.243 enough gun for cougar??

[Jackal]

Hi all. Just today my neighbor, who breeds horses, spotted 2 cougar stalking around the outskirts of her property. She called me to see if i could be on call for a cougar shoot, should they return. Yes this would be a shoot, shovel, shut-up situation. Anyway, my question is as follows: Would my tac-driving Ruger .243 loaded with 95 grain Nosler ballistic tips be enough gun for these beasts?? Also have a Bushmaster .223, but i know i DONTtrust it for any dangerous game. Any helpful insight would make me happy.

 

[Outlaws]

Even if you don't drop it in its tracks, it will bleed out.

I would take the AR15 and a 20 round clip of FMJ just for the sake of a possible charge.....unless you have a good sized revolver.

 

[Jackal]

Ya, i've got a S&W 629 .44 mag, if the goin gets dirty and i have to do a follow-up shot. More interested in whether the Winchester Ballistic Silvertip is a good bullet choice ?

 

[wayne in boca]

Cats are thin-skinned creatures.Either rifle would work well.If it were me,I'd use the AR due to the ability to make fast follow-up shots and running shots.

 

[30-06 lover]

I don't think a cat's body is any tougher than a deer's (Although mindset is quite different), and people use the 243 successfully on deer all the time. Put one in the boiler room and get to diggin'!
-Mike

 

[T.R.]

The rule around here goes like this: shoot, shovel, and shut up.

.243 has knocked down big mulies for me without any fuss. A mt. lion is much smaller than a mule deer.
TR

 

[10X]

A 243 with Noslers would be a good choice for cougars. A 243 can just be devastating for an animal this size at moderate distances. I have them in my back yard now and then. They move very very fast so you have to hit them right the first shot when still. I don't know how you would get on them for a second shot moving fast at any distance or if cover is close by.

 

[Shoney]

The mountain lion is the rarest animal to see in the woods of North America, because of it's increadible hearing. Something is out of ballance with this cat(s). The posible reasons your neighbor may be seeing a cougar are, because it is diseased, or injured, or old, or young and stupid, or it's a young tom that has been kicked out of its juvenile territory by an older male, and a few more.

The cougars we have taken were all with a .22LR pistol. The cats were all treed with dogs. There is nothing difficult about taking down a cougar with the smaller cal. cartidges. The key, as with all hunting, is shot placement.

 

[Jackal]

Well, i guess ill go into a little more detail for you guys. Actually there are two of them, both hunting with each other. That personally leads me to belive that they are either siblings or mom/cub. My neighbor also has a few fresh hatched colts staggering about. Im sure they are looking at the colts.

 

[10MMGary]

The mountain lion is the rarest animal to see in the woods of North America, because of it's increadible hearing. Something is out of ballance with this cat(s). The posible reasons your neighbor may be seeing a cougar are, because it is diseased, or injured, or old, or young and stupid, or it's a young tom that has been kicked out of its juvenile territory by an older male, and a few more.

The cougars we have taken were all with a .22LR pistol. The cats were all treed with dogs. There is nothing difficult about taking down a cougar with the smaller cal. cartidges. The key, as with all hunting, is shot placement.

Outstanding reply Shoney and obviously spoken from experience.

Jackal I totally understand the need and responsibility to protect ones property and pets and family. Having said that, it is impossible to do a SSS if more than one person is envolved or advice for said SSS is sought out via the internet. Additionally would you really chance a felony rap for a neighbors livestock? Fortunately chances are you or your neighbor will never see those cats again. But if you do and they are attacking horses/livestock. I believe your neighbor is well within their rights to kill an attacking cat on their property. Of course you'll need to check your particular jurisdiction for laws regarding subject. Easiest way to solve the problem is for your neighbor to get a big healthy mule to pasture with their horses.

 

[bowfin]

The .243 is more than capable of killing a cougar sized cat, since it can kill a much larger deer. However, a wounded whitetail out in the woods isn't near so problematic as a wounded cougar. This doesn't necessarily call for more gun, but certainly for more care in shooting.

Don't shoot unless you have an EXCELLENT shot presented to you. I would also study "Cougar Anatomy 101" and find out just where I would want to hit. Vital spots on a deer are almost automatic for me, a cougar might befuddle me as to where on the shoulder, since I never studied the problem before...

