Wisconsin Teenager Recalls the Moment a Bobcat Stalked and Lunged at Him During a Hunting Trip
For hunters like 19-year-old Carson Bender, every moment spent waiting for animals can feel like an hour of suspense. The vast majority of hunting trips are spent hiding in near-silence, but humans in camouflage aren't the only ones stalking their prey in the woods.
The teenage hunter, mechanic, and student was spending a free day hunting for wild turkeys on private land near Nekoosa, Wisconsin, on April 18, when one tiny sound changed everything. Around 7:45 a.m., turkey gobbling was replaced by the rustling of leaves, followed by dead silence. When Bender looked around, he could hardly believe what he saw.
@journalsentinel Watch as a bobcat stalks and strikes at a Wisconsin turkey hunter. Turkey hunter Carson Bender of Wisconsin Rapids caught the encounter on video as the bobcat approached and lunged at him on April 18 near Nekoosa, Wisconsin. Read our story with Carson, who describeds the frightening moment. See the link in our bio. Video provided by Carson Bender
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Bender was so locked in on the turkeys he was hunting that he didn't even fully look at the wildcat stalking him just a few meters away. Luckily, he wasn't easily spooked, or his shocked reaction could've startled everyone in the woods!
"I pan over with the phone, and the bobcat is just staring at me," he told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "I was like, oh-oh. But I was still locked onto the toms in the field, too."
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Talk about multitasking! In Wisconsin, the spring turkey hunting season lasts from April 15 to April 21, so Bender knew he may not get in another morning of hunting this year. That's why he watched the cat through his phone camera the entire time instead of turning around and risking scaring the turkeys.
Just before Bender was about to take a shot at a turkey, the stealthy bobcat suddenly moved closer. The teenager put his phone down when the cat pounced at him, but he only sustained minor scratches to his left arm before the wild animal left just as quickly as it appeared.
Bobcats and People
Viewers were rightfully stunned to see a person being stalked and hunted by a bobcat, but they were just as shocked to learn how small these wild cats actually are. Commenter @sweetspeak asked, "Bobcats are 3 apples tall and just stand up?" Apparently so!
Bender estimated the bobcat he met weighed about 25 pounds, which is the animal's average weight. The Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute says that bobcats can grow to be anywhere between 9 and 40 pounds when fully grown, though what they lack in size they make up for in confidence.
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Bender's close call is a great reminder that we share the Earth with thousands of animal species, and it's always important to be aware and respectful when any animal is nearby. From tiny insects to stealthy predators, there's no telling what you may encounter in the woods!
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This story was originally published April 21, 2026 at 7:45 PM.