Cougar Attack

[IdahoLT1]

Not necessarily. Aggression against a mountain lion didn't work in the incident below.

Also note the "preparedness" of the woman who was involved with the attack.

http://www.postindependent.com/artic...ntProfile=1074

Thats why i said usually. Nothing is a sure thing in life, but an agressive response to a wild mountain lion is the best defense out there. Most biologists tell people this and most documented incidents where people who walk away relatively unharmed/few injuries did so because of their agressive response.

Pepper spray is fast and it works. I see one poster said that you don't need the more powerful bear spray. Why not? I have some for my trips to Montana for Elk hunting and if I was in known cougar country, I'd carry the most powerful spray AND a decently powerful sidearm like a .45 ACP, 10mm, .357Mag., "The Judge" or even a .44Mag snubnose.

I didnt say regular OC spray was better than bear mace, but everything has its trade offs. Sure bear mace will be more effective on a mountain lion compared to normal OC spray but the size and weight of the total package is something to consider as well. Most cannisters of bear repellant are going to be 2-3x heavier and larger in dimension compared to regular OC spray. It will literally be like carrying a shampoo bottle on your waste. Bulkier items are generally harder to wield as well. a .500S&W magnum is going to be much more effective than a .357 magnum on a cougar but it isnt necessarily the better option. If the OP is hiking/backpacking, carrying lighter/smaller items that will get the same job done is something to be considered.

Im just trying to get the OP to weigh out all of his options. There are somethings he/she may not have thought about so im just trying to get some ideas for him/her to think about.

 

[Tamlin]

Nice, Berettaprofessor. I was going to say, the only cougar attacks I've experienced have been in my local tavern.

 

[MD_Willington]

RCMP was using S&W 5900 series, at least my wife's uncle did when he was in the RCMP.

IIRC they use Glocks in .40S&W now, so do the Fish and Game Wardens in BC, they used to pack S&W 686 .357 revolvers and Remington 870's.

Most people are not packing handguns in BC when in the bush, its too hard to get an ATC (carry permit)... a pump shotgun with OO buck works, so does .243... most of the cougars attacking kids in BC are scrawny.

However we do have big cats back home on Vancouver Island BC, and a lot of them.
see post #60 at the THR link above: http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=5828508&postcount=60

 

[NVCZ]

Mt.Lion sightings are very rare for the average person. Honestly chances of being attacked by one is extremely unlikely. I know people will talk about a friend of a friend whose sisters baby was eaten.... but seriously pretty rare when you look at the number of people in the back country compared to sightings.

I have seen SIGN of lion, but never any actual big cat. Been a Park Ranger 20 yrs, spent some time outdoors.

Now that doesn't mean it CAN'T happen, but chances are small. But if you were to carry a sidearm go with the Alaska Bear Gun.

.44 Mag (or Super Mag for you SEAL types ) and most important is to FILE OFF THE FRONT SIGHT!

So it won't hurt so much when that Grizzly/Lion shoves it up your a$$!

NVCZ

 

[MD_Willington]

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

Happens quite a bit back home... Do a search for "Vancouver Island" on that web page...

We just had another one 3 days ago up in Boston Bar, North of Vancouver BC.

On the Island, they are small immature cats that try to take on people instead of deer and elk, there are no lack of either on the Island.

 

[ClayInTX]

Some years ago in National Geographic or Smithsonian I saw a picture of hunters in the jungles of southeast Asia wearing jackets with eyes painted on the back. This was to make tigers believe they were seen and was said to be successful in warding off tiger attacks.

Perhaps one could have eyes airbrushed on the back of their jacket.

However, I don’t know if the cougars subscribe to National Geographic.

 

[EddieNFL]

I read an article about Indians wearing mask on the backs of their heads to help prevent tiger attacks.

Peter Hathaway Capstick had what he called his leopard kit, used to track wounded leopards. It included a jacket with linoleum attached to the back and a thick sweater he wrapped around his neck.

 

[dom1104]

I am going to vote for the 870. Cougars can attack quickly, and possibly be armed with shoes.

 

[MattTheHat]

see above post...

This is why I use the term "Mountain Lion" in such discussions.


-Matt

 

[481]

Since I am far too lazy to re-type it all over again; here is my personal/professional experience posted in the similar thread running in the "AutoLoaders" forum. I hope that it provides some perspective to the topic.


"Cut" and "pasted":



Over the course of my LE career, I've had to dispatch charging dogs (Rottweilers and Pit Bulls) six times. "Urban" patrol will get you alot of that.

I was bitten only once (severely), by a Pit Bull that weighed about 40 pounds after I hit him three times in the upper chest with .45 230 gr. JHPs (Winchester Rangers) that passed nearly his entire length before exiting his flanks.

Two more rounds (muzzle contact) to the dog's left side "removed" him from my upper thigh permanently.

For those who feel that they can effectively answer the fatal threat offered by an enraged mountian lion (whose body weight may range from 80 to 140 pounds), armed with two paws full of knives (claws) and a mouth full of sharp, pointy teeth with a service pistol (in 9mm, .357 SIG, .40 S&W, 10mm, .45 ACP):

I pray that your "self assurance" in your abilities and the "confidence" in your choice of weapon/caliber rises to meet the "reality" that you will face.

In the end though, people will do what they wish no matter how ill-advised it might be and you cannot save them from themselves.

S'pose "kitty" has gotta eat, too.

 

[EddieNFL]

Shot placement.

 

[Kevin77]

There was an old cowboy in eastern Utah that had a cougar jump on him while he was riding a horse. He killed it with a stick and a rock. I believe there was a story about it in National Geographic.

 

[EddieNFL]

What caliber rock?

 

[Tinker]

MinnMooney,

"P.S. I'm not religious at all. I have owned 3 fantastic dogs in my life. If there is a God and he sent someone "in his image" to earth then what he sent was a dog. This cougar story is yet another example of how dogs are a near perfect being. I have never tried to "measure up" to another human being but I try everyday to be worthy of my English Setter. My 2c."

My sentiments exactly. Kind of strange that I saw dogs as just pets when I was young. Middle age has just now revealed how amazing these "beings" are and left me with regrets of how I've treated some in the past.

 

[Manco]

.44 Mag (or Super Mag for you SEAL types ) and most important is to FILE OFF THE FRONT SIGHT!

So it won't hurt so much when that Grizzly/Lion shoves it up your a$$!

Not even grizzlies are supernatural beings, and I don't think mountain lions are nearly as tough physically. The latter have been hunted down and killed many times by calibers such as 9mm or even smaller, but as with similar-sized humans sometimes even multiple rifle shots won't stop them right away--it depends on where they get hit. The question is whether you have enough penetration, and I think that 9mm does. The main problem is that you might not get a chance to use a sidearm because the cat will probably pounce on you from behind. It's still possible to fight back once attacked, though. I don't mean to underestimate them, but mountain lions have small jaws (for a big cat) and often don't make a successful kill instantaneously. Protect the back of your neck with your non-shooting arm if you can, and if you can't shoot it, then go for its eyes--they hate that, much like any of us would (in fact, one elderly lady managed to get a mountain lion off of her husband by poking it in the eyes). Remember that they're usually just trying to get a meal, and they're smart enough to know that it's not worth getting blinded or maimed just for that (unless they're absolutely starving, I suppose). And watch out for their hind claws--they can gut you with those if they get a chance, especially if you manage to get on top of one of them.

 

[rodregier]

Bandk:

RCMP issue 9mmx19 ammunition is JHP. I believe they are still issuing S&W 5900 series autopistols as sidearms.

 

[joe_security]

I recall some used 6906 pistols for sale, marked RCMP.