close encounter of the fuzzy kind

[OldLincoln]

Where I live it's several miles to open areas, but once there open carry is allowed and where there is open carry I would think a shotgun would be legal. Loaded with #4 Buck for pellet count you should be okay as long as you are looking.

Another thought is a strobe flashlight and flash the woods where you hear movement. I strobed an ambulance to direct it to the scene as the drive chewed me royally for blinding him 1/4 mile away. I got mine for $15 at Costco.

[Scoundrel]

You said you kept an eye on this cat at all times,and you also said there were times when you could not see it, only hear the occasional snap of a twig.

I'm not trying to call you out here, just trying to call attention to the fact that if this cat had felt that he had a tactical advantage, that twig snapping might have been the only clue you had that the cat was airborne and inbound.

A CM9 holds 8 rounds max, assuming you were using the 7rd magazine (which I personally would not trust to feed properly).

Animals give their entire being into the hunt. I could easily see the cat taking a hit or two and still be coming at you.

If I had a cougar actively stalking me like that, I'd either stay the hell out of the woods, or I'd go into the woods with kevlar clothing and an AR-15 loaded with hollowpoints and several spare magazines, with a 900-lumen flashlight mounted to the rail.

[Don K.]

Don't mess with the big cats...

on my archery deer hunt last year, while walking to my stand at pre dark:30, I found a fresh pile. So fresh it had steam coming off it...made me pucker up real quick, also made me happy that the state of AZ decided it was OK for my to carry while archery hunting. I would rather have my XDm 40 OWB than, just in case, than my CW9/IWB when it was not so legal to carry while bow hunting.

Funny thing is...black bears don't stir my nerves as the cats do. As long as you see the bear you can walk the other way....not so with the cats.

[jocko]

Hunted Mt. Lion backin the 70's in Utah for over 18 days. Not sure about the twig stuff, Cats are noctoral, they know the territory inside and out, They don't make mistakes, IMO u never see a cat either. If he wants u which I sincerely doubt to. he will get the first shot at u. Maybe if u have the gun in hand 24/7 umight have a chance to survive,but other wise IMO, ur now cat food.

I am certainly no authoity eiter but I did hunt with the country's greatr lion hnter Willis Butolph. He waqs a government lion hunter back in thedays and has forgot what most will every learn. Nautraly he used dogs to hunt with but without them he often said, you won't see the cat..

I would fear a Mt.Lion far ore than a bear, Bears are not stalkers. Lions are. They kill to eat, not for fun...

being I live in Indiana , we have no cats or bears but out west, I would certainly be very leary of bowhunting in cat country to. U walk in at dark and u walk out at dark. Both times prime cat hunting time..

PS. I have a Mt. Lion in the Pope and young record book back in the 70's..They are a atruly majestic animal in the wild IMO. Today my heart would not be in me to hunt and kill a Mt. Lion. Old age, I guess..and for me now appreciation for what nature has given us..

[Gliderguy]

At the very least, I would be wearing a tall-ish frame backpack that would protect my neck from a rearward attack that I probably wouldnt see coming. If he breaks your neck before you know he is there, game over. One might survive the claws for long enough to fight back and win, but that would be one mess that I wouldn't want to have to try and walk back to the truck after.

Sounds like you need another walking buddy or two. I think that would be somewhat discouraging for a single cat, just to tip the odds in your favor a bit more.

[yqtszhj]

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

I agree.

[GROTMAN]

Starbug..don't know if this is a good idea or not or if even legal, but have you or anyone else in your area thought about setting some traps ? Or maybe some poisoned meat to take out this critter ?

[jocko]

if there is a cat in the area, which IMO probably is not,,, a good set of dogs can run him up a tree . If the DNR is in on it, they have professional trappers who do this stuff for a livin. U more than likely ain't gonna trap any Mt. Lion. Poison would not be a good thing either, certainly would illegal

I have hunted most all my life from Bear to Mt. Lions and please excuse me if I say I just don't buy some of the stuff I am readin..

[Scoundrel]

Maybe hurricane Sandy will take out the cat and it'll all be good.

