SD against animal attacks....

[Texasgrillchef]

For those who spend time in the great outdoors, and who also carry. How many of you consider tactics and strategies for defending yourself and those who you are with against the possibility of an animal attack for the location that you are in?

I love how people always first jump to thinking about bears.... but recently someone here in Texas was attacked and killed by a wild hog on their property. Last year someone was Severely injured by a gator on their property. So it’s not always bears. I don’t know how accurate this is, but from the article I read about the woman killed by the hog, is that she normally has a handgun she carried, but that day she wasn’t. Therefor we have no idea if she had her gun with her, if it would have prevented or stopped the attack.

Is SD against animals a concern for anyone else?

 

[Ed Ames]

Feral (or just poorly trained) dogs are one of the bigger threats in some corners of my world. I’ve known people who suffered serious injuries, and have lived within a short walk of people who were killed, by dogs. Beyond feral or near-feral dogs, Texas has a culture of letting pet dogs run free (without leashes) which is fine most of the time but I’ve seen it go badly. I haven’t had to use lethal force on a dog but I have had to defend myself/family/pets.

I don’t worry about any of the other animals I’m likely to encounter, barring an occasional camping trip, as the biggest is a coyote. I wish I was in a position to develop a personal hatred of feral hogs, not because I wish them on anyone, but it would mean I was in a more rural area with some acres for shooting/hunting.

 

[magyars4]

Agree with Ed Ames....dogs might be the biggest threat in most of the States. And they can run in packs!
Around here we've had a couple of wild steers running loose over the years.
They had evil intent in their eyes.

 

[1942bull]

Having had a pit bull chew on my left arm about 6 years ago I can[ersonally attest to the danger that dogs can present.. the dog was chasing balls being tossed by its owner. I was just walking down the street. The dog just ran over to me, jumped up, and then had my arm in its mouth. The owner. Oils not get it to release. I did get it to release with one 9mm round tote head. Wild animals deserve observant caution because they are wild, but so do domesticated animals. It is just another reason I carry 24/7.

 

[WisBorn]

@Texasgrillchef thanks for starting this thread. Yes, bears can be a threat in some areas. In those same areas there are other threats such as mountain lions. We also have, dogs, hogs and gators.
One thing that gets overlooked is insects & bees/wasps. Using bug spray and carrying an EpiPen should be at the top of the list

 

[Kleanbore]

I used to watch programs about training for defense against animal attack at Gunsite Academy.

Their clients include geologists and other scientists whose work took them into remote areas in the Southwest.

Instructor ll Ling New presented some of scenarios. They used moving targets in realistic terrain.

The speed and violence of the attacks was stressed.

They recommended a short-barreled 12 ga. with slugs and a .44 Magnum for backup.

 

[Charlie Martinez]

I don’t worry about any of the other animals I’m likely to encounter, barring an occasional camping trip, as the biggest is a coyote.

There are cougars in many parts of the US including Texas. The difficulty in protecting yourself from them is that you don't see or hear them until they are on you.

In the 80's while deer hunting in the Texas Hill Country I was stalked by a cougar who announced itself by screaming behind me at a distance (estimate) of no more than 10-15 yards. I never figured out why it would stalk me & then intentionally announce its presence but if it had chosen to sneak away quietly I would have never known it & if it had attacked me it would have completely surprised me.

I was armed with a high powered rifle & a 357 revolver & I'm not sure if either one would have been of much use to me under the circumstances.

 

[Jim Rau]

A threat is a threat, period!

 

[scaatylobo]

I used to watch programs about training for defense against animal attack at Gunsite Academy.

Their clients include geologists and other scientists whose work took them into remote areas in the Southwest.

Instructor ll Ling New presented some of scenarios. They used moving targets in realistic terrain.

The speed and violence of the attacks was stressed.

They recommended a short-barreled 12 ga. with slugs and a .44 Magnum for backup.

My take on this post is also my take on any attack = 2 legged or 4 legged.

If your not IN HAND ARMED,the speed of the attack will mean your 'hands on'.

So a shotgun/carbine IN HAND beats the snot out of a pistol in holster ----- unless your Jerry Miculek !.

