OT- Would you shoot a mountain lion with a bow on foot?

[rangerider7]

Another true story: The young man that checks my house for termites yearly had a interesting hunt last year. He was in a tree stand on corps land hunting deer with a bow when he spotted a mountain lion in a canyon below him. He thought about taking it but waited to long and the ML dissappeared. Just then a buck appeared to his left. At the same time he heard a noise behind him. It was the ML about 20 feet away. It shook him up but he decided to take the deer. He did not make a good shot because he was worrying about the ML. The wounded deer started making a lot of noise so he jump down from the stand and ran a couple of miles to his truck. He called his buddy and told him to bring a gun, which is forbidden on core land, to protect them as they went back for the deer. When his buddy got there he had a 22 revolver. My friend was very upset at his buddy but went back and found his deer. The ML was not to be seen but the deer had not been touched or dragged off. They did find a recent deer kill covered with brush. I told him he was lucky, if that ML had been hungry and stalked up behind you, it could have been a real exciting day. I said he was probably just curious as to what was sitting in that tree. I told him If I was going to bow shoot a ML I would make sure I carried a large caliber revolver as back up, corps land or not and take my chances.

[Buck Elliott]

I'd want one of those Robin Hood "Patriot Arrows" from MEN IN TIGHTS...

[madman4570]

Yes I would. I shoot a Hoyt Super Slam Extreme @70lbs and with a 125gr Thunderhead and a well placed shot,it kills like real quick!

[TedH]

I used to hunt them with a buddy and his hounds. That was the only way he ever killed one. Of course it was considerably safer for us humans with the pack of dogs there bugging the cat. I never shot one with my bow. Only thing I used was a 357 revolver.

[RIHMFIRE]

YUP!

[Mike D.]

I have never shot at one, but they are very common in these parts, largely due to the moratorium on harming the "pretty kitties". I have found plenty covered kills, usually small deer and pigs. I applaud the cat's pig kills, but don't like to see deer meeting the same fate. Oh well, deer have been the Cougar's main meal source for thousands of years. So far, they have not bothered the livestock, something that cannot be said about the coyote. A few years ago, we found a covered coyote carcass next to the barn, which is 50 yds from the house. A little too close, but at least it was a 'yote, not a calf.

[J Miller]

rangerider7,

What is "core land"?


To answer the question: Would you shoot a mountain lion with a bow on foot? ; No I would not. For one really good reason. I cannot hit the broadside of a barn with a bow and arrow --- from the inside. If I had to shoot a big puddy tat, I'd want a big bore revolver at the least.

Joe

[rangerider7]

Sorry, J Miller it's United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). I missed spell it I guess. That is just the way I have always heard it and seen it spelled that way too.

[bogus bill]

Many years ago I done several seasons in the national park service as a blister rust checker and fire fighter. I was in yosemite and fighting my way through some impossible buck brush and manzinita. I came across a fresh deer kill by a mountain lion. We werent permitted to carry guns and it never bothered me until that incident!

[Doc Hudson]

Not if I could avoid it!

Why?

Because I'm not much better than Joe Miller when it comes to archery. I can hit the broad side of a barn, but I have to be pretty close.

[Ysabel Kid]

If it was that or be eaten by one, I guess I'd take the shot!

[J Miller]

rangerider7,

Thanks for the explanation.

Joe

[Ysabel Kid]

rangerider7,

Thanks for the explanation.

Joe

+1 - I had no idea either!

[JoeArizona]

This guy got one that way:

http://kingmandailyminer.com/main.asp?S ... TM=66041.6

Joe

[rangerider7]

USACE builds a number of lakes in the area. They let you hunt on the flood plain, but they have strict rules.

[AJMD429]

It is a good thing they ban firearms on that land - I'll bet it keeps the armed robberies and murder rate down...

[JerryB]

I reckon if I was to see a mountain lion with a bow I would probably ask him if he made it or traded for it . I heard they are pretty clever rascals.He just might have took it away from some 'ol mescalaro apache, ain't no telling where a mountain lion would get a bow.

[rjohns94]

I would shoot a ML with my longbow if I was on the ground. I have every confidence in my ability to place an arrow where I need to within my specified range.

[pokey]

I reckon if I was to see a mountain lion with a bow I would probably ask him if he made it or traded for it . I heard they are pretty clever rascals.He just might have took it away from some 'ol mescalaro apache, ain't no telling where a mountain lion would get a bow.

