Wisconsin Hunter’s Close Encounter with a Bobcat

A 19-year-old from Wisconsin had quite an unexpected experience while turkey hunting on Saturday. Carson Bender was perched at the base of a tree in full camouflage, enjoying an ordinary day in the woods near Nekoosa when something unusual happened.

As he was reviewing some turkey videos on his phone and preparing to raise his shotgun, he suddenly heard crunching leaves behind him. Instead of reacting immediately, he decided to capture the moment on video, which is a bit surprising, considering most would probably be a bit more cautious.

What he discovered was a bobcat, curious yet undeterred by his presence. It was eyeing Bender but seemed even more focused on the turkeys nearby.

“I knew the bobcat was there, but what it was planning was a mystery,” Bender said later. He was on the verge of taking a shot when the bobcat began to inch closer, cautiously lifting its paws as it moved. At one point, it seemed to glance at Bender’s phone but continued its stealthy approach.

During this tense standoff, the sounds of turkeys echoed in the background. The bobcat held its ground for a moment before pouncing toward Bender and trying to swipe at him with its paws.

Fortunately, Bender managed to escape the situation, but not without sustaining a scratch and a couple of small skin lesions. He opted to take antibiotics afterward, just to be on the safe side.

“I know it sounds a bit odd, but I was really hoping to bag a turkey that day,” he reflected. There was quite a bit of excitement in a short span, but surprisingly, he didn’t feel genuinely threatened. Yet, he was a bit let down that he couldn’t end the day with a turkey to show for it.

According to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, bobcats are fascinating creatures, though they’re not often seen despite being relatively common.

More footage has surfacing about bobcat encounters in Wisconsin, including one incident in 2023 where a bobcat got trapped in a car’s grill.

Bobcats adapt well to various environments, primarily hunting rabbits and hares. They are capable of impressive jumps and can sprint up to 30 miles per hour.

The Smithsonian’s National Zoo mentions they stalk their prey with incredible patience, often traversing 2 to 7 miles nightly in search of food and boundaries of their territory. To minimize noise, they carefully place their hind feet in the same spots as their front feet.