Florida turkey hunter startled by other turkey hunter - a panther

A Florida turkey hunter was surprised to encounter another turkey hunter this week - a Florida panther.

From the Panthers of South Florida Facebook page:

Bobby Reichert took these pictures while turkey hunting in Hendry County this morning. Bobby was an estimated 20-25 feet from puma as it attacked his turkey decoy. Images like these were once rare, and mostly nonexistent.

Reichert was set up in his blind, his decoys laid out and his fake turkey caller pleading for turkeys to come out of the woods.

Instead, an endangered Florida panther walked out of the woods hunting, no doubt drawn by the turkey calls.

The hunter dropped his gun and grabbed his camera, to the delight of the Florida Wildlife Commission.

It's believed there are fewer than 100 Florida panthers in the wild.

From the Sun-Sentinel: