BIG cat in Eastern NC

[Foul Hook'd]

Got this pic from a friend of mine that her CuddieBack took over a food plot late June. Just moments before a little yearling deer ran thru then this appeared. I guess this confirms the cougar theory.

[tankerfly]

wow, I'd love to see one of those...from a distance

[Foul Hook'd]

It had been rumored for years that they were here, I believe there was one shot in the western part of the state a couple years ago. Friend say she hasn't seen it since this pic was taken in June. I guess where theres 1 a second isn't far behind.

Foul Hook'd

[weekender]

looks like a dog to me, the tail is way to skinny to be cougar's tail, also appears to be collared.

[Ace1st]

I agree with Weekender......I am skeptical of that picture being a Cat myself. The hams are just to round to me. Looks more doggish, Bully Doggish even.

I do not doubt that cats exist, I saw something years ago runnin across a field that looked like a cat. Dad said it was a large otter, although I thought it was to tall to be a otter. It was some kind of fast.

[seapower]

Everyone on here know's I'm no photo expert, but yes they are here. I'm not far from you, just on the North side of the Pamilco River. The old timer's around here called them "panter cat's", not many seen but they swore they were here. I was skeptical myself, but had seen strange sign in the wood's that I couldn't ID for sure. Then several year's back I was burried in vine's (litterally) hoping to ambush a nice buck that I knew was in the area. I heard what I thought was a bird scatching around behind me and to my left (I remember it like it was yesterday), it contiuned to come behind me and to my right side (in amoungst the same vine's I was laying in). When it got off to my right side is when it must have finally winded me. It made 2 jump's up away from me into the bordering bean field. The first jump was the intial getting away from me, the second was to clear the ditch directly in front of me. Two jump's was all I saw of it, but my view was within 30 feet so I know what I saw clearly. Never saw a tail that long before, quiet and fast.
With as much time and as wide an area I spend in the wood's here, you would think that you'd see more. I've got red wolve's behind my house (they tracked a she wolve and 6 pup's here) but have only seen one adult dark colored one in the edge of the security light at about 2:00 once. We have critter's around this part of the country that just don't like being seen and they know how to stay out of trouble.
As for your photo I tend to agree with you, (not knocking anyone else's opinion) with with the time of year the photo was taken, nothing around here has a "full" coat, so I would expect the "skinny" tail. I can't see a collar myself. But look at the shoulder's, they don't look "hound" to me. They are round and muscular. I would say it's a cat, until proven otherwise. Frank

[Foul Hook'd]

I added the pic of the yearling to compare sizes. Talked to friend about the cat and she has put up another camera to try and get another picture. Several hunters here have looked at the pic and agree it isn't a dog but...... I'm going to show the pics to the local WRC officer and see what he thinks.

Foul Hook'd

[Jesse Lockowitz]

i had a close view of one in PA. WAY closer then i ever wanted to see one, one helluva big cat, just look like a killing machine.

[babalaza]

Nice cougar

[Sea Draggin]

Just a few years ago someone from down east posted a pic of one looking in their sliding glass door. It 100% was one.