Mountain lion defense

[showmebob]

Mods, if this is in the wrong place please move or if inappropriate delete.

As a member of several forums I constantly see threads about which caliber is best for about every animal on earth. The gentleman in the story below lives about 17 miles from me and has had 2 mountain lion encounters. I am posting this just to calm the fears of fellow members and suggest that a large bore firearm may not be always needed. I congratulate the gentleman on his intestinal fortitude but rest assured I would have chosen a 357 solution myself.


http://m.canoncitydailyrecord.com/C...il.htm?contentguid=xNbkLa10&full=true#display

 

[Fiv3r]

Big cats in north America are pretty thin skinned. I don't think you need a show-stopper of a blaster to take care of one. The problem with cats isn't their size, it's their stealth.

By the time you know you've got one close by, it's already pounced on you or your pet from behind. A couple of well placed 9mm/.40/.357/etc will take care of a cat...if it gives you time to get a bead on it.

 

[Coyote3855]

The guy in the story may have used the weapon closest at hand to save his dog. I'd prefer a .357 myself. I admire his fortitude in taking on cats with club or bare handed.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

If you are willing to consider a 357, get a Glock 20 instead. 16 rounds of 10mm will do wonders as much as I like 6 rounds of 357 magnum.

When faced with a similar problem, I had to pick the reliability of the 10mm glock over a nice 357 magnum for these vary reasons.

 

[Deaf Smith]

As been said.

Any good 9mm or .357 will do.

If you want to bring a bigger gun, fine.

Deaf

 

[JohnBiltz]

Apparently, from the story big brass balls come in handy as well.

 

[Barry the Bear]

Why get a 10mm if he already has a .357 magnum? The cost of ammo alone doesnt warrant the cost of the glock 20. Now dont get me wrong I love the 10mm and have a glock 29, but if six rounds of .357 mag, hell if six rounds of .38 special cant kill a cat, better get a rifle or a shotgun.

 

[BSA1]

Since everyone knows that cats have 9 lives a revolver just ain't going to get the job done without a reload.

 

[showmebob]

No intentions of turning this into a caliber war. I have multiple options in that department and choose 357 simply because that's what I prefer to shoot, not because it's only what would do the job. As mentioned above, brass balls and a club or bare hands seemed to work pretty well!

 

[Schwing]

I have a friend who just took a cat here in Utah with her .38 special on the first shot. She had her dogs tree it (which a hiker probably wouldn't have ) but it was interesting.

 

[jmr40]

Anything suitable to stop humans is suitable for any North American cat. Including a big stick, although not my 1st choice either. We had a guy here in Georgia kill a 300 lb bear with a stick of firewood a few years ago when it approached his 4 year old son. Amazing what we can do when the adrenalin kicks in.

 

[Tobias1900]

A good shot from anything 9mm and up should take one out.
Problem is you won't see it coming.

They are quiet, strong, fast, and smart.

They like to take down prey by running up from behind, jumping on the prey's back and breaking it's neck with their jaw. You wouldn't even know what hit you.
That said they are usually scared of dogs, and will run from them if they get the chance. Plus the dogs know they are there before you do.

 

[Tony k]

If you spend any amount of time out in mountian lion country, I would bet you've passed near them without ever knowing it (but the lion was well aware of your presence). As others have said, they rely on stealth and the element of surprise, and healthy cats are pretty prey-specific. Agood portion of the "problem" cats around people's houses, campgrounds, etc have some sort of injury or impairment that prevents them hunting their normal prey, or they were orphaned before their mothers taught them how to hunt. A .22 mag is good enough to put those out of their misery. For actual hunting, I use a .270, but hunting them with dogs is now illegal in oregon.

If you do "out and back" type hikes in the snow, you'll occaisionaly find lion tracks in your "out" tracks on your way "back". The first time that happened to me, I was pretty spooked because I thought one was stalking me. Then I learned that it's a common evasion tactic for them to circle around and follow creatures they consider to be threats.

The only cougars you really need to worry about are the two-legged variety

 

[Leanwolf]

TOBIA 1900 - " ... Problem is you won't see it coming.

