close encounter of the fuzzy kind

[Starbug]

Quick background: We have a cougar in the area that is killing people's dogs right on their porches. Big dogs. The killings were either witnessed by the owner or caught on the owner's surveillance video. My neighbor's dog was the first victim, a few others in another neighborhood about a half mile away were next, and now the cat has came back to my neighborhood several times since this began a couple weeks ago. Besides the several dogs that have been killed, there are of course also the deer and other animals whose bodies I've encountered while out hiking. There are always bears and cougars here where I live, work, and hike... it's just part of life here. This is why I bought a carry gun for hiking.

Well, I finally ran into the cougar on yesterday's hike. We had reached the turn-around point in our hike, and as we began to walk back the way we'd come, I took a final glance behind us as a precaution (I constantly scan for signs of cougar or bear)... which is when I saw that we weren't alone. It came up behind us from off the trail, crossed to the other side, and while staying just inside the cover of trees and bushes it stalked my hiking partner and I for quite a distance before finally leaving us alone in the darkness. I could hear the occasional branch break as it was stepped on, which helped me track it whenever I couldn't see it. I didn't have to draw my CM9 (hand was on it, though), but I sure was glad I had it just in case!! I kept my eyes and ears peeled for any sign that it was still with us, but it didn't stay with us for the rest of the return trip home.

The unfortunate thing about hiking at this time of the year is that it's sunset when I get off work, and full dark during my entire hike. Prime cat hunting time. No way around this. And they also roam my own neighborhood anyway, so no point in hiding indoors every day.

[pudge]

Starbug,

I'm sure you probably know this, but a cat that starts the kind of activity you describe, especially it's stalking of you and your walking partner, is NOT to be ignored. My strong advice to you is to cease the walks in any area where you do not have a wide field of view all around, and probably to forego your walks anytime near dusk or after dark. That cat must be taken as quickly as possible out of the gene pool. For whatever reason, it's chosen or been forced to prey on things outside the area it would normally be comfortable in. DO NOT hesitate to protect yourself from this animal, and do NOT allow it to get close if you can help it at all. If you have a decent opportunity to get this animal cleanly, take it, and make as sure as you can that you make a good shot. Be prepared to follow it up! The speed and the power of this kind of animal is something we just are unable to believe if we've never had regular experience with them.

good luck with your situation. I hope this animal is captured or killed very quickly! As with any situation involving a predator of any kind, your safest choiice is to avoid encounters if at all possible.

[OldLincoln]

Cats especially move so fast they can grab your sandwich out of your hand as you put it in your mouth. To quote an old favorite, they can turn off the light and be in bed before the room goes dark. Since this particular cat obviously has no fear of human surroundings, I think I would either avoid hikes until it is killed, or use your hiking buddy as bait and become a hunter on the hikes.

In a nearby state park a husband, wife and kid about 5 years old were walking on a paved path when a cat silently ran up behind them, grabbed the kid and ran into the brush before they could even scream. Help was nearby but it was the next day before they found the kid half eaten.

I worked in a retreat camp in the mountains and hiked about a mile up the mountain (no trail) to check the inlet for our water supply pipe in a creek. After doing my checks, as I walked back I saw where a large cat had prints in the snow over the ones I just made less than an hour before. The cat had trailed me and I'm guessing jumped off the trail when I was walking back. So much for head in the clouds nature loving when hiking in the wild.

I often post that wild things are not to messed with, and it's with good reason. When my son was beginning to dear hunt he told me about crawling into a hog burrow on his hands and knees but the hog wasn't home. He had no idea before I explained just how dangerous they can be. He is smart, just never stopped to consider it.

[Ikeo74]

Let us know how this turns out, if the cat is captured or killed. Also post what the fresh kills are. I live in a rural area where cougars have been seen a couple of years ago, although none recently. Take Pudge's advise and quit walking until the cat is gone or killed.

[Starbug]

Oh believe me, I watched that cat like a hawk! Never took my eyes off it, and made damn sure I knew where it was at all times. I don't take kindly to being hunted, it makes me want to turn the tables. I've always kept an open ear to the sounds and even the lack of sounds around us, and a watchful eye on the bushes and hillsides. That's how I was even aware of it coming up on us in the first place. Cats are scary as sh!t. Their speed and power is unimaginable. I don't want to find out about their strength and ferocity.

Unfortunately, I live in the woods and up in the mountains. My small town (where I also work) is also in these mountains. None of the hiking trails in these parts have wide open areas, it's heavily forested here. Hiking farther away just puts me into some other cougar's territory. There are also wolves in the area, I'm told. Dangerous predators are a fact of life here. If I drive towards the nearest bigger town where there are no cats, then there are also no trails to hike. Country gives way to big city.