[GROTMAN]

if there is a cat in the area, which IMO probably is not,,, a good set of dogs can run him up a tree . If the DNR is in on it, they have professional trappers who do this stuff for a livin. U more than likely ain't gonna trap any Mt. Lion. Poison would not be a good thing either, certainly would illegal

I have hunted most all my life from Bear to Mt. Lions and please excuse me if I say I just don't buy some of the stuff I am readin..

Maybe this cat can do the job instead

[jocko]

I've been wrong before, but just giving my insights.no offense to anyone, believe what u may.

It sure would be nice to see the owners video of this cat killing something on one's porch.(excuse me, I am a doubting THOMAS on that to)_ Just sayin. If this was indeed true, no DNR would let this happen without actively going after this cat. Mt.Lions just do not operate that way, so if it is true then something is wrong with the cat that it just cannot hunt/kill on its own in the wild and it would be so easy for a good Mt. Lion hunter with a pack of dogs to catch this animal.

[Barth]

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.

+1000
Walk on a treadmill, exercise at home or in a gym.
This cat means business and isn't afraid of people.
It's just a matter of time before something really bad happens.
People are no match for the speed and cunning of a big cat.
And your CM9 is right on the edge of useless against a wild animal IMHO.
Why take any chances with your life.
I would contact fish and game or whatever government agency takes care of this stuff before it gets out of hand.
And if this animal is not dealt with, it will get out of hand.

Be safe and respect the very real power and danger of nature.

[Starbug]

Quick answers to some of the questions/comments:

• I have ball ammo in my gun for max penetration.
• my hiking partner doesn't like guns so she carries Bear Mace (I have my doubts about mace's effectiveness, seems it would only piss a predator off).
• our other hiking partners wussed out as soon as summer dryness changed to fall/winter rains, but on the rare occasion that we can convince them to go with us, they carry guns too.
• I know my CM9 isn't the best gun for the job, but it's better than nothing, and all my pistols are 9mm. I'll look into those Desert Eagles, since you can get them in .357mag and .44mag. They are insanely expensive and out of my price range, so I'll have to try to find a used one. But the whole point of using a concealable gun was so I wouldn't freak out the gun fearing population that comes out here from Seattle and Bellevue. They are vocal, terribly afraid of guns (why else would you have a gun unless you intended to go on a killing spree? Their logic is flawed), and they are also convinced that when a wild animal attacks you the best thing to do is to run away and not kill it because killing animals is mean. They don't realize you can't outrun an animal that can run 35mph, and running away also confirms that you're food. You'd be amazed at how many come out here to hike alone. Morons.
• When you live up in the Cascade Mountain range, wildlife is up in your face and you can't avoid it. It's like Alaska. Herds of elk do walk right through town on a regular basis (like Alaska's moose), bears mess with your garbage or check out your open garage, you find coyotes on the trails or in your neighborhood (they always run away) and they eat your pet cat, when it snows you can see bobcat tracks following bunny tracks through your yard. I've had deer peek into my living room window, and seen elk sleeping holes in my yard where the grass was crushed all night. Out here is nothing like the cities and towns where things have been highly developed and people have pushed animals out of the area through sheer numbers and deforestation. It's a lot more wild out here. I grew up in a city, and moved out here 4 years ago. I have never before seen so many wild animals.
• I have no idea if any wildlife agency is out looking for this particular cat. Those biologists that my hiking partner talked to said some of the cats had been relocated to these parts, so presumably some have tracking collars. But if they are bringing cats here, then we may be something of a dumping ground for problem cats from other areas, in addition to the already large population that was here to begin with. I don't know what methods of capturing/killing a cougar are legal here.
• It's highly possible that this cat is sick. If it's sick and unable to catch it's natural food source, then that would explain why it is eating dogs. The illness may rid us of this cat soon enough. I too would like to see the video of the dog being drug away by the cougar. It might show a skinny starved cat, or an injured cat limping on 3 legs. Who knows. I don't know who caught the video, so can't track him/her down and request a look. I can only vouch for my neighbor's dog, who screamed at 3am, and was then gone. The body was found not too far away, stashed in the bushes, jugular torn out and quiet dead.

[DKD]

Dude ....you need a bigger gun....something in the neighborhood of .44-.45 caliber in a handgun.

[OldLincoln]

I thought cats are pretty tender skinned, but there I go thinking again.