mountain lions.....poke or slash?

R

red96ta

Joined
Jun 15, 2008
Messages
132
I posted on the other side for recommendations for a good fixed blade knife for use to keep the mountain lions at bay, but my question is this: Would you go for a good stabbing blade or a slashing blade?

My thoughts on the matter are that between the hair and the hide of the couger that a slashing blade just wouldn't do the trick as well as a dagger type blade....your thoughts?

Of course, a .40cal would be better, but let's be honest, this is California and I'll more likely get hassled by the cops for having a handgun than a knife...
 
I would rather be hassled by cops than hassled by the cougar. If I was in cougar territory, heavy revolver loads will be the order of the day my friend...
 
Yeah, Red, I'm with the group here: if you're knife to claw with a cougar, things are pretty bad for you. Heck, I'd rather have a road flare than a knife in that case!

Remember that if he jumps on you, you *might* get one good stab in. That'll wound him. I'm not too confident you'd get a second stab.
 
How about a bayonet on the end of a loaded Garand? If things have gotten to the point where you're fighting a mountain lion with a knife you need to revise your planning.
 
A knife would be fourth on my list after a firearm, a spear, and a long machete type blade
with a point that will both slash and poke, such as a Ka-bar heavy bowie.
 
if a gun isnt an option, a can of foam mace would be better then nothing, backed up by a stab or slash w/ a large fixed blade, or a hit w/ an axe. Maybe a taser....
 
I would be after a large caliber pistol, if you get to see that cat, its going to be when its leaping at you. A little too much trouble to swing a shotgun or rifle at it. A knife, that cat will be on top of you, clawing you up and eating your head ala Apocalypto, while your knife is buried in its gut.
 
Assuming you have enough time to use mace, or a firearm of course.

Other than that I agree with the majority. If you have a Cougar close enough to use a knife, and you feel you must use it (I.E. he's gnawing on your arm), then your day has just gone to sh**. Worrying about a slash or poke is not going to be high on your priority list.

Cougar attack from behind, and avoid a frontal attack at all cost unless protecting young, sick/desperate, or very inexperienced. In fact most Cougar will avoid you all together. Making lots of noise is one of your best defenses in Bear or Cougar country.

I would feel very lucky just to see on in the wild. Preferably one not eating my liver. ;)
 
tarmix101 said:
Assuming you have enough time to use mace, or a firearm of course.

Other than that I agree with the majority. If you have a Cougar close enough to use a knife, and you feel you must use it (I.E. he's gnawing on your arm), then your day has just gone to sh**. Worrying about a slash or poke is not going to be high on your priority list.

Cougar attack from behind, and avoid a frontal attack at all cost unless protecting young, sick/desperate, or very inexperienced. In fact most Cougar will avoid you all together. Making lots of noise is one of your best defenses in Bear or Cougar country.

I would feel very lucky just to see on in the wild. Preferably one not eating my liver. ;)
Click to expand...

Very well said:thumbup:
 
Unfortunately most people are too gun crazy to answer your question (not that there's anything wrong with that of course;))

I would prefer a stabbing knife if you had a small fixed blade. I think it would do more damage. If you are talking about a bigger knife then a slashing motion would be better as it's difficult to stab with something like a machete. A full swing would probably do more damage in the second case. Although hopefully you will never see one that close in the wild.
 
ok..small fixed blade 3-6".....the Cougar will inflict as much Damage if not more due to the Cougar is going in for a Kill ....poking or slashing a small fixed blade is making a last stand with a Cougar...when all you had to do is draw your firearm and discharge a round into the air(if time & Distance permit) or kill... why chance being crippled or killed
 
texastonydobbs said:
ok..small fixed blade 3-6".....the Cougar will inflict as much Damage if not more due to the Cougar is going in for a Kill ....poking or slashing a small fixed blade is making a last stand with a Cougar...when all you had to do is draw your firearm and discharge a round into the air(if time & Distance permit) or kill... why chance being crippled or killed
Click to expand...


