Big 'ol cat?

[BroodBuster]

I found this elk hunting last week. My camp was divided between bear and mt lion. The torn up part is about chest high with claw marks up to ten feet high or so.

What say you?

 

[Bearlodge10]

I might get laughed at but that looks like some of the elk rubs/scrapes I have seen. Wouldn't quite explain those marks higher up. I'm curious to see what other's opinions are.

 

[RCA Dog]

I'm going to say cat. It could be an elk rub, except for the ten foot tall thing, and that the marks are all vertical. Being that the OP is from WA, i'm thinking no grizz, and I don't think a black bear is coordinated enough to do that.

 

[OR Archer]

I might get laughed at but that looks like some of the elk rubs/scrapes I have seen. Wouldn't quite explain those marks higher up. I'm curious to see what other's opinions are.

Elk rub. It'd have to be an African lion to reach 10' into a tree. A big bull can easily do that. Seen it plenty of times.

 

[IdahoElk]

Neither,I say a Samsquanch

 

[IrishnId]

Elk.

 

[bourbon]

Skunk ape.

 

[BroodBuster]

One more pic showing some of the marks further up the tree. Marks I can only describe as claw marks . If that's an elk he's got bayonets as antler tips

 

[mtluckydan]

I would go with the elk. If it were a bear or cat the top marks would have more marks closer together in a paw pattern.

 

[mtnkid85]

If it were elk, there would be hair left behind. Was there any hair in the slivers?
I would say bear over a cat, I don't think Ive ever heard of cats making a rub like that?