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 lions claws.
He also was treated for scratches on his back and shoulder and a few puncture wounds to the back of his head.
The hunters 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 ...
I left off the /s
He’s pointing, with his tail!
Probably didn't have enough time to remove the gun lock.
“The man dropped his rifle and rushed to get behind a tree.”
I always assume that the various reporters and editors will mangle the facts of a story like this beyond recognition. Don’t be too quick to judge the man, I’d first guess the reporters are at fault.
Jon Cary is doing the pointing ? What a goof.
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Lesson for liberals - When a lion attacks, drop your weapon and try to dialogue with the attacker. It really works!
All I needed to know. Drop rifle, risk getting eaten.
I hereby sentence Sinapu to tend cattle and sheep, without weapons, in mountain lion and wolf areas.
Do they taste like chicken or beef?
I hope he’s a newbie to the sport. What kind of hunter drops his rifle and runs?! lol The pain and puncture wounds are his reminder never to do it again!
The man dropped his rifle and rushed to get behind a tree.
If I were to post what I’m really thinking I would get banned.
ROTFLOL
The trapper who set a bear trap in my yard last spring said he had trapped and killed 7 mountain lions between Eureka and around Arcata in the past 3 years. The day he picked up my trap he had trapped and killed 2 in Willow Creek.
I haven’t seen one yet but they have been spotted in the gulch below us here in the south city limits of Eureka.
What’s scary is walking by the zoo’s mountain lion exhibit, knowing two are on display, unable to see either one, then walk back and catch a glimpse of them in plain open, watching you the whole time.
At 10 feet away he may not have had the time to make effective use of his rifle. Since it by the time he could get it turned around the lion would be on top of him. He also was probably scared out of his mind at the time and not acting rationally. Also, he still had his pistol which turned out to be much more effective at close range.
Also his rifle was probably unloaded if he wasn't actively hunting. Still, it would have made a decent club.
They are beautiful animals.
...and pepper spray?...
We’ve been know to do just that. The wolves are not exempt either.
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