 

[JeffG]

I just won't get chewed on. I'm not concerned as much as aware.

 

[GEM]

A black bear has been wandering around the elementary school yard, at an elementary school about 10 minutes away. I guess because the area is empty. Coyotes are walking on the hiking trails!!

Thank God for Netflix.

About bear defense, heard a lecture from a guy who trained US Geological Survey folks about bears. They recommended 12 gauge! One problem was that if the bear was eating X, Y was reluctant to shoot as Y might shoot X. Thus, they recommended putting the muzzle behind the should of munching bear and emptying it into the bear. I asked if anyone has done that. He said no, but that was the idea.

He also said they had three groups of people in class:
1. I will never use a gun, mother nature, blah, blah. They weren't allowed in the field
2. I will take the gun but I won't use it. More on that.
3. Sure, give me the gun.

Group 2 could be convinced by a staff member who said she felt that way and took the gun but wouldn't use it. One day, she comes out of her tent and there is polar bear looking for lunch. She recalls that if you puff up and look alert you might discourage the bear. So she does and stare down the bear for several hours until it wanders off. After that she took the gun.

 

[Ed Ames]

There are cougars in many parts of the US including Texas. The difficulty in protecting yourself from them is that you don't see or hear them until they are on you.

Yeah I grew up in an area with an active mountain lion population. I was at the location of the most recent fatal mountain lion attack in California the day before it happened, and would have been there the day it happened except I drove over and saw a bunch of police cars so kept driving. A park I regularly I visited as a kid closed while I was a kid because of another kid getting mauled by mountain lions, etc..

But mountain lion attacks are so vanishingly rare that I don’t worry about them, beyond a basic awareness of the risks of bending over (a caution that applies to many things). The most recent fatality in California was about 16 years ago now.

 

[herrwalther]

It is 800 feet from my house on my dirt road to the connecting road. In that 800 feet there are at least 3 dogs that have no set home as far as I can tell. Several years ago there were 14 dogs in the same stretch of road. The aggressive ones are usually shot by other residents or hit by vehicles coming through. Knowing this, I am far more likely to defend myself against a dog than a person in that area. EDC is every day.

 

[MedWheeler]

In town, dogs.

Outside on the trails, hogs. Gators possibly near the river or lake.

A .38 or 9mm EDC should be able to handle any of those, assuming I can't simply get away first.

 

[Sour Kraut]

I ALWAYS carry pepper spray in addition to my carry weapon (which varies depending on where I’m going). One of my biggest concerns are dogs (rural settings primarily)....pepper spray would “likely” be my first choice in a threatening dog scenario. No hogs where I live, but black bear, cougars, coyotes, dogs and two legged critters are abundant.

 

[Obturation]

Not many (any) dangerous animals around here. When I lived in TN , dogs, black bear, hogs, snakes ect. Were common, I never had to shoot a dog but have close to it.
There isn't supposed to be any cougars here but there are reported sightings every couple years, I'm fairly sure I've seen one too. Too fast & too dark to be certain.
For my uses in the Midwest a g20 is plenty . if I'm way up north I'll bring a 454 casull, likely not needed but if there are things with sharp teeth , I want to make sure I've got plenty of power.

 

[Texasgrillchef]

All interesting posts.
As i am sure.... we never want to have tonuse them but we all want to be prepared.

Usually speaking in an animal attack we arent killed instantly and have time to still shoot, even if taken by suprise.

Depending on the area outdoors i am going i will duelly carry a 45 and a 9mm, in some cases it will be a 454 and a 9mm with my lady always carrying her 9mm.

Bears and moose and elk have all been taken down with 9mm. It usually takes multiple shots though with a 9mm

In town we do have dogs that could be an issue so we carry for that as well.

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

Around my rural parts dogs and black bear are the main threats, with the aforementioned being more prevalent.

For stray dogs I feel my EDC would be adequate. For bears I would want my 12g, but if I had to rely on a pistol I would want my 10mm.

 

[HB]

Lightening and Lyme Disease are about 100 rungs higher on my list of worries.

 

[FL-NC]

I normally carry a shield 9, but in the woods it is a Glock 23. A Glock 23 will address any critter I may come in contact with in the sunshine state.

