Mountain Lion Dragging Buck
Have you seen the game camera photo of a mountain lion that killed a buck at or near a feeder? It seems quite amazing that the lion and his kill were caught on camera. However, the mountain lion dragging buck photo appears to be legit. It’s rather lucky photo for the owner of the game camera, but not as fortunate for the buck.
Readers of this site know that I normally write about deer management and anything related to hunting white-tailed deer. In addition, I do my best to get the facts correct before publishing content that I feel is accurate and helpful to hunters and landowners managing the deer and habitat found on their hunting properties.
Well, about a month ago I wrote an article that featured the photo below. It’s a perfect game camera photo of a mountain lion dragging a dead buck directly in front of a feeder. It seemed so perfect, I stated that surely the photo was a fake. As it turns out, the mountain lion dragging a buck photo is not fake. Rather, it’s an actual, amazing trail camera photo taken on a ranch in South Texas.
Mountain Lion Kill Caught on Camera
Every deer hunter that has spent any amount of time in the woods, or more appropriately around a campfire with other hunters, has heard stories related to mountain lion sightings. This can include the alleged black panther sightings that your buddy/uncle/friend/nephew claims he saw, too. The stories always get better as the night goes on.
One of the best things about getting outdoors and into the wildlife woods is that you really never know what you are going to see. And speaking from experience (and the mountain lion photos further below), there are some amazing things going on outside all of the time. After all, nature never really sleeps.
Photos, like campfire stories, are not always truthful. Before writing the first article about this photo of a mountain lion dragging a buck, I did a little research regarding the photo. If this photo had been faked, it would not have been the first. To make a long story short, someone initially admitted that they had “made” the photo. Just to get some attention, someone actually claimed to have faked a real-to-life photo. Wow.
Mountain Lion Dragging Buck After Kill
As it turns out, the real owner of the mountain lion photo saw the article, contacted me, gave me the real story that took place on his South Texas property and even provided me with additional photos to corroborate the mountain lion kill.
The ranch owner even said he found the whitetail buck’s head and remains about 6 weeks after these game camera photos were taken. He confirmed that the buck had been killed by the lion.
The photos below are in time succession and show a deer fleeing the area prior to the buck being killed. You can even see the drag marks in the dirt after the mountain lion walks right in front of the game camera. A truly remarkable occurrence, especially since it was caught on film. A special thanks to Chet Markgraf for his story and these photos!
Photos Document Lion & Whitetail Buck
Now this is going around on Facebook as being taken in West Virginia!! I linked here for proof hopefully. I use photoshop everyday professionally. This looks legit- or someone wasted a lot of time in their life making something they’re not getting credit for!
YES, IT WAS THE BIG RUMOR GOING AROUND HERE IN ETOWAH COUNTY, AL. ALLEDGEDLY IT WAS TAKEN IN GALLANT, AL. DAMN REDNECKS AROUND HERE!
Yep, thanks for the info. After two years, this mountain lion has finally made it’s way to NH.
Facebook says it’s a catamount from my area in Northern Vermont.. Ya right!
This exact same picture came out here in south texas (eagle pass) on a mexican news paper (zocalo) and supposable it was found in a ranch in mexico that border eagle pass, there have been a lot more mountain lion sightings down here, and the terrain certainly looks like mexico.
Just had a neighborhood visit on the porch. Looks like this cat has longer legs than the picture shows. He’s been spotted with the same buck just outside of Savannah, Tennessee. Wish I could get his secret to preserving his catch and oh of course his travel methods. Only one thing to say here “BEAM ME UP SCOTTY”!!! LOL
My wife & I were Deer huntin Near Tolar, Texas. We sat in our stands until dark as
usual. We were somewhat puzzled that we saw none of the deer that usually showed up like clock work. NOT to mention the birds that always came in. As we started back to the truck suddenly a loud scream like a woman.
From Tennessee to Eastern Kentucky now! Saw in facebook newsfeed tonight the same photo, supposedly from Blaine, KY. I did a reverse lookup on the photo and one of the hits was this site. Not that I don’t believe there are cougars here (the old folks call them panthers, though);
I saw one myself near Cave Run Lake in East-Central Kentucky about 20 years ago, and a young one was killed on the highway (this was well-documented) in Floyd County, KY in the mid 1990s. No doubt in my mind that with the reintroduction of elk to the area & the population boom in deer, the cougars are probABLY REBOUNDING, TOO.
