About 15 years ago, I was hunting deer on over on Fort Lewis here in Tacoma and came upon something that struck me as kind of odd at first, and the thought of it still gives me shudders when I think about it.

After watching a couple trails from before sun-up until about 10:30, I figured I'd make a loop through the woods and head back to my truck, since I worked swings at the time and had to be to work at 3:00. Anyway, at about 11:00, I was coming up over this little hill and about 150 yards up ahead of me next to a fallen log, I saw what looked like puppys playing next to some Scotch Brush. I creeped up a little closer to get a better view because I couldn't quite tell what they were. Once I was within about 60 yards of them, it finally dawned on me that they were 3 mountain lion cubs.

I can still remember looking at the ground around me at that point and seeing all kinds of tracks I hadn't even noticed before. The hair on the back of my neck suddenly stood straight up, and I could sense something watching me....I thought for sure any second I was going to get nailed....I just didn't know where she was. I looked all around trying to catch some glimpse of her but couldn't, even though I was 100% certain she was watching me....waiting.

I instantly started backing away. I didn't make any quick movements (though I really, really wanted too) because I figured it would only provoke her. After what seemed like an eternity, I had finally made it back to my truck which was only about 1000 yards from where I'd first spotted the cubs. I loaded up my stuff and that was it, I was done for the day.

I gained a whole new appreciation for hunting that day; I was glad that she had come up empty handed, just like me. If I'd actually gotten a deer that morning or gotten any closer to her cubs, I may have had her, literally, breathing right down my neck.

I'll also say that I can understand why extreme sport junkies do what they do. The intensity of the adrenaline rush that morning was definitely something that I had never sensed before, and haven't since.

Thanks for the photos,
Dutch