Scream, Yell, Call the Police, But don't shoot!

[c_yeager]

Make a large "walking stick" which connects to a large field knife for an instant defensive spear. I'd rather have 7" of razor sharp steel out on the end of a 5' long hardwood spear, than try to fight off a couger with my bare hands, or even a knife in my hand. You only have to fabricate a simple connector, from, for example, an 8" section of 1" ID alloy tube, that mates to both your "walking stick" and your field knife.

Wouldnt this addition of a "bayonet lug" make your walking stick into an "assault spear". Unless your swinging preban lumber be careful!

On a more serious note can Californians even get away with carrying a belt knife of reasonable size in the first place?

 

[cordex]

Cordex your ignorance is showing. Don't you know that the old word for "vegan" is "herbivore"?

Antibubba,
You don't understand ...
Diseases such as Statism and Bloodyheartism can be passed through the consumption of brain.
Like I said ... poison. Kinder just to shoot a critter.

 

[TooTaxed]

Reminds me of when I was living in Calgary in 1999...the bears were eating trout fishermen because there was a poor berry crop that year, and the bears were hungry. After about the sixth fisherman, I asked a neighbor why they didn't go after the bears that were doing the deeds...he shrugged and said "There are plenty of fishermen, but not many bears."

I fished with a partner, in sight of each other, loaded rifle slung over our shoulders...one eye on the bushes, the other on the water...added quite a bit of spice to the fly fishing! The fishing was great...we very rarely saw another fisherman! (Regrettably, due to Canadian laws we couldn't keep any...you can only take a picture and put'em back... )

 

[Obiwan]

Lots of good advice...and some naive advice as well

My favorite are the three S's

Unfortunately ...the old standard thinking that lions will "always" avoid people seems to be "common knowledge" to everyone...except the lions.

Encounters and attacks are becoming far more prevalent.

 

[MarkDido]

I'd like to point out that there are many Californians, few lions.

I wonder if we could convince some California politicians (Feinstein comes to mind), to take up jogging in the mountains. Preferably with pork chops hanging from their necks....

 

[Gunpacker]

For those wanting a quick spear

A spear is not a bad idea for many things. That is why I bought what I consider one of the best knife deals ever. Cold Steel makes a knife called the "Bushman" (I think). It is typical of Cold Steel in that it has a very high quality blade. Handle is hollow and tapered, rolled from the single piece of steel that forms the blade and has a hole for inserting a screw or nail from the side to positively secure the blade to a handle. The taper should hold it even if not screwed, if the handle is tapered to match. Seems like a quick fix to go from a walking stick and great knife, to a great spear. That is why I bought the thing. Great price too. I paid $11 for mine and think it may be the best knife bargain I ever got. It ain't as pretty as some, but is more functional than any other for many times the price.
Check out a gun show or knife show and I'm sure you can find one.

 

[Travis McGee]

GUNPACKER: Outstanding tip! THANKS!

 

[The_Antibubba]

Except of course in California

You'll have to check the local laws, to see if a sharpened piece of steel is allowed in your area... :banghead:

 

[Andrew Rothman]

Having worked with large, dangerous animals for a living, the advice given on preventing attacks is spot on.

Really? Are you kidding?

If you have small children...pick them up without bending over or turning away from the mountain lion.

...

Throw stones, branches, or whatever you can reach without crouching or turning your back.

Uh-huh. Pick up your kid, and some rocks or branches, without bending down.

Do you suggest telekinesis or black magic sorcery?

Clearly, our wildlife management policies have not always been fair to our furry and finny friends. But let's face it: We have moved in on their territory. This happens in nature, too, you know.

The biggest, baddest species wins. As long as we're living there, I think that that species ought to be us.

I don't think that a hunting season is necessary. I do think, though, that shoot-on-sight permission for predators in populated areas is a good idea.

The kittycats will get the message pretty quick. Forest good. Streets bad.

 

[LD]

If you tree or even chase a few cats with the hounds, kill a few, then the cats are gonna retreat to the hills.

