Skills were tested... and I got a C+ maybe...
- Thread starter mcdonl
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Based on your story, I would give you a B+ instead of a C+...
you reacted rapidly to your first known sign of distress (dogs barking)
you investigated with adequate tools (firearm and light source)
you got your kids into a safe area away from the muzzle of the gun
you checked for telltale signs of a break-in or home invasion (visual check of deadbolt)
you HD plan was sound (kids came to your bedroom at first sign of a threat)
Why you didn’t get a full ‘A’ grade
You had no spare ammo
You had no footwear (incase there was broken glass)
Your wife investigated unarmed before you got there
Your wife did not give you adequate information about the threat (she just screamed)
Overall, I think you did a good job with what you had. There are things that you could have improved on, but hindsight is 20/20. Had it have been a burglar, you were certainly prepared to deal with the situation.
….just my $0.02
-Mightee1
you reacted rapidly to your first known sign of distress (dogs barking)
you investigated with adequate tools (firearm and light source)
you got your kids into a safe area away from the muzzle of the gun
you checked for telltale signs of a break-in or home invasion (visual check of deadbolt)
you HD plan was sound (kids came to your bedroom at first sign of a threat)
Why you didn’t get a full ‘A’ grade
You had no spare ammo
You had no footwear (incase there was broken glass)
Your wife investigated unarmed before you got there
Your wife did not give you adequate information about the threat (she just screamed)
Overall, I think you did a good job with what you had. There are things that you could have improved on, but hindsight is 20/20. Had it have been a burglar, you were certainly prepared to deal with the situation.
….just my $0.02
-Mightee1
SSN Vet
Member
mcdonl
As a fellow southern Mainiac (flatlander as my Bangor BIL calls me) who has had multiple critter encounters, I'm giving you a solid B+
+1 you had good tools readily available
+1 you immediately tooled up
+1 you knew where the kiddies were, and directed them to a safe place
+1 your dogs have good protective instincts
+1 your wife kept control of the downstairs dog
+4 the cats lived to barf up grass on the rug another day (2pt ea.)
+10 you did NOT discharge your firearm in an unsafe manner
-1 you went to bed without knowing all was secure (the cats weren't in)
-1 the dog encumbered your wife.
I've scored much worse in my past performances and I thank Providence for letting several negligently discharged 22 shots land harmlessly in the woods.
We always get frequent visits from foxes, fishers, raccoons and owls. And just two weeks ago the neighbor saw a yote trotting nonchalantly down our long drive as he left early for work.
Got neighbors on both sides who keep chickens and one who feeds feral cats and lets them shack up in her barn. So there's lots of interesting treats for the predators.
But the yotes are the only ones that really concern me, as they are really getting both numerous and brazen in Southern ME/NH these past couple years.
Aside for setting box traps there's not much you can do. And I'm not sure the yotes would fall for a big box trap, as they're pretty darn wiley & clever.
And my advice is that you do not get the Game Wardens involved.
We had a Fox den in a pile of wood slash years ago and enjoyed watching 8 kits play roley-poley in the yard every morning at breakfast (have some great video too). But when the neighbor shot momma raiding his hen house, we had the cursed fisher coming round nightly picking off the kits. So we called the warden to see if he can trap them and get them to a sanctuary until they can survive on their own.
We invite him in to see the video and he starts leaning on me to rat out my neighbor (who had acted entirely within the law). He sees a box of .30-30 cartridges on the book shelf and starts implying that I shot the mother and tries to get me to make a self incriminating statement.
What a jerk!
As a fellow southern Mainiac (flatlander as my Bangor BIL calls me) who has had multiple critter encounters, I'm giving you a solid B+
+1 you had good tools readily available
+1 you immediately tooled up
+1 you knew where the kiddies were, and directed them to a safe place
+1 your dogs have good protective instincts
+1 your wife kept control of the downstairs dog
+4 the cats lived to barf up grass on the rug another day (2pt ea.)
+10 you did NOT discharge your firearm in an unsafe manner
-1 you went to bed without knowing all was secure (the cats weren't in)
-1 the dog encumbered your wife.
I've scored much worse in my past performances and I thank Providence for letting several negligently discharged 22 shots land harmlessly in the woods.
We always get frequent visits from foxes, fishers, raccoons and owls. And just two weeks ago the neighbor saw a yote trotting nonchalantly down our long drive as he left early for work.
Got neighbors on both sides who keep chickens and one who feeds feral cats and lets them shack up in her barn. So there's lots of interesting treats for the predators.
But the yotes are the only ones that really concern me, as they are really getting both numerous and brazen in Southern ME/NH these past couple years.
Aside for setting box traps there's not much you can do. And I'm not sure the yotes would fall for a big box trap, as they're pretty darn wiley & clever.
And my advice is that you do not get the Game Wardens involved.
We had a Fox den in a pile of wood slash years ago and enjoyed watching 8 kits play roley-poley in the yard every morning at breakfast (have some great video too). But when the neighbor shot momma raiding his hen house, we had the cursed fisher coming round nightly picking off the kits. So we called the warden to see if he can trap them and get them to a sanctuary until they can survive on their own.
We invite him in to see the video and he starts leaning on me to rat out my neighbor (who had acted entirely within the law). He sees a box of .30-30 cartridges on the book shelf and starts implying that I shot the mother and tries to get me to make a self incriminating statement.
What a jerk!
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ForumSurfer
Member
I once caught a peeping tom ( that I thought was breaking in). I wasn't wearing anything save an 870 and a flashlight. I should have never stepped outside, but I did. Turns out it was the neighbors kid. Thankfully my wife at the time brought me a towel before the neighbor came to get their delinquent, er...uh...I mean child.
