Lion pounces on hunter. By Jim Mann. Daily Inter Lake. Backpack saves man from more serious injuries.
This is said to be the first mountain lion attack in many years in Montana.
Ralph Maughan
Dr. Ralph Maughan is professor emeritus of political science at Idaho State University. He was a Western Watersheds Project Board Member off and on for many years, and was also its President for several years. For a long time he produced Ralph Maughan's Wolf Report. He was a founder of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition. He and Jackie Johnson Maughan wrote three editions of "Hiking Idaho." He also wrote "Beyond the Tetons" and "Backpacking Wyoming's Teton and Washakie Wilderness." He created and is the administrator of The Wildlife News.
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Just think of all the fuss if this had been a wolf attack.
This is always in the back of my mind when I am hunting.
It is something you have to be aware of.
amazing story. Definitely big woods country up there.
My head was definetly on a swivel when I was gutting my elk this year. I’ve had one close encounter with a lion and I have a healthy respect for their stealth.
I feel sorry for the guy, but he did exactly what you’re not supposed to do…turn and run.
I cant blame him, its the worst thing you can do, but its the strongest instinct I would imagine when it happens. Luckily not a big grizz!
. Why do I hear of hunters who run and act scared around cougars, bears and wolves. . do you guys sit around over a beer and scare the living daylights out of each other with stories embellished and imagined until you can’t be effective around animals?
Linda, well I’m guessing anyone would probably be scared turning around and seeing a snarling cougar right next to them. Even if one knows the correct behavior around them, thoughts of survival can overcome that, and the first instinct is to get away. I understand your point but i think that the closer the encounter is, the more likely someone is to think irrationally
Linda, of course I would be scared and or nervous or frightened if I saw a bear/cougar/almost any wild animal knowingly approaching me. Especially if a cougar was growling and coming at me. Ask Treadwell how thinking wild animals are not dangerous worked out for him.
Elkhunter
Elkhunter . . I never said animals are not dangerous . . they are, especially the human one. If a cougar was coming at you growling you would probably be able to save your life if you growled or hissed back and looked like you were going to jump on it and beat it within an inch of it’s life. . the point is not whether you would be scared or not, but if you are already in a situation where you cannot get away, acting fierce will work. It has worked for me three times at least with cougars. . I thought every woods wise person knew this. An old timer who lived in the rocky mountains told me that the expression “fraidy cat” came from mountian lions because they can dish it out but not take it. Try tracking one once . . they really get nervous. They are to be respected for sure in that they can sneak better than almost any animal, save a fox, but they also cannot call 911 if they get hurt so they will back off when challenged. There is a great book on this subject called “Beast in the Garden” about the Boulder Colorado area . . people there gave the cats the impression that they could be easily intimidated. Several people were attacked. I guess I am tired of hearing the same old “wisdom” about animals over and over. . it’s almost like a rumour that is passed around for decades and pretty soon everyone thinks it’s true. I just went out and tried to find out what was true for myself . .and what I found out is ya don’t make pets out of wildlife, ya don’t have to kill em and ya don’t let them push you around.
I agree with you Linda Hunter, but if a cougar/mountian lion/bear/ or a wolf were to refuse to backoff? What would you do? I think if you do that you have to have a weapon like a knife, slingshot, sharp wooden spear, and etc. I beleive that if you carry a harmful object with you and you do that, you probobly would survive even if he/she refuses to backoff.
Hunter kid . . I just happened to catch this post today as it is too hot here to go outside. . if an animal refused to back off I believe you are right . . hopefully you would get hopping mad and act accordingly. None of us really know what we will do when confronted by a snarling cougar until we have been there but I think preparing your self mentally before it happens would be good. Like I said at that point your options are already limited since running doesn’t help. . so if you are going to fight back do it like you mean it.