Enough about bears, how about cougars?

[rcl5445]

I have seen them in Kansas and they mauled my neighbors dogs. KDWP told me I was mistaken with my sighting. Since my close encounter I carry my XD 40 instead of my 357. 12 rounds are better than 6. And for Artiz, thats a little harsh. Everyone is entitled to their right to defend themselves and to their own opinion. Since we have thumbs we win!

 

[Vicious-Peanut]

My grandfather has told me stories of when he was heading home from his ranch in East Texas before a hurricane there were several cougars in the ditch brush in front of the house.

I have no reason to doubt him. They haven't ever caused any issue though, just kind of neat to have them up there. If the Bubbas can refrain from shooting them that is... (not a slam against people who legally hunt them)

 

[danprkr]

Since we have thumbs we win!

Hope you don't mind if I steal that one. It made me laugh out loud also.

 

[steveracer]

Every adult male cougar eats a DEER EVERY WEEK just to survive. In 2003 there were an estimated 2400 cougars in Oregon. Today there are more than 6000, and that's over 6000 deer gone every WEEK to cats. And they wonder where the deer have gone. I say shoot the cats, and I'll get more deer for my family to eat. (Cat doesn't taste great. Like bitter porkchops)

 

[Artiz]

Um, last I checked humans were the dominate species of the planet. And, we have the EXACT same right to protect ourselves as any other creature.

Last I checked humans is the only species trying, and successfuly destroying everything, everywhere, and not accepting the consequences of these acts.
Destroy the cat's territory, prepare for the drama. I don't blame the cat for trying to survive, I blame the humans for not being able to ACCEPT the fact that THEY are the only responsible for someone's death.
I don't mind people developping neighbourhoods outside city limits, but accept the damn consequences. Damnit

Again, I have far more respect for these cats or any other comparable wild animal than the average joe.

EDITED for whatever reason I've been told.

 

[armoredman]

Artiz, please. Can't calm down long enough to even avoid the profanity filter? As it's been stated, we are the dominant species, or would you show me any hospitals built by dolphins, or research centers 'manned' by polar bears, etc. If I was ATTACKED by a cat that size, I would do everything in my power to remain at the top of the food chain, period. I have no intentions of just shooting mountain lions for no reason, or hunting them. And according to post #30, not worth eating either, no thanks.

Edit to add, the post above makes me wonder which side you're rooting for? They attack me, they are responsable for it, not me. If you want to demote yourself to lunch, be my guest, but don't splatter anything on my boots. Don't bother answering, I won't see it.

 

[stbarsh]

wow

artiz = the Timothy Treadwell for cougars...

 

[wishin]

Hak, any idea what the cat weighed? She's huge!

Georgia DNR swears there are no big cats here. Someone needs to tell that to the one I saw when I was driving out to go deer hunting one morning...

Thanks for the heads up - never wouda thunk it.

 

[Lou McGopher]

This is why, if you live in the vicinity of these animals, it is wise to carry around a giant ball of yarn and/or a 55 gal drum of milk. They'll be too distracted by the yarn/milk to pursue you.

 

[ClayInTX]

Obviously I’m the one in the wrong, not the cougar.

So—I’ll wrap one of my bigger pines with carpet to make him a scratching post, order 10 yards of pea gravel to make him a litter box, and get me a #2 washtub for a food bowl.

In truth I would hate to have to kill one. I think they are beautiful animals. However, so are my grandchildren and they love to roam the woods and play at the creek. Not in the creek, moccasins are in it.

I’ve taught them to step atop the log and look down before stepping out, in order to avoid getting bit by a copperhead. They know a copperhead is almost impossible to spot because of the mottled color against the leaf bed and pine straw.

I have them carry a long switch to sweep the ground ahead of them to make a rattler rattle in order to avoid them.

The coral snakes are too little to be a big hazard but I’m not sure the coral snakes know that.

I’ve also told the children to avoid the large patches of poison ivy because the snakes like the low cover.

I also keep an eye out for bees in case it happens to be a nest of the killer bees which are now invading Texas.

