While coyote hunting early this year, we called in a solid black bobcat. This was after we woke it from its slumber in the grass on the side of the hunting club road we were hunting. Literally were walking down the road to place the electronic call, and saw the cat sleeping. Set the call on angry Tomcat and blared it right at him. He woke up groggy and strolled away. An hour later he came to a cottontail call, and my buddy missed the shot…thankfully. It was small and we were hesitant to shoot it. Glad he missed. Next year he’ll be on my wall.
As far as black panthers, I don’t know either way, but I know what I saw when I was a kid. On Wadmalaw, a lot of old timers claimed there were a dozen of them on the island. There was also story of a ghost…an old farmer in a straw hat and overalls walking a panther on a leash all over the island…I saw it. In Rockville, on Maybank highway right in front of Carol’s old store at the end of Cherry Point road. Plain as day (night) he was there, and then he was gone.
I have seen that picture above before though. Kind of like those rattlesnake pictures that make the rounds every time it warms up.
so after reading this post/seeing the pics I had to ask my boss and the big dnr guys about this…
some of the higher ups at dnr and forest service say they have plenty of pics of big brown/black cats in the state on trail cam…(I am still hella skeptical)
I was shown a pic tho from my boss of a big brown cat(mt lion/cougar) looking on a trail cam that is in horry/myrtle area(wild) it is on land that dnr has many trail cams as well as spawn ponds and a few other things… ive seen pics of some big black bears as well on this land and was told that’s why we are not allowed back in that area without a 2nd person who has a rife… so I can say take it for what it is… I’m trying to get him to email me the cat photo and hoping the dnr/foresty guy will come thru with a few as well.
I have a recent pic. on my phone a young fellow and his dad sent me from Batesburg/Leesville. A trail cam pic from a couple of weeks ago. I’ll see if I can post it?
Here you go! This is from Batesburg/Leesville trailcam…
This is a leopard based specifically on the rosettes you can clearly see. Google image search the picture and its also been a trail cam picture in Georgia, Texas, Alabama and Indiana. Someone is pulling your leg bubba. The picture was taken in Africa.
I have first hand knowledge that up in the MCVL Francis Marion area there are large cats. Grew up as a crabber and one morning we hooked up the boat and a large Black cat Jumped off the boat straight into the woods. It had tore open through the sides of two bushel peach baskets holding that days bait that were thawing out over night. We see the tracks of a very large cat every few years. Also have seen bears lately in the same region. If you don’t believe me come call me a liar to my face. I speak the truth. From what I hear lately surprised someone hasn’t caught one at Demetre Park…
I saw one about 20 yrs ago crossing a paved road outside Camden about 5:30 one evening in plain daylight. It was dark colored with long fat tail. Stopped and looked at me and bound off into the ditch on other side of road. No doubt in my mind what I saw. Some folks I know had one come to their turkey decoy but, stayed back in the brush. They saw the long fat tail too. It was in a field only 1/2 mile away from where I spotted it. They are rare but, they are out there.
I have a recent pic. on my phone a young fellow and his dad sent me from Batesburg/Leesville. A trail cam pic from a couple of weeks ago. I’ll see if I can post it?
Here you go! This is from Batesburg/Leesville trailcam…
This is a leopard based specifically on the rosettes you can clearly see. Google image search the picture and its also been a trail cam picture in Georgia, Texas, Alabama and Indiana. Someone is pulling your leg bubba. The picture was taken in Africa.
Well I finally decide to go and sit tonight in a stand I just put up this past weekend and wouldnt you know it this girl had to walk out 30ft in front of me. Well as I looked at her I started thinking about all my quail, chickens, and bady ducks that have disappeared over the last year or so and well I decided to protect my ■■■■■ and let the lead fly out odf a rifle that I haven’t shot since last deer season. And its still on. I didnt let her go to waste I did skin her and ready to tan when it cools off. Estimated around 20 maybe 25 pounds. To all my birds rest in peace tonight.
I saw a brown, long tailed cat in the field across from Tri County Tech about 18 years ago I guess. I was at Clemson for undergrad. I mentioned it in one of this guy’s other postings. It could have eaten a bobcat for breakfast.
I’ve had several family members who are long time hunters spot big cats with long tails in the woods. Can’t remember if they said they were black or brown but does that really matter?
I saw more and got more pictures of them this year than any other year. Besides our quail, which I don’t think we ever had many of, our biodiversity in Awendaw is really good right now. Only thing I don’t like is the Coyotes. Rabits, bobcat, turkey populations are all pretty stable is seems now. Up the road a few miles my cousin has a Bear stop by his place every now and then.
First, Most, Biggest
. Maybe I have misunderstood what you wrote, are you saying that you got pictures of a long tailed cat on your trail camera in awendaw?
Sorry, I thought I went back and edited this after posting it to clear things up but maybe it didn’t stick.
No, I do NOT have pictures any big cats. Plenty of Bobcat pictures. I have pictures of 3 Bobcats at a time on several different occasions.
I’m sure there are big cats around SC, have to be.
When I lived on the northside of Chicago not too long ago (about 2 miles from Wrigley Field), a cougar made it’s way all the way from N. Dakota, through MN and WI into the city of Chicago. Now, it wasn’t walking downtown among the sky scrapers, but it was pretty dang close, and it was in a very densely populated area where city lots are 25’ by 125’ separated by 7 foot tall fences. There’s very little open or green space, certainly not enough to support a large predator, making the fact that it made it’s way that far into the city even more amazing.
If not for the video, photos, and massive media coverage, most people wouldn’t believe it either. So, that being said, I find it hard to believe there aren’t a lot of big cats in SC. http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2008-04-15/news/0804140895_1_cougar-illinois-north-side
