Being stalked, Need suggestions.

[ddj8052]

First off, this is not like it sounds. I have a friend who has been kind enough to allow us to set up a private range on his property. He has 240 acres on top of a mountain. The property is over run with Mountain lions and has some bears. Up above where he plowed out the range is a kill spot where the mountain lions have hauled up carcases. The range area is situated in a bowl shaped area.

So on with the story. My friend and I were shooting and as we got done with our string of fire and were reloading we heard some very big stepsd in the brush. Now I have been camping my entire life and I know what the woods sound like and there was deffinatley something out there. So I slammed home a fresh magazine and backed to the center of the clearing and waited. We heard some more steps going across our front then moving away. We waited a bit and heard nothing else and went back to shooting.

So now my question is this. The owner of the property is saying that it was probably a bear. He says that the bears will come to the sounds of shots inorder to see if you have killed anything they can eat. So now I am worried about a angry bear. it was recommended to me to keep a 12gague with slugs handy for protection. Do you all think that my Remington 870 loaded with Winchester Super X rifled hollow point Slugs. Would these be good adainst a bear? Also if it was a Mountain lion would the slugs also be good. Would a .45 acp be efective against a mountain lion. Thanks for any help. I appreciate you all reading all of this.

 

[dakotasin]

not having any experience w/ bears, i'll refrain from commenting there. as far as mountain lions go, they are pretty easy to tip over. whatever will dump a deer will dump a lion.

be safe out there... the critters will eventually adapt to you being there and leaving nothing for them to nibble on; they will eventually leave you alone/go away... until then, keep your guard up!

 

[45 Carry]

My Dad and his brother would hunt mountain lions around Estes Park, CO in the '50's on horseback with .22 rifles. He said they usually run up a tree when they see you and they're easy to kill.

A question about bears. I've heard that park rangers use shotguns when they have to kill bears. They shoot the rear legs to break bones then use a heart shot when the brute can't get them very easily.

Is this true? What kind of load whould they use?

 

[Art Eatman]

If you heard the movement, odds are it's a bear. Lions' big ol' paddy-paws are pretty doggoned quiet.

I imagine slugs from an 870 would do plenty good on a black bear...

Art

 

[Newt]

I'd have to go with Art on this one. If you can hear it, it's prolly not a kitty. Black bears have been killed around here with everything from a .223 to a 300 Win. Mag. Shot placement are the key words here, same as with anything else. Know where to put it and he goes down.