Oh yeah, almost forgot. There have been sightings of Bigfoot here in the Thicket. He might just be an escaped gorilla but either one is bad news.

Hmm....

Would anyone like to buy a nice tree farm?

 

[Crash_Test_Dhimmi]

Reminds me of living on Fort Ord, California.
There were a lot of Cougar sightings on post, especially in the abandoned areas adjacent to where I lived. I had a .303 Lee Enfield. I asked the MP's what to do, should there be a cougar on in my yard/patio and my toddler/wife/me were threatened by it, what are the rules of engagement?
They said "Well you can't shoot it since discharging a firearm on base is against the law."
I asked, "well, I have a bayonet on my rifle, would I be good just stabbing it?"
"Well no, the bayonet is still a 'weapon'... If you have a pitchfork or a shovel, you could use that since they are not 'weapons'"


Then someone told me about the 3'S Method
Shoot, Shovel, Shut up

 

[Drail]

I'm in southern Indiana and we're seeing an increase in numbers here. State conservation folks say we're seeing a migration of big cats from Canada into the midwestern states. Last year a Chicago city cop shot a 140 lb. cougar INSIDE the city limits. State officials did an autopsy and determined it had come down through the Dakotas and wandered into Chicago. A hunting forum I read from Illinois has been showing some photos of some pretty big cats. One cattle rancher in northern Illinois said that whenever he would call the conservation boys and report a big cat problem it was just like calling the Air Force and reporting a UFO. Complete denial. Last time he called them he said, "well I have about half of a calf carcass 30 feet off the ground in a tree. You tell me what what else could do that?" They sent some guys down and said "yeah you do have a cat problem." Several weeks later he posted a photo of it (after someone shot it). It was huge. I pay a little more attention to my surroundings nowdays. But as other posters have said, if one is stalking you you probably won't see or hear it.

 

[gbran]

I'm in CA and see them and their tracks often in the mountains where I hunt. I've not seen them up close and really hope they haven't seen me up close. Can't legally shoot the buggers here except in very hard to prove self defense cases. I shot one in KS with a 30-30 and was with a freind who did kill one with a .357 mag revolver.

 

[c.latrans]

I have killed or seen killed dozens of mountain lions over the decades, mostly over hounds but a couple I called in and shot. I have used arrows, .22 rimfires, shotguns, centerfire pistols and rifles. Over hounds my favorite is still a .22 mag Single Six revolver. One hollow point through the lungs and they fall out of the tree done for in a minute or so with no appreciable damage. Second choice is an old model 66 .357. Lions are pretty soft and they just dont take a bunch of abuse. One I called in dropped in her tracks to a 55 grain ballistic tip out of a .223 at 50 yards. A well placed .357 round would do the trick in a heartbeat, IMHO.

 

[Mike J]

USMC retired-my first reaction was like wishin's "never woulda thunk it". Then I remembered there was an article in Georgia Outdoor News last year about a hunter killing a Cougar around LaGrange IIRC. The hunter didn't get in trouble because it was a Western Cougar(not a native species) & they said they thought it was a cat someone had been keeping illegally due to the lack of parasites in its system. Now you've got me wondering. I hope this doesn't turn out like the coyotes moving in did.

 

[Dulvarian]

Grew up just outside the http://www.fws.gov/boguechitto/index.html Bogue Chitto NWR in SE LA. We used to ride our bikes down a gas pipeline to the Pearl River. Saw a bunch of tracks, bigger than your spread out hand. Heard a few while out walking around at night. My mom used to talk about hearing them at night while out at the family hunting camp on the river. Never seen one, but I have seen a lot of tracks.

Biggest tracks I think I ever saw were between two trees about twenty feet apart. There was one complete set of prints like it jumped down from one and right back up into the other. And yes, all the DWF people will deny it. Not sure what the big deal is.

 

[MattTheHat]

-eaux-

I'm originally from Louisiana. My father-in-law swears that he saw a black jaguar (he said black panther) near the Amite. Interesting.

