Poll: What is this?

[Pineywoods]

I figured I'd try the poll function out. I got this picture during my card pull last week in Houston County between Grapeland and Elkhart on my in-laws 160 acres. I've looked at it 100 times and have shown it to at least a dozen veteran hunters and some that have experience hunting areas where big cats are known to be. The response has been pretty lopsided 90/10. I'm curious how a bigger sample will turn out in ATC...

If you don't see it, look to the left of the old trough behind the pine tree in the bottom picture. The other two pics are for reference. If you click on the pic it will be clearer when you zoom in.

[Bilbo]

I kinda think it is a deer

[PYBUCK]

Long tail. puma

[Pineywoods]

I kinda think it is a deer

The tail about touches the ground though. A deer standing there is way taller. The leg anatomy isn't right either.

[Pineywoods]

Here's a zoomed in pic. It's pretty blurry but you can see clearly the tail is actually a tail. Not a stick/limb or other object.

[Landrover]

probably a cat

[Pineywoods]

Out of those that think it's canine, I'm just curious if you believe there are never actual cougars (not the black variety that hang out with Bigfoot) that pass through parts of East Tx. I have met guys that are adamant that they just aren't here.

[Bayouboy]

I have hunted east tx for over 30 years. Including that area. I have been told by many old timers there are big cats around. But, I have never seen one nor gotten one on hundreds of trail cameras I have run since they came out. Many bobcats. But, no panthers.

[Pineywoods]

I have hunted east tx for over 30 years. Including that area. I have been told by many old timers there are big cats around. But, I have never seen one nor gotten one on hundreds of trail cameras I have run since they came out. Many bobcats. But, no panthers.

I've heard the old timer stories as well and have seen a ton of bobcats while hunting and have killed 3. I want to see canine in this pic but can't. The tail and how it lays down and the length, the hip, gut, and leg anatomy all say cat. I KNOW they exist at least scarcely in East Texas because in 1995 my Dad and I were driving through the Big Thicket area and one was just hit by a car on the side of the road. We pulled over first and then a couple of other cars. One of the other guys that stopped asked my Dad if he wanted him and my Dad said he had no use for it. We were too poor for taxidermy back then. The guy put it in the back of his truck and left. There was no damage to the cat except for a bloody mouth.

[Gumbo Man]

As many sightings that there has been for years the Sportsmans Memory Shop on Hwy 19 in Grapeland offered 1,000.00 dollar reward for many years if some one killed one. That money was never claimed. But I personally believe there are a few around.

[Pineywoods]

As many sightings that there has been for years the Sportsmans Memory Shop on Hwy 19 in Grapeland offered 1,000.00 dollar reward for many years if some one killed one. That money was never claimed. But I personally believe there are a few around.

I've logged countless hours hiking and hunting East TX woods and have never seen a live one. I know guys that have hunted for 40+ years and never even seen a bobcat. I don't believe there's many but bound to be a few who have extended their range over the decades.

[Sasqy]

Pregnant coyote, or dog !
The rear quarter is too much shaped like a dog.
I don’t think it’s a cat.

[AntlerCollector]

I’ve seen them on my property in Hardin County. It’s been about 20 years since I last saw one.

[slayr]

Need a pic from that camera, zoomed in (like you posted) with no animal there

[old shrimper]

Deer. That's a sapling that makes it look like a tail.