If she would have connected with the swipe, the least of your worries would have been getting "nicked when she swung". More like she would have brought you in for a bite to the face or worse.
I don't want to play armchair quarterback, but readjusting the snare to around the neck would have been a better plan. That way you have control of how much persuasion to employ to the snare tension to adjust her attitude until she "cooperates" to your heartfelt intentions.
It wouldn't have made for such of an exhilarating story as yours, which I thoroughly enjoyed.
We're trappers, man. We live on the edge!

Yea 52carl, I'm fairly new to trapping this is my third year but I have realized how easy it is to choke them out so I put the catch pole around the head and one leg( behind shoulder). Live and learn. I was definitely lucky. Lol

from experience?

Well let me tell you this, Hoss, you got way bigger stones than I do to even try to release a bobcat. I won't even do that with a house cat. I got bit once doing that. Once...
I'm glad it all worked out for you. Your Indian name will be "Big Stones".

A friend of mine had his cat in close proximity to his feet when his paperboy tossed the morning news and hit the glass door startling the cat. The cat dug into his big toe for traction. Did quite a job on him and that was an accidental laceration, I can't imagine what they could do if determined.

Yes, had it happen earlier this year. Story about half way down the thread.

http://iowatrapperstalk.com/ubbthreads.php/topics/74135/Cat-ching_and_Realeasing#Post74135

When I first got back into trapping in the 1980's I got the not-so-bright idea of tapping a large tom on the nose like I might a fox. As I swung a stick he timed me, jumped, sunk his teeth through my clothes and into my upper leg. I punched his head with my fist a couple of times but he would not turn loose. As I drew my 22 pistol from its holster he released and repositioned himself for another attack. That's when he got a bullet between his eyes. I thought "he's healthy", so I skipped the rabies shot. The wound became infected. Sale of the pelt barely covered the cost of doctor visit and antibiotics prescription. I still have a scar to remember him by.

I release about a third of my cage trapped cats. Some of those are on the fight and dont run off right away. They lunge and growl and stalk back at me. I can flip bush and sticks in their face, and they still come at me. I haven't yet had one actually get ahold of me and I certainly dont turn my back, but I'm pretty much used to it now. I seems that the key is to get them to turn around. That flips the switch off.
Cats are so hard wired that when in the fight mode they stay that way till that switch flips.

Typical irrational female.