Ihave had excellent hunts for deerthis season, although I haven't fired a shot at one. As a matter of fact, while having shots at some, I declined for various reasons (mostly because I didn't want to dress them). Well, now that time is running out I need to get serious! Yeah, right!This morning I decided to just sit and see what developed. Bambi and Bambet had been feeding for close to 2 hours within 25 yards of my climbing stand so, even though it was as cold as a witche's heart, I remained motionless waiting for "Mr. Big" to come along. Finally they fed into a thicket and left me alone. I had just about frozen by 9 o'clock, so I began to get ready to go find a warm place. With the last look-around through the thick undergrowth,I saw a blurr of brownish-gray, 75 yards away, running to my left and confirmed, through glimpes,that it was actually2 animalsrunning in tandum. Thinking they must be coyotes, I thought they may come down anold dim roadI was beside, so I shouldered my rifle. Here they come down the once traveled log road, still running, it would be a difficult shot and I would probably pass on it. The lead one ran to within 35 yards and stopped broadside.Not coyotes! Bobcats! I set the trigger, disengaged the safety, and touched the hair trigger of my Mannlicher-Schoenauer in almost one motion. At the shot, the cat sprang toward the thicket that the deer had fed into and thrashed around for a couple of seconds. I gave it another 5 and then climbed down to retrive it.The 31141 had hit it in the left shoulder, breaking it, and exited just below the right shoulder, breaking the upper right leg. Entrance hole was 1 caliber and exit was about the size of a nickel or slightly larger. I was amazed that it even moved after surveying the damage done. Very tenacious, I'm retinking my desire to hunt the big cats of Africa! 25 grains of IMR-4198 propelled the 31141 out of my .30'06 at 1740 fps, which was justslightly less, at the range of my shot.Tomorrow, maybe "Mr. Big".-JDL