Mountain lion/woods gun

[ThomasT]

According to this you would be better off armed with snake shot, carrying a lightning rod and Epinephrine pen for bee stings. 125 Couger attacks with 27 being fatal. And most were attacks on children. And the list started in 1868. Your chances of being attacked are very slim. The chances of you seeing the cat before you are attacked are slimmer still.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_... attacks,Children are particularly vulnerable.

 

[Climb14er]

I've spent close to fifty years in Colorado and The West's backcountry and on the high peaks and fortunately only saw a black bear a couple of times, they kept their distance. Brown bears, only at a distance. Mountain Lions, sensed they were out there on early morning approaches to peaks, 3-5am, got a little spooked at times. Carried at times, .44Mag and the last seven years, Glock 20 with Hardcast. I've transitioned to my trusty, venerable 3rd Gen Glock 19 with Buffalo Bore +P+ Penetrators with the usual Counter Assault Bear Spray, spare mag Speer Gold Dots 124gr +P JHP. I feel comfortable with what I carry. Carry what makes you feel comfortable.

 

[JFrank]

My wife has a 22 Derringer she figures is plenty of protection against wild Animals, her plan is- ( shoot me in the foot and briskly walk away)

 

[.308 Norma]

My wife has a 22 Derringer she figures is plenty of protection against wild Animals, her plan is- ( shoot me in the foot and briskly walk away)

Pepper spray would probably work just as well for slowing you down, and with the added seasoning, "wild animals" might even find you a little tastier.

 

[Rexster]

125 Couger attacks with 27 being fatal. And most were attacks on children. And the list started in 1868. Your chances of being attacked are very slim. The chances of you seeing the cat before you are attacked are slimmer still.

I have to say, however, that defending other folks is a major reason to be adequately armed, for the local wildlife. I may not be able to do much, if a big, healthy cat has me by the back of the neck, before I know what is happening, but I may want to defend a family member, including my young grandsons, or one of our dogs, or perhaps a random stranger. And, just because there are big cats, out and about, does not mean that there are not other other threats, that are less-efficient killers, making the chance of a successful defense and/or rescue more likely.

Not that “adequately armed” means carrying a cannon, of course. Phil Shoemaker used a very-seriously-loaded (hard-cast +P) single-stack 9mm pistol, during that well-known grizzly attack. Cougars and humans would not require hard-cast +P.

 

[Armored farmer]

I have chosen, and typically choose to carry my normal edc gun under those circumstances.
If I'm fishing the Madison near West Yellowstone like I have in the past......I might step it up a bit.

 

[jeepnik]

 

[Armored farmer]

View attachment 994390

I bought #1 son a littermate to that one for his 18th bday.

 

[Coop45]

My wife walked upon a mountain lion one evening. The cat got up and they looked at each other before the cat walked away.

 

[DR505]

I have seen two different mountain lions while out and about, one well before he saw me (about 15-20 paces away). I almost stepped on a black bear curled up behind a log I was stepping over...he was more surprised than I was. I have had moose walk into camp, had a bobcat walk up on me when I was reading a book sitting in a lawn chair, and had a squirrel wake me up by walking on me when I fell asleep sitting under a tree in the warm fall sunshine. In every case these animals wanted less of me than I wanted of them. But I still prefer to have a firearm with me.

 

[.308 Norma]

Our oldest grandson lives in Las Vegas, and yesterday while he was back home here for his younger brother’s college graduation, he was telling us there’s been several cougar sightings, and even a couple of cougars captured in the outskirts of Las Vegas lately. So I did a Google search on it this morning, and it seems our grandson was right.
I wonder why cougars would be wandering into Vegas lately. I don’t even like Vegas!

Note: I mean mountain lion “cougars” - not the kind of “cougars” that mostly prey on younger men.

 

[Flatbush Harry]

Having lived, and fished, for 15 years in Western WA and 17 years in CO, I have always carried a handgun under my waders or on my hip while hunting. I used to either carry a S&W 629 (.44 Mag) or a 686+ (7rds .357 Mag). Of late, I have switched to a Springer 1911 TRP in 10mm with 180gr JHP.

But y'all are missing the important part...if you're visiting in lion or bear country, I recommend you wear brown trousers.

Harry, occasional visitor to where they live

 

[If1HitU]

Well it's just me and my life,i'd say my S&W 69 44.Mag. 4.2" in the woods or my SP 101 .357 Mag 3" for ML only.

 

[mnrivrat]

38 spl and up will kill a mountain kitty; IF you see him before he gets you from up and behind

Awareness is very important as a factor. The big cat will stock you from behind and have their teeth in the back of your neck faster than you can draw if you let yourself be unaware. A number of calibers would work just fine. My DA wheel gun in .44 Special I think would be as good as needed.

 

[Dr.Rob]

4 inch 357, leave the snakes alone