Posted on 10/02/2015 6:34:24 AM PDT by SJackson
On Sept. 23, Matthew Nellessen of Friendship, Wisc., an avid deer hunter and former U.S. Army sergeant who served with the 961st Engineers in Afghanistan in 2006 and 2007, was scouting a potential hunting area in the Colburn Wildlife Management Area of Adams County when he locked eyes with a wolf only 30 yards away. Acting on instinct he gained from military service, Nellessen immediately pulled his sidearm, a Walther PK .380, and chambered a round.
That’s when things went from bad to worse. As he racked the slide, Nellessen noticed two more wolves approaching from the left.
“It all happened so fast,” said Nellessen. "It was maybe 3-4 seconds and the wolves were on me.”
The first wolf came in from the right, mouth open, fangs ready to rip into Nellesen's leg. A swift kick from the man’s boot landed square on the wolf's face and deflected the bite.
“That first wolf missed my leg by 8-10 inches,” he said.
The other two wolves weren’t far behind. As the next wolf leapt toward Nellessen, the man jumped back and was able to fire a single round into the animal. Nellessen was unsure of the lethality of the hit, but two wolves immediately retreated for the bush at the sound of the gunshot and the third limped away “like a gut-shot deer," said Nellessen.
Though shaken, Nellessen, realizing he had not been injured in the ordeal, made a hasty, yet calculated retreat to his truck, he said, "clearing every bush and tree along the way with my .380.” Reaching a point roughly 600 yards from the truck, Nellessen breathed a small sigh of relief, phoned his wife and informed her of the ordeal.
“I thought, if the wolves were still following me,” said Nellessen, “I ought to give her an idea of where I’m at.”
Once home, he called the Wisconsin DNR.
The following day, with biologists from the Wisconsin DNR and U.S.D.A. Wildlife Services in tow, Nellessen returned to the scene of the attack, hoping to find a dead wolf. At press time no wolf had been found, but Nellessen said the group did find lots of wolf sign, and a blood trail that ended after roughly 150 yards.
Nellessen is an avid outdoorsman.
Despite his encounter, Nellesen said, "I don’t blame the wolves.” He surmised that the perfect wind for scouting also turned out to be the perfect wind for unintentionally bumping into the wolves in what he described as "their living room.”
Nellessen attributes his ability to survive the encounter to his military experience and the small sidearm he carried with him that day.
“I’d be dead without my military experience,” he said. “A single bullet saved my life … a .380 FMJ.”
Phone calls and emails to the Wisconsin DNR confirm: "The Wisconsin DNR along with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are currently investigating a report of a wolf interaction on or about that date. That’s all we can say since there is an ongoing investigation.”
Matthew Nellessen, who says he is now "In the market for a bigger gun,” renewed his NRA membership four days ago.
On their website, it looks like you can buy mandrels and tips separately?
http://www.cratex.com/cratex-cones/
I had a PP in .2LR which was a fine gun. It was not the sport model, just a regular PP in .22. It was about as accurate as one could be made and was generally reliable.
I later bought a Hungarian copy which was nearly as accurate and more reliable. Since it only cost $115 and came with a spare mag, I did not worry about carrying it in a pocket.
I liked the little .22 FEG so much that I got a .380 which is also reliable and accurate. It too came with a spare mag.
The gun that I usually stick in my pocket while roaming the woods or just my back yard is a Unique Model L, .22. It is smaller and lighter than the Walthers yet has the same length barrel.
The little Unique has never jammed or failed to feed but about once in 50 rounds it will fail to ignite. Cocking the hammer again, it always fires on the second try. I wish it were 100% but I can live with it. It is such a neat gun in every other way.
Thanks.
I'll note that I do consider the American Hunter credible, so I posted it, however I can't find it repeated anywhere.
All the coyotes I see are lean and some also look mangy, except one.
On my bicycle on a forest preserve trail, in the distance. The bicycle usually spooks them, but this one did not move, at about 50 feet I became concerned, and made some noise. The critter was beautiful!Full figured! Shiny fur! Oh my!
Then it turned and I could see the fluffy cat in its mouth!!!
This one had a special diet!
Since by your quotes around “accidentally” it appears you likely agree with me, please assist in stamping out the use of “accidental discharge” whenever it is used inappropriately, which is 99+% of the time.
The proper term is negligent discharge.
It must have figured that if it follows people, it will find yummy pet food (that is, pets that will be food).
Given that, if I were you, I’d keep one or two G18 mags in the car “just in case”, maybe just with FMJ. Lots of additional capacity for not much cost/space.
Just an idea . . .
I stepped on a wolverine a while back... Before that was done, that wolverine took 4 of the 6 that Colt had in it (missed with 2) and was still coming - I finally beat it to death with a stump. That particular adventure is when I started carrying a carbine whenever I was in the woods...
Pistols are fine and all, but they aren't as effective a defense as one might think.
Wisconsin DNR will probably deny there were wolves. Maybe it was just dogs that looked like wolves. Also there are no mountain lions either. People should not worry they will say. : ) CHOMP!
I'm sure a wolf or two has ventured into my county, but if there was a population, it would have been announced.
Because if no one calls the DNR, they will be able to say that no such attacks have been brought to their attention.
We went round and round with the DNR here over cougar, and they said there were no cougar--until someone dropped one on their doorstep (literally). If you don't report it, it didn't happen, and all the bambi/brother bear people will continue to project la la land.
An amazing number of people don't get the fact that out in the boonies, there are things that look at you as just another item on the hot lunch menu.
LOL! I saw the exact same “Oh sh*t, I’ve had it” look on a red fox once from a tree stand. I was laughing so hard he was safe...and gone.
“In the market for a bigger gun.”
I’ll bet he is.
Please add me. Thank you.
Agree but If you can get back to your car it should be for the rifle or shotgun.... but yes my gear bag in the truck has spare pistol mags as well.... if ya buy those 33 round G18 mags make SURE they are glock factory......NOT shear brand....
There are plenty of wolves up there.
And the coyotes here in DuPage have pretty much lost the fear of people now. When we walk the dogs Mr Springield is always with us.
L
Check for crud around the firing pin, if you haven’t already. One little flake of gunk could be enough to cause the malfunction (insufficient force to ignite the primer). Old/excess lubricant could do it also, and in cold weather just about anything not rated for arctic use will tend to gel.
There are some Korean knock-offs out there that are good, but yeah, the Scherer ones are complete crap.
Any one who carries a Glock with one in the tube is silly and dangerous. This is why I carry a XDM-.40 cal. and my mouse weapon is the XDs 9mm. As for A D’s KEEP YOU BUGGER FINGER OFF THE TRIGER and use a high grade holster. I do not carry Israeli and never will.
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