I've seen mountain lions here on the Front Range and I've seen fresh tracks in the snow while hiking. I carry a G21 .45, but that's just me.

My father spent a lot of time in the Everglades in the latter half of the 1960s installing microwave systems for long distance carriers. He says he saw black panthers on several occasions while deep in the 'glades. I have no problem at all believing they're present in the Thicket as well, whether as a specific species or just a genetic variation.

When I don't have a rifle in areas with such predators, I carry a 1911 in .45ACP or 10mm.


-Matt

 

[Leanwolf]

" And according to post #30, not worth eating either, no thanks."

I've not killed a mountain lion, but have eaten mountain lion meat from three, killed by friends of mine. One killed in the southern Sierra of California, before the 1972 ban, another killed by a friend east of Tucson, Arizona, and the third killed here in eastern Idaho.

The meat was excellent. These were loin steaks, lightly breaded and fried in butter. Plus, my friend who killed the mountain lion in eastern Idaho made some of the meat into jerky. Although different from beef jerky, it was very good.

Not to say that all mountain lion meat is good, but then, not all venison and elk are good, either. Take care of the meat properly, rapidly, and you might just find yourself enjoying some fine meat.

L.W.

 

[wishin]

The meat was excellent. ......................Take care of the meat properly, rapidly, and you might just find yourself enjoying some fine meat.

I was in a Far Eastern country where a distant relative of this magnificant animal, the house cat, was an endangered species. Draw your own conclusions.

 

[wesessiah]

as far as the secret mountain lions in the east... they were released intentionally by parks and recreation on different occasions, and most recently in 2002... at least into the nantahala national forest, along with more coyotes. a friend of my uncle's who is a park ranger up there is very open about confirming it... i don't know why the deny it... maybe because of everyone's pets turning into victims. at least in the town of andrews north carolina, those released coyotes have become such a menace they offer $40 a head.

based on information from this park ranger, i must humbly disagree with the poster who said panther cougars (using the term panther in the proper way, meaning black, with the melanin condition.) he has seen 2 of them, that are confirmed not to be jaguarundi (or whatever the crossbreeds name is) and genetically cougars. though, the theory is, the allele was passed from jaguars being cross bred/mating naturally many generations back which would explain the number being so low, so very few would be carriers for something that is already recessive. he has access to some paper work in regards to a couple others in either australia or england, that were refuted because the person didn't have anyone to corroborate the findings, or something like that.

 

[ColdCoffeeMug]

You know, at first I thought this was going to be a thread about getting hit on by the older more seasoned ladies at the range
But seriously, I stopped for a panther roadkill on the side of a two lane highway in northern florida and when I called fish and game while standing over the body, they told me that panthers didn't make it that far north, (We've got an endangered subspecies of cougar here in florida) and told me it was probably a bobcat. It was bigger than any bobcat I'd ever seen and had a tail :banghead: What a shame, impressive creature

 

[Art Eatman]

The jaguarundi is a separate species. Very rare north of Mexico.

My wife has had three sightings of cougars in the general vicinity of Thomasville, GA. Somebody asked her how she knew it was a cougar and not a large dog or some other critter. "Easy," she said, "They looked just like the cougar skin that's draped over our couch."

And they do taste scrumptiously good.

 

[wheelgunslinger]

Quote:
The meat was excellent. ......................Take care of the meat properly, rapidly, and you might just find yourself enjoying some fine meat.
I was in a Far Eastern country where a distant relative of this magnificant animal, the house cat, was an endangered species. Draw your own conclusions.

I use a Speedo and Crossfit for Cougars.

 

[wishin]

LMAO Wheelgunslinger, I'm laughing so hard that it's taking me twice as long to type this out!

 

[JShirley]

Last I checked humans is the only species trying, and successfuly destroying everything, everywhere, and not accepting the consequences of these acts.

Artiz, besides the obvious hyperbole (everything, everywhere? Really? Like in outer space, and on Jupiter? ), the truth is, there are other species that can be extremely destructive, such as elephant. And Canadian geese. If you don't believe, do the research. And that's just off the top of my head.

John