They are quiet, strong, fast, and smart.

They like to take down prey by running up from behind, jumping on the prey's back and breaking it's neck with their jaw. You wouldn't even know what hit you.

That said they are usually scared of dogs, and will run from them if they get the chance. Plus the dogs know they are there before you do."

Very true. Unless a person has actually seen up close and personal, a mountain lion running full out it is impossible to really imagine just how fast one is. (I have seen a large male mountain lion running full bore within about ten feet of me and I could not believe just how fast that cat ran... and that was uphill.)

L.W.

 

[Nom de Forum]

Given a choice I would prefer to have a Scutum in my left hand and Gladius in my right. One to keep the kitty off me and the other because it never jams or misses. Wait...this isn't the Pax Romana forum is it. Never mind. In cougar country I carry a G20 10mm because there is no such thing as overkill but there are dying cougars that will slice and dice until dead .

 

[jeepnik]

Out my way mountain lions are a concern. Heck, we've had joggers chewed on in county parks, and mountain bikers seem to be just something to chase down and eat.

Seriously, I spent most of my outdoor time in either the high desert or mountains. Cats are there, but even a quick peek at one is fairly rare.

That said, things do happen. My personal choice for an out and about handgun is a .45 Colt Blackhawk.

 

[PabloJ]

LGS just got in complete package for $625. Boxed G29SF: original barrel, stainless .40S&W barrel, long stainless 10mm barrel, target sights, new tritiated Trijicon sights, original sights, replacement recoil spring, original recoil spring, 3 mags, spare firing pin,..... Well, all I could say is thank you very, very, much. That with long barrel in place plus couple spare G20 magazines would be they way to travel in back country.

 

[JohnKSa]

Here's a story about a father who ended an attack on his son by stabbing the lion with a pocket knife.

http://www.outdoorlife.com/blogs/newshound/2012/02/father-stabs-mountain-lion-pocket-knife-save-son

From what I can determine, mountain lions are not really that interested in fighting their prey. If things don't go pretty smoothly, they're willing to take off and look for a less complicated meal somewhere else.

If you aren't immediately incapacitated in the attack and you had the presence of mind to put up a fight, I'd say that any decent self-defense weapon, even a big knife, would probably stand you in good stead.

 

[PabloJ]

There is whole book out there on documented encounters. Yes, some mountain lions out there really try to eat people.

 

[george29]

I don't know about cats but my 9 lb Jackhuhua chased a (cinnamon) black bear off of my property last Summer. Swear it's true.

 

[MutinousDoug]

Back in the day, when mountain cats were hunted on horseback with dogs, not much more than a .22 Mag was used to dispatch a treed cat.
If I were a jogger/biker and concerned with cougars only, I would consider a .22LR revolver, such as a Ruger Bearcat or S&W Kitgun appropriate cover if I had my wits about me and wasn't, for instance, plugged into an I pod. If I were plugged in to an I pod; a .357 or .308 may not save me in time.
Others may find fault with my preparations (such as not jogging on mtn trails wearing an I pod).

 

[Deaf Smith]

Doug,

I see 'em plugged into all kinds of gizmos everywhere I go. They ain't even in condition white. More like condition opaque.

Just the idea of looking around at the great sunsets, clouds, trees, animals, etc.. is just foreign to them.

I wonder why they even hike cause they don't see nor hear nuthen.

Deaf

 

[armoredman]

I'm thinking maybe finding some neck armor might be a good idea...not a chain mail coif, but something a little more substantial...
Hey, a Kevlar and small plate scarf might give you the time to GET that gun into play.

 

[hartcreek]

We had an attack up in Twisp last week. Cat had been at the family homestead and the father had chased it away. Well this day the 14 year old sone went out to feed /water the calves and the cat went after him.....his 11 year old sister shot and tagged it.

 

[788Ham]

I've fished that Arkansas River right at Cotopaxi many times. On a couple of excursions, before daylight around 0430, we've not seen, but heard mtn. lions screaming. Possible the morning winds carrying those blood curdling screams, but sure makes one reach for and affirm the .357 is still there.