Guns, Bows, Shooting Sports, and Hunting 12 guage slugs vs a bear?

[crobertson1]

Thanks.



Yeah, hopefully I'll never know. We live in mountain lion habitat-the mountains of Colorado. We've been seeing them around lately and tracks here at the house. I figured a 9mm would do the trick if necessary. It's what I carry. My wife has been carrying bear spray when she takes the pooch for walks. We moved my son's carport up by the house last Sunday so he wouldn't have to walk about 150 feet down to his truck at 5:30 in the mornings. We have seen tracks down by where he parked on different occasions.



Those big cats are scary!

 

[BIGNASTY]

12 guage gets my vote

In Viet Nam I was at a remote air strip the monkeys were any thing form spider monkeys to small ape the small ones didnt stand up to well to the 00 buck but the big ones were hard to put down. Used 1 1/4 oz slugs. It would put a hole in them you could put your fist in and they had another 5 to 10 yards to run to get to you . :-laf:-laf:-laf:-laf

 

[WDixon27]

id have some juicy rounds in there, fmj could potentially **** him off

I figured a 9mm would do the trick if necessary. It's what I carry.

 

[HHhuntitall]

Having hunted professionally, I'd suggest you contact your local animal control, to make sure they are aware that there has been a large cat in your area. On that note, be sure they are actual cat tracks. Not saying you're wrong, I just don't know you, and I've had many people tell me they've been seeing cat tracks, and they end up being large dog tracks from the neighbors. Cats often hang around urban areas, as meals such as your dogs(if they are small dogs) are easy prey during winter months. I'd suggest to your wife you don't walk in areas where there are no people or that are remote. DO NOT walk after dark, unless you just have too! Large cats who hang around people often lose their fear of them, and when hunger strikes, they tend to not think them a threat, taking the dogs away from you, even while you are hanging on to the leash. It's certainly not that common, but it can, and has happened. And once they have the dog, more likely than not, it's theirs. A small, young cat may be scared and run from the spray, but a larger cat might not, and honestly, most people don't see the cat until it's on top of them, and they'll have the pup and be on their way before you can get your hand out of your pocket. It's happened to me, and I knew they were there! And, if a cat does grab at your dog, what's your first reaction? Naturally, it's to protect what's important to you, and you'll pull your dogs to you. That's a bad move, as the cat will follow, more than likely. They've already made the decision to attack by getting this close, so watch out!! Yelling at the cat might make more of a difference than anything else you can do. It'll make them question their decision, and perhaps give you time to react, be it with mace or pistol... .



All this you may know full well, but I wouldn't want anything to happen to anyone, when I could have simply made a suggestion that would have helped! Your local Parks and Wildlife service will have more suggestions for you, as well, so I would encourage you to call or go by and ask a few questions of them, as well.



God bless,

Casey

 

[Grizzly]

That was the best advice yet. Thank you Casey.



God bless you too, george

 

[crobertson1]

Casey thanks.



We've actually seen the Mtn Lion on at least 4 occasions. I took a video of the tracks with my phone, which I'll try to post so you guys can see them. The prints were in the snow and about 4 inches wide.



I have contacted DOW and they said we can't shoot a Mtn Lion unless we're being attacked. Duh! The guy at DOW didn't seem concerned as this is their habitat too which I understand. Coyotes are different as they are not really protected. My wife hardly wants to go for walks during the day now-there is NO way she would go at night. The area we live in is somewhat rural but not remote. It's a neighborhood in Conifer about 20-25 miles west of the Denver metro area so we're not isolated.



A friend of mine who lives in LITTLETON (a city and suburb of the Denver area), said he was standing in his yard watering his garden with a hose and caught something in his peripheral vision, turned and it was a Mtn Lion approaching him! He squirted it and it left. They seem fearless. There are lots of deer and foxes and dogs in our area so the eatin is good for them. I just don't to feed him one of us or our dog!



