Close Encounter

[buckman11]

I was turkey hunting this spring when at about 7:00 I heard a crashing up on the hill. I thought maybe it was a turkey flying off the roost, so I shouldered my Single shot 12 Gauge and waited to cut him off. To my shock I seen 2 back legs and a long yellow tail with a black tip coming down the hill. It was a Mountain Lion. He popped out at about 40 Yds and walked toward me to about 15 Yds before he trotted back up the hill. I would have shot him but I wasnt sure my single shot 12 Gauge would take him down, & If I just scared him id be screwed. It was definatly the most terrifying thing ive ever encountered.

 

[Comrade Mike]

Never hurts to carry a back up

 

[buckman11]

Yea im thinkin of buyin me a pistol before next spring

 

[cammogunner]

if you are not sure if the gun you have with take it down maybe try buying some 00 buck shot i think the turkey load would do the job..but i see where you are comeing form you got 1 shot and want to make it count i think i would to in that situation..lol hope this helps

 

[Litlman]

Clint Smith had a video on you tube on how to load a single shot fast. Side saddle and a couple of oo buck. And a lot of practice if it is all you have.

 

[Captcurt]

Unless it chewed on you a little the Missouri Department of Conservation would probably write you a citation. Many states claim that there aren't any cougars in their state yet they still protect them. I know Arkansas does.

 

[cammogunner]

mdc is a great asset to hunters but protecting 200 pound hungry cats i have my doubts about..if i see one i will shoot it if they have a problem with it thats there problem it cant be helped if it has a collar on i would be more than happy to get it back to them

 

[stubbicatt]

Did you have a spare set of skivvies in your kit? I suspect were it me in that encounter, I would need to change my shorts once I stopped having heart palpitations.

 

[cammogunner]

LOL i was thinking that to haha

 

[Furncliff]

Consider yourself very lucky, its rare that anyone gets that close a look at a mountain lion. We live in lion country and although I've heard them at night and seen game camera pics, I've never seen one in person, although my wife and daughter have.

 

[buck460XVR]

mdc is a great asset to hunters but protecting 200 pound hungry cats i have my doubts about..if i see one i will shoot it if they have a problem with it thats there problem it cant be helped if it has a collar on i would be more than happy to get it back to them

One needs to know the regulations of their state and the consequences of breaking those regs before they pull the trigger. Finding out what is and what isn't legal is a simple as Google. It took about 5 seconds for me. Seems that MDC does have a problem with the shooting of cougars(4 legged kind). Thus I wouldn't brag about shooting one indiscriminately or tell others to do so. Seems they would also like folks that encounter cougars to inform them of the fact.

http://mdc.mo.gov/about-us/about-regulations/mountain-lion-regulations

 

[BP Hunter]

That's why I carry my Glock 22 whenever I am in the woods and will be with me this Saturday when the deer season for modern firearms opens.

 

[forgiven]

Keep a slug or two with you!

 

[Sunray]

What do you think a handgun can do a shotgun cannot? If Kitty was interested in you, you'd never know it or be fast enough.
Like buck460XVR says, you have to know your State laws. Just having a handgun in a blind isn't legal everywhere.
"...(4 legged kind)..." You can't shoot the other ones either. snicker.
"...that's there problem..." Where? It'd rapidly become your problem. You should look into the penalties, apparently State and Federal, before your irrational fears get the better of you.

 

[ZeroJunk]

I'm thinking you did exactly the right thing.

The chance of the cat bothering you is rather close to zero unless you shoot him in the but with turkey shot.

 

[cowpoke]

We call them panthers, I see them all the time,and many more things that can eat you.