I'm no tree-hugger or eco-muffin but like it or not, acknowledge it or not, fact is that there are fewer and fewer places with adequate prey populations that major predators (mountain lion, bear, wolves) can retreat to and survive. We expand our communities and they get squeezed.

We've got the same Mountain Lion vs. Man problem here in Colorado. Lots of people living in new "Mountain Home Communities" amazed and outraged when their pets end up as cougar snacks. Lots of hikers demanding that the Division of Wildlife "do something" to make trails safe. Tragic case a couple of years ago where a child was taken near Red Feathers Lakes and another where a jogger was taken near Idaho Springs.

I'll start out by saying that I understand that for some of you carrying a firearm into the hills/park/forest isn't an option. Lots of talk about spears and such here so I'll acknowle that anything at all is better than nothing.

However, any of you every had to deal with a truely angry cat??? If so, you probably still have scars and understand where I'm going in considering a 100lb version of "Fluffy".

If you haven't had that experience yet, I have a little experiment for you. Drive out into the country and find a farmer that has a bunch of wild cats in his barn or around the place. Ask the farmer if you can catch one by hand. When he stops laughing he'll probably go get his first-aid kit and ask if he can watch the mayhem. When (if) you manage to get your hands on one you'll quickly find out what pure evil and lightning speed with teeth and claws is all about.

Now, multiply that little ball of pure hell and fury times the 100lbs or so that a Mountain Lion represents, add in the skill acquired by daily hunting, and you can imagine the situation one would be in when a Mountain Lion goes into chase/kill mode. People often just don't appreciate just how fast a big cat can move or how strong they are. Do you REALLY want to try to take one on with a spear??

I'll stick with at least a sidearm when I'm in mountain lion range, thank you very much!!

BTW, if you choose to take me up on my little experiment.......we want video so we can have some laughs too!!

 

[Hal Romberg]

Sportsmen and environmentalists have a bit of a partnership in the Marlin fisheries. Instead of killing the Marlin, they tag&release with points for size and the way it was tagged. Maybe there's a way to do something like that for mountain kitties too. Tranq darts, delivered from air rifles would probably be enough of an annoyance to keep the kitties out of folks backyards, and you could tag the cat for tracking at the same time. Not as much fun as seeing that big old fuzzy head over the mantle, but you'd have to stalk in pretty close to get him, and with their speed, you'd definitely get an adrenaline rush.

 

[cordex]

Tranq darts, delivered from air rifles would probably be enough of an annoyance to keep the kitties out of folks backyards, and you could tag the cat for tracking at the same time.

*sigh*
You know what's to blame for this? Television.

See, on television they have these magic traquilizer guns that safely measures dosages for the critters in the sights to deliver quick incapacitation as well as a low enough level of drugs to not cause harm to the animal. When professionals do it, they have to see the critter, guess an approximate weight and then select an appropriate dosage. They screw up sometimes, which is why they have a guy with a real rifle standing by whenever they deal with dangerous game. Also, some critters never wake up.

I've seen first-hand what happens to a wild animal (in this case, a semi-domestic coyote) when the tranquilizer dosage isn't correct. The tranq was provided by a qualified vet who was depending on the owners' weight estimates. We were relying on it to get the coyote at least to the point where it could be safely handled and caged. Guess what? If the dosage isn't correct, it doesn't change a coyote's mannerisms - at all. That was a fun experience.

Also, I'm all for ending the war on drugs, but there are safer ways of doing it than encouraging general distribution of animal tranquilizers.

 

[Buckaroo]

Glock 29, the hikers friend.

 

[Hal Romberg]

Hey Cordex,
I never said it would be safe for the hunter. That's where the rush comes from. Folks used to count coup on Buffalo Bulls by running up and whacking em with a stick. THAT is a manly sport. I ain't got the huevos to even think about trying it. Same kind of thing with stalking high order predators and annoying them without the capability to put them down if they decide not to go beddie bye right away.