Hunter, 82, mauled by bobcat while calling turkeys
An 82-year-old hunter is recovering from a rare bobcat attack that occurred while he was calling turkeys on his property in Wilcox County, Alabama.
Claude Strother, an avid hunter for 50 years, was left bloodied, with a bite to the back of his head and scratches to his face.
But he felt good enough after the April 18 mauling to immortalize its aftermath with selfies before seeking medical attention.
Those images, shared by his daughter to Facebook, reveal a dazed man who's fortunate to still have the use of both eyes.
In a Facebook reel, Strother explained that he usually positions himself beside a large tree for cover while calling turkeys.
ALSO: Alligator caught on porch cam trying to break into Florida home
But this time he sat between two narrow trees, in camouflaged clothing, leaving his head and back exposed. The bobcat, most likely responding to his turkey calls, pounced at their source, striking Strother from behind.
The force was so great that Strother thought somebody had struck him with a baseball bat.
'It hit behind my head,' he recalled. 'My whole head is sore. His claws hit right above my eyes. Not any real damage, although there was a lot of blood.'
When Strother rose, he looked backward, then forward, and saw 'this giant bobcat trotting off.'
Strother told Fox 10 News that the bobcat probably mistook him for a turkey. 'My yelping was real good,' he joked.
It can be considered a freak accident, although hunters should always be wary when using calls that might attract predators.
Strother's daughter, DeAnn Strother McGilberry, shared a bit of her dad's hunting prowess:
'4 Royal slams, 8 Grand slams , 247 personal turkeys and 75 plus turkey kills for friends and family he has called up. And he keeps a journal of every hunt, what a treasure this will be for generations to come.'
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