Big Cat Defense?

[Spirithawk]

Ok guys, we've covered bear defense but due to recent pics taken by mine and my son's trail cam what would be a good handgun caliber as defense against a full grown Mountain Lion? I usualy carry a 9mm but thinking I might should step up to a .357 mag. As I said, I've got good reason to wonder. Not talking hunting it, as that would be illegal any ways, but just as insurance as this cat, and possibly others, is practicly in my back yard.

[Empty Quiver]

I'm betting you can't kill one too dead. A 9mm might be adequite but how long is a guy willing to wait for the bullet to work?


Seems I've read that the big cats are pretty lightly constructed and in fact pretty easy to kill. I however have ZERO experience but am glad to spread my opinions.

[hillbill]

cats are kinda skittish, id say one in the dirt of about anything would get them going in the opposite direction.if i thought there was a real threat,a nice 357 revolver is hard to go wrong with.the muzzel blast alone should scare them off. now im talkin here in the hillbilly hinterlands, if i was out west where they have no reason to fear man id prob go with a 45 colt.even for a bigger cat a 357 158 grn solid jaketed would kinda give them a bellyache.

[mechanic]

A guy shot one through and through here in Ga. a couple years ago with a ML.  Or perhaps I should say end to end.  He claimed self defense after he found he had killed an endangered Fla. panther, but unfortunately he shot the rear of the cat and the bullet exited the business end.............
 
Ben

[hillbill]

A guy shot one through and through here in Ga. a couple years ago with a ML.  Or perhaps I should say end to end.  He claimed self defense after he found he had killed an endangered Fla. panther, but unfortunately he shot the rear of the cat and the bullet exited the business end.............
 
Ben

well maybe the cat only pretended to walk away to give him a false sense of security before he attacked and ate him?thats what im thinken!

[Graybeard]

Honest occcifer that cat was backing up at me at a fearsome pace. I jist had to shoot afore he got behind me and wuz then facing my back. It wuz self defense honest injun.

[jcn59]

A few years ago I read in one of the outdoor magazines that "if you actually saw a cougar while out hunting, it was because the cat was hunting you, and you should kill it" before it gets behind you and kills you.   I remember reading it several times to be sure that's what it said because it was inconsistent with the advice we are usually given concerning animal sightings.   I would add that the author was more of an authority on these things than I will ever be.

[Mikey]

Cats are not hard to kill, period.  Treed cats can be taken with 22 magnums or anything larger.  Although powerful, they are fairly lightly constructed - their skin is not thick, nor is their bone structure.  They are, however, fast and have long teeth and claws.  They can hit hard when they come at you if all their weight is in the air at the time they hit you. 
 
If you see one in the wild it does not mean they are stalking you.  If they are stalking you, you won't see it.  Mountain Lion do not usually stalk humans but humans can easily be stoopid enuf to traipse through cat country without thinking that they (human) might become the next meal of choice.  Jaguar, a South American cat, might have another take on that thought though as they sometimes take humans and small children from jungle villages in Central and South America. 
 
Two cats I have taken were shot with a M19 357 using 125 gn slugs, back in the mid-60s in Colorado.  Two other cats, both Central American Jaguar were taken with a 44 magnum (180 gr slug at fast velocities) and a 38 Super using a Charles Askins loading.  One cat I let walk, in South Carolina.  He was a small male (at least he smelled like one) and when we made eye contact it was because he heard the hammer cock back on my 444; he froze in a perfect broadside and turned his head to look at me and we locked eyes - he was in no position to attack but knew he was 'caught', so I just let'm go - actually, I didn't think he was legal and the game wardens were all over the place. 
 
However, unless maddened by pain, thirst or starvation, a Puma/Mountain Lion is not a threat unless you are a dumb bunny jogging through their territory.  If you see/hear one, about the best defense I can think of is a shot in the air or at their feet.  They can move fast when they are tryin' to 'get outta town'.....

[rockbilly]

Hunting with professional hunters in New Mexico many years ago I was surprised to find they all carried .22 mags.  They chased with dogs and shot treed animals.  The dogs were trained for lion and did not chase bear. A local 82 year old lady killed a big Mountain Lion that had been raiding her hen house, she shot it with a .22 Long Rifle in a oak tree near the hen house.  According to her, a one shot to the head kill.

I have taken several bobcats with both the .225 Winchester and a 22-250.  My son uses a .17HMR for bobcats and coyotes.  I don’t know what percentage is one shot kills, but the small bullet saves the pelt and makes it worth more.

[SHOOTALL]

 I have never killed a MT. Lion . I have seen 3 in the wild in Va. Yea I know they don't exist here .    Well the last time might be of concern for anyone defending themselves. We were dog hunting a track of land  about  800 acres . We had put in about 20 dogs in three different packs . Another pack from a hunt club near by had also come thru. Now if you have never hunted deer with running dogs they track , jump then run deer. When they hit turkeys they track in a sorta hit and miss fashion. Well after about 2 hrs or so most of the fun was over. Twice a pack had trailed around my stand and truck like there were turkeys . I had seen nothing. Well I lay my gun on the dog box next to me and ansewer the call of nature. Well this pack of dogs come about the same time and mill around my truck and me. All at once they crank up and dive under a brush pile . All of a suden this Mt. LIon comes out and is gone before I could even think to grab the gun. He was maybe 10 or so yards away. So what ever gun you pick be sure you can point shoot and it will stop a big cat not just kill it. If you even clear leather and get a shot off.
 I still wonder what would have happened if the dogs had not come along and how long hehad been there ?

[SHOOTALL]

I also wonder if they attack like bobcats , from the rear . Turkey hunters each year get hurt by them.

[Spirithawk]

I do know this much, like in any self defense situation it pays to be aware of your surroundings at all times and to see the threat in time to react apropriatly.