Yes, 18 steps being followed is not and ideal situation. That is around 30 ft. A cougar can travel 40 feet in .75 seconds. Less than a second away doesn't give you a lot of time to assess the situation. I had to aim between the eyes, so I was a little off.
I have always seen cougar sign in that property since I stared hunting it in 1978. It is dad's neighbor's property about 200 acres. When I decided to start hunting it this year, I called and asked for permission. They said sure you have life long permission. But, get a cougar tag. We have multiple cougars on trail cams in the.last.3 years and this year. So, I did get a tag . Cougar season is year around here in western Oregon. The pic behind the cat is the trail cam pic taken a few weeks before I killed it.
. I hadn't hunted in there for the last 10 years, so itwas nice hunt it again. I got my deer in there 2 days later.