Pistol Defense Against Moose Attack

Gun Watch ^ | 2 March, 2014 | Dean Weingarten

[marktwain]

In this dramatic video, a snowmobiler is traveling along a remote snowmobile trail.   A moose is blocking the trail, and the snowmobiler does everything they can to defuse the situation without bloodshed.  They make considerable noise to warn the moose that they are there.  Snowmobiles do not have a reverse, and the track is narrow and hemmed in by thick woods.  To get off the snowmobile would make the snowmobiler much more vulnerable.   In the deep, fluffy snow, he and or his machine are likely to bog down.   Unknown to the viewer, a companion snowmobiler is coming up from behind and could easily come under attack if the first snowmobiler allows the moose to kill or disable them.

The snowmobiler gets a little closer to get the moose to move away.  The moose does a false charge, to be met with more shouts and noise from the snowmobiler trying to defuse the situation.   The false charge turns into a very short retreat, immediately followed by a full on attack.   The snowmobiler escapes serious injury or death by sheer luck.   The moose retreats a short ways, and the snowmobiler uses this reprieve to draw a Glock pistol and chamber a round.

The moose starts to attack again and the snowmobiler uses his last possibility to defuse the situation, a warning shot.   It does not work, and the  snowmobiler fires three well aimed shots, that almost instantly put down the threatening animal.  A fourth finishing shot is fired to make sure.  All shots, from warning to finishing, take place in four seconds.  (:51 to :55) on the video.  The time from the physical contact of the attack to the last shot is 10 seconds. 

The snowmobiler then rides by to a meadow, where they stop and look back to make sure that the following companion was able to safely catch up to them.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=008_1393078390


©2014 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice is included.
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[marktwain]

I do not see that the snowmobiler had much choice. The moose had come close to killing him once already, and was starting to attack again. He could not risk the other rider as well as himself. He gave the moose every chance to retreat or move aside.

[ClearCase_guy]

It’s a good thing the snowmobiler’s sister wasn’t there.

[Seaplaner]

A moose once bit my sister.

[golux]

AS A FREEPER, Having grown up in Canada with snowmobiles (my first a Bombardier Everest 440) and a moose now and then, I can positively affirm that only a pansy-assed Obama voter would actually KILL such a beautiful (if stubborn and silly) animal to make way for a recreational vehicle. It’s just not something normal people do. Okay?

[MeshugeMikey]

Astonishing Slice O’ Life!

Thanks!

[marktwain]

“I can positively affirm that only a pansy-assed Obama voter would actually KILL such a beautiful (if stubborn and silly) animal to make way for a recreational vehicle.”

The moose had already attacked him once, and almost killed him. Snowmobiles have no reverse. He would have to get off the machine and turn it around, and another machine was coming up in a minute.

So how would you defuse the attack without makeing yourself even more vulnerable?

I would really like to know what your solution is.

[elcid1970]

Hooves can rip bellies open. A healthy female moose can fend off a pack of wolves until they decide to seek a weaker prey.

I wouldn’t have waited for those slashing hooves to make deadly contact first. The encounter was tragic in its way but the moose was determined (”stubborn & silly”) to attack. Nature is red in tooth and claw.

Would have at least made sure the animal was dead before proceeding, though.

[CivilWarBrewing]

I hope someone filled their freezer with moose meat. That would make the killing worthwhile.

[Fightin Whitey]

Mark, don’t you think he could have stopped earlier, when the moose first comes into sight, and perhaps the moose would have wandered on?

Instead it seemed to me he basically challenged and spooked the young bull.

Just my two cents. I would have done almost anything, short of coming to harm, to let the beast live. But it’s hard to tell on a short vid.

[CivilWarBrewing]

Added note: I don’t blame the moose for hating snow mobiles!

[marktwain]

“Hooves can rip bellies open.”

Yes, and smash skulls and break bones.

People have been killed by Moose. They can be very dangerous.

People who have not spent much time around large animals can easily underestimate the danger. Lots of people killed and maimed by horses as well.

[marktwain]

“Mark, don’t you think he could have stopped earlier, when the moose first comes into sight, and perhaps the moose would have wandered on?”

From the video, it appears that he stopped as soon as he saw the moose, and made lots of noise to try to get the moose to move off the track, or just keep going. The moose was not having any of it, and decided to attack. The moose had lots of options of simply moving along or of moving to the side. The moose probably was operating on a triggered “predator” response and saw the snowmobiler as a threat. With a following machine and the narrow track, I think the snowmobiler did everything they could to not to have to shoot the moose.

They almost got killed trying to save the moose, and people here are critical because they did not do more, as I see it.

[fso301]

When he first spotted the moose on the trail, he could have waited for it to move on. Instead, he approached.

[Inyo-Mono]

The moose starts to attack again and the snowmobiler uses his last possibility to defuse the situation, a warning shot. It does not work,

I have read where people say or write "Why didn't he fire a warning shot to scare the animal?" That often does not work against large animals. Read any of Jim Corbett's books on tigers in India and he often mentions incidents where a warning shot only infuriated an animal enough to launch a potentially fatal attack.

[RedMDer]

Less than $4.2k to go!!

[Fightin Whitey]

Yes, I guess I would have stopped and stayed at first sighting, keeping quiet and giving the animal some time to mosey on.

What’s the big rush in the woods? And what’s more pleasant than watching wild game up close?

BTW I’m no animal rights loony. Been hunting for almost 50 years now, and have been around a plenty of moose, including mommas with a calf.

My experiences have taught me not to spook or bluff with a moose, male or female.

When you google this deal (or look down the comments a ways below the vid) there is some indication that these guys were arrested for and convicted of poaching.

But the google listings are not clear that these are the poachers. It’s just that, among other things, this video comes up when you google the two poachers’ names.

Anyways thanks for posting.

[golux]

First, I’d get away from the animal. I am not biologically attached to a skidoo.
Second, I’d watch the scenario from behind a tree and mount my skidoo when the big beast wants to leave.
It’s not complicated. I am pro-gun and pro-2A 100% but dipshits shoot when dipshits shoot. If you’re an asshole, be prepared for some other SOB to kill you. Moose are fat, sweet, jealous retarded ballerinas: be nice.

[ClearCase_guy]

As I see the video, the guy stopped, made some noise -- and waited a WHOPPING 15 seconds -- then decided he didn't have time for that sort of delay and he just had to bring it to a full confrontation, so he moved up close to the moose.

Stupid move.

[vladimir998]

I don’t care about the moose, but couldn’t they have simply have turned around on the trail?

[RobinOfKingston]

Mark, don’t you think he could have stopped earlier, when the moose first comes into sight, and perhaps the moose would have wandered on?

The moose wanted the same thing the snowmobilers needed. To be in the packed trail. It makes travel easier for moose and machine.

Unfortunately, the moose is not accustomed to giving way in the forest.