Unless you're going to sleep in a tac vest or bluejeans with a belt and holster, there isn't much you can do for sleeping attire except keep a pair of emergency jeans under your side of the bed.
I think you did fine. Sure, you could have taken the time to put on pants and grab an ar15 but what if it were someone at the door? Do you want to leave your wife screaming at an armed assailant on the porch while you suit up? You grabbed a gun and a light...the only possible thing you could have done better that wouldn't add seconds would be to grab a reload (that was left close to the gun). But I've responded in boxers before, once your hands are occupied with gun and light there isn't much room for a reload.
Now if my family were all in the room with me, THEN I would have taken a few extra seconds to grab my pants MAYBE...it would all depend on the circumstances. If, heaven forbid I am forced to defend myself, I sure as heck don't care if I am naked or clothed.
30-06 lover
Member
B I would say...
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mcdonl
Member
Man, that sucks. They are supposed to be on OUR side!
SSN Vet
Member
Maine game wardens have a reputation for being jerks...
My BIL is a state trooper and has many stories concerning wardens.
No great love lost between troopers and wardens either.
Demitrios
Member
The nice thing about this story is that you actually got to experience a high stress situation (for all intents and purposes) without actually being in any serious threat. I say be hard on yourself, simply because you have the luxury to, learn from your "mistakes", regroup and now you're that much more experienced.
rainbowbob
Member
Nothing wrong with "de briefs" - although you may want to ad "de slippers".
There is one thing that I see wrong with your response, and it isn't your fault. Your family, particuarly your wife, panicked and freaked out.
That's not much of a problem when it's a couple of yote pups on the porch, but when it comes down to brass tacks, freaking out and going all hysterical and s*** is a BIG problem in a real emergency.
We've had a couple of problems down at my household that have vividly demonstrated that my sister is at best utterly useless and at worse a major liability in an emergency. Because she looses her head. I swear, her screeching really disturbs my calm...
And you might want to put together a grab bag with some spare ammo, light clipped to the strap, and a trauma kit (and make sure your kids understand it should never be raided for bobo stuff)...
That's not much of a problem when it's a couple of yote pups on the porch, but when it comes down to brass tacks, freaking out and going all hysterical and s*** is a BIG problem in a real emergency.
We've had a couple of problems down at my household that have vividly demonstrated that my sister is at best utterly useless and at worse a major liability in an emergency. Because she looses her head. I swear, her screeching really disturbs my calm...
And you might want to put together a grab bag with some spare ammo, light clipped to the strap, and a trauma kit (and make sure your kids understand it should never be raided for bobo stuff)...
Rail Driver
Member
In regards to the original post, you did good. You made sure your family was safe then handled the "threat"
In regards to coyotes going out of their way to kill cats, close... coyotes will generally go out of their way to kill most anything smaller than themselves in many situations.
In regards to coyotes going out of their way to kill cats, close... coyotes will generally go out of their way to kill most anything smaller than themselves in many situations.
Deltaboy1984
Member
The Wife needs to learn not to open the door until you get there. Bad Tactial Mistake.
I give you an A you got there, ready to deal with the problem and everyone is safe.
I keep my houseshoes and some lounge pants or shorts beside the bed all the time.
I give you an A you got there, ready to deal with the problem and everyone is safe.
I keep my houseshoes and some lounge pants or shorts beside the bed all the time.
I'd say you did all right.
I'd recommend picking up a pair of flip-flops. I know, I know, flip-flops are not "tacticool," but they are a darn sight faster to put on than any other shoe I've come across.
Maybe buy a few pair of shorts to sleep in. I don't mean some thing like boxers, I'm talking about actual shorts, with pockets. It sounded like you had your hands full between the flashlight and the revolver, so having pockets where you could drop in a reload might be good. In addition to the reload, you could also throw a knife in there. Not saying that you should go and get yourself in a knife fight with the next coyote that comes around, just that the next time you wake up in the middle of the night, it might be nice to have.
As most others have said, I think you did all right, if not pretty good.
I'd recommend picking up a pair of flip-flops. I know, I know, flip-flops are not "tacticool," but they are a darn sight faster to put on than any other shoe I've come across.
Maybe buy a few pair of shorts to sleep in. I don't mean some thing like boxers, I'm talking about actual shorts, with pockets. It sounded like you had your hands full between the flashlight and the revolver, so having pockets where you could drop in a reload might be good. In addition to the reload, you could also throw a knife in there. Not saying that you should go and get yourself in a knife fight with the next coyote that comes around, just that the next time you wake up in the middle of the night, it might be nice to have.
As most others have said, I think you did all right, if not pretty good.
rainbowbob
Member
Slip-on deck shoes.
C96
Member
rainbowbob ~ Slip-on deck shoes is a great idea. I sometimes am forced to use flip-flops and they can be harder to use than bare feet, difficult to get on, easy to trip toes. I will be looking for some slip-on deck shoes, should be able to find some around here.
The screaming wife is a major distraction/issue. Some people can learn and change and some cannot. My wife could handle those things very well, her sister the exact opposite, run about scream and shout was her thing for most emergencies.
The screaming wife is a major distraction/issue. Some people can learn and change and some cannot. My wife could handle those things very well, her sister the exact opposite, run about scream and shout was her thing for most emergencies.
rainbowbob
Member
I bought a pair on sale for $15...my favorite shoes around the house.
SSN Vet
Member
His wife was at the door looking at the yotes .... she had a lot more info. regarding the threat at that point in time than he did and was taking action to save the cats.
But rather than screeming explatives.... I like the idea of "naming" the threat.
Case in point, the yotes didn't understand a word your wife was saying, but may have reacted to the volume and threatening nature of those words.
Perhaps shouting "coyote on the front porch" at 85 dB would have had the same affect on the yotes and would have helped you respond better.
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