Which caliber for lion?

[Guy B. Meredith]

Woman, 80, Shoots Lion to Protect Dog

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

(01-08) 13:16 PST Fairburn, S.D. (AP) --

Acting to protect her dog, 80-year-old Martha Smith killed a mountain lion at her home along French Creek near Fairburn. She missed with her first shot, went into the house to call 911, then went back outside with a .22-caliber rifle.

"And he was a spittin' and a growlin'," said Smith. "All I saw was flashing eyes and teeth. And I knew I was gonna have to kill him if I could."

Smith, who lives alone, said she'd like to have the lion mounted, but doubts the state Department of Game, Fish & Parks will return the carcass to her.

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/01/08/national/a131600S63.DTL

 

[AirplaneDoc]

40 S&W works for tigers.

 

[chris in va]

Wow. Spunky lady.

We had a similar incident a long time ago in Colorado Springs. ML's would mosey into town and eat small dogs. One person shot it with a 22 and it roamed all over with a blood trail. Caught it, patched it up, tagged it and let it go WAY over the mountains...came back and ate another pet.

 

[Spyvie]

Be careful about protecting your dog.

http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_7131023

“You have the legal right to protect your personal safety, your personal property and your livestock," Churchill said. "A pet dog is not considered any of those."

Ultimately, they decided not to charge him.

http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_7150779

BOULDER, Colo.—State wildlife officials have decided against charging a Wisconsin man who shot and killed a mountain lion that attacked his dog.
The man, who is living temporarily in the foothills near Nederland, said he shot the mountain lion Oct. 5 when the cat wouldn't release the dog. State law allows people to shoot a mountain lion if their personal safety or livestock are threatened, but officials said they didn't know if that extended to dogs.
But Kathi Green, acting manager for the Colorado Division of Wildlife's northeast region, said an investigation found that the man acted in accordance with the law to protect his personal safety.
The division didn't release the man's name.

Personaly, I love my dog... possibly more than my freedom.

 

[gunsmith]

of course the press

can't be bothered to tell us what kind of .22 it was, what kind of rifle
and will do its level best to bury this story because it didn't end
with the lion winning.

Heres a video!
http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=26954

 

[langenc]

I first thought this was a question about an african lion. I just finished reading a couple of Capsticks books and in africa the min is 375 H&H.

 

[<SLV>]

Video interview here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSXzHVPvzNA

 

[jakemccoy]

Ah crap, now I'm tempted to trade in my new .308 for a .22.

 

[TexasRifleman]

“You have the legal right to protect your personal safety, your personal property and your livestock," Churchill said. "A pet dog is not considered any of those."

Hell just tell them it's not your pet it's your herd......

 

[Stevie-Ray]

“You have the legal right to protect your personal safety, your personal property and your livestock," Churchill said. "A pet dog is not considered any of those."

Since when? Most cases that involve the dear pet of anybody getting killed end up with the judge saying that since pets are property only, malicious destruction of property is about the best you can hope for. This is why the ASPCA is always wanting stiffer laws.

 

[Guy B. Meredith]

I'll leave harvesting lions with .22s to others with more guts. I'll be carrying the 12GA if it's in my backyard.

 

[Sharps-shooter]

These old ladies and their mountain lion fighting tactics! at least this time it wasn't a ball-point pen.

"Run what you brung," as we hillbillies like to say. ("brung" meaning "brought")

 

[loop]

A friend who is a mountain lion hunting guide carries a .22 mag rifle. It is the smallest legal caliber for lions in our area. He also carries a .44 mag in case he runs into a bear by accident, but says a .22 is all it takes.
I use a shotgun full of buckshot for them at the house. Somehow a 12 ga full of double ought makes me feel safe when one of them comes after my goats...

 

[marksman13]

A 22 Mag? You've got to be kidding me. I don't believe I would go on a mountain lion hunt with a guide who carried a 22 Mag. He does know that a mountain lion can kill you back, right?

 

[ArfinGreebly]

What's That Rifle?

Anyone care to "take a shot" at identifying that rifle?

I can't tell whether it's a semi or a lever.

Someone with better eyes?

 

[cobrian45]

I love granny. My boss took a Mountain Lion last year with a .17 HMR. Hornady cartridges with polymer tipped bullets. Not sure of the bullet type. I know the cat was over 150 pounds and didn't need tracking. That said, would I do that? No. Granny has stones. I'd have gone back in for the biggest thing I could find. I think I would laugh if my 10/22 was the first thing I saw. Maybe not anymore.

 

[TallPine]

A 22 Mag? You've got to be kidding me. I don't believe I would go on a mountain lion hunt with a guide who carried a 22 Mag.

Most mountain lions are shot after the dogs have them run up a tree.

 

[Zoogster]

Isn't that illegal in CA? Cougars are a protected species and a dog is just property that is not considered "livestock" under the law. Killing a protected species to protect property I believe is illegal.

Whether you or I agree with that or not, I am pretty sure it is illegal.


SHe left the danger, retrieved a firearm, and returned of her own free will to put herself back in the situation before using lethal force on a protected species. She could easily see some prison time and commited felony crimes that also subject her to EXTREMELY high fees.

40 S&W works for tigers.

Domestic lightly muscled tigers that have hardly moved thier entire lives. That know nothing about hunting and are not even determined to kill thier prey, as it was sitting next to the people prior to being killed, and was not even sure what to do.
I wouldn't begin to compare that to a very healthy wild tiger that is used to being stealthy and has to sprint to eat on a regular basis. Not only deadlier, but the bone density and muscle density of such an animal would be greater. That means the same rounds would perform worse.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

Treed mountain lions are routinely shot with .22s, believe it or not. A cat's skull isn't like a bear's -- a .22 at close range will do the job nicely.

 

[marksman13]

I understand that mountain lions are treed and then shot. That said, I have seen racoons treed and shot with 22LR, 22Mag, and 17 HMR and still come down the tree to whoop a good dog's a$$. I like a little more margin for error. To each his own. I'm not one to bash another man or woman's caliber of choice, but I don't want a 22 to be the only thing between me and an angry, wounded lion.

 

[Vern Humphrey]

but I don't want a 22 to be the only thing between me and an angry, wounded lion.

Same here. But nevertheless, people do routinely shoot treed lions with .22s.

 

[silverlance]

Like it's been said time and again - it's not the caliber, is where you put your shot. That little 22 bounced all over that lion's chest, and he flopped over dead real quick. Gun looks like a marlin tube fed.

But something needs to be noted here. The ML was RUNNING. it wasn't intent on eating granny. without a doubt this would be illegal and grounds for imprisonment here in CA. but in SD? somehow I think things are different there.

 

[clone]

ArfinGreebly, looks to me to be a lever-action (tube-fed). maybe a Henry or Marlin?