Mountain Lions

[MichLee]

While I sometimes carry a sidearm I always have a sheath knife and my Cold Steel Shovel.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Kevan Taylor-Perry:
I bought a Cold Steel Boar Spear for exactly that purpose among a couple others. I can use it for a walking stick (of a sort) and the blade is available when I might need it. I think a spear is a good option---it keeps an attacker at a distance.

</font>

Raven is right. Don't people use hiking staffs anymore? It makes the walking easier, and it's easy to learn to use it as a good defensive weapon. Some places, the spearhead might not go over too well, but you can give them the shaft any time!

 

[lady warrior]

I've fun over 20,000 miles of wilderness trails, and I've seen almosy every animal around. The only animals that have attempted to attack me are dogs and a few rattle snakes. Snakes are easy to walk around, but if neccessary they can be dispatched woth pepper spray, unless you have a really angry one. Most dogs have also been easily dispatched with pepper spray. I carry pepper spray with me all the time in the wilderness, and can remember using so much at times that I came back with an empty cannister. However to be safe, I always carry a handgun, either a .45 ACP or a .40 S&W, and usually a fixed blade knife. The only animal I had to shoot was a dog--I didn't have any pepper spray that day. Personally, all members of the wilderness cat family that I've run across have been very fine wilderness citizens and haven't bothered me at all. Just mutual respect. But then I don't go out of my way to bother them. Most pick up that I won't bother them, but that I'm definitely in control. Carrying a sidearm helps one to radiate this control and confidence.

 

[ohoisin]

when i go hiking i carry a 6 foot iron wood walking staff, and a cold steel bushman the bushman fits onm the end of the staff for tose time when a spear is more useful (ie bear) a couigar thohg would probly not give me the time for the spear but a 7 inch blade might work.

 

[Esav Benyamin]

More reasons to consider a big stick:

from the New York Times On the Web
December 19, 2000
Performance: Hiking Pole, in the Hand and in the Mind
By JOHN O'NEIL

Does using a hiking pole actually help backpackers, or do they just feel as if it is easier? Both, researchers from the University of Massachusetts say.

In a study published this month in Science and Medicine in Sports and Exercise, the researchers put 10 test subjects on an inclined treadmill and measured their exertion as they spent an hour carrying a load equal to about a third of their body weight. Proponents of hiking poles, which look like extended ski poles and are popular in Europe, claim that they reduce overuse injuries.

The researchers found that while using the poles led to a slightly higher heart rate, it did not appear to increase the amount of energy needed for the climb. The hikers used a longer stride and took fewer steps when they used the poles, which reduced the energy being absorbed by leg joints and the load being carried while muscles of tendons were at vulnerable angle. Over all, leg muscles were used less as some of the burden passed to arm and upper body muscles, they said.

The hikers themselves rated their level of exertion to be about 7 percent lower when using the poles.

The researchers, Christopher A. Knight and Graham E. Caldwell, wrote that the poles might also hold another benefit outside of the laboratory: improving hikers' balance and thus reducing injuries through falls.

 

[MichLee]

While I dont always have a hiking staff I can usually be found using a Blackthorn walkgin stick. It has become a bit of a habit after an injury a while back. and they work very well as an improvised weapon.

 

[billd]

I am amazed at these posts. I hve spent many years backpacking in Alaska, Canada and the western U.S. Attacks on humans by bear or cat is extremely rare. It is true that there are more incidents recently because of loss of habitat and more frequent back country use. In any case a knife is useless against such large animals. Handguns are hardly better. Do what the experts do. In bear country almost all back country guides and rangers carry specially formulated pepper spray or "bear spray". It's similar to the common self defense stuff but comes in a very large container which sprays a wide, long distant , long lasting pattern.
Counter Assault makes a great product and can be order from www.REI.com . It has been proven almost 100 percent effective at detering bear and even african lion attacks. I carry the canister in a pack strap holster that can be fired in a second without even pulling it our of the holster or off of the pack strap. There are many cases of well armed hunters being killed or maimed by bears befor they could draw or fire a handgun - or even when they put four or five bullets in a Griz or browny!

 

[hwyhobo]

In any case a knife is useless against such large animals.

Big statements notwithstanding, the facts do not bore this out. Read the URL listed earlier in this thread. There are well documented cases when a knife saved human life in a cougar attack.

Personally, I refuse to just sigh and surrender and will fight back until I'm dead against any attacker, animal or else.

 

[longbow50]

Even in California, most cougar will turn tail and go away from a human. But there are the rare instances when the human looks, acts and smells just like fast food and a close encounter takes place.

I saw a young cat today while on a walk in a heavily traveled hiking/walking area. It no sooner saw me and me it that it headed away at a run. It could have just as easily been my day to wrestle and I was carrying a large lock blade folder, even though the area has banned knife carry.

When I reported it to the ranger, he asked how the cat reacted and said he hoped that I carried some sort of protection while walking the high country. When I told him the cat was less than 200 yards from his on site cabin, his jaw hit the dirt.

