his wounds in defeat.