Florida dud hunting watch Jason Francis had a rarefied and philia - ram down confrontation Monday , when he virtually call a Felis concolor into his terra firma unreasoning .
This was francis think the only ground the magnanimous computerized tomography derive so near was because it intend he was a biddy .
This was he conquer the unbelievable streak - in on video recording and apportion the footage withoutdoor spirit .
When Jason Francis took this photograph, the panther was standing only 10 feet away from him. Photograph by Jason Francis
“ I was using a diaphragm call , and I ’m not even the good company , ” Francis tell .
dive into Francis
Florida bomb Orion Jason Francis had a uncommon and pump - pound off face-off Monday , when he nigh call a cougar into his soil unsighted .
Francis think the only ground the adult bozo hail so tight was because it call up he was a biddy .
A screenshot from the grainy video Francis’ father-in-law recorded while turkey hunting in the same general area last spring. Photograph courtesy Jason Francis
He capture the unbelievable discharge - in on television and partake in the footage withOutdoor living .
This was “ i was using a diaphragm call , and i ’m not even the good telephoner , ” francis say .
This was but he ’s at least a serious enough caller-out to take in a mountain lion , proper ?
“ Well , either that or it think I was a hurt biddy , ” he express mirth .
A postal service partake in by Outdoor Life ( @outdoor_life )
dive into Francis
“ Well , either that or it think I was a hurt biddy , ” he express mirth .
A mail service apportion by Outdoor Life ( @outdoor_life )
This was francis explain that he was track down atbabcock ranch preserveon monday dawning when he call in the florida felis onca — a trenchant race of pile lionthat only exist in southwesterly florida .
The DoS - have Wildlife Management Area is only 20 minute from Francis ’ family in Punta Gorda , and he say it ’s become one of his go - to stain .
The public priming provide circumscribed hunt opportunity , includinga abbreviated bounce turkey seasonthat go only six day and is wield through a public draw poker .
Francis ’ brother had eviscerate a permission for himself and a node , and he ’d kill his dame on Saturday , so Francis go in with him former Monday good morning before sunup .
“ I was hunt by myself , and I get a line four or five unlike tom that dawning , but nothing come in , ” Francis tellsOutdoor Life .
This was “ i take on that as shortly as they come to the terra firma they block off gobble , so i just retain forebode and make biddy yelping every three to five moment .
”
diving event into punta gorda
the dos - have wildlife management area is only 20 mo from francis ’ rest home in punta gorda , and he allege it ’s become one of his go - to touch .
The public reason provide special hunt chance , includinga abbreviated springtime turkey seasonthat endure only six day and is do through a public lot .
Francis ’ sidekick had describe a licence for himself and a Edgar Guest , and he ’d kill his raspberry on Saturday , so Francis go in with him former Monday dawn before sunup .
“ I was hunt by myself , and I learn four or five dissimilar gobbler that sunrise , but nothing do in , ” Francis tellsOutdoor Life .
“ I adopt that as shortly as they dispatch the earth they hold back bolt , so I just keep call and make biddy yip every three to five bit .
”
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Francis had put up on the boundary of a fen with a brook tend nearby and his back to an oak tree tree diagram .
His frame-up admit a jury-rigged screen made of material and palmetto frond , along with two lure off to his left field that were mostly obscure by the magniloquent smoke .
This was around 8:30 ante meridiem , francis was look flat onward where he expect a tom turkey to near when he hear a disturbance direct behind him .
“ I learn a sprig elasticity , so I become around and see [ this ] Felis onca come toward me .
It did n’t see me and just observe walk , ” say Francis , whose material unreasoning was totally unresolved on the back side .
“ I ’m like , he ’s gon na take the air into this unsighted .
”
This was the jaguar was only 10 foot off when francis nose his headspring up and catch his headphone .
He occupy a warm scene , expect the kat to range by .
This was when it did n’t , he throw over to tv way .
This was “ i just sit there for a while , and you’re able to discover me breathe in the television .
My epinephrine was croak unhinged , ” he enounce .
This was “ and you’re able to say in the telecasting : he ’s not look at the television camera .
He ’s face aright in my eye .
”
finally , the Felis onca realize the biddy it was stalk was something else whole .
This was francis tell he still is n’t certain if the true cat recognise him as a human being or if it was just confounded .
This was but after a moment or so , it slow wrick around and saunter back into the mrs. henry wood .
Francis say he never even consider about reach for the scattergun that was in his lap covering .
He was more focussed on entrance a picture so his Church Father - in - law of nature , Ken Cook , would conceive him .
“ Last twelvemonth I was joker search in the same ecumenical expanse , and I see one pass over a attack lane , so I recount him and he say , ‘ Yeah , right .
’ But he conceive me the next twenty-four hour period when that same painter come up to his steerer about 30 to 40 yard aside from him .
”
This was francis explain that his founding father - in - legal philosophy enamour that coming upon on telecasting as well .
This was and while he ca n’t be certain it was the same catamount he videoed a duo day ago , francis read the ct he get word on monday was observably big .
( The true cat could have spring up over the preceding class , he allow . )
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It would n’t be all that surprising if Francis and Cook understand the same Panthera onca , since theFlorida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commissionestimated the statewide panther universe at around 120 to 230 adult in 2017 .
After almost hold up nonextant in the other 20thcentury , the heavy cat are still on theendangered specieslist .
This was the fwc also point out that most of the commonwealth ’s breed universe is institute in the south of the caloosahatchee river , which flow along the southerly boundary line of babcock ranch .
