Posted on 12/05/2023 5:08:53 AM PST by marktwain
Maybe that is correct, for traditional prey they are used to hunting.
I have not seen any numbers which confirm it.
A few humans have been killed by mountain lions. Many more have stopped mountain lion attacks because they saw the cat stalking them, and killed or fought off the cat.
It appears to me, mountain lions are not used to attacking and killing people. Therefore, they approach people more cautiously, and are often discovered as they approach.
There have been mountain lions in that area quite some time. We saw evidence of a large cat back in the early 90s in Vernon County, not far south of Buffalo County.
I contacted the local DNR office and reported it. The guy on the phone asked me to keep it to myself for some reason but did say he knew about it.
L
They are big cats, but they are still cats! I believe a large backpack helps, and oftentimes hikers are in groups. Formidable in size.
Now compare that with a small stature jogger. Running. Running away from the cat. Something kicks in, and there’s no stopping them. I would bet my house solo hikers are routinely stalked, but nothing ever usually transpires. They are secretive.
Have you ever got the heebie jeebies while out hiking alone? That feeling someone (or something) is watching? Humans have well developed senses that we are not fully conscious of, or vice versa or something.
I almost stepped on a HUGE desert rattler one time along the Colorado river basin. Their camouflage is superb. It never moved, never rattled. I saw it before I recognized it, the dirt and foliage melted into a recognizeable, muscular shape of diamond pattern coloration.
“Interesting” how the human brain is wired to instinctively fear snakes. I think it is genetically passed on somehow, it isn’t learned behavior I could tell that.
Now I will say the old fellow wasn’t botherin’ anybody. He (she?) didn’t attack me or go out of its way. I was happy to give it a wide berth and continue on my way. This is why, most likely, some of the founding fathers wanted the Rattlesnake as a national emblem.
“Don’t tread on me” indeed!
I’m partial to big cats, which are in far fewer supply than human hunters. The alternative to self-defense is that the archer opportunistically killed a mountain lion that wandered past the tree stand set up in the forest for the purpose of bravely raining down death from above. Is there evidence for that? About as much for either scenario (none), with the victim being dead and all. The prosecutor can’t prosecute without proof or a confession, and hunters vote while mountain lions don’t, so yes, he has common sense.
Running away probably activates a running prey instinct. I believe you are correct.
I suspect the same for bicyclists.
They are much more fragile than bears. It doesn't take much to fight one off.
I carry a Ruger Super Blackhawk... 8” barrel....
I only need the 6 I have...
Years ago I read that Fred Bear, bow hunter, always carried a .44 magnum hidden under his jacket “just in case”.
He once, on camera, shot a huge bear, with a bow and arrow, it turned on him. He grabbed for his hidden revolver when one of the cameramen yelled not to do it as the bear was a real trophy and shooting it would mean it was no longer a bow and arrow trophy. The bear bled out and died before it could get to BEAR.
It’s plenty healthy at 128 pounds.
Fred Bear - Ted Nugent
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8lXR1XdUCg
Can a hunter who possesses a concealed weapons permit carry a concealed weapon while hunting? Individuals who possess a valid concealed carrying permit may carry a concealed handgun while hunting for the purposes of self defense only.
I expect that shooting a mountain lion (when obviously bow-hunting for deer) would be considered self defense.
You just ruined your credibility.
Oregon was once that way. It was tossed because it was the result of a decision by Oregon Dept. of Fish and Wildlife rule-making, rather than legislative action, violating a pre-emption clause.
I can sort of (if you squint) see the reasoning....
Me, too, and it smacks of prior restraint. Mountain lions are somewhat less of a threat to bowhunters, locally, than are bears. Hunters using cow and calf calls to attract bulls are fairly often stalked by bears, and having time to get a defendive shot with a bow can be problematic.
~~ He did just fine with his bow. A side arm would not have killed the cat any deader.
If the cat would have not been mortally wounded it might have climbed the tree and grabbed his leg.
Maybe not enough time or room to restring an arrow. Sidearm would be good.
You know who else votes? Green-haired bunny-huggers that never leave mom’s basement. What they know about hunting they learn from tear-jerking, PETA-paid-for ads to ban hunting of.predators outright, or with the use of dogs.
Yes, seriously he should have had a side arm.
In griz country I carry a Ruger Blackhawk Flattop in .357 Magnum loaded with Buffalo Bore hard cast in a chest holster. That round is measured to go through 4.5 feet of muscle and bone before stopping.
So, for me, what I carry depends on my likely predator set. :-)
But the Blackhawk is sweet.
https://forums.bowhunting.com/threads/carrying-a-sidearm-during-archery-hunting-seasons.100427/
"Here is an answer from Mr. Erdman of the ODWC (Oklahoma state game agency) regarding handgun carry during archery seasons: "Yes, you can carry a pistol for personal defense only. It can not be used in the hunt in any way. If hunting on any federally owned lands check with them first. If you have any other questions please let me know. Thank you."
That's only because the cat suddenly realized her father was Jack Bauer...
The only other person that could strike fear into the heart of a mountain lion is Chuck Norris...
The proof was the dead cat. Had the prosecutor been a liberal, non hunter, he could have easily prosecuted the hunter for killing it.
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