 

[.455_Hunter]

My animal threat matrix consists of mountain lions, bears, dogs and deer. Bears and mountains are not some fantasy- we live in middle of prime cat and black bear terrain and have had numerous direct interactions over the years. All of the current neighborhood dogs would lick you to death, but that doesn't limit outside animals from coming into the area. Deer are included, because stumbling into some rut bucks can cause issues, as I actually drew my sidearm as an aggressive buck approached my low mobility pregnant wife and had to be discouraged by a large thrown rock.

Any activities outside the immediate vicinity of the house are secured by weapons appropriate to the above threats.

 

[Charlie Martinez]

Deer are included, because stumbling into some rut bucks can cause issues,

I have never known anyone that was attacked by a mountain lion, bear or any of the animals we normally consider dangerous but I know someone that was attacked by a white tail deer.

I knew an amateur wildlife photographer that was attacked by a young spike buck on his 40-acre property. He said he was walking in the woods taking pictures when he noticed the buck following him. He said it approached him closer & closer & thinking it was just a friendly deer he began taking photographs of it. He says that suddenly the deer lunged at him & began to get rough . He tried to scare it off & push it away but the deer was totally unafraid & kept on butting him & kicking him. He realized he was in trouble & began to make his way back to the house while the deer hit him, back off & then hit him again. The deer followed him all the way to the house & after the guy made it safely indoors it remained in his yard circling the house. The Fish & Wildlife folks were called & when they arrived on the property & got out of their truck the little buck went after them too. They had a heck of a time subduing it & one of the agents was beat up pretty good before they were able to hog tie it & haul it off the property. The photographer was badly shaken & bruised. He told me that if the house had not been close to where he and the buck first met it could have been much worse.

Of all critters that bite, sting or scratch I always thought a deer would be the last to make trouble but I was wrong.

 

[Hanshi]

I'm from Georgia, originally. Down there the most danger outdoors comes from feral dog packs. Where I lived a couple was killed by a pack of dogs that sheltered in an old house on a farm. The owner knew they were there and never took any action. After the attack deputies came out and killed all the dogs and the farmer was cited. I've come across packs - and have friends who also have - in several areas I hunted in. I always slowly backed away and left when they showed themselves. The menacing growl left no doubt what would happen. For protection against them power was only a secondary consideration. Firepower was was foremost. A six-gun would kill a few but the rest of the pack would make short work of the shooter.

 

[herrwalther]

I'm from Georgia, originally. Down there the most danger outdoors comes from feral dog packs. Where I lived a couple was killed by a pack of dogs that sheltered in an old house on a farm. The owner knew they were there and never took any action. After the attack deputies came out and killed all the dogs and the farmer was cited. I've come across packs - and have friends who also have - in several areas I hunted in. I always slowly backed away and left when they showed themselves. The menacing growl left no doubt what would happen. For protection against them power was only a secondary consideration. Firepower was was foremost. A six-gun would kill a few but the rest of the pack would make short work of the shooter.

I saw packs of wild dogs in Afghanistan that were more well behaved than packs here in the south. I worked in manufacturing with long hours away from home. A pack of 4 or 5 wild dogs dragged a wild turkey into my front yard and ripped it apart. My son was about 3 at the time and was home with my wife. It was only a matter of timing they were not in the yard at the time, but saw what happened from the window. If dogs can do that to a 40 pound turkey they certainly can do the same to a toddler. I pulled up just in time to see an officer pulling a shell out of his revolver and a dead dog on my yard.

 

[Jack Ryan]

For those who spend time in the great outdoors, and who also carry. How many of you consider tactics and strategies for defending yourself and those who you are with against the possibility of an animal attack for the location that you are in?

I love how people always first jump to thinking about bears.... but recently someone here in Texas was attacked and killed by a wild hog on their property. Last year someone was Severely injured by a gator on their property. So it’s not always bears. I don’t know how accurate this is, but from the article I read about the woman killed by the hog, is that she normally has a handgun she carried, but that day she wasn’t. Therefor we have no idea if she had her gun with her, if it would have prevented or stopped the attack.

Is SD against animals a concern for anyone else?

Just the neighbor's dog. He is just as dumb as the cidiot who owns it.