+1

self defense, don'cha ya know

[rangerider7]

I must be slow I just now got it.

[piller]

I happen to be another one who has trouble hitting the barn from the inside while using a bow and arrows. Not being able to carry a pistol for personal defense when in Mountain Lion territory is a little bit of a concern. I have a S&W Mod 99 Compact in .40 cal which I can shoot well. If I can carry it, I would be wary, but not afraid of a ML encounter.

[Bogie35]

No. I would just outrun my hunting partner.

bogie

[PaulB]

I talked to a fellow at work who was sitting on a log, waiting for a deer to walk by. He got a funny feeling, and looked to the side and saw a mountain lion walking down the log toward him! He put an arrow into it and it ran off.

I wouldn't because I don't hunt with a bow. Situation would never come up.

[rangerider7]

Leaving a wounded animal like a mountain lion is not safe for others that might be in the area. I hope he went and got the proper weapon and hunted it down or took the bow and finished it.

[Bogie35]

I talked to a fellow at work who was sitting on a log, waiting for a deer to walk by. He got a funny feeling, and looked to the side and saw a mountain lion walking down the log toward him! He put an arrow into it and it ran off.

I wouldn't because I don't hunt with a bow. Situation would never come up.

Sitting on a log would be the perfect place for me to encounter a mountain lion. Already in the proper position for doing what will come most naturally for me at that moment!

bogie

[86er]

Mountain lions are not particularly aggressive unless stalking prey or cornered/bayed. I'd shoot one with a bow if the opportunity presented itself and not think twice about it. They are much easier to kill than even a deer with archery equipment. The articulated scapular does not provide much resistance to a good broadhead. If hit decent with an arrow, it would likely die quickly and within a short distance. The chance of one trying to attack you after being hit with an arrow is less than getting struck by lightning twice!

[madman4570]

Now after spouting off what a bad dude I am with a bow, after you telling us this Joe, I might really have the guts to do it! Thanks!

[rangerider7]

I hunted mountain lion as a teenager with my grandfather who was a trapper. He always carried a 94 30-30. He had seen a ML in and around his best trapping area. He decided to bait it with a goat tied up to a tree. We set up near the tree a waited. When it showed up he shot it but did not kill it. When we trailed it into some brush and rocks. It jumped out at us and my grandfather shot it in the air. The ML was dead before it hit the ground. I will never forget it, I never even had time to raise my gun up. He had the skin mounted in his barn until he died in 1958. I wish I had it but it belongs to his oldest son's boy now. I'm not a bow hunter, even if I was I wouldn't want to try that shot.

[madman4570]

That shot! Me neither. Its funny when I first started reading your post I started thinking ahead that your Grandpa was going to use you as bait!
It made me think of a friend of mine that told me about when he was (like 13 years old)and his dad and a couple friends took his dads champion Beagle rabbit hunting. On more than one occasion when a rabbit would run in some real thick needle brush, his dad would scoop up his beagle and say"son get in there and flush em"my friend the first time said "dad thats what we have the dog for" his dad holding that beagle said very seriously"in there, why he will get all marked up" True story

[Griff]

I must be slow I just now got it.

On yer 1st cup of coffee?

OT- Would you shoot a mountain lion with a bow on foot?

The answer is "YES". MLs with a bow are far more dangerous than your run-of-the-mill unarmed mountain lion; even if he is only on foot.

[JerryB]

THANK YOU GRIFF, I just can't see what was so hard for all these folks to understand about that question.
Just imagine how dangerous he would be on a good horse instead on foot.

[rangerider7]

You guys need to go to an amateur night at a comedy club and try out your material, you're hilarious.

[Streetstar]

I usually have a "dont ask, dont tell" policy regarding carrying my revolver in bow season. Although if i was actually jumped by a cougar, i would have to ask him for a 15 second "time out" while i got it out of the pocket of my camelback

[surveyor527]

Absolutely, protected species or not. I've read too much about them stalking the hunter. If the cats bother you, I'd say hunt elsewhere and forget sneaking a firearm on federal property. Like Kevin Kline tells Scott Glenn ("Silverado", where they are discussing busting Kevin Costner out of jail before he gets hung) deal me out.....I've had some experience with that sort of thing.