Mountain Lion Shot In Arkansas

[HeWhoFishesSolo]

LOL, thats her cat!

[budman]

I wasn't there when this guy shot this cat but I did have something like this happen to me and a friend a few year ago at Pushmataha GMA in Oklahoma a few year ago. We were bow hunting and knew a large cat was in area because of the pictures at the ranger's station. It was about 4:30 in the afternoon when I saw something approaching from my right, hoping it was a deer. When I saw the long tail I knew it was the cougar we had seen pictures of. It walked toward my area and looked at me several times. Since I was bow hunting and in full camo and 20 feet up a tree I never really felt in any danger. Yes I was excited, but a doe walking in my direction, while hunting, get the same result. I think it knew I was around because once it crossed my trail it got more aware of any sound in the area. It stopped to smell the air and look around more. I was able to watch it for about 5 minutes before it went over a little hill and heading toward my friend. I called him on the radio and let him know what I saw and that it was heading his direction. About 10 minutes later he called to give me a hard time about mistaking a bobcat for a cougar, because the bobcat came walking up toward him from my direction. I let him know I know the difference and what I saw had the long tail. Within a couple minutes he called back to say that the cougar was now in his area. He knew something was up when the bobcat looked up and ran off real fast. That is when the cat came around some downed trees. He only got to see it for about a minute or so. We both hunted until after dark and walked out to our truck and both of us felt it was a thrill of our hunt. The next morning, about 5 AM while walking about 1/2 mile to my tree stand I started thinking about being in the area where we saw the cat the evening before. So instead of walking in with no light and being as quite as possible I took out my light and started shinning it around and walking loudly. We never saw him the rest of our 5 day hunt. I saw all of this because even though it was walking towards me and look right at me several I never feared for my life and unless it was trailing me and hunting me I would not have shot it. It was just and amazing thing to see in the woods. So I have been somewhat in this man's shoes and did not shot. I too think this guy just wanted to brag about shooting a cougar.

[HeWhoFishesSolo]

Good for you and your friend, true outdoorsmen, and stewards of the outdoors, good story.

[podum]

The only person that will ever really know whether he was threatened or not is the hunter that shot the cat. All else is speculation. We all carry a world view into the woods. Some of us would crap our pants if we saw a cougar and shoot first and ask questions later. Some of us would stand in awe of the beast and fire only if the cat had its fangs in us. I'm probably in the middle somewhere, but glad that these sightings and incidents have made me think about the possibility in advance of a possible encounter. The good news is that there is a wildlife management plan in place such that cougar sightings are happening and will continue to happen in the Midwest. The end.

[Fly_Guy]

And there was me with a bowl of popcorn watching the crawdad thread... a little heads up about this gem would have been appreciated guys.

[podum]

same flyguy

[fishinwrench]

Good points made in all directions. Thankfully I haven't seen any sharks in the waters I fish yet. But now that we have had this discussion I'll have to take an extra minute or two...and decide whether to release it or not if I catch one.

[5bites]

I guess this is where I differ from some of you. I'm apparently less comfortable around critters like that. I'm also not going to wait until it's attacking me before I shoot it. It's faster and meaner than me. Even there was 100yds between us there's no guarantee it'll be stopped before getting to me. I mean if it was running right at me, not casually walking along.

So if kill it if I felt the need with no machoness involved. I have no desire to see one period so killing one for bragging rights means nothing to me unless it was a nuisance critter like a coyote etc. Nevertheless that's my view. Fact: You'll either get over it or you won't.

Btw congrats on the bow kill Justin. To all the others hunting tomorrow be careful.

[HeWhoFishesSolo]

(Machismo)

Nuisance is based on your perspective, if i'm in the outdoors with my girls IN NO WAY is seeing a coyote nuisance.

[Guest]

I too think this guy just wanted to brag about shooting a cougar.

Budman, I think you have a good point.

Now, if the cat tried to climb my tree, that would be self defense.

I think he panicked & let the adrenaline cause trigger finger, but its no excuse.