Wow, over two years and this picture is still on the move. People believe the stupidest things. Cool picture, had to see where it came from. Got told it came from a trail cam in Delton, michigan. Maybe it came from the moon…and it’s a zombie cat, someone start that rumor.
I live in South Texas, right on the Rio Grande, between Eagle Pass and Laredo. We DO have lions here. I’ve spotted them several times and shot one [yes, it’s legal in Texas] while deer hunting perhaps 400 yards from the Rio Grande. Most the lions I’ve seen–including kills and tracks–are close to the river. I’ve wondered if they spend the day in the thick river side cane brakes.
Perhaps more interesting, while bow hunting for wild hogs, I heard two lions screaming perhaps 50 yards from where I was sitting. I got a glimpse of one of them through the brush–but only a glimpse. The screams were remarkable in both quality and volume. Has anyone else here ever heard a mountain lion screaming up REAL close? If so, I’d like to compare experiences.
Ron
Well, I now have Johnny Cash’s “I’ve been Everywhere” stuck in my head! This showed up on facebook today as having come from a little town in the woods of Eastern Connecticut!
We DID have a cougar hit by a car in our state last year, but the DNA proved it to be from WAY west of here – they think it was a “captive” animal that had been released, or escaped. Thanks so much for all this interesting info everybody.
Pic is now going on Facebook that it was taken in Conneticut. Sheesh! 😛
The times on the trail camera don’t match up. The one with the mountain lion say 2/15/2009 4:31 am and the other picture with the the buck by himself eating says 7:20 am. As well as all the other ones. Explain that.
The times do match up Extreme Hunter. Read the article. Not the same buck in the later photos, but shows the drag marks!!!
It is true, I promise, their here in Tennessee. small numbers and very weary keep them hidden most of the time. I have seen two in 40 plus years and many hours in the woods. Their not black, just good old mountain lions, cougars, pumas and whatever else you want to call them. We have pictures of tracks and even some pics of the cats and our game officers tell us they don’t exist, but make sure not to shoot one. That should tell you everything you need to know. They are here.
That picture is currently now being circulated in Southeastern CT, saying this occurred in Griswold, CT.
Now it’s on Facebook, saying it’s in Hopkinton,IA… Gessshhh!! I wish folks would not add to stories. I posted this link to their FB wall.
Well, the pic made it’s way to south Georgia (Albany) over the weekend. Story I was told was that some guy in Alabama shot the deer, couldn’t find it and went home. Supposedly he came back to check his camera a few days later and found this pic – ha! Glad to know the real story.
It’s made it to Louisiana now. When will it stop!?!?
Someone posted that it was a Panther in Harlan Ky! Glad to know the real story
Rob, that cat is big enough to drag your fat wife into the woods!
Apparently this picture was taken in Tweed, Ontario, Canada, just last week. People are not smart.
This photo has been circulating in south eastern Ontario as well. I took one look at the rack and knew better (too flat and too wide for our whitetails). Thanks for the confirmation though.
Just got this photo. From Messena, New York, now.
It has now made its way to the Livingston\Cookeville, Tennessee area and is circulating around facebook. LOL
A friend was showing it to me on his phone. It was said to have been taken near Chipley, Florida. Yep, that cat gets around!!!
Some idiots are claiming this was from a trail cam in Iowa. Thanks for providing the real source. 🙂
Maybe he moves around with Brian Williams??? All I know is that I’d LOVE to be this cat’s travel agent!
Now he’s in NJ – just got forwarded by text message claiming its from a mutual friends friends game cam. Riiiiggghht.
Wow! I had seen this floating around social media a few times, I’m glad I finally found the truth behind the photos. What a cat…and great story!
Why does that cougar keep dragging the same deer all over the place? He was just “photographed” again in Tweed, Ontario!
My facebook “friends” are claiming it’s in VanBuren, Michigan. I live near the Detroit airport!
Now it’s running the rounds of FB as being in Van Buren County in SW Michigan…
Why is everyone in disbelief? Mountain lions eat deer all the time. They also eat elk in all the western states. I have even witnessed a lion killing a deer in the wilderness. While it was very impressive, it happens all the time. I think the stats are something like 20-30 deer per year for a grown lion.
Right now someone from Ohio posted it was theirs. I guess they don’t know how Google works for everyone else, lol.
This picture showed up on facebook last week. The guy said it was in south east on Ohio and was taken recently.
Lol I just saw it posted as being taken in Indiana!
That same darn cat is dragging that same darn buck around the woods here in Ohio this year. I knows it’s true cuz Facebook just told me earlier today. That daggummed cat must be tired as a turtle by now.