layin on the smackdown Posted January 11, 2011 Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 Well, i think we have some pretty good evidence of a cougar in Illinois...My brother in law bought a new Bushnell trail cam this year, and we were having some issues with the pics of antlered deer being blurry, especially at night, so about a month ago, he decided to take it off picture mode, and put it on video mode...We ended up getting some good footage of a nice mid 140's 10 ptr about 3 weeks ago, and since then, the activity has been SLOW...Mind you, this camera is on a soy bean food plot. So john took the camera down a week and a half ago to change batteries, and put it back up on Tuesday january 7th 2011. He took the card out on saturday the 11th to check it, and sure enough, this is what he had on it. This clip was taken sometime between tuesday night and thursday night, because we had a little snow early thursday morning, and there is no snow on the ground. This cat looks to be roughly 80 pounds (+ -) and approximately 24 inches tall. Honestly, it looks the exact same size as my lab who is 86 lbs and about the same height. You can clearly see the long tail with the black tip, pointed ears, and cat like head...Without a doubt, i am certain this is an immature cougar in Marion county illinois, just north of Odin IL. Let me know your thoughts. Thanks, Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike Posted January 11, 2011 Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 It sure could be Dan, but its pretty hard to tell. I would take it to the DNR and see what they say. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted January 11, 2011 Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 it was an animal...other than that, i didnt see any tail or ears...DNR will prob tell you it was a Fischer!...LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted January 11, 2011 Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 I'd be willing to bet $100 that's a Bobcat. If you watch it over and over a few times, you will distinctly see that it does not have a long tail (like a cougar) but does have a short tail and even has the dark marking on the tip of the tail and on back, that a Bobcat has. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
layin on the smackdown Posted January 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 I appreciate all your input so far fellas...I just want you to all know that this cat or animal is pretty far, somewhere in the 15-20 yd range, which might explain some indiscressions regarding size etc...I will upload a video of Johns house cat walking through the area at about 4 yds once i get home, and this will help you get a better idea of the size of the animal. Bobcat, sounds good, but this things tail is way way to long to be a bobcat...Blow up this clip and watch it carefully...you will see that this is not the tail of a yote, fox, or bobcat...and the stature coupled with the cat like walk says alot - im convinced, but i am also intrigued and open minded by all your suggestions... will post later dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oneshot Posted January 11, 2011 Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 Thats no bobcat, coyote or fox... That is a cougar.... I blew it up froze it and used a magnifying glass on it and it has the color, body structure and long tail with a black tip just like a cougar!!! I wouldn't bother with the DNR tho, they will deny it's a cougar cause they don't want to panic people!!!! :yes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted January 11, 2011 Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 Honestly could not tell from that clip Dan. Too bad it did not trigger a second or two quicker to catch whatever it is before it got out of the clear view. Tail movement did look like that of a cat to me. Have you looked at tracks? Would think you should be able to determine the difference between a bobcat and cougar track by size. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PotashRLS Posted January 11, 2011 Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 My brother in law bought a new Bushnell trail cam this year, and we were having some issues with the pics of antlered deer being blurry, especially at night, so about a month ago, he decided to take it off picture mode, and put it on video mode... Dan...........Bushnell has software upgrades on their website. Use your usb cable that came with the camera and update the camera's firmware. This is supposed to take care of some picture quality issues. I can't tell what the cat is. To me it appears short legged in line with a bobcat. I can't see the tail for a 100% identification. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted January 11, 2011 Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 If it was a cougar, you'd definitely see more tail. Their tail is almost as long as their body. A Bobcat's tail is actually longer than it looks. It appears short most of the time, but It really depends on how they are holding it at the time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnatecsteve Posted January 11, 2011 Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 Friend of mine hunts up around Goshen IN, and they have been seeing a pair of cougars around there. Rumor is that DNR has released several pairs in Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, and Illinois to help with the deer herd. Don't know if it is pure rumor or not, however there have been reports of sightings a while ago around Culver area as well. If it's true, I think it's a big mistake...just wait till the first little kid gets mauled or God forbid killed by one of there cats. Out West..sure. Rural areas....heck no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted January 11, 2011 Report Share Posted January 11, 2011 After blowing it up to full screen and watching several more times I can say with certainty Dan that I am still just as unsure as I was watching on the standard size. Seems to lose some quality blown up and had a hard time telling if the black streak I was seeing was on the inside of the far leg or if it was on the tip of the tail. Could be a bobcat or could be something else. Did look to me like maybe the tail was dragging low, not typical of a bobcat. Steve is right bobcats do have longer tails than most people think, however they do not nearly drag the ground. Here is a video that might help you compare movement of a bobcat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buckeyenut Posted January 12, 2011 Report Share Posted January 12, 2011 I would say bobcat. I just don't see a long, cougar-like tail even after blowing it up and pausing the video. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bucknut Posted January 13, 2011 Report Share Posted January 13, 2011 Too small to be a cougar and the video doesnt show enough be 100% certain. This time a year even the young of the year would be substantially larger than what was seen in the video. Than again, stranger things have happened. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muleyman Posted January 13, 2011 Report Share Posted January 13, 2011 If it was a cougar, you'd definitely see more tail. Their tail is almost as long as their body. A Bobcat's tail is actually longer than it looks. It appears short most of the time, but It really depends on how they are holding it at the time. Too me, I did see alot of tail, I seen tail dragging on the ground, and I seen a black tip. Thats no bobcat, coyote or fox... That is a cougar.... I blew it up froze it and used a magnifying glass on it and it has the color, body structure and long tail with a black tip just like a cougar!!! I wouldn't bother with the DNR tho, they will deny it's a cougar cause they don't want to panic people!!!! :yes: Im kinda with you there, I definetly seen a black tip. Too small to be a cougar and the video doesnt show enough be 100% certain. This time a year even the young of the year would be substantially larger than what was seen in the video. Than again, stranger things have happened. That is true, youd think it woulda been bigger. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pointing_dogs_rule Posted January 14, 2011 Report Share Posted January 14, 2011 Too small to be a cougar and the video doesnt show enough be 100% certain. This time a year even the young of the year would be substantially larger than what was seen in the video. Than again, stranger things have happened. LOOKS TOO SMALL good luck to all the dog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JMAN Posted January 15, 2011 Report Share Posted January 15, 2011 IMHO it is a bobcat or fox. Definately not a cougar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntnfish Posted January 19, 2011 Report Share Posted January 19, 2011 No opinion here. Cannot really tell what it is from the video. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethan Givan Posted January 19, 2011 Report Share Posted January 19, 2011 Dont think its a cougar. Doesnt really look like a bobcat to me either. Tail is too long for a bobcat but not long enough for a cougar. I think its a coyote, with a dark tipped tail. That being said, I believe 100% that there are cougars in Illinois, Indiana, and Kentucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msman825 Posted January 25, 2011 Report Share Posted January 25, 2011 dump you out some meat scrapes are table scrapes in front of the camera, then you will see what it is Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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