Have you ever had that hunting dream where the animal you have coveted is right in front of you and for whatever reason you just can’t pull off the shot? Happened in real life this morning.
We have had a Bobcat caught on camera for about a year. It’s killed the neighbors chickens and guineas and I believe was responsible for the deaths of 2 of my cats I had in my barn.
I was drinking coffee at the kitchen table when this big cat walked right past our large windows behind the house. I grabbed my AR and call and went to the front porch, hit my call softly about 3 times and sure enough I spotted the big Bobcat sneaking my way. He came through some thick brush and when he cleared it was standing 35’ from me. I had him in my sights, flipped the safety and tried to squeeze the trigger. Nothing, I called on all my training, dumped the mag , cycled, reinserted mag and cycled but the bullet wouldn’t go into the chamber, the cat was sitting there watching me as I did this 4 more times. When it dawned on me the AR was inoperable, I went to my sidearm just in time to watch the cat sneak off.
Turns out the last shot I made on my 200 yard steel target about a week ago didn’t eject. First time that has ever happened, I’ve owned this AR for 16 years and shot 3 gun with it. It’s been flawless.
I was pretty damn upset but I’m not giving up getting that cat. He came to the call, maybe he will come again.

I remember when Camo was guiding the old man and they found the desired buck at the blind set up called the Octopus. The old man hit the deer pretty hard and it ran off the sendero. Camo, a guide as good as Bobo, didn't wait long enough, jumped out of the blind leaving the old man in there. Camo got to the point of impact and did find blood. He trekked into the dense South Texas brush and found the deer standing near the edge of yet another Sendero. He quickly brought his gun to his eyes only to realize his scope covers were still on. By the time he flipped them off, the deer was gone. The trophy was ultimately retrieved and every once in awhile we gets the opportunity to remind Camo of the "incident".

Man, I hate that for you. I was in a blind in Coleman County about 15 years ago and saw a buck we had been targeting for a couple of years come in. To this day, the largest, non-HF, buck I've ever seen in person. I had gotten in a bit late that morning and cycled my Rem auto, but had done it softly to be on the quiet side, not realizing the round had not completely seated. I raised up on the buck at about 45 yards, and click. He was gone and we heard later that a huge buck was taken on a neighboring property - almost certain it was him as we never saw him again. I still think about that hunt, a decade and a half later.

maybe its an omen to let live

Unfortunately, you've probably educated him.

😎

Be glad it was a cat and you didn’t need the ar for a bad guy

Same happens with Browning BAR's. Do not try to close them slowly and quietly, it can cost you an elk!!! My son will always remember now.

Biggest buck ever on our place was following a tree line parallel to me. I tried to line up several shots but couldn't. He kept the line between us. I followed him about 500 yards but couldn't get an angle on him. When we ran out of trees, he was ~400yds in front of me and about to disappear forever. I got prone but couldn't see for the grass. I found a clear lane but missed the shot. Still makes me sick.

Got a chance once to go hunting on timberland in East Texas. I was using my Contender in 30 Herrett with a 3x9 scope. It was sighted in for 200 yards, but the blind I was in only had about a 100 yard view in each direction. I saw a doe come out into the road and she kept looking back over her shoulder. I got ready and then a huge buck stepped out. Lots closer than the doe. He came walking across as I put the scope on him for my shot. And ALL I could see was hair. No idea where the hair was. As I frantically tried to find an edge to figure out where I was, he just kept walking. I never thought about switching to 3x from the 9x I had been watching some 100 yard deer with. I finally tried looking down the side of the barrel to line up the shot. At the shot he jumped and tore off into the forest. I climbed down and went to the tracks where he jumped. Not a long walk. Seven steps from my ladder. No blood or hair anywhere. Followed his path a little ways and no evidence of a hit. Guess the buck fever shakes has gotten me. Twelve points on a side and huge beams.

The next weekend another guy from my company missed him too. Said it was the biggest buck he had ever seen.