 

[Selfdfenz]

Well said

s-

 

[MD_Willington]

If an old man can kill one with a pocket knife, I'd say .243 is more than adequate.

http://www.cougarinfo.com/attacks3.htm

01 August. 61-year-old David Parker was attacked by a 100 pound (45 Kg) adult, male cougar at about 7:30 p.m. on his nightly stroll along a road near his home about two kilometres outside of Port Alice.

I'm from Northern Vancouver Island BC... Cougars are a reason we used to take a Marine 870 with us into the woods when hiking

 

[MachIVshooter]

Cats are thin-skinned creatures..

And are also cats, which in every variety are very resilient animals with an incredible will to live.

The upside is that cats would rather live to fight another day, and tend to retreat when threatened or wounded, rather than fight to the death (like bears).

Cougars also generally tend to avoid people at all costs. Most of the attacks we hear about were meeting engagments. Very few stalkings. Cougars will kill larger animals such as deer, but usually prefer smaller game. Cats do not like to risk injury to themselves when hunting.

That said, it is unlikely you will get a shot at it. They are very stealthy animals and seldom appear in brighter conditions than dusk. They also have a very fast "leisurely stroll". The few I've seen were making good time in no hurry.

 

[rangerruck]

a 243 will make them do backflips, however i hate to see them killed, they are such wonderfully beautiful animals. You may try calling a trapper, or trap it yourself, or call game warden etc., see if you can get some money out of trapping them and getting them moved. If all else fails, then make them assume room temp.

 

[CZguy]

Mules

Easiest way to solve the problem is for your neighbor to get a big healthy mule to pasture with their horses.

Best advice in the whole thread.

 

[Jim March]

Or a few llama. They know *exactly* what to do with cougar, as a very similar mountain cat in South America has bothered them for ages. Llama don't screw around, they just run up and try and stomp kitty to death. Note "try", the cats almost always manage to flee.

 

[22-rimfire]

The Mule idea is excellent. I would call fish and wildlife for assistance. The 243 is plenty of rifle should it come to that. It may be harder than you think to take one of them. There must be a way to "encourage" them to move on in search of a more appropriate territory with less human interaction.

 

[Jackal]

I doubt that they will be seen here again, and i do truly hope i dont have to be in the situation where i have to kill a cougar. Dont get me wrong with my question, i DONT want to have to resort to shooting it. The problem around here is that there is no longer any Animal Control Dept. , as they lacked the funding to keep their doors open. Also, the Fish and Wildlife Dept. are extremely hesitent to do anything about a cougar sighting, or any "wildlife" sighting because this is a very , shall we say, "wildlife" friendly area. My city actually has its own resident elk herd.

 

[TomFromTheShade]

I think that the .243 Winchester would be fine for cougar. They are not particularly tough skinned and their skeletal structure is strong, but not really heavy or dense. Just aim for the lungs and he won't make it far. When you are shooting problem animals if you aren't presented with a perfect shot, it is sometimes best to just get some lead into them. It isn't the most human way to do it, but a gut shot cougar will die, and stopping him from killing your livestock is the goal. I'm sorry if this offends anyone, but when you are talking about a horse breeders livelihood you need to do what you have to do to make sure that those colts live to sale season.

 

[MD_Willington]

I'm sorry if this offends anyone, but when you are talking about a horse breeders livelihood you need to do what you have to do to make sure that those colts live to sale season.

Unless they changed it back home, you are legally entitled to protect your livestock in such a manner. No offense taken at all

 

[steveno]

I think digging would be used as a sign of guilt

 

[TimboKhan]

Well, I don't like horses, so for all I care the cougars can eat them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day. That little bit of bitterness aside, the .243 would work out peachy for a cougar or cougars.

 

[CZguy]

Well, I don't like horses, so for all I care the cougars can eat them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day. That little bit of bitterness aside, the .243 would work out peachy for a cougar or cougars.

Wow, don't hold all those feeling in like that. You'll get all bottled up inside.

 

[TimboKhan]

lol, that comment was meant mostly in jest, because I do understand that ranchers aren't food donors to those damn pesky cougars, but the reality is that every time I get on a horse I end up in the hospital. Literally, every single time.