Defending against predators in the wild with a pistol.

[ForumSurfer]

In that zoo animal escape in Ohio, a deputy got a lucky shot off. He drew and fired one shot to the head on a charging bear. He was using his issued glock 40. Masaad Ayoob wrote an article covering it. I think it was equal parts skill and devine intervention.

I'd rather carry a 10mm, large bore revolver, bear mace or a friend I can outrun.

I've run into black bears in the woods here. Theres a large black bear reserve several miles from me. The only one who made me nervous was one that flanked me out of sight for about a mile. I think it was curious or being protective. I don't much worry about them. I go loaded for two legged predators for the most part.


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[samonmaster]

I might add that if you are attacked by any living creature with a central control mechanism(brain) and all you have is a hand gun ; the most important thing to do is get some lead or metal or wood or stone or what ever you have at your disposal to defend yourself and then do whatever it takes to STOP the central control mechanism( brain) from being able to funtion in respect to awareness of a purpose or a previous instinct to attack. To sum it up, no matter the size of gun or weapon, if the threat is no longer a threat but is now you or it (or you or them) ; the attack is instantly stopped once lead enters and disrupps the central control mechanism(brain).
P.S. Dont hesitate to shoot just because you might not get some lead in its head;because a wild animal on the attack wont stop unless something clicks in its head to run instead of attack or its brain is stopped compleatly and even then its body is capable of thrashing uncontrollably for sometime before coming to a complete stop.

 

[hso]

The concerns about predators in the wild are usually overstated.

In Louisiana the largest predator you're likely to encounter will be a black bear, 'gator or feral dogs depending upon where you live. Hogs aren't predators, but they can be dangerous and you'd be well advised to include them.

Of those only feral dogs and hogs are difficult to avoid dangerous encounters with. The advice to understand the anatomy of the critter you're shooting at is vitally important and the same advice to keep in mind that targeting is a 3-D exercise is as well. If you'd have posted this in the Hunting forum you would have consistently been told to study the shot placement from different angles for heart/lung shots. Your point of impact should be on a line through the heart/lung while avoiding hitting the shoulder bone. For hogs this can become more challenging because of heavy hide and cartilage complicating the shot.

 

[Certaindeaf]

Humans are predators. I think the definition of predator means that that particular creature has eyesockets facing essentially forward. It's not really a rocket.

 

[Skribs]

Wild predators aren't my biggest concern. Now I live in a condo with no pets, but when I was a teenager living at my parents' house, my neighbors rot jumped the fence and attacked our lab mix. If I carried like I do now, my dog wouldn't have been hurt as bad, and their's would have been buried later that day. We also wouldn't have had to escort our dog outside to go to the bathroom for a few years after that.

 

[Alaska444]

Wild predators aren't my biggest concern. Now I live in a condo with no pets, but when I was a teenager living at my parents' house, my neighbors rot jumped the fence and attacked our lab mix. If I carried like I do now, my dog wouldn't have been hurt as bad, and their's would have been buried later that day. We also wouldn't have had to escort our dog outside to go to the bathroom for a few years after that.

Pit bulls are my biggest reason for carrying in the urban setting. Black bears, mountain lions and grizzly bears are my biggest reasons for carrying in the woods of northern Idaho.

 

[allaroundhunter]

Wild predators aren't my biggest concern. Now I live in a condo with no pets, but when I was a teenager living at my parents' house, my neighbors rot jumped the fence and attacked our lab mix. If I carried like I do now, my dog wouldn't have been hurt as bad, and their's would have been buried later that day. We also wouldn't have had to escort our dog outside to go to the bathroom for a few years after that.

The last time our dogs were attacked we had to put it down because of its aggression and because it was not going to stop for anything. Authorities were notified of the incident and the owners of the dog also received a citation of some sort after county police returned the body to the them...

Thankfully you didn't lose your dog, some aggressive breeds don't k ow how to stop until their victim (or they) are dead.

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[Dixiejack]

A hunting partner went hog hunting on a state game preserve last week. Could only use a shotgun, so he took his 10 ga, SS with #2 shot. Shot a 300# hog directly in the snout and wound up shooting him 4 more times before he killed the hog. They are tough when they get riled up.

 

[Alaska444]

A hunting partner went hog hunting on a state game preserve last week. Could only use a shotgun, so he took his 10 ga, SS with #2 shot. Shot a 300# hog directly in the snout and wound up shooting him 4 more times before he killed the hog. They are tough when they get riled up.

One of my friends shot a 500 pound hog with a .416 Rigby and it just stood and looked at him after a perfect heart lung shot. It took a second head shot to put him down. That is not counting what it takes with the huge hybrid hogs now common in the south. Hogzilla was over 900 pounds. I don't know any handgun you can shoot with the firepower of a .416 Rigby. Some foiks call them the southern grizzly.

 

[ZigZagZeke]

I don't go anywhere on the ranch around Maupin, OR without my Model 66 S&W .357. Since they stopped hound hunting for cougar here about 15 years ago the cougar population has doubled, and there's not enough range for all the cats. They have gotten to be a pretty common sight around the ranch, and they are bold. Nobody has been attacked yet, but a couple of people have been stalked or followed.

 

[Certaindeaf]

^
I remember when that was enacted. I guess now the only way to "hunt" them is to shoot them when seen, were the occasion to warrant of course.

 

[Deltaboy1984]

Dogs are the main reason I carry for those dogs that don't play nice. I like my S&W 40 most of the time though the 38 packs well.

 

[Alaska444]

Dogs are the main reason I carry for those dogs that don't play nice. I like my S&W 40 most of the time though the 38 packs well.

You got that right!! Feral dogs in the wild are part of the wild animals in many areas. Fortunately here in Idaho, the wolves kill them. Unfortunately, you still have to deal with the wolves.