Kids and mountain lions

On a previous thread one of the postered referenced a national statistic from a study of documented cougar attackes. 110 attacks (actual contact), only 13 fatal. I live in the norhwest and own a cabin near Mt. St. Helens. Our cabin group (276 cabins) have had three cougar attacks. Two of the cougars are now stuffed a local stores. One killed with a rifle, one with a .357. Both men were in contact with cougar when they shot. Definiely fight back. In the last 10 years there have been stories in the local papers and "OutDoor Life" magazines documenting several cases of adults killing cougars with pocket knives (one was a scout master who used a standard scout knife). One was a 60+ year old lady who saved her husband using a ball point pen (in the eye).
The Oregon State Game department posted a picture of a cougar 3 feet behind a deer in a night trail cam picture. The Buck did not know it was there.
In Washington State cougar attacks are rare but not unheard of. Our biggest animal risk is attacks by domestic dogs running in packs.
I have 25 grandkids. I never go in the woods without my .357.
Ronald Athay
 
Here in Washington, there have been several reported attacks, including deaths.

One little lady was attacked from behind. She weighed 125 lbs. She killed the mountain lion with long tweezers. Pushed them through it's eye, and killed it. She received over 500 stitches.

My point with that story is you can win against a mountain lion if you don't curl up and die.

http://www.cougarinfo.org/attacks2.htm

Some stories of mountain lion attacks. Lots of people fighting them off with hands, rocks, sticks, etc.
 
One of the things that always stuck with me was a story my uncle told about his time in Alaska. He's a wealthy fellow and gets to travel the world hunting and fishing, and the one thing that's always impressed him about the wild predators that he's seen is their physicality.

"Unlike people, the run-of-the-mill bear or lion or whatever is the equivalent of an Olympic athlete." Makes sense when you think about the harsh conditions that these creatures have to survive in every day. We're talking about a lifestyle similar to what professional athletes have to endure, except there isn't an Off Season for them to recoup in and failing to be very fast, strong, agile, means you die. If you're lucky, you die quickly.

Remembering that, I'm always a bit leary of folks toting guns into the woods. Having trained with a pistol for work, I have firsthand experience with just how difficult it is to get to competition level, and maintain that proficiency, and be able to react to what has got to be one of the scariest, bone-jarring, nerve-rattling experiences you'll ever go through.
 
Bob W said:
It's very open and exposed in the desert. Aren't you afraid of being hit by a meteorite? What meteorite precautions will you be taking?
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Haha exactly! Part of me actually wants to get eaten, because then at last after all these years crawling all over this state I'll finally get to see one of the damn things.
 
I did a podcast about mountain lion attacks and encounters awhile back and talked about some mountain lion attacks and experiences with mountain lions in Southern California. I talk about several attacks on children and relate my first hand experiences with them. If you are interested or worried about mountain lions then I'd listen to this audio episode.

Here's the link to an mp3 version of the episode

http://media.libsyn.com/media/anthonysaudiojournal/mountain_lion_podcast.mp3

Hope you like it

Anthony
 
My first two years in college were spent in Colorado. Towards the end of my first year, the Denver Post had a front-page story about a mountain lion attacking a solo hiker. The hiker was a 30-something-year-old man. When the lion pounced from behind, the man spun around and imediately dug his thumb into the cat's eye. The cat ran off. The man wisely concluded the cat may attack again, so he turned around and started returning to the trailhead and his vehicle. He also pulled out the knife he was carrying. Just a few minutes later, around a bend and under trees, the mountain lion attacked again. This time, the hiker was able to stab the cat, and the cat ran off for good. This happened in 1997, perhaps the Denver Post archives still have the story.
A wilderness instructor I took courses from (and trust imlicitly) told of a hunting buddy of his who encountered a mountain lion while hunting. The hunter followed a tan animal body around a clump of trees, thinking he was stalking a deer. He got around the trees and was surpised when no deer was anywhere in sight. Suddenly the hair on the back of his neck stand up in a way it never had before. He turned around and there, a few yards away, was a tawny lion, crouched to pounce. The hunter had his rifle handy and was actually able to shoot and kill the cat with a single shot.
Bottom line - if attacked, fight for your life, you could very well save it. Basic wilderness tools like a knife, gun, shovel, or axe serve so many purposes that there's no reason to not carry them, and every reason to bring a basic assortment.
 
My theory on this and any other topic is that you should not worry about what you can not control. You may be able to alter slightly whether or not you get attacked but if any predatory animal wants to attack it will. Carry a gun at all times and enjoy the outdoors without be too paranoid.

A last minute thought: Has anyone tested scents that offend mountain lions or any other predator? Perhaps it would be a good idea to use a spray that they would never consider putting in their mouths. If it wouldn't be too offensive to humans maybe something is worth a shot.
 
Be it lion, bear or olympic athlete, im packin heat until day I know they can move at 1300+ feet per second. The best scent to ward off these predators is gun smoke! My spray will be delivered thru a barrel not a can!
 
Lots of good stories about folks being able to fight off Nature's most efficient predator. :D Humans rule!

I keep my kids close by and keep a sharp eye about, which includes looking down my backtrail every so often. And yes, I also carry a gun.
 
pitdog said:
I would say they could be a distraction causing the Mountain lion to go for those instead of your kids but not a deterrent. A family close to us had one enter their yard after hearing their dog barking, it then attacked the dog ( a Labrador or Retriever if I remember correctly ) and carried it up a tree in the garden. The dog actually survived but the small girl who was the first to see the scene still has nightmares to this day.
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Ouch.

This is why God invented buckshot.
 
So I didn't get eaten this weekend, but I'll tell you what... this damn thread had me checking my six a lot more frequently than normal :D
 
BRL said:
So I didn't get eaten this weekend, but I'll tell you what... this damn thread had me checking my six a lot more frequently than normal :D
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In Asia, tigers attack from behind and pick off the last person in line. It's common practice there for the last person to wear a mask with a face on it on the back of their head, supposedly, the tigers are less likely to attack if they think you are looking at them.

You could always try painting a face on a hat that has a neck protector, kind of like Lawrence of Arabia... Might work, can't hurt.
 
Cougars are very shy, however this is also the only cat that is known to attack humans in North America. Carry a camera and a knife. Use the camera when you actually get the chance to see the cat, do so before it flees as they are solitary creatures. In the unlikely event of an attack a knife will suffice. Firearms are better, but in many places that right has been over ruled by laws.
 
I have never been truly concerned about any wild animal attack. If you happen to see a big cat(or any wild animal), trust me it knew you were there long before you saw them, and they've have been watching you the entrie time, or ran away. I worry much more about dogs, domesticated or stray. I have encountered dozens and dozens of aggressive dogs big and small with and without their owner. For dogs and people, I usually carry my 21" expandable baton and a large folding knife. If I were truly concerned of Mt. Lion or other wild animal attack I would go with either a spear(for thrust not throw), a big knife(7"+ blade), or a firearm.

Long spear - 6'6", Short Spears - 5'. I usually go with the shorter ones.
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Bufford said:
Firearms are better, but in many places that right has been over ruled by laws.
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True, especialy here in California, believe me i know all about it, but i still carry as those of us who live here among the millions of brainless liberals, its better to be judged by 12 than carried by 6.
 
Open Carry has gone away in this state.

I would just inform busybodies I was hunting if quizzed about carrying on public land.

What do non-fishermen and non-hunters do nowadays in California, to stay armed on public lands? Serious question.

Have they even got a legal leg to stand on?
 
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