Sorry about hijacking the thread. Thanks for the advice.

 

[HHhuntitall]

Casey thanks.



We've actually seen the Mtn Lion on at least 4 occasions. I took a video of the tracks with my phone, which I'll try to post so you guys can see them. The prints were in the snow and about 4 inches wide.



Sorry about hijacking the thread. Thanks for the advice.

WOW, that's an accident waiting to happen!! You need to be really careful at this point. If the paw print is over 4 inches, that's a pretty good sized cat, probably a male. If he's already approaching neighbors, it's out of curiosity, and he's lost his fear of people. That's not good, at all. Eventually, someone, somewhere will trigger the predator response, and it'll happen. I hate to say it, but predators have a purpose and predictable instincts and behavior. Unless someone tazes this kitty or peppers him with a shotgun or something, he's not gonna leave, and it's gonna be a problem. DANG IT!! I don't know you, but I'm concerned for your welfare. What if your neighbor had run instead of turning the garden hose on him? And what happens when the natural wildlife is not suffecient to feed him? Did you tell the DOW that the cat has approached people on several occasions? That should get a response... . but, I do understand it's their land and the cats were there first. I just don't want one eating my kids!! Personally, my advice would be to follow the Three S rule. (Shoot, shovel, shut-up, and make sure there's not radio collar) I don't want to be that way, but I can see it happening, and it's not going to be good. Be alert, and pay attention at all times!! They can be a silent, quick, death! I was attacked in '98 North of Burlington. I had been tracking a large male that had been killing cattle and sheep, and the landowner had been issued a permit to eliminate the animal, since P&W couldn't catch him. He hired me to hunt him down, but anyway. The large male had been in front of me, but I presumed he knew I was there. We came to a large opening, but I couldn't see him, so I presumed he was trying to circle me or the opening, so I took a 90degree turn and ran right into his mate... ... and she was ******!! I didn't even know she was there, but while I was stalking him, she was stalking me. And when I found her, she knew it was either run or attack. She decided to attack. It didn't work out too well for her, but the male circled back to see if she needed help, even after the gunshot, and so I got two shots..... I only took one back for the permit. It wasn't worth the argument.

 

[crobertson1]

Now you can see why I'm concerned! Now I'm even more concerned. Thanks for your concern for us. I like the 3 S rule, and hope I don't need it.



To be clear, my friend with the garden hose lives about 25 miles from us down in Littleton.



My son had a perfect oppurtunity to run the kitty over on the road. The cat just stood in the middle of the road as if he was daring my son to come closer. We gave him a hard time about not wanting to damage the truck!

 

[Flying_gage]

Thanks.



Yeah, hopefully I'll never know. We live in mountain lion habitat-the mountains of Colorado. We've been seeing them around lately and tracks here at the house. I figured a 9mm would do the trick if necessary. It's what I carry. My wife has been carrying bear spray when she takes the pooch for walks. We moved my son's carport up by the house last Sunday so he wouldn't have to walk about 150 feet down to his truck at 5:30 in the mornings. We have seen tracks down by where he parked on different occasions.



Those big cats are scary!

Grew up next door in Evergreen... I will never forget listening to the screech of a mountain lion as a little boy. It stills make my hair stand on end when I think back to it. It sounds as though they are more plentiful now? In the 80's the incident I described was somewhat isolated, but now sounds like it is becoming common?



When I grew up there, bobcats were not uncommon and we also had a bear issue for a short time. Not sure whatever happened to it?



Speaking of wildlife, you'll appreciate this story. I worked with a guy who spent thousands of dollars to go to Montana on a elk hunting trip and he never even saw one. Well I mentioned the Elk in and around Evergreen and he thought I was lying. A couple pics cleared that up quick!

 

[crobertson1]

It's funny when I hear my buddies who have been on hunting trips into the back country and never see an elk. I usually rub it in that I could hunt elk from my deck! I'm ornery though.