I can think of one candidate:
Posted on 11/12/2007 4:14:44 PM PST by george76
A hunter was attacked by a mountain lion Sunday near Kalispell.
The hunter told officials he was several miles in on a trail when he heard what sounded like the scream of a mountain lion.
A short time later, he heard a growl and turned to see a lion about 10 to 15 feet away.
The man dropped his rifle and rushed to get behind a tree.
The lion pounced on his back and knocked him into the tree.
The collision made the lion lose its grip and the hunter reached his pistol and fired a shot...
He met several other hunters who helped him to reach his car.
The hunter began driving back to Kalispell and notified relatives, who met him with assistance.
At the Kalispell Regional Medical Center, the man received five stitches for cuts to his leg from the lion’s claws.
He also was treated for scratches on his back and shoulder and a few puncture wounds to the back of his head.
The hunter’s backpack, which was shredded, probably prevented the lion from causing more serious injuries...
In 1989, a lion killed a 5-year-old boy in Evaro. In 1990, there was a rash of encounters between people and lions in western Montana.
In the 1990s, lions were sighted in Missoula proper, including one that stalked a small child and one that was captured in a basement, both in the lower Rattlesnake residential area.
In 1998, a lion attacked a small boy near Marshall Mountain Ski Area before it was fought off by a 16-year-old camp counselor.
(Excerpt) Read more at missoulian.com ...
.
Another documented attack.
Darwin award pontential, there. Still, I'm glad he survived. Next time I suggest he just shoot the damn thing and avoid all the pain of claw and punture wounds.
Are these on the rise?
I’ve heard one before. The noise is pretty damn scary.
“Are these on the rise?
“
Probably. Humans and coming into more empty territory where they roam.
Perhaps he forgot the little Brass Bells ?
This must have been the famous hunter, John French sKerry.
Yes.
Lots of new DOW rules against traditional hunting practices...
Well, that gives me an idea on how to answer Frank Bacik's question (see para. 12)
I’m glad the hunter fared well. That said, I’ve always been frustrated because for all the woods bumming I’ve done in my life, I’ve never seen a cougar or a grizzly in the wild. I’d certainly want to be armed when I did, but I would very much love to see those animals outside someday.
I was thinking the same thing, what kind of a hunter drops his rifle and hides behind a tree?
Needless to say we concluded our nature hike right there.
FYI:
http://www.freedominion.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=90451
A Walk in the Woods......I’m Not “Lion”....
We have seen several. No telling how many saw us that we did not see.
OK... I see two problems right off the bat.
I wouldn't be so quick to pass judgment here...
I’m not sure of your point. This is Montana. You can buy a MT lion tag over the counter. It’s not like were not hunting them. Sh!t Happens.
Damn humans........!!
There are many ways to empty those trees.
This would be a good one.
The local article states that he dropped his rifle and was reaching for a 2nd weapon, presumably a pistol.
I see them frequently in the mountains where I hunt. Of course, I’m in CA where they can’t be hunted.
In my opinion, raccoons make the scariest sound of all.
I’ve lived here 7 years and not seen one yet. They are out there, but just not as numerous as states that don’t hunt them.
...especially if it was a bolt action! I’d want something that can rapid fire.
I can think of one candidate:
In 1970, when it was still legal to hunt them, there were an estimated 2,000 lions in California. Now, biologists estimate that there are over 20,000. Beware, I have seen quite a few in the last decade.
I've hunted, fished, hiked, and scuba dived for a lot of years. It seems funny I guess that I've never seen those two creatures but I haven't. I've seen tracks and sign, but never the actual animals. Someday, I hope.
“Next time I suggest he just shoot the damn thing and avoid all the pain of claw and punture wounds.”
He DROPPED his rifle and RAN. If you run they think you’re prey. Not a good move.
A liberal.
Pucker factor overtakes good decisions sometimes ........:o)
The predator conservation group Sinapu has convinced the Colorado DOW to start new rules and tests for lion hunting.
There was a big effort by Sinapu to get the guy who recently shot a lion arrested. The lion had the guy’s dog in its mouth.
Not sure of Montana.
Not only do we hunt them, but they get eaten. Not such a bad sausage meat. I live along Cougar ridge in NW Montana, it is named that for a reason.
Gunner
Their eyes are very intense. It is as if they are looking thru you.
“We have seen several. No telling how many saw us that we did not see.”
....I’m a member of the Eastern Cougar Foundation....we’re assembling a data base of possible sightings EAST of the Mississippi....here’s some info:
http://www.easterncougar.org/
We are now allowed to hunt mountain lions here in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Nine taken so far in the past couple of weeks. Last winter, one took our kitty off our back deck. We saw it happen. Several neighbors lost small dogs around the same time. Another neighbor lost all the koi out of his pond. They are becoming a big problem around here.
Never heard one in the wild - never hope to hear one
Have heard a bobcat let loose in the woods - that's enough to curdle the blood - and turn the knees to putty
If you’re in Inyo/Mono area, you’re probably familiar with Kennedy Keadows. I’ve see the cats in the mountains above that area for years. Never up too close, but I’ve had them in my sights.
LOL
Even an unexpected "Buck Snort" can startle a hunter enough to drop his gun -
Oh, I agree. Still, pucker factor can get you killed. Time for me to remember my situation awareness when out in the woods. Heck, out and about anywhere as well.
Anyway, a good reminder to stay alert and remember we’re also prey to some critters!
shoot, shovel and shut up...
“Perhaps he forgot the little Brass Bells ?”
And scare off the game you’re hunting?
Oops, didn’t notice the sarcasm dripping.....
Understand........It happens !
Hope yer well !
Stay Safe AB !!
in colorado there is a saying. “if you live your entire life in colorado and see a mountain lion -and live to tell the story you are D@mn lucky”
Not in Maine, they ain't.
Don't pay any attention to the photos, to what you see, or what others report - the state says there are no cougars in Maine - so that's that...and I did not see a Canadian Lynx run down my drive and off through the forest either - no sirree...
Darwin Award.
The one thing you don't do when a mountain lion attacks is to run away.
Not loaded maybe? Empty single shot or blackpowder?
Must not have thought it would be of any use, or he just wet himself and ran.
As has been noted, running from a big cat will get you pounced on.
That's the good news.
The bad news is that all but one (maybe two) were females, pointing to an early season closure with only 1/2 the quota of 35 harvested.
These guys need to get cracking on taking out some males.
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