[DaveH]

Now had this 14yo been hiking unarmed in a "park"....

FWP officials rule cougar shooting justified | greatfallstribune.com | Great Falls Tribune

(BUTTE AP) — The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks determined that the shooting of a cougar by a 14-year-old elk hunter from Anaconda was justified.

Game warden Shane Yaskus said the cougar measured about 7 feet long from nose to tail.

Eric Boyd was waiting at an outcropping last week while his father tried to drive an elk past him that they had been tracking.

Boyd said he heard a twig snap behind him and when he turned he saw the cougar about 25 yards away.

He said the two stared at each other for about 20 seconds before the cat started moving forward, and Boyd fired his rifle, hitting the cougar four times.

Boyd said he’s still hunting but that he’s not going to hunt by himself for a while.

 

[msgt/ret]

Scary when you become the hunted instead of the hunter, good response from Boyd.

 

[nedrgr21]

Yup. When a friend was little he saw a full grown bald eagle up close and personal and came to the sudden realization he was not at the top of the food chain - still swears that eagle was looking at him funny.

 

[dukalmighty]

I saw a video where somewhere in turkey or some place like that a small deer was taken down by a trained hunting eagle

 

[RETSUPT99]

Yup. When a friend was little he saw a full grown bald eagle up close and personal and came to the sudden realization he was not at the top of the food chain - still swears that eagle was looking at him funny.

Unless you're aproaching a nesting area, a Bald Eagle is not going to 'hunt' you, however, a Bald Eagle would have no problem tearing an adult man to shreds. I lived in AK for seven years...one did not want to accidently walk near a nesting area. When Fish & Feathers approached a nesting area, they carried a broom overhead...a target for a diving eagle to hit instead of the human...unless you have your head on a swivel, you won't see or hear it coming.:gah:

 

[Butch]

The kid was lucky not to end up as cat food. A Gun , don't leave home without it !

 

[Ram Rod]

Always carry. If you don't, everything is left up to chance. You've got to ask yourself.........ya feel lucky?

 

[Pro2A]

I go up hunting quite a bit. Right now I'm turkey hunting at my father in laws in Northern PA. I left the house this morning with my 1911 and my 12 gauge. You can never be too careful in the woods, especially in the early morning hours when it's just barely light out. There have been bobcat sightings, lots of coyotes, badgers, black bear and even a mountain lion was seen once. When I go up on the hill I ALWAYS have at least 2 firearms.

 

[HotGuns]

I always carry in the woods.

It aint to figure out the 4 legged critters. Its the 2 legged ones that worry me.

 

[sharpetop]

Around here I'm more worried about accidently walking up on a meth lab than I am about any four legged creature. The authorities regularly find remnants of them in secluded areas around here.

 

[Tom G]

There have been several cases of mountain lions stalking people on mountain bikes and either injuring or killing them. The two legged kind are just as dangerous.

 

[raevan]

No one going out into the Forest should be disarmed. Here in Washington we have Both Black and Grizzely bears, Cougers, Meth labs and Pot growers.
Some people claim that Bigfoot roams around but here have been no proven cases of anyone being attacked by one.
We also now have a population of Timber Wolves, though not a large one.
In some areas one has to worry about Rabid animals as well.

One of the most dangerous animals around is Feral dogs. They have little fear of Man and are prone to attack.

 

[obxned]

I worry a lot more about the two-legged snakes.

 

[rstickle]

An interesting story to remind us we are not always the top of the food chain! :yup:

 

[goldshellback]

An interesting story to remind us we are not always the top of the food chain! :yup:

When in the woods/wilderness I carry at the very least a 'snake-charmer'.

At 14 y.o. ,that youngster did an EXCELLENT job of keeping his head together AND putting rounds ON TARGET in the face of viable threat.

Bravo Zulu!

 

[Wilson2]

Good thing there was a twig for the cougar to step on. Otherwise, who knows?

I lived in Colorado several years ago and I recall a 63 year old man being attacked by a cougar. He successfully fought off the cougar with a pocket knife. I bet he would have welcomed a gun.

 

[puffer]

No one going out into the Forest should be disarmed. Here in Washington we have Both Black and Grizzely bears, Cougers, Meth labs and Pot growers.
Some people claim that Bigfoot roams around but here have been no proven cases of anyone being attacked by one.
We also now have a population of Timber Wolves, though not a large one.
In some areas one has to worry about Rabid animals as well.

One of the most dangerous animals around is Feral dogs. They have little fear of Man and are prone to attack.

You are correct. Over the years ( almost 70 ) I have roamed the "wilds" of the PNW I have come face to face with all of the above ( except Bigfoot & the wolves) Note, on our family property (NW WA) we have another you forgot to mention, a Female Moose & her calf. :gah: Thankfully, in all cases I was able to "withdraw" ( except in the case of the feral dogs )

Meth labs & Pot growers are a VERY serious problem ( not on our land thankfully) There are areas( incl. state & fed land), that even the LEOs are "careful about "entering" The locals know, "pity" the innocent tourist.

FERAL DOGS = :aargh4::gah::aargh4: They are the ONLY predictors, that I or my family have had to use LETHAL FORCE to personally protect ourselves.

Puffer

 

[surefire7]

Forest land in CO is increasingly being used for organized pot growing!.Stay armed!

 

[shooterX]

I don't go into the woods with out at least a revolver.

 

[puffer]

Here is a true story that may get you THINKING

Last Labor Day, my BP/ML club hosted a very large event ( over 200 incl. a lot of younguns) on a Gun Range close to Kent WA. We are aware of the fact that we have a male & a female cougar, that "claims" this area. We also have a Blk Bear who calls our range "home"

On the 2nd day of the event, a participant alerted me ( I was 1 of the RSOs ) that he had spotted our bear on one of our "walk through event trails".She had 2 cubs with her. :aargh4:

We "locked down" not only this trail, but ALL other trails, & alerted All of the fact. ( note, those who attend these events are "woods savvy):comeandgetsome: Some of us also acquired our "modern firepower".in case she decided to come into camp ( which she did not.)

BTW, although I had a .357mag in my kit, I went home & got my .44 mag.)

Puffer