 

[gutsy]

its ilegal to carry in the woods here in the southeast . but with all the brazen bear and wild hogs i carry my HKusp45 comp. loaded with some mean +++p ammo anyway . frankly ive had too many close calls to leave it at home . seen a couger once and it was beutiful from my veiw in the truck , i felt priveledged . we actually have free permits for the boar here and sometimes bear also, theyre more of a dangerous nuisance, as they are obviously over populated to the point of threatning other animals . now in my region we have to worry more about stumbling upon someones portable meth lab and getting shot at . just my thoughts. CARRY A GUN AND KEEP IT OUT OF SITE .

 

[bwray]

Here in northern New Mexico mountain lions began following joggers during a time of drought. There were several incidents. In one case a large male jumped on the back of a well camoflaged turkey hunter who was quietly clucking away with his call. Luckily, the lion realized his mistake and departed leaving behind nothing more than bruised flesh and ego.

I call predators for sport; mostly see coyotes and an occasional bobcat. I usually have a buddy or my 80 lb pit bull along to watch my back. On the few times I have hunted predators alone I've carried a large fixed blade for protection against anything that gets past the muzzle of my rifle. The blade should be no shorter than 5" (preferrably at least 6") and should be designed for quick and deep penetration; some will prefer a double edged blade for this application.

When I am hiking for exercize or pleasure I carry at least a Kahr PM40, but, more typically a Ruger 44 mag. Vaquero. If I am in a National Park where guns are not allowed, I fall back to a large fixed blade knife.

It makes good sense to go prepared. You never can tell when Mr. Murphy might step up behind you and tap you on the shoulder. Play safe.

 

[bladefan]

I can't believe I read the line "a knife is useless"!! I suppose fighting off a
mountian lion with your bare hands is much more effective!! You've got to be kidding right? I like carrying my 11" OVB Fisk in the woods, very nice for slicing and stabbing if need be... I would imagine it to be much more effective than the 3 stooges two finger eye poke

 

[longbow50]

Well.......the Alaskan poster did state bear in his post and for sure, a knife won't protect against a griz or brown bear and against the lightening quick reflexes of a cougar, the knife is borderline protection, but still better than no knife.

 

[gutsy]

protecting my head and neck would be my first priority. those cats are extremely quik in the footage ive seen.

 

[Cobalt]

I carry a 30 inch 6 lb HI AK Kukri with me when I hike.

I also carry a rifle with me, 460 weatherby mag.

In the forest of South Central LA.

I believe in being prepared.

 

[Rainmaker870]

We own some acreage in southern Colorado. We have cougars - about every 2nd trip we come across another deer carcass; the second time we camped out there we had one spray our camp. I do NOT love the smell of cougar piss in the morning.

We have also seen bears - they're the only predator we've actually seen up there, and they didn't display any interest in us on either occasion. I believe, however, that they will eventually decide to explore our camp; I also believe, based on the law of averages, that we'll eventually come across our resident cougar(s) as well.

That's my property, it's going to be my home. Even when I'm out for a day hike I carry a firearm - usually a handgun, usually a S&W Mountain Gun. My wife carries, my friend and neighbor carries. As long as the bears keep moving around us we're fine; as long as we don't see a cougar we're fine. If the bears come through camp and start looking for food I'll shoot them where I find them. If we actually SEE a cougar - and it's doing anything other than running away - I'll shoot it where I see it. I think a knife is a pretty dismal defensive tool against either, but if that's all I had I'd do my best with it.

 

[Brian6244]

I am amazed at these posts. I hve spent many years backpacking in Alaska, Canada and the western U.S. Attacks on humans by bear or cat is extremely rare. It is true that there are more incidents recently because of loss of habitat and more frequent back country use. In any case a knife is useless against such large animals. Handguns are hardly better. Do what the experts do. In bear country almost all back country guides and rangers carry specially formulated pepper spray or "bear spray". It's similar to the common self defense stuff but comes in a very large container which sprays a wide, long distant , long lasting pattern.
Counter Assault makes a great product and can be order from www.REI.com . It has been proven almost 100 percent effective at detering bear and even african lion attacks. I carry the canister in a pack strap holster that can be fired in a second without even pulling it our of the holster or off of the pack strap. There are many cases of well armed hunters being killed or maimed by bears befor they could draw or fire a handgun - or even when they put four or five bullets in a Griz or browny!

Good plan as long as the bear isn't upwind.

 

[boness]

Great post Lady-Warrior

The only animals that have attempted to attack me are dogs Personally, all members of the wilderness cat family that I've run across have been very fine wilderness citizens and haven't bothered me at all. Just mutual respect. But then I don't go out of my way to bother them. Most pick up that I won't bother them, but that I'm definitely in control

I would like to add- I,m more worried about the two legged creatures then I am the four legged ones.
I always go hiking by myself ( I know it,s a big NO NO ) But I do carry spray/somesort of knife and a walking staff.
Be Safe--

 

[molinee]

Well in Colorado, they have a 3.5" blade law so it makes it tougher to carry a large fixed blade into the hills. It makes you feel like a criminal when you run into the ranger. Something needs to change on this I would say.

 

[DGG]

Bruce,

Where I live we don't worry about panthers (mountain lions). We worry about alligators, and those 14 foot pythons folks are letting go into the wild.

I wonder what would have happenend if the jogger was running with his bowser?