Just walking out to my car poses a big risk at becoming a meal, as the cougars and bears do roam my neighborhood and have ransacked my yard, torn up my deck, torn up and flung my firewood pile all over the yard, and clawed up the siding of my house while chasing prey through it (garbage cans are always untouched). They come in broad daylight as well as night, and are regular occurrences in summertime. My neighborhood is highly forested, so there's good cover everywhere for cats and bears. My house butts up against forest, not other houses. The trail I was on yesterday is right behind my own house, and we were several miles up it when we ran into the cougar.... so the cat wasn't even that far from my house. Sometimes you get a tingling 6th sense feeling when your Spidy senses tell you you're being watched as you walk out to your car in the morning to go to work, or when you come home from work. You know there's a cat or other large predator watching you walk between house and car. I have seen eyes, once. Two nights ago something got attacked outside my bedroom wall in the back yard.

My hiking partner talked to some biologists that were in the area, and they confirmed that these mountains are crawling with a very large population of cougars, some of which have been transplanted here. So no matter where I go, there are cats. She was also told that where her house is there is a large male cat, which is why she has no deer or elk around her house.... he eats them.

The lack of fear of humans in my particular cat is not normal, and it's behavior is disturbing and dangerous. I have no qualms about killing it if the chance presents itself, heck I'm even toying with the idea of getting a hunting tag for it and looking for it myself if cougars are in season. Last night it came real close to being eligible for a self defense shooting.

I will let you guys know if it's ever caught or killed. It may never be stopped. Locals who've grown up here have told me that it's actually pretty common for cougars in this area to go and do what this one is doing. I was told of a guy with 4 big malamutes who all got taken out by a cougar one night. I really hope that was a stretched story....because damn.

Ikeo74, the fresh kills I've found have been deer. Smelled an old rotting kill on a highly populated trail, but it was somewhere in the bushes and out of sight. Putrid smell. When I passed by two hours later it was still there, so not an angry skunk.

[RRP]

Starbug,

Please don't let the CM9 give you a false sense of security. Mountain lions are very fast and agile, and when sprinting towards you, offer a small target to aim at.

How quickly can you draw your weapon, aim, and shoot with accuracy that your life depends on? Two seconds?

In two seconds, a cougar running 40 mph can travel 116 feet. I wouldn't want to match my reflexes against a hungry cougar.

Stay safe.

[muggsy]

Sounds like it would be a good time to take a day off and go cougar hunting.

[DooSPX]

"They can leap vertically over 16 feet, and horizontally more than 45 feet" That's insane! Please be careful!

[AIRret]

I'm not an expert, but what kind of ammo are you carrying on your hikes? It seems to me that if you are using hollow points they may not be effective. They may fill up with the cat's hide and not penetrate deep enough to do real damage. Maybe someone more versed in shooting game with a handgun could give you some suggestions.
Also, you might want to ask your hiking partner to also carry a gun.

[LorenzoB]

I'm not an expert, but what kind of ammo are you carrying on your hikes? It seems to me that if you are using hollow points they may not be effective. They may fill up with the cat's hide and not penetrate deep enough to do real damage. Maybe someone more versed in shooting game with a handgun could give you some suggestions.
Also, you might want to ask your hiking partner to also carry a gun.

+1 right there

[Yogi 117]

I'm not an expert, but what kind of ammo are you carrying on your hikes? It seems to me that if you are using hollow points they may not be effective. They may fill up with the cat's hide and not penetrate deep enough to do real damage. Maybe someone more versed in shooting game with a handgun could give you some suggestions.
Also, you might want to ask your hiking partner to also carry a gun.

I agree with this statement. When we took our horses into the woods for riding, we both always carried a .357 magnum loaded with 180 grain flat nose FMJ's, so that the round had a chance to penetrate and do some damage. Reaction time will be next to nothing, putting more emphasis on hitting a moving target. I'm not sure I would count on a 9mm JHP to stop a cougar/mountain lion.

[Bawanna]

I think a judge or the smith version is in order. A real shotgun would be best but I'm sure that's not PC.

[pudge]

Well, I started to mention carrying a shotgun, but I'd seriously recommend a larger gauge than a 410. For a big cat, I'd also want at least buckshot sized shot. Keep in mind that it takes several feet for that load of shot to begin to expand. Close shots require more careful aim than many might think with a shotgun.

My other suggestion (somewhat tongue in cheek) is to make certain that you can run faster than your walking partner!!!! Just joking, of course, since it's certainly possible you wouldn't have time to run anyway. This kind of problem is becoming more and more prevalent in many places around our country. Many cities are having a serious problem with coyotes and animals as well as some broad daylight situations with small children. Even so, the animal lovers scream bloody murder if anyone should suggest disposing of these loveable creatures in any fashion.

OldLincoln has given very good advice. Because the cats move so quickly, it's really hard to draw a bead on one, especially if you are OD'd on adrenalin. Thats why if I was out and about casually, it'd be with the shotgun of the short barreled defense weapon type with the handgun as a back up. With the prevailing climate of feelings about these loveable animals, I also suggest the three "S" rule for disposal: Shoot, Shovel, and Shutup!!!

[Bawanna]

Or carry extra rounds for the tree huggers? I am fond of shoot, shovel, shut up though. I'm writing that down for future reference.

[les strat]

If you continue your walks, I'd leave the CM9 at the house for a larger caliber, preferably, .357mag, .44mag, or a stout .45 auto load.

That cat is not exhibiting fear of humans as some do. It was stalking you. You need to be careful.