I agree with you whole heartedly. However if a Cougar is making a serious effort to track, stalk, hunt, and then attack you, more that likely by the time you know it he is teeth deep in your spinal cord.

Best defense:

  • Make lots of noise. Talk to your hiking buddy, or yourself. Wear a small bell on your boots, and just generally be noisy.
  • Be aware of your surroundings. Never approach a kill in Bear or Cougar country without a very good field of view from the kill. Most however are dragged to secluded spots to be consumed out of the way.
  • Carry a good firearm or mace.
  • Knife as a last ditch, OH SWEET LORD SAVE MY A$$, effort.

The probability of you worrying about slashing or stabbing with any knife is just not realistic. No matter the knife you'll be acting on the 'fight' instinct and not reason.
 
I'd use a pen.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6301575.stm

A 65-year-old Californian woman has saved the life of her husband, 70, by fighting off an attacking mountain lion with a small log and his pen.

Jim and Nell Hamm were walking in the Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park when the cougar wrestled Jim to the ground.

Nell started hitting the animal with the log but it kept hold of Jim's head. She then tried to stick the pen in its eye. The cougar eventually let go.

Mr Hamm is in fair condition after having his lips stitched back together.

He also suffered scalp lacerations and puncture wounds.

"She saved his life, there's no doubt," said Steve Martarano, spokesman for the Department of Fish and Game.

The park, 320 miles (515km) north of San Francisco, was closed after the incident and wardens tracked down and killed a pair of lions near the trail where the attack happened.

Passing ranger

The couple are experienced hikers but said they had not seen a mountain lion before.

Mountain lion in Queens Zoo, New York
Mountain lions range from British Columbia to South America

Mrs Hamm told Associated Press news agency that when the cougar attacked, her husband did not scream. "It was a different, horrible plea for help, and I turned around, and by then the cat had wrestled Jim to the ground."

She added: "Jim was talking to me all through this, and he said, 'I've got a pen in my pocket and get the pen and jab him in the eye.'

"So I got the pen and tried to put it in his eye, but it didn't want to go in as easy as I thought it would."

The pen bent, so Mrs Hamm went back to the log.

The cougar eventually gave up. It stared at her as she screamed and waved the log, before it wandered off.

After the attack, the couple had to struggle to a trail head 400 metres away, where Mrs Hamm gathered more sticks to fend off any more attacks. A passing ranger then summoned aid. [/I]
 
RED 96ta - "Of course, a .40cal would be better, but let's be honest, this is California and I'll more likely get hassled by the cops for having a handgun than a knife..."
Click to expand...

Red, not if you're in the National or State Forests, or Wilderness, but they're forbidden in designated Parks, National or State. You can carry your handgun there so long as you're not forbidden by law to own/possess one. I lived in Calif. for 35 years and I was never in the boonies without a handgun and/or long gun. No problems.

I saw three Mountain lions while I was out in the boonies in Calif., two of them very close to me. Magnificent animals, too! I know other people who have seen them... but the odds are, so long as you are aware and alert, you shouldn't have any problem.

I know one woman who lived up in a tiny community surrounded by the Sequoia Nat'l. Forest at about 6,000 feet altitude on the western slope of the southern Sierra in Tulare County. One morning she came out on her porch to sweep off some light snow. There was a large mountain lion there that had been sleeping on the porch. She hit it with her broom and it skedaddled.

As someone else said, if a Mountain lion comes at you, he'll come at you from behind, 99% of the time. Never hurts to look around from time to time when you're in Mountain lion country.

Good luck.

L.W.
 
Assuming you're holding to the "all I have is a knife" theory. I'll go with 6 inches of something with a good guard on it and a penatrating tip. Something like a Fallkniven A1 or so. I want the guard so my fingers don't slip up onto the blade.

Of course.... I almost never carry a knife with a guard because it gets in my way whenever I